Post-Covid Wales: Contribute Your Ideas

I think we need to totally reconfigure our food production system. It is inefficient. The one thing I would fear for an independent Wales is that we would rely too heavily on imports. This pandemic has shown that reliance on imports to feed a nation's people can be risky. Around 80% of Wales' land is agricultural land. Almost all of it is used for meat production. Yet we import 7 times more meat than we export. Farms are heavily subsidised (this is true for the rest of Europe) and I wonder for what? If other industries cannot survive, they disappear. I don't want this to happen to the farming industry but these subsidies will cost the Welsh tax payer too much money. With a Plaid government in 2021 we need to step ahead of the curve and transform our broken agricultural industry.

We need to develop a Welsh business model that firmly puts SMEs at the centre of our economy. We need to revisit competitive tendering In government and public services to take account of local purchasing initiatives along with environmental considerations. We need to develop a business taxation system that Supports Welsh business. As a party we are rightly strong on social welfare and social cause issues we now need to show that we are equally strong on business and the economy

A clear action plan to get BCUHB out of special measures , and accelerate the process whereby North and Mid Wales does not have to rely on NHS england for specialist referrals esp now in this new covid 19 era.

Bus service providers should change their terms of carriage to allow any type of bike to be carried on board so long as there is sufficient space. Alternatively all buses should be fitted with bike racks on the front. This would allow people to ride the first and final miles of their overall much longer journey. This could be useful for commuters and also tourists. Perhaps this applies more to rural areas where distances are greater, bus stops less common and buses often much less busy. It's easy to do this, why not try it?! It works well in other countries.

Communication Breakdown, might be a great track by Led Zeppelin, it is unfortunately the sorry case that we currently find ourselves in. Between little to no devolved Media powers, One UK conglomerate media company owning the mainstream monopoly of media in Wales, the bereft teachings of our histories - in addition to an inability to read/understand our histories for many as we are not taught ein iaith in the first place (or taught it as a second / tourist language) - where arguably the communication breakdown started back when Edward laid the first brick at Caernarfon. I suggest, but wouldn’t know how to achieve, that we push for devolved media powers - break apart the monopoly (or legislate as such so that the laws make it so that one company can’t own a monopoly), as well as working towards reconnecting our communities. Our nation was unstoppable at a point in time - when we worked together. We need to return back to our roots - we need to turn back to our neighbouring areas and need a place/facility (physical and/or online) to be able to connect. Dw i’n byw yn Castell-Nedd, ond - we hear absolutely nothing of what happens North/West/East/Hell - lucky to hear what happens in Swansea/Cardiff. We need to work on our own inter tourism across Wales - where I feel that some form of exchange program potentially related to education - to be able to organise for younger minds of how we’re interconnected (today as well as in our histories), but absolutely anything and everything to breakdown the constant media dialogue of “too small to be big”, where we are humble giants in what we’ve given to the world and feel we need to be reminded of that to reaffirm our self worth/self confidence as a nation and peoples. In the words of Noam Chomsky: “Remove a people’s past, Input a present - and you can dictate their future”. Where is our future heading with the communication breakdown of media and spreading of misinformation (as seen in lockdown)? Towards a future not of our own validity - but of our subjugation and assimilation into England. The weapon of our oppressor has always been language, perception and framing. Look at how our nation is framed and perceived in media - and question: Does this represent me? If not - then we have our work cut out for us as I don’t feel it will be an easy feat, seeing as those were the tools that got us to vote against our better interests.

If an MS or Councillor wants to switch parties there needs to be a by-election. Its unfair on constituents if they end up with a representative in a party they didn't vote for.

Many in Wales are impressed by the poll taken in England that thinks the Devolved Governments are doing much better at handling C19 than Westminster. This positive view anecdotally impresses people of Cymru. PC needs to capitalise on that positive energy. It’s clear that despite their ineptitude that Labour in Cymru have done a better job than Westminster with a far lower R number and fewer transmissions. Despite having their hands tied by the lack of economic powers. If only, it seems to me, Wales had more powers to deal with the other aspects of Coronavirus? It’s success is an argument for independence being vital to us to have the tools to take responsibility. We clearly care more about Cymru than Westminster does. Churchill (afiach) run a very successful campaign to encourage workers to become part of the war effort. It was called ‘give us the tools and we’ll finish the job’ . Why don’t we turn that bellicose marketing gimmick on? Give Wales the tools, & we’ll give you a better Wales. Or something along those lines. Sadly, we need people to take sides now. Cymru or Westminster? We’ve seen so much disgraceful behaviour and corruption in Westminster culminating in Johnson’s pathetic C19 debacle that has cost many lives. Now is the time to brace The people of Wales? Whose side are you on? Richard Jenkins MSc

I have just edited this suggestion after receiving useful feedback and having conversation about some of the details.

