Ben Lake, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion is encouraging support for Plascrug Park, Aberystwyth as the UK’s Favourite Park in a nationwide public vote organised by green space charity, Fields in Trust. www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks

Thank you to the Eisteddfod for the honour of being Llywydd Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Ceredigion.  The best Eisteddfod the nation has ever seen... since Eisteddfod Aberystwyth 1992.

It’s an honour to speak on the stage of the Eisteddfod stage here in Tregaron, a historical town, a commercial town, a drovers’ town...and a town close to my heart.

Whilst welcoming the benefits the new 20mph law will bring, Elin Jones MS is calling for it to be rolled out equitably throughout all villages.

This week, members of the Senedd approved the introduction of a new law that will enable speed limits in built-up areas to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year. The aim is to reduce road collisions and noise from the traffic, as well as improving road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Latest police data shows that 50% of the 5,570 people hurt in collisions in Wales happened on 30mph roads.

Although there are many things to cheer now – the success of the Welsh football team, the revival of agricultural shows, small eisteddfodau and local events across the county following Covid, and the National Eisteddfod visiting Ceredigion in August – the current cost of living crisis is casting its shadow over society.

Unfortunately, the impact of the increase in energy and fuel bills is having a huge impact across Wales and particularly so in rural areas such as Ceredigion. Reports suggest that as many as 45% of households in Wales may be in fuel poverty following the latest increase in the energy price cap.

Yesterday, members of Mencap Ceredigion visited the Senedd to launch a new partnership between ITV Cymru Wales and Mencap Cymru, during Learning Disability Week.

Last week NFU Cymru launched its report outlining the key asks for future agricultural policy in Wales.

The Welsh Government has launched a fuel voucher scheme aimed at providing crisis help to those households that have to pay in advance for their energy and are unable to do so.

This year the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is celebrating 10 years since its establishment. With its roots deep in Ceredigion, and a wide range of courses available through the medium of Welsh at Aberystwyth University, we need to celebrate and note the work of the Coleg to date.

BT have confirmed that they will pause all further Digital Voice switch-overs for customers who don’t want to move to the new technology at the moment.   

BT had initially taken the decision to retire its traditional copper telephone network by December 2025. This meant that all telephone calls would be delivered over digital technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (‘VoIP’), using a broadband connection.   

Concerns were raised with Ben Lake MP by many people living in rural areas in his constituency with no mobile coverage about the frightening prospect of having no means of communicating with the outside world were they to lose their broadband connection. 

Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, has today (Wednesday 23 March) criticised the Chancellor for “tinkering around the edges of a broken strategy” in response to his Spring Statement.

While Mr Lake welcomed the 5p cut to fuel duty, he said a more targeted approach would have been “fairer for both the public and the planet”, as the measures announced today will leave people living in rural areas “struggling to shoulder the cost of essential journeys” while subsidising “Chelsea tractors” in inner cities.