Latest news with #ConwyCountyCouncil
North Wales Live
5 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Live
'I've experienced racism throughout my life. It must be challenged'
A mixed-race Penmaenmawr councillor has told of her experience of racist bullying and her efforts at a North Wales council to promote diversity. Born to her Indian father and white mother, Plaid Cymru Councillor Cathy Augustine says she and her family experienced racism when she was a child. Since she was elected in May 2022, Cllr Augustine says she has worked to improve diversity within Conwy County Council, including chairing the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller working group and helping form an engagement group. She also represented the authority at the first ever All Wales Anti-Racist Action Plan summit in Cardiff. Cllr Augustine now campaigns with ministers to improve services for minorities, helping colleagues embrace Wales as a 'self-declared Nation of Sanctuary', whilst raising awareness of the All Wales Anti-Racist Plan. 'I'm the daughter of an Indian father who came to London from Kolkata (then Calcutta) in the 1950s,' she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. 'He married my white British mum in 1959, when mixed-race couples were rare - even in fairly cosmopolitan London. As a young child I remember being confused and upset by people staring at us, tutting or moving away when we three sat down together on public transport, a park bench, or in a library. 'At school I experienced direct and overt racist bullying, mainly verbal but also physical. More recently, this has turned into more subtle micro-aggressions. So I have an awareness of many levels of racist behaviours. I might be considered 'white passing', which has brought its own challenges and abuse. 'As far as I am aware, I am one of very few Conwy County Borough Council councillors of colour and a woman. I also chair a working group that focuses on the needs of one of our most vulnerable minority communities (gypsies and travellers). 'As long ago as the 1990s, I remember single mums being vilified and blamed for the country's economic woes - along with immigrants. I was both a single mum and a woman of colour! So I find it tragic that divisions, scapegoating, and blame are raising their ugly heads again.' She added: 'Given my background and lived experience, I feel reassured that Conwy is moving in the right direction to counter prejudice and discrimination at a strategic level, and that this will translate into meaningful action through policies, roles, and tools used by officers on a daily basis.' Cllr Augustine went on to criticise both the former Conservative and current Labour governments as having 'unjust' immigration laws. But the Penmaenmawr councillor says she is confident Conwy has 'mechanisms' in place to deal with racism within local authorities. 'The old chestnut of divide and rule has been finely honed into a bitter tool to turn us against the most vulnerable in our communities, and as a distraction from both the impact of austerity policies and the shambles that continues in the wake of Brexit,' she said. 'It is no coincidence that the right-wing rhetoric against immigration, migration, refugees, and all minorities is escalating. And it needs to be challenged at every opportunity.' She added: 'CCBC has put mechanisms in place to make these challenges - through adoption of the Unison Anti-Racist Charter and updates to the Corporate Plan. The CCBC Corporate Plan signposts all the more detailed plans and policies that are in place and underpin the high-level strategies across the council. And I'm more than content that our corporate plan does in fact cover all the most significant and concrete aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, incorporating mechanisms to foster general feelings of belonging - amongst staff and across our communities, particularly at a time of escalating division and hate crime.'