In order to tackle pollution and congestion as we come out of lockdown we divide all traffic in two by only allowing cars with an odd or an even number plate to drive on the roads on certain days of the week, Monday-Saturday, three days on three days off. This will be applied at specific times of day and rather than numeric could even be alphabetic (A-M cars and N-Z cars).

Either way its an easy visual identification that restricts the amount of traffic for six days of the week. 

I suggest we first trial this on a section of road somewhere that gets congested, perhaps use two or three lanes of the M4 corridor around Newport and further extend it if it is a success.  Overhead matrix boards will say only cars adhering to this system can drive in lanes 3 and 4 (the hard shoulder is not disturbed and is still accessible for all traffic). Once decided on, the days cant be changed as people need time to make arrangements. Drivers don’t need to sign up to anything, as long as they drive in the correct lanes on the correct days they won’t get fined. ANPR cameras check cars are adhering and fines go to pay for it all. There will likely be some drivers that will just try to find an alternative route around the motorway but if a driver is sitting in congested traffic in one lane, seeing traffic moving at a good pace in the next lane, I think it will encourage more people to get involved rather than try and find alternative routes.

It will only work if this runs alongside increased help for drivers to find alternatives on the days they can’t drive. Drivers don't need to sign up to anything but if they do they are sent detailed information on public transport either by post or regular SMS updates and more importantly a tried and tested car share app is provided that encourages drivers to give people lifts and find lifts for the days they can’t drive. These kind of car sharing apps are available and perhaps worth looking at.
The app/website I have in mind is a cross between Airbnb and Uber. When a user inputs their cars registration the app gives out a calendar of exact days and times that car can and cant use specified lanes in the trial. It also makes it simple to car share for chosen time and direction of travel in the area of the trial. It would be run by government and have a bit more credibility for the target user group than any of the currently available car share projects.

A big problem is that most people have access to more than one car so have the option of using another car when they cant use their own. I suggest that the app gives incentive 'points' or 'credits' to a driver and the driver has to first register just one car that they wish to use on the app. A disabled driver can only register one car for tax exemption but may own more than one car, they just don't get the same tax relief. When a user of the app doesn’t use their car and accepts a lift from another app/road users on the days they can't drive, they are given credits. That way, rather than just using their other half's car when they cant drive their own car they are encouraged to get more involved. The aim here is to boost lift sharing and cut down congestion in the trial area. Users of the app can leave feedback, good points, bad points, reviews etc. and they will get credits the more people that they give lifts to and the more lifts they take.  There has to be a worthwhile benefit when an amount of credit is reached. Financial benefit is always best, free/half price tickets on public transport, road tax reduction or rebate maybe? There could even be other perks like tickets to rugby, music concerts, family days out. There can also be a phone-line that drivers can call to get involved in the system so it doesn't exclude all those drivers who don't use computers or smart phones. The system can even call/message drivers on a certain route if lifts are needed, even at short notice. EG a driver could receive a text saying "lift required tomorrow @ 8 A.M. from Cardiff to Chepstow, 70 credits" the system can send this message out to all the drivers it knows that drive in that area on that day. As much as possible is available by phone and SMS too, not everyone can download apps.

Its already been tried in other countries and we can learn from their problems, eg government and staff don't get a pass they lead by example and car share, or use the train etc...

There was also a lift share project that ran for a year on Bristol A4174 ring road. I remember you had a lane during rush hour where only cars with multiple occupants could use and there was a fine if rule was broken, cameras enforced it. I dont know how successful it was, but I know it didnt have any alternative arrangements for drivers running alongside it.
This is the trial if anyone from Plaid wants to ask them the contact is on here: https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/A4174HOVlanesamendments/consultationHom

I don’t think Wales are developing any of these expensive ‘smart motorways’ which have been called dangerous by many individuals and groups in England, including the person who first suggested it I just read. I hope this sort of system will better manage the increased pressure on our roads.

