Heledd Fychan Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr

I am grateful and honoured to be re-elected as a Member of the Senedd for the new constituency of Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency.

My office in Pontypridd has now re-opened and you can call in for support or advice between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.  Our address is 2 High St, Pontypridd, CF37 1QJ.  Alternatively, you can contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 01443 853214.

The new constituency covers Pontypridd, the central and southern Cynon Valley, the whole of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, and areas around Llantrisant and Llanharan.  You can find out whether you live in the constituency on this page and scroll to Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr section towards the bottom of the page to see the map.

In the last weeks of the Sixth Senedd, I stood in solidarity with Cwm Taf Morgannwg’s health visitors, who have been on strike since the beginning of March.  I also questioned the First Minister on the matter, asking the Welsh Government to intervene.  They deserve fair pay that reflects their qualifications, responsibilities and professional status.  

These are all women and work in some of the most deprived communities in Wales delivering essential public health and support children and their families.  The need to be rewarded correctly for the work that they do and are being denied by a health board not willing to implement what they have already agreed.    

They have showed incredible resilience for well over two years and have been forced to enter another ballot to strike for a second month.   

The health board must deliver on previous commitments, and if they don’t, the Welsh Government must take action. Social partnership should be meaningful.  

Race Equality First have launched their Welsh Government–funded opportunity designed to support confident, credible and well prepared future leaders across Wales.

The Representing Wales leadership programme helps participants develop the skills, resilience and insight needed for political and public life.

It was great to meet members of Glo i Natur Community Interest Company at the Cwm Tips in Beddau on Monday and discuss its importance for wildlife — and the wider value of coal spoil sites across South Wales. We talked about their ongoing work to restore flower-rich grasslands for the Small Blue butterfly and other species, as well as their upcoming volunteer habitat management days and planned visits from local primary schools. 

The Cwm Tips site is an example of the wonderful work that Glo i Natur does in preserving the precious biodiversity at these sites and has a remarkable wealth of unique wildlife, which includes over 600 invertebrate species, and over 50 bee species and rare pollinators.   

The work done also contributes to ensuring the safety of our old sites, so that we safeguard communities across Wales from the threat posed by our mining legacy. 

I held the latest meeting of the Cost of Living Network in Treforest last Friday. 

A special thanks to Mandy from Pontypridd Foodbank, Steffan from The Bevan Foundation, Michelle from Coalfields Regeneration Trust - Wales, Ben from National Energy Action and Karen from Citizens Advice Rhondda Cynon Taf for their presentations.

I had great conversations with pupils at Aberdare Community School earlier this month, discussing all sorts of issues ranging from AI to vaping, and free school meals to how school uniforms should be more affordable.

It’s so encouraging hearing our school pupils having informed and lively discussions about the things that matter to them and their awareness of what the Senedd and Welsh Government can do to change lives for the better.   

Thanks for the warm welcome and for sharing your views with me on so many different topics.

Health Survey