Tuesday 2 November 2010

Rhosneigr by-election update

Back in September when ex-Leader Phil Fowlie stood down and a by-election was called in the Rhosneigr ward, in line with the People's Manifesto I made the following requests of any candidates:

  • To state in advance which political grouping they intend to join if elected; and 
  • To publish a personal manifesto of their aims and values

To this end I am delighted to have received the following mail from one of the candidates:

"Dear Druid,
My name is Martin Peet. I am Standing as the Welsh Conservatives Candidate for Rhosneigr. I have lived in the area for over 10 years and know it well. I am also the Deputy Chairman Political of the Anglesey Conservative Association and was Agent for Anthony Ridge-Newman. My day job is in major construction; I am 35, a hard working family man and am standing for council because they need new blood with professionalism and someone who can see the bigger picture.
I am very impressed by the blog that you have created and the political stimulus it has created amongst the population of our island. David Cameron and the Conservatives have a vision for our nation and that is one of the "Big Society" - People coming together and getting things moving without the aid of a super state. It seems that the seed of the Big Society has been planted and nurtured here with the publication of the People’s Manifesto. Congratulations.
Rhosneigr, as you may know was served by former leader Phil Fowlie, and contrary to the reports against him, he served the ward well and was highly respected as the Councillor for Rhosneigr. I wish him well in his recovery from surgery.
Mini manifesto for Rhosneigr: If elected:
Stop the closure of the Library.
Libraries, like the swimming pools and schools are essential for the islands future -closing services used by children, adults and the elderly alike is pure madness.  Savings aren't made by hacking out swathes from the infrastructure of the island, they are made my making the existing services more efficient, sharing resources where possible, making the services more "lean".  Anglesey also benefits from the “Libraries for Life” grant scheme, so closing libraries on the island could probably jeopardise this funding source.
Develop a parking strategy for Rhosneigr, to ease the problems during summer periods.
We could just build a new car park near the common, but that is a short term solution.  The root to the issue is deeper.  New developments need to provide for adequate parking (including boats).  Any new parking facilities should be Free.  Car parks need to be strategically positioned to utilise both beaches in Rhosneigr.
Control Housing and Holiday Home development.
There have been plenty of new developments for the holiday market, some remaining unsold, yet we have a housing need for our young families in Rhosneigr, and the surrounding areas.  New developments must consider a percentage as affordable housing.  If this is not reasonable they must contribute to the community by other means.  If developers want to capitalise on the beaches and sea views, they must give as well as take.
Accountability and Approachability
I have always been told on the door step that you only see politicians when they want your vote.  I will be available every week at a ward surgery.  I will post my contact details in shops, post office and the library.  I will create an email mailing list and feedback on progress within the council, for the ward, and as a whole.
Community Action
I will engage the community in voluntary action projects, whether it’s tidying the beaches, trimming hedgerows, or organising fun days and street parties, Rhosneigr will be an example of how communities can pull together and be proud of what they put in.  This has started already with the likes of Project Rhosneigr, and nearby Llanfaelog Community Garden.
Listen and Learn
The primary responsibility of any councillor is to serve.  I will listen, converse and formulate ideas with the people I’d serve.
Island Wide
I would be a strong voice for Anglesey.
With support from my Conservative AM colleagues in Cardiff I can make sure that we are heard in Cardiff.  Money from Europe, destined for Wales does not seem to travel that far up the A470!  There will be a new round of EU funding in 2013 and we need a strong case for support on Anglesey.  I can lead that case.
If you would like to contact me directly:
Email me:    mp.ynysmon@gmail.com
Regards
Martin Peet
Rhosneigr Council Candidate for the Welsh Conservatives"

I understand that in addition to Mr Peet, one other person has also put himself forward as a candidate. If that person would like to contact me I will be equally happy to print his pitch to Rhosneigr residents here.

Does anyone know if a hustings has been arranged?

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to see someone take some notice.

Anonymous said...

agent for who? That guy from dahn souff was it? Good luck mr peet......you're gonna need it!
dazzler

Anonymous said...

Dazzler sounds like a gobshite

Anonymous said...

Who in their right mind would want to be a County Councillor with such shit-heads at the helm?
What's needed is a mass rally to show our no-confidence and disgust in the Council.

The Great Councillini said...

Just wait until they have to reach decisions on cuts. Then we'll see an instant return to Anglesey's good-old parochial, infighting politics.

Well done to Mr. Peet for engaging with the blog; he is already setting himself apart from the rest who seem to have a fear - or more likely a contempt - for the public they are meant to be serving.

Groundhog Day said...

Good luck to Mr Peet, he appears to have set himself some really heavy targets but at least he has the balls to communicate on here and declare his intentions. It is such a shame that there are prats like Dazzler whose purpose in life seems to be to piss in everyone's gravy. How can we move on when people like him take a pop at people like Mr Peet? Get a life boy!

Anonymous said...

Well, our man from 'up north' (Ieuan Wyn Jones) can hardly be said to be winning for Anglesey, can he? So why not try someone that isn't related to auntie Blodwen's sister who's lived on the smallholding all her life?