Obviously there should be a free pass for nurses/doctors/teachers etc.

Above everything else, we must have a greener Wales. Not just trees and words, we must listen to the science and do everythinh we can to reverse Wales' carbon footprint. Rethink Morlais on Anglesey! Don't let them destroy 98% of birdlife at South Stack please.

As a teacher, I usually loathe politicians getting too involved in education and making changes seemingly for changes sake, but here is an exception. The education system - mainly by design - has failed for years to produce school leavers who have a basic understanding of the political system in Wales (or even the UK). Yes, PSE is considered compulsory, but the content isn’t, and speaking as a teacher, leaving the content to the individual teachers or schools means it’s done inadequately or not at all (not teachers’ fault, I must say, when the resources provided are appalling and they simply don’t have the time and inclination to find their own!) Now we MUST do something. Next year 16/17 year olds will be able to vote in local and Senedd elections. In addition, more and more young people are genuinely becoming interested in politics, the one thing stopping them being more involved, perhaps, is that they don’t know how to! Politics and the education of democracy must be given a higher priority in schools. Political education needs to teach students how the political system works, how new laws are introduced, the differences in neighbouring democratic countries and finally how to become directly involved in Welsh politics. Politics is part of everyone’s life. We need to help young people recognise it’s not a dirty word!

At Swansea there were about 20 motions raised, many of them by grassroots members, with the aim of having a say in the strategic direction of Plaid Cymru. How about actually showing some respect for the members, who mostly unpaid, took a lot of time to prepare these motions by actually publishing them, updating membership about progress against them. You are asking us for ideas when you have not given feedback, or respect, to the ideas that the membership have already formulated. I am passionate about Plaid Cymru and an independent Wales but if you cannot run a party efficiently then how are you going to runa country.

It's never been more important to differentiate the identity of Wales as much as possible from England and as an approach this is central to the identity of the Party. Let's face it, there couldnt be an easier area to do this than in our approach to Europe. We could incentivise links to other European countries through current town twinning arrangements, establish even closer links to European institutions (EU and non-EU - see another one of my suggestions on Welsh philosophy for a possibly greater link to France), emphasise our links to the European Celtic diaspora and perhaps have a pro-Europe theme to the entire discussion on a post-COVID world. Needs co-operation, of course, with the SNP and Irish friends. A new push in this area could pay massive dividends for Welsh identity and could attract European funding of all sorts.

Take a complete no tolerance approach to discrimination. If any member, MS, MP, PCC or Councillor espouse discriminatory views they should be immediately expelled from the party. A more hard-line approach to be taken to show Plaid as the anti-discrimination party.

Horticultural could be as important as agriculture when it comes to growing food. Large greenhouses to create an environment for fruit and veg that may not nessecery grow well in our damp climate. E.g tomatoes. It could create jobs as well as reducing food miles which is always good for environmental as well

Close off all tourism for 2 to 3 months a year.Close all national parks for 1 to 2 months.Provide fines and tow away excessive parking like in Snowdonia an the Beacons.Prior booking to all of the official parking facilities.Set up park and ride for excess visitors.

Why not help monoglot Plaid members not to feel second class Welsh people by sending two eMails, one in Welsh and one in English, rather than the "never mind you poor soul, scroll down for English". I am very Welsh even though I don't speak the language.

We should equip our communities to be able to provide more of their basic needs. e.g. food, energy, housing. Food - set up community supported agriculture schemes. Energy - Community owned energy generation schemes. Housing - Council or social housing. This is going on already, but needs far greater adoption and at scale to be able to make a real difference.

The pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on our essential workers from nurses, to shop workers, street cleaners and police; and I would also like to add those working within the domestic abuse should also be categorised as essential workers and all should receive a minimum wage of £25,000

Would a ferry service connecting south, west and north wales be feasible.

More & more it seems people are waking up to the carpetbagging VolumeHouse builders taking over housing policy in Cymru. They do not build for local need. Do not purchase locally. Employ few locals. If they do it’s often sub contractors at penurious rates. Too many tales of contractors being squeezed out of full payments at the end of contract. All in all they bring little or nothing to Wales whilst they eat up our building land to make huge profits building Mini mansions for seasoned buyers. Often these buyers are not local but incomers looking for a cheap deal on a chicken cwt size house. So we gain only a poor standard of housing stock. People are picking up on this modern day rape and Plaid should be putting together a plan to introduce legislation that will allow local builders to develop our land for local need. Ready for publication when the Corvid 19 crisis ends. Diolch Richard (Director Federation of Master Builders - RETIRED)

A robust and easily accessible Freedom of Information Act should be one of the pillars of the new Independent Wales Constitution. The present FOI seems designed so as to obstruct scrutiny of Public Bodies, including Government.