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
'I've experienced racism throughout my life. It must be challenged'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A mixed-race Penmaenmawr councillor has told of her experience of racist bullying and her efforts at a North Wales council to promote diversity. Born to her Indian father and white mother, Plaid Cymru Councillor Cathy Augustine says she and her family experienced racism when she was a child. Since she was elected in May 2022, Cllr Augustine says she has worked to improve diversity within Conwy County Council, including chairing the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller working group and helping form an engagement group. She also represented the authority at the first ever All Wales Anti-Racist Action Plan summit in Cardiff. Cllr Augustine now campaigns with ministers to improve services for minorities, helping colleagues embrace Wales as a 'self-declared Nation of Sanctuary', whilst raising awareness of the All Wales Anti-Racist Plan. 'I'm the daughter of an Indian father who came to London from Kolkata (then Calcutta) in the 1950s,' she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. 'He married my white British mum in 1959, when mixed-race couples were rare - even in fairly cosmopolitan London. As a young child I remember being confused and upset by people staring at us, tutting or moving away when we three sat down together on public transport, a park bench, or in a library. 'At school I experienced direct and overt racist bullying, mainly verbal but also physical. More recently, this has turned into more subtle micro-aggressions. So I have an awareness of many levels of racist behaviours. I might be considered 'white passing', which has brought its own challenges and abuse. 'As far as I am aware, I am one of very few Conwy County Borough Council councillors of colour and a woman. I also chair a working group that focuses on the needs of one of our most vulnerable minority communities (gypsies and travellers). 'As long ago as the 1990s, I remember single mums being vilified and blamed for the country's economic woes - along with immigrants. I was both a single mum and a woman of colour! So I find it tragic that divisions, scapegoating, and blame are raising their ugly heads again.' She added: 'Given my background and lived experience, I feel reassured that Conwy is moving in the right direction to counter prejudice and discrimination at a strategic level, and that this will translate into meaningful action through policies, roles, and tools used by officers on a daily basis.' Cllr Augustine went on to criticise both the former Conservative and current Labour governments as having 'unjust' immigration laws. But the Penmaenmawr councillor says she is confident Conwy has 'mechanisms' in place to deal with racism within local authorities. 'The old chestnut of divide and rule has been finely honed into a bitter tool to turn us against the most vulnerable in our communities, and as a distraction from both the impact of austerity policies and the shambles that continues in the wake of Brexit,' she said. 'It is no coincidence that the right-wing rhetoric against immigration, migration, refugees, and all minorities is escalating. And it needs to be challenged at every opportunity.' She added: 'CCBC has put mechanisms in place to make these challenges - through adoption of the Unison Anti-Racist Charter and updates to the Corporate Plan. The CCBC Corporate Plan signposts all the more detailed plans and policies that are in place and underpin the high-level strategies across the council. And I'm more than content that our corporate plan does in fact cover all the most significant and concrete aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, incorporating mechanisms to foster general feelings of belonging - amongst staff and across our communities, particularly at a time of escalating division and hate crime.' Public notices in your area
North Wales Live
30-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
New football stands proposed for community club
New fan stands could be erected at a Conwy county leisure centre for a community football club. Mrs Lynda Griffiths has applied to Conwy County Council's planning department, seeking permission to erect two 40-foot converted shipping containers as football spectator stands at Y Morfa Leisure Centre, Morfa Avenue, in Kinmel Bay. If granted permission, the new stands would seat 50 people, with wheelchair and disabled access. The refurbished shipping containers will be made from Corten Steel and are described as high durability, with corrosion resistance. The new stands will be 'finished in Kinmel Bay Football colours of two shades of blue'. Natural Resources Wales have written to the council raising no objection, but they did issue advice relating to flooding. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. 'Given the nature and scale of the proposals, on this occasion we would expect the developer to take the opportunity to incorporate flood resilient design where/if feasible and include some form of flood action plan acknowledging the tidal flood risk,' the letter advised. The leisure centre currently includes the main building, showers, toilets, kitchen, spa, squash courts, offices, an all-weather MUGA, a main football pitch, and a large grassed area suitable for additional football competitions and tournaments as well as cricket and sports days. Neighbours are yet to be consulted. The plans will likely be debated at a future planning committee at Conwy's Coed Pella HQ.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Fury as Welsh Labour government spends £250,000 on project to count MOTHS while it cuts public services
