On Saturday 27th January we took to the streets of Aber handing out leaflets about the NH Yes campaign, helping Ceredigion candidate Trefor Jones and Lisa Francis AM.

Wow! The reaction that we received was amazing! People were very willing to listen us, which, from what I have heard from Lisa, is a stark contrast to only five years ago!! The 'Cameron effect' has definitely had a major change on the public's opinions of The Conservative Party; it seems that we are again starting to become the party that can represent the whole of the population as we were twenty-five years ago.

I would like to thank the CF members that came out that day, Rob S, Rob M, Jason (pictured), Graeme, David, Anthony and Gareth, especially since it was a very early start. Furthermore, I have to thank you all for wearing those white overalls (to look the part as doctors, as we were promoting NH Yes)!


Finally, my highlight of the day, when a very nice old lady shouted:

"It's about time! Where have you [The Conservatives] been for the last ten years?!!!"

Have been on Welsh Highland Railway website after Ben Hallets posting on the Blog.

The route from the Centre of Caern to Dinas could be taken over by National rail if the line was solely going to Caernavaon. However this would defeat the object of the route which is to link both sides of the Menai anbd compromise a world heritage area near the Castle, hence my earlier post re Waterloo Port and skirting round behind the town.

Instead the line would take over the cycle way and skirt roundto wards Pwllheli. or take over the FFestiniog branch from Llandudno and Widen the Ffestiniog - Cambrian Narrow gauge railway. The former is a better optio given the latters prone nature to collapse along stretches by the river in the valley in which it runs.

The narrow line required could be compulsory purchased at full market value (which would fit the EU funding coirruption normality in other countries, after all the Kinnocks are still in charge, lol). and the equipment and rolling stock transferred to another line which could be extended (such as the one near Cadair Idris.

Combined with Carm -Lampeter, depot and trunback at Caersws, passing loops and triangle junction at Dovey to include a Car Park for visitors to the Bird watching area, passing loop and station at Ynslas to open up the Dunes for conservation visitors and school parties and tyo clean up its reputation amongst the 'dogging' fraternity (in Hillingdon the car parks they frequent have recently been gated by the council to prevent it happenning)

Further a line could be constructed from Caersws or Newton to the Heart of Wales Line to allow Freight trains to run from South to North Wales. In london the GLA is looking at upgrading and electrifying a rail line fro that purpose of a similar length from Gospel Oak to Barking and the net effect of that is also increased passenger trains. This idea stems back to the Stephenson era and the Stockton and Darlington railway.

Add to that plans to lengthen trains on the Welsh lines, and the Wrexham _ Shrewsbury Rail link to London Marylebone now that the evergreen imporovement works have been carried out (extra two platforms at the London terminus and and a depot at Wembley Stadium.

However the big question is how on earth this would be paid for?

Here we go to the heart of the problem with the 1997 settlement, namely the lack of a Transport Wales body equal in powers to TfL and the recently formed Transport Scotland, with the ability at Board level to set its own fares and set road tolls / Congestion charging. Further the lack of primary domestic law making powers by the assembly as occurs in scotland and (fingers crossed) Ulster, and the lack of tax varrying and setting powers.

Further there is Objective 1 funding for teh Heart of Wales and Welshpool - Aber line improvemnts, Objective 2 funding for the rest.

Models of implementation:

1) DLR Concessionaire. A transparent tender process advertised in the European Journal, UK and Welsh press (possibly Irish as the location for the Third Menai crossing makes workers coming via Holyhead a distinct practical possibility, with the precedent of the building of the Hydro plant up the Rheidol valley), with it being replicated for each project. The line would be owned by the company who built it, and the Govt would Hire pruchase buy it back over a given time period (modelled on what occurred with the Dartford River crossings, and what will probably occur with the Thames Gateway river bridge). Given that a lot of what I have written about is in the historic Yr Fro Cymraeg, ie the Prinicpality of Wales, this may be modified to that the infrastructure is Hp'd back as the land may be owned by the Principality of Wales estates, if not the successor to British Rail estates (See vale of rheidol railway for case precedent and its transfer of ownership dispute in the 1980s, a case study in avoiding problems before they occur in public relations management, that the Assembly with its Democratic mandate can achieve)

2bctd

I have just multimaped Yns Mon and the Menai. It seems that the existing Holyhead - Bangor Line would need a spur if only two-three miles to reach the bank of the Straits opposite Caernarvon. It could pass between Llangafro and Dwyran. and Reach Waterloo Port. there it would pass behind the town to near Caeathro before negotiating its way to Pwllhelli via the the most hill avoiding route. The joining point with the line to Mach might be nearer Barmouth and further East gfrom Pwllheli to make it easier for Freight trains.

Hope the stuff below and above aids the debate about a eco friendly and sustainable transport future for Wales.
Lastly the junction with the Holyhead- Bangor Line could be a triangle like at Shtrewsbury tyo allow for trains to run from Mach to the bay platform at Llandudno Junction and reach BBangor. If the is was replicated at Dovey Junction there would thus be a coastal shuttle capability from Aber to Caernavon via Borth, Ynslas, Dovey, Barmouth and Bangor as well as too Holyhead.