Establish permanent ‘crisis management’ structures (such as the SCGs) and ensure LHBs and WG are fully engaged with true two way communication.

More graduates leave Wales than stay, and a high percentage of those who do stay are in non-graduate jobs. Retain graduates by paying them to live and work in Wales; create jobs by backing innovative businesses and start-ups.

Ireland is obviously something we should aspire to. Not only had they won their independence from the Union, but have become a successful nation on its own in Europe, and is now a member (albeit temporarily) on the UN Security Council. While Welsh Language and Culture has survived throughout the centuries, in Cornwall (Kernow) and Brittany (Breizh) it could use more attention. As we share the same linguistic and cultural heritage, we should help support them by offering classes on Brezhoneg or Kernowek, as well as teach more about their culture and history in a Wales alongside ours.

The explosion in housing and commercial developments around our cities, small towns and villages across Cymru / Wales over the last 40 years - often with little provision for public transport or alternative ways for potential residents to get around beyond using their cars - has flagged up the rapid loss of green spaces in and around our urban and not so urban areas. One thing our country lacks, aside from a serious well though out integrated housing structure plan, and a modern planning system and a realistic vision or plan for strategically developing our housing for the future, is green belt. There is a clear need for formal legally protected green belt, around Cardiff (including the Northern meadows), Newport, Cwmbran and Caerphilly along with our small towns in Monmouthshire: Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth and elsewhere in Cymru / Wales. We have a clear, if not a dire need for the creation of Green belt across all of our country, to fringe our urban areas, to help focus out of town and fringe of town developments, and to protect green spaces around, between and within some of our urban areas. Green belt, if respected is still a useful planning tool, originally introduced for London in 1938, it was rolled out to England as a whole by a government circular in 1955 but interestingly enough it was only enough never rolled out here in Cymru / Wales. Now the original concept was to allow local councils to designate green belts when they wanted to restrict, control or shape urban growth.   The idea worked and it worked well, as by 2007, Green belt covered something like 13% of England (about one-and-a-half million hectares) despite the best efforts of previous Conservative, New Labour and Conservative–Liberal Democrat Governments it is still remains relatively well protected by normal planning controls against "inappropriate development". It is worth noting that there is no designated green belt in Cymru / Wales - save for one patch of notional green belt (actually a Green wedge) that lies between Cardiff and Newport. Scotland has seven and Northern Ireland has thirty - each has its own policy guidance.  This absence of green belt in Cymru / Wales explains much - it has certainly contributed to urban sprawl and significant out of town and edge of town development - something that has done little to help our communities, economically or socially especially over the last 30 years. The preservation of green spaces aside, comes down to planning permission (and ultimately our planning process), which can be a touchy subject in itself, especially when a development (whether for commercial, housing or energy development) is controversial or the final decision is made against the wishes of local people. In Cymru / Wales we face the same problem across all of our country, be it around Wrecsam, Carmarthen, northern Cardiff, Swansea of any of our smaller towns and villages. More locally, a number of these housing developments, which have done (and will do) some pretty serious damage to our environment have come without any necessary improvements in infrastructure e.g new railway stations with reasonably priced (or even free), adequate and secure park and ride facilities at Caerleon (closed as a result of the Beeching cuts in 1962, in the UDP since 1984) not to mention Llanwern and Magor. In our south east, along the coastal belt and in and around Newport and Torfaen (not to mention around Cardiff and Caerphilly) and across Monmouthshire the last thirty years has seen a significant if not spectacular growth in the amount of housing, a significant percentage of which has never aimed to fulfil local housing needs. As a result the infrastructure along the coastal belt between Chepstow, Caldicot, Rogiet and Magor struggles to cope with existing developments and this is well before the projected expansion of housing on and around the former Llanwern site (where the proposed railway station was recently cancelled) really kicks in. Northern Newport has been linked to the south Cwmbran - something that has brought little material benefit to the residents of either urban area but has contributed much to traffic congestion. Similarly linking Cwmbran with Sebastopol will bring scant real benefit to local residents - when the housing development is complete - just exactly how much of it will be affordable to local residents remains to be seen? The removal of the Severn Bridge tolls resulted (as expected) in a bump in house prices as people living in and around Bristol moved to cash in on cheaper housing over here.   