Taxpayers have been left furious after the Welsh Labour government spent £250,000 on a project to count moths - while it cuts public services. The 'Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn' project is surveying the moths' limestone habitats on Llandudno's Great Orme headland and in neighbouring areas. It was handed a grant of £248,348 by the Government's Nature Networks Fund, and will be delivered by the Heritage Fund. The under-fire government claims it with help protect at-risk insects, including the Horehound Plume micro-moth. A Tory councillor branded the spending 'ridiculous' - as families struggle with the cost of living and local authorities cut frontline services. Llandudno's Louise Emery hit out after a grant was awarded by the Welsh Government to Conwy county council. She said: 'Rather than for the benefit of invertebrates, how about Welsh Government benefit schools and communities by properly funding local authorities to improve education and provide basic services such as maintaining highways and public toilets? 'It's about priorities, and establishing the number of moths on specific limestone headlands should not be a priority when Welsh Labour in Cardiff continue to tell local authorities they have no money. This is utterly ridiculous.' The project, which also works with schools, found 'a staggering' 1,109 horehound plume moth caterpillars on the Great Orme in Llandudno. Cllr Emery continued: 'There is money available from Welsh Government but only for certain things, so while local authority budgets are really being squeezed, Welsh Government finds money for projects such as the Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn. 'On its own merit, in its own little world, I can see some benefit to that. But in the grand financial picture of what local authorities are facing, I find it incredulous that they can find money for a project like this, but we can't find money for basic public amenities such as toilets or looking after our parks and gardens or highways. 'So it's not that I'm against the project in itself.' The Welsh Government said: 'The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project was awarded £248,348 as part of the Nature Networks Fund in February 2024. It is a collaborative initiative led by Conwy County Borough Council in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Butterfly Conservation. 'The project is carrying out surveys and protecting rare and at-risk invertebrate such as the micro-moth, measuring about 2cm across which has been found in abundance in its only known Welsh habitat. This work will inform future habitat management and conservation strategies.' Additionally, the project surveyed the population of the rare weevil Helianthemapion aciculare, first discovered in the UK on the Great Orme in 1992. The 2024 survey suggests this remains its only UK habitat. Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, Conwy council leader said: 'This is a grant-funded project. It's important to note that grant funding is for specific projects and cannot be spent on other services. Whilst grant funding is available, we will continue to apply for it.' Last year it was revealed Labour Welsh Government officials splashed out nearly £16,000 dining at an exclusive New York restaurant and thousands more on World Cup flights, luxury hotels and other hospitality on taxpayer-funded credit cards. The hefty tab amounted to £1.49million between April 2022 to April 2023, when Mark Drakeford served as First Minister. This was almost double the previous year's figure of £821,871.38. Notably, the expenses included a food bill for exclusive New York restaurant Zou Zou's, which totalled an eye-watering £15,933.45. They said it was was part of an event to promote Wales for St David's Day.
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Raft of fines handed out on one road near Welsh beach
Raft of fines handed out on one road near Welsh beach They were parked on a single yellow line with some saying it's 'not clear' you can't park there A long line of cars on Llandudno's picturesque West Shore had parking tickets stuck to their windscreens by a Conwy County Council traffic warden (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A sunny afternoon at a Welsh beach became an expensive day out for some over the weekend. A long line of cars on Llandudno's picturesque West Shore had parking tickets stuck to their windscreens by a Conwy County Council traffic warden. They were parked on a single yellow line at a spot on Abbey Road near the Great Orme's Marine Drive. Most were also partly blocking the pavement on the popular route for walkers and cyclists. No less than eight cars in a row received parking tickets by around 5pm yesterday, Sunday, whilst the drivers enjoyed the sea and sunshine. The local democracy reporting service witnessed several drivers return to their cars with furrowed brows after spotting a yellow penalty charge notice stuck to their windscreen. There is generally ample free parking places on West Shore and a pay and display car park. Those ticketed will now face a £70 fine unless they pay the fine early at £35. A line of cars were fined (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Llandudno Cllr Louise Emery said she had 'some sympathy' for those who received a ticket as better signage was needed but added that it was also a matter of "common sense". Article continues below "West Shore is a really popular place to come down to the beach, with beautiful sunsets," she said. "It is a great place to be for visitors and residents alike. This area of the road always seems to attract cars parking on and off the pavement. Personally, I don't think it's clear that you can't park there. "Yes, there is a single yellow line, but I don't think the signage is clear, so I have sympathy for people that park there, but it should be obvious when you are doing that that you are blocking the highway because it is a narrow road, and there is plenty of parking across West Shore, and we do have the car park at the far end, which yes, you have to pay, but it is not excessive." Article continues below Single red lines mean you can't park, stop or load during specified time periods that should be displayed clearly on surrounding signs. She added: "On one side I think the signage needs to be improved so the visitors are really aware they cannot park there, and secondly common sense would tell you it is not a very clever place to park." Conwy County Council was contacted for a comment.
