Closing Ely Library

Mike Harries architectt

Growing up in Ely and Caerau there were some great achievements which was thanks to South Glamorgan Council and Ely's Labour councillors. There  was the Western leisure Centre built on the old TA center,and Ely Library was built to replace the old wooden hut that built before WWII. This was something great for Ely, it was something for the people of Ely to be proud of, it  was prestige because any news that ever came out of Ely was bad. In fact I remember the Echo's Dan O'Neill walking up and down Cowbridge Road West, and asking why "anyone would want to live there". That's how bad it was perceived.

For me this is important when I raised the issue with Cllr Peter Bradbury he assured me that there had been "consultation" on this. that nearly a 1000 Ely metro residents (population 30k+) agree to shutting the library, as do the police and the staff of the library.  So based on a consultation with just 3% of the people of the Ely area the Library will be closed and its collection will be moved into a  nondescript building. I have been told that it has to close because it will save jobs (perhaps that is why the library staff are supporting this).

It seems that the libraries in Cardiff's poor areas are being closed and replaced by "hubs". What I would like to know will they closed the library in Llandaff North or Whitchurch and replace them with "hubs".

No Cllr Bradbury and the folks over at Ely Matters this  is shameful, and if the local people support this, then shame on them!

The Rhun effect is not enough for Plaid Cymru

Poor old Rhun Ap Iorwerth incurred the wrath of Wales premier blogger "Million Mike" AKA Syniadau especially over his defiance of the will of the party over nuclear power, however the  guy won, and it was a good win. however the real test for Plaid is not a win in Ynys Mon or even a win for Adam Price in Carmathen, these are places which Plaid would be expected to win. It winning more seats like Fairwater, or Dinas Powis. I said this before if Plaid and the Lib Dems had formed a real alliance in Cardiff at the last election,an electoral pact, they might have prevented a Labour majority, and this majority stumbling and bumbling administration

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Whither the Welsh language?

Welsh church (Photo credit: No Middle Name)

Owain Glyndŵr at City Hall, Cardiff, Wales (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Like many English speakers in Wales I have had an almost "schizo" relationship with the aboriginal language of my country, a feeling of pride mixed with a little jealous resentment of those who have the advantage of speaking it, either because it was part of their birthright, or they had the gift to learn it (something I have always had a problem with, just don't have the knack! ).

I have been supportive of Welsh Medium education, but had doubts to its effectiveness in preserving the language. These doubts usually come from what I have heard from family who have had their kids educated in WM schools in Cardiff, and who do not use the language socially or personal observation walking past the schools where you hear the kids speaking English during recess. Despite my doubts I do believe that any way preserving Welsh as a every day language should be used.

I find it offensive when I read blogs, articles where you find comments which bemoan saving Welsh, and it should just die. This as far as I am concerned is a type of racism. The language you speak is just as much part of you as your skin color, and discrimination is what it is, discrimination.

I leave the last comment to a gentleman a US WWII vet who spent the war in Wales. "The language has to survive that is justice.