This understandably impacted on both affordable and available housing, developers will no doubt pitch their developments accordingly to cash in on perceived higher wages in the Bristol area and perceived cheaper housing over here (and no doubt our local authorities will fall over themselves to accommodate the developers wishes regardless how local people feel). The, then, National Assembly (now Senedd) should have known better and acted accordingly, the institution when established was supposed to have sustainability enshrined in its actions, but, at times you really have to wonder, especially when it comes to the impact of some of the proposed developments on our communities, whether it does or not. We need to develop and protect our own green belt around and within our urban communities – because once developed (or overdeveloped) it’s gone for good. We need to bin the fundamentally flawed UDP process and make our local government structure fit for the 21st century rather than the 19th century and accommodate re realities of devolved government. It should be pretty clear by now to even the most dispassionate of observers that in Wales, we lack a coherent national strategic development plan for Wales judging by the half-baked way local unitary development plans have been put together over the years. The problem caused by a lack of protection to our Green spaces is aggravated by the fact that while one generation of elected officials (and council officers) envisages as a green wedge, green lane, etc as a social necessity they are often seen by following generations of elected officials (and council officers) as either prime land for development or a nice little earner to help balance out the books. This means that there is a real lack of stability and a lack of a sustainable long term vision for many of our urban areas and impacts on our quality of life.  The Senedd needs to grow up and act like the Welsh Parliament it has become - it should take the long view and legislate to create and protect Green belt land with full legal and planning protections in Cymru/ Wales. This might go some way to calming things down when it comes to development planning and might introduce a more long-term sustainable democratic element into the process. This is something that could be accomplished by creating Welsh Green belt land, as part of the process we also need an urgent and open debate into the planning process in Wales - something that has been long overdue. Successive Westminster government’s (in England) talked about getting planning officers "off people's backs" with a relaxation of planning rules. When they talked about ‘people’ they meant developers. No doubt post Brexit Westminster ministers will want further changes to planning rules (in England) in an attempt to boost house building and revive the economy. Not wanting to be left out (and also perhaps bereft of any fresh ideas), a few years ago Carwyn’s Labour in Wales Government in Cardiff also pursued major changes to planning rules in Wales aiming to ‘tilt the balance in favour of economic growth over the environment and social factors’. That decision was in my opinion aimed quite specifically at overturning those few occasions when our Local Authorities have rejected developments (often at the behest of local residents) rather than putting economic needs ahead of economic and environmental benefits and will do little for sustainable, flood free development to deal with local housing needs let alone preserve our green spaces. It explains much of the housing overdevelopment in various parts of our country and it does not deliver for our hard pressed communities or our country. We need to look at championing the development of new homes in small-scale housing developments in both rural and urban Wales on ‘exception sites’, where land plots, not covered by general planning permission, will be capped at an affordable price designed to benefit those in local housing need with family and work ties to the area, and whose sale will be conditional on these houses continuing in local ownership in perpetuity. What’s left of our social housing stock that remains under the control of the housing associations needs to remain intact in order to meet the demand for homes. Along with developing social housing stock there is a need to introduce a more rigorous system in the allocation of social housing to give priority to those in local housing need. Part of the problem is that our planning system, along with our almost nineteenth century local government setup is not designed to coexist with devolution or for that matter to deliver planning decisions with real and lasting benefits for local people and local communities. There is a real need for root and branch reform and reorganisation of our planning system; something the Welsh Government has failed to deliver with tinkering and tweaks to existing out-dated legislation rather than and real reform. Our current planning system remains far too focused on railroading through large housing / commercial developments, that often bring little benefits for local people and local communities and often fail to resolve real and pressing local housing needs. We need a fundamental change in planning culture to encourage appropriate and sustainable smaller scale housing developments, which are based on good design and actively promote energy efficiency and good environmental standards and that puts our communities first.

Local railways connecting towns, then beyond. Green factors, such as tree planting,conservation and energy.

I would like to see Disabled Members get together, form a group, increase our profile on all Plaid publications so that disability is an issue in its own right and doesn't just become swept up within the category of equalities.