Now that would revolutionise transport patterns in West and North Wales and open up greater culrtural, economic and social opportunities as well as aid tourism in the summer months.

Nick Bourne on his blog senses that the mood for a N-S air link is muted at present, poerhaps a strtaegy based on something like this could be a step along the way to that, but at a more environmentallly friendly level.

All that then leaves is putting back the line from Camarthen to Lampeter and then ensuring fast and frequent buses (perhaps provided by Mr Lloyd mentioned by Ryan in his earlier posting) to Aberystywth and a co-ordination of timtables between the two modes of transport.

Now that would really be job done!

All the best

James Ware

WiRE report.

Thids might be of interest. Apparently the WaG is planning a n Improved liks between GWynnedd and Anglesey / Yns Mon.

If this were to take the form of a second severn crossing / Thames FGateway style bridge, there may be scope for a rail link from Holyhead to Pwllheli

Net effect less subsidy needed for the line as it could take freight and Dovey Junction could have its brridge reinforced. Net effect, a pssing loop could be achieved there as well as at Ynslas. Combined with that and the second platform at Aberystywth Station alocal service Mach to Aber can be seen as realistic and the Cambrian line is improved.

Job done?

Gordon Br9own and the World Cup.

Hi guys,

So it seems like England hosting the world cup is back on the pollitical agenda as part of the Chancellors own legacy . Please read the following thread to see if theres any commercial opportunities in the development of this scheme.

The campaign entitled NHYes campaigns for more access to doctors for modern medicines and emphasises vast improvements to to the current system.

Aberystwyth Conservative Future will be raising the awareness of NHYes over the coming fortnight.

More information can be found here

# posted by Paul Rogers @ 2:54 pm 0 comments

Today's Independent leads with the story that the EU Parliament has gained a new formal grouping of MEPs:

Claiming the backing of 23 million Europeans, ultra-nationalists secured enough MEPs to make a formal political grouping, underlining the growing challenge posed by the far right across the continent. For the first time since the Second World War a series of elections has swept nationalistic, far-right parties into office in municipal, regional, national and European parliament elections. The admission of Romania and Bulgaria in January of this year brought in enough far-right MEPs to form a bloc.

I'm particularly struck by this:

As a formal group, they are entitled to up to €1m in central funding.

The great majority of decent people in Europe will now be forced to pay the operational costs of people such as Anti-Semite Dimitar Stoyanov, who yesterday said that he opposed the " Jewish establishment" which used ordinary Jewish people "like pawns" (whatever that means). What a disgrace.

But, fear not... Our European values of liberalism and tolerance will be safe! Germany has the answer!

Germany yesterday moved to outlaw denial of the Holocaust, the parading of Nazi symbols, and racist speech across Europe, using a meeting of EU interior and justice ministers to call for jail terms of up to three years for the offences

If Voltaire had been alive and working in the European Union in the 21st Century, I have not the slightest doubt he would have thrown himself under a train long ago.

Witness enlightened Europe - battling the resurgence of fascism by introducing more communism. What happened?

New laws outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals have been upheld in the House of Lords. Lord Morrow's call to annul the regulations, which have applied in Northern Ireland since 1 January and are due to be implemented across the UK by April, was defeated by 199 votes to 68.



Although I do not agree with the idea that homosexuality is a "sin", and am frankly appalled that anyone would refuse custom to anyone on that grounds, I do empathise with the religious communities on this issue. In my mind, all discrimination laws of this kind are bad ideas, specifically because they prohibit freedom of conscience (or of faith in this case) in the marketplace. I should not be told by anyone who I should employ, who I should sell to, and who I should provide services to. The very idea of "should" - that there are legally enforceable obligations involved in a free market of free exchange - is complete nonsense

One could be forgiven to asking if we even have what could be described as a "free market"? Since when did I even need an excuse at all not to sell goods and services to anyone I did not want to sell them to?

Refusing someone on the grounds that homosexuality is a "sin" is a terrible excuse, but I can think of worse - perhaps I don't trust Scottish people, or I dislike the look of your face, or maybe I believe your birthdate is cursed? What role has the government in all of this? Those I refuse will likely be able to go elsewhere, and it will be my own interests damaged should I decide to make such unethical and deranged decisions.

This is not a bad law because any credence should be given to religious disquiet, nor is it a good law because gay rights should be held on a pedestal. It is a bad law because - and being a libertarian I expect I sound like a broken record at this point, but that is unapologetically so - the law has no business here

The puritanical brown shirts goose-step on with a promised raising of the minimum legal age for buying cigarettes from 16 to 18. This comes when the smoking ban in enclosed public places comes into force in Wales in April, and renewed lecturing and nannying to look forward to in the new year in the form of some of the most stupid, asinine, ignoramus advertising yet witnessed on national television.

In response Libertarian Alliance Director Sean Gabb issued the following statement (highly recommended for a read - I agree with everything wholeheartedly) This is a discriminatory action, given the whole host of far worst things one can still do at 16 and younger. It seems this government simply doesn't "get" liberty, because it is not something only for the majority, or only for things of which one approves, or only for those who are flavour of month, or only to be upheld when it is the whim of important special interests. It is for all hobbies and interests, even one as pleasurable and delightfully contrarian as smoking