Anonymous said...

The man even 'tweets'!

http://twitter.com/martinpeet

Anonymous said...

Got to be the best man for the job.
Good luck Martin.

Anonymous said...

I always thought that if you put yourself in the public eye you put yourself forward as a target. I've not been abusive or used any bad language, yet some slag me off for contibuting to this blog. I have a view and shared it. But if this is the way it's going to be, so shall it be.
Groundhog says-"It is such a shame that there are prats like Dazzler whose purpose in life seems to be to piss in everyone's gravy. How can we move on when people like him take a pop at people like Mr Peet? Get a life boy!"-
hey that's politics. As for pissing in everyones gravy, and get a life boy, hahahahaha. Druid me thinks we have some school kids on here. well done to you for crossing all the borders with this blog.
"Dazzler sounds like a gobshite"
Do I? have you ever heard me speak? Do you know something about my accent? me thinks not. Anyway as along as you remain annon you remain in the dark, as do your views.
dazzler

Anonymous said...

Interesting letter and a few priorities I think my own local council candidates could usefully study, but I thought his email address a bit unfortunate:

'mp.ynysmon'

Is that merely a glorious irony or a statement of intent? :-)

Anonymous said...

Someone on here mentioned Chris Ruane being a squirming embarrasment to the residents of Vale of Clwyd the other day.

I must say, having seen his performance on PMQ today that I wholeheartedly agree. Quite the excitable chappie isn't he? He could barely splutter out his question.To cap it all his 'question' was such that the PM was able to easily turn the tables on him and make him look the complete fool that he is.

(Sorry it's OT to this thread)

Groundhog Day said...

Well well MR Dazzler, what a well balanced character you sound, with an obvious chip on both shoulders. If you put up comments like you did on your first post on this thread then expect to be shot at. Here is a refreshing change of a prospective councillor prepared to publish his manifesto on a public forum for all to see and all you can do is mouth off at his doing so. Don't you think you should save your phlegm for some of the local politicians who cannot even be bothered to acknowledge their consitutents let alone do so in public?

Anonymous said...

15.31 No-one takes Dazzler seriously old boy, can't you see, he's a deliberate and tedious provocateur,with an intelligence deficit!

Anonymous said...

Couldn't put it better myself, Old Boy

Anonymous said...

Let it go now. Get back to meaningful comment. That's what makes this blog a success, not irrelevant bickering.

Glyn Pritchard-Jones said...

To Martin Peet: Well done for standing, I wish you every success. GPJ

Anonymous said...

Of course, the good people of Rhosneigr should also hear here from the other candidate....what has he to offer......?

Anonymous said...

Let's see what happens, David Cameron as far as I am concerned doesn't even know where Anglesey is, so the same goes for all of us, we don't know where David Cameron is either, and we are happy that way.

Anonymous said...

Groundhog Day said...
Well well MR Dazzler, what a well balanced character you sound, with an obvious chip on both shoulders. If you put up comments like you did on your first post on this thread then expect to be shot at. Here is a refreshing change of a prospective councillor prepared to publish his manifesto on a public forum for all to see and all you can do is mouth off at his doing so. Don't you think you should save your phlegm for some of the local politicians who cannot even be bothered to acknowledge their consitutents let alone do so in public".
What would be REFRESHING is a local born/bred individual with bottle and guts. But hey you wouldn't know what either are. Drop me a line and we could discuss where my phlem lands. But we and all the other reader know you haven't got the bottle to do so

Anonymous said...

last post Dazzler

Martin Peet said...

Many thanks for the support.

Mr Dazzler.
If you want to meet, I'm sure we can discuss your grievances amicably. Please feel free to email me.

Martin Peet

Anonymous said...

"grievances"?
I spent my childhood under your Godess maggie. If you could turn back time martin I would be happy to meet you. Question: Why oh why would you fly a political flag of any colour on this Island? We've had blue, (Besty and his shinannickins), we've had greens(not in the eco save the planet sense)but with the idiot IWJ, we're lumbered with red at the moment(albert the wally). All we want is someone who knows respects and understands us here on this God given Isle. Parties are historical and obsolete in the minds of the voter. A bit like the wars of old. Like it or not this is the case. Give me something new to excercise my mind and thats what I will do. Carry on with the old approach and deal with consequences. I'm only 40 and I am sick of the flag flying wallies who claim to represent the voters. If you want to win and mutiply your numbers give me and my sort something new please.
Dazzler

Anonymous said...

Well, a rather challenging 'Dazzler' post there. But it ends on a good point that I think most of us here would agree on: the need for meaningful change and to address the continuing, very real problems that democracy on the island faces with our uber-conservative (little 'c') population, who simply don't like 'outsiders'.

I'm not a Conservative (big 'C'), but let's face it: what could Mr. Peet do that would be worse than what we've seen for decades? That's not to say Mr. Peet is the least-worst option; not at all. He deserves a chance, because in the end, if he doesn't deliver, we ought to vote him out in a few years' time.

Anonymous said...