As a group we can then liaise with all the other disability groups in Wales and UK and add to the campaigns to prepare for elections in May.

We can look at many issues effecting Disabled people today e.g. what are the barriers that make it harder for a Deaf/Disabled candidate wishing to stand for election.

Create an integrated national Housing Policy, which would force developers to build at least 50% of new builds as affordable to local inhabitants. Increase taxation on ALL second or holiday homes. Finally, increase council housing provision back to previous/average historic levels

Electric cars require quite exotic materials in their batteries and other systems, and mining these materials damages ecosystems in other countries (particularly the third world), a network of Hydrogen fuel garages every 50km across Wales would be a massive step forward - providing an easy to fuel, pollution free alternative to electric cars - Wales could be world leaders on such a network - you simply cannot provide enough charging points or electricity to supply electric vehicles alone

In Canada, depending on where you go province-to-province and the territories, a system of taxation is implemented on luxury goods, vehicles, clothing and some services etc. For example, in British Columbia, there is a system that has Provincial Sales Tax and Goods and Sales Tax. In B.C’s case, it’s 5%+7% on top. In this case, a T-Shirt costing $30 would be $3.60 on top including PST and GST applies at the till. Some areas like Nova Scotia and Ontario have this collated already called the “Harmonised Sales Tax”. This tax is later collected directly and used to support businesses and enterprises in Wales.

We as a Country need to improve the quality and availability of Mental Health Services. Too many politicians pay lip service to this. We need a significant improvement in numbers of Mental Health staff and pay special attention to the increasing numbers of people (especially young people) with ever increasing Mental problems. As an inclusive Wales we need to care for all.

It has been completely clear to me that the Celtic nations have had a much more grown-up & empathetic approach to tackling this pandemic than that of Westminster. Just hearing Mark Drakeford’s remarks about Ogmore over the last few days has shown immense leadership that Boris and his elite have not with their beach issues. Westminster cares only for money, not its people, and nothing has made that more apparent then recklessly reducing lockdown so nonchalantly that even the media doesn’t have a clue what his exact plan is. The Welsh Government has shown transparency and stated clear guidelines from the start and has only helped reassure the Welsh population instead of confusing them. Ultimately we have shown that we can lead, protect and support ourselves better than Westminster can.

We need more solar pv to harness renewable enegry around wales. Making use of public sector roofs/ carpark/spaces & linking them to ev chargepoints. We need to put the infrastructure in place (& properly = green) to make sure those who can buy evs have no barriers. Public bodies need to lead the way. They own so much land/properties all over Wales. It could make a real difference & link to fuel poverty, greening the grid, getting people aware of local energy generation & ready for a Wales energy/utility offering (and eventually regulation).

Example: The Conwy Valley line runs from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It operates a basic 3 hourly service daily (5 trains in each direction daily). The line has capacity to at least double the frequency allowing more people to choose the train +/- bicycle, instead of their cars. Along the line there are major, high value tourist attractions, but as the service is so infrequent it doesn't make it a realistic option for many. Having joined up public transport ticketing and timetabling at hubs such as Llanrwst, Betws y Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog into the national park and major attractions such as Zip World would allow people to use multi mode transport options, locals and tourists alike. Attractions such as Adventure Parc Snowdonia (previously Surf Snowdonia is only 1km from the nearest station at Dolgarrog but is only accessible by an old, rough path (former branch line) - turn this into a multi use active travel route and you link the line up with a major attraction allowing for greener and more sustainable travel for locals living in Dolgarrog and visitors to the 'A.P.S' site. The trains only run between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog meaning you have to change for either West or Southbound services or services into England. Why not have occassional direct services from Blaenau Ffestiniog to/from Holhyead Port and Manchester Airport to allow for more green travel in the national park, with E bike or E car rental options at stations such as Llanrwst, Betws y Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog. A completed active travel route between Llanrwst and Betws y Coed would allow both to benefit from tourism along with allowing locals to make healthier and safer bicycle journey to work and for leisure with the ability to choose the train then if the weather is poor etc. This is just an example of one valley in the north but similar joined up transport options are needed to realise a healthier and greener country.

Keeping them overgrown will benefit wildlife, and also in theory encourage more cautious driving. Keeping 80-90% of the verge wild, whilst offering clear visibility for drivers stopping at junctions/roundabouts.