From ITV Wales: 7:30pm - 8pm TONIGHT (Thursday):

The Anglesey Challenge

"Jonathan Hill goes behind the headlines with in-depth analysis of the week's major issues. He looks at the challenge facing one of Wales' highest-paid servants, the trouble shooter sent in to run crisis-hit Anglesey County Council." (subtitled)

Martin Peet said...

Dazzler, I respect you candidness and agree, there is a great distrust of party politics, not just on Anglesey, but all over the country. I wouldn’t consider myself a flag flying wally but I believe the Conservatives can help get this country back on it’s feet.

I got involved in politics because I was disgruntled and fed up. I was an arm chair politician, shouting at the world without dong anything about it, so I decided to do something about it and got stuck in. You said in your earlier post that Politicians are targets, but to become a target you have to stick your head above the parapet, torso and all.

Anonymous said...

Dazzler.
You can't have it both ways . The overwhelming consensus is that independents do what they wan't and have no mandate, yet now we have a candidate showing his colours with a mandate you still crow. Me thinks you would crow no matter what.

Anonymous said...

Reliable soundings in Rhosneigr indicate that the "other" candidate is the favourate....we shall see.

Anonymous said...

Watch this space next week, Masons trying to take over Ynys Mon and Clive Mcgregor making deals!

Anonymous said...

LATEST !
CMcG to step down.....RGP to step up.....some with ambition in excess of their limited ability will be disappointed !

Anonymous said...

Anon at 15:01 & 16:55.
How do you know these things? There has to be a democratic debate before these things can take place.

Anonymous said...

20.32 How naive !

Anonymous said...

Hang on. A quote from Mr. Peet:

"I've lived with uncertainty in the business sector for years. Why shouldn't employees in the public sector?"

OK. Can't argue much with that. Except where, precisely, does Mr. Peet propose that professional public sector staff find a similar level and pay of job in this area? I mean, highly-qualified payroll staff aren't in much demand at B&Q, Asda or Lidl, are they?

Maybe Mr. Peet should come up with a list of people waiting to invest in Anglesey? Who's first. Let's see. Ummm...

Anonymous said...

9.24 Get real People, we shall not be seeing any significant, or any, private sector commercial or employment investment in Anglesey.
We shall have to survive the best we can, on our own.
And what is wrong with high-paid professionals (Council officers even) who suddenly find themselves on the dole, stacking shelves at Tesco....I'd do it to feed my family if I had to.
Wake up People and smell the coffee !
The community owes you nothing, you have to help yourselves.

Anonymous said...

Boycott the election, deface your votes and get the result you want by having the election declared null and void, do it to upset the kremlin.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

WHY HAS THE LAST BLOG BEEN DELETED?
Ok it named people, but so do other blogs on this site, it was simply asking a question! maybe to close for the DRUID?????????????????

Paul Williams said...

Anon 12:07 - it was deleted because it made allegations against various named persons which are not supported by evidence. The rules of commenting on this blog are perfectly clear and consistently applied.

Martin Peet said...

Anon 09:24
"Maybe Mr. Peet should come up with a list of people waiting to invest in Anglesey? Who's first. Let's see. Ummm..."

What are we going to do? - sit on our hands and sulk? I firmly believe that "The effort you put in reflects what you get back" and on Anglesey we haven't been putting in that much effort so we get little in return. To get ourselves off the floor and dust ourselves off we have to work at being self sufficient and harness the skills and visions that we have on the island. We can’t sit back and wait for some big business to sweep us off our feet. That is the equivalent of hoping we win the lottery every week to pay the bills; e.g. gambling.

We need to invest in enterprise, give small businesses support and advice not just at start up but throughout, reduce small business taxes and red tape, reduce the interference from government in business affairs and let business flourish to its own agenda.

In a way, Anon 12:10, got it right, you can’t sit around waiting for the state to give you a job, let the state give you the opportunity to create your own job.

To give you a list of potential investors in Anglesey: you, and everyone else around you.

Anonymous said...

In some parts of Britain, small businesses are actively supported, they create work, it's that simple, however, in this dull down trodden Island, small businesses are actively DISCOURAGED. Prove it! I hear you moan! Name any business that has been discouraged, easy, all of the businesses that have left these shores and relocated or totally disappeared, because they have NO support or encouragement from the Welsh Politicians or Welsh Assembly.

Anonymous said...

well i think it greats to see someone new bothering to try and help the local community. familiarity breeda comtempt as they say so perhaps a change in candidate may be an idea. both parties use local facilities and live here etc. and at least i know what one of the candidates policies are.....i have no idea what richard is planning!
we do need more investment in to the area and the island which benefits locals rather than holiday makers as we are left jobless out of season which is not fair. it would be nice to see rhosneigr as it used to be a proper village catering for ALL not just the few passing people. housing does need to be addressed as so many of our new builds are aimed at the holiday trade which does nothing to help the locals except line the pockets of the developers.
id like local politics to benefit the local people, and the island
as for anglesey council it needs all the corruption gone once and for all. perhaps a change may help that process