Reform of the LAs must be done. Go back to the previous 8 with some changes: placing Conwy in Gwynedd: Caerphilly in Cwm Taf (former Mid Glam) with Rhondda and Merthyr; to even up the population balance. And align the current Health Boards with them by splitting up Betsi Cadwaladr into 2, also placing Social Care firmly in under the Health Boards.

Lessen the amount of investment a sector that’s only open for 1/3 of the year. Instead a portion of that investment could be used to develop areas and create a large amount of permanent jobs. This would prove itself more beneficial toward Wales as a whole, not just a tiny area that’s a tourist trap. Towns like Rhyl have been ruined by the decline of tourism in the area. Therefore we must ensure there alternative methods of employment and income for Wales.

North and West Wales is in danger of becoming the RAF's playground with consequent deterioration on our quality of life, the tourist industry and our culture. It's application to extend its practices to Llanbedr should be opposed as it will bring little in employment for local people and any small gains are outweighed by the losses. It is directly opposed to Wales sustainability goals due to the increase in the RAFs carbon footprint. Far better use of this area is to use it for sport, educational, leisure, environmental purposes : what about gliding opportunities, ballooning, parachuting, tennis courts and training as tennis is a suitable post covid sport, nature events (consult wildlife trusts) and other attractive civil rather than military pursuits?

Netherlands is about twice the size of Wales in terms of Land size, but has strived in the European Economy, Whereas Wales is 29 times bigger than Singapore & Singapore had a similar population size to Wales in 1992. It would be good to look into how these 2 economies, who's countries have similaries to Wales have managed to grow and really build themselves, and look into whether it would be feasible for implantation in Wales

I agree re taking some of the focus away from tourism.... living on Anglesey as I do I keep thinking of its old title Mam Cymru...my vision would be setting farming standards across Wales so that there is less run off into our seas of toxic chemicals creating anoxic areas with no life (fish or anything else except jellies); funding organic ventures in livestock and arable- no organic farming on Anglesey that I’ve found....The land and soil here are some of the best. Let’s make Wales Mam UK !

What was made evident (seemingly reluctantly by Llafur) during lockdown is that we can do things better here in Wales when we have the law making powers to do so. Albeit I support the using of our health powers - what was also made apparent was the sheer confusion because of mainstream media repeating Boris’ words where they only applied to England. We might not be able to hold Boris to account, but we should be able to have media that’s colloquially accurate or at least accountable for sharing misinformation (Boris might find England a dirty word, and used UK - but it shouldn’t be accepted that media repeat it with the same sentiments). It’s been a long time coming, but we need devolved law making powers on media or else all the work done up til now is null and void. The high streets are going to die, and the reason we’re opening back up so soon is because of a lack of devolved law making powers in business and infrastructure. If we taxed the companies (not Westminster), we’d have greater incentives and abilities to work with. We need to reshape our social spaces - and I feel we should build recreational facilities (things you can’t physically achieve online) in our town/city centres to help inspire more footfall/tourism. Had we devolved law making powers on Policing - we could have amended the issue of “non sensical travellers” during covid, where it’s a question that why does Manchester (a city) have greater law making powers than our country? I’d like Plaid to push further for Independence and try to start answering the questions of what that might look like aka fleshing our the idea into a plan. We can’t do it without the above - where I feel media is the most important. We need to reconnect as communities, and whilst we’re doing it a fresh - why not open the gates and finally reconnect our country! I’m from Neath and here nothing about what happens up north, west or out east! I’m lucky to hear what happens in Swansea or Cardiff! Let’s break the communication breakdown and rebuild our country with community.

The Senedd to have the ability to raise direct and indirect taxes to fund issues of importance in Wales. A priority would be reorganisation of Health and Social Care into one streamlined Organisation,to be funded by an increase of 1-2% in income tax or NI. Free social care for all to be also funded by direct taxation. Discuss🤔

Farmers in the UK find themselves in an impossible situation with their wool; https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/farmers-shearings-574-sheep-compost-18493202 This wool could be used as part of a national insulation programme, to upgrade the insulation in every suitable home in Wales. Improved insulation and general thermal efficiency would lead to; # Lower heating bills - less fuel poverty. # Warmer homes - reduced damp and associated ill health. # Less energy use overall - fewer carbon emissions. Wool is not suitable for every property. Perhaps the Government should incentivise or we set up a number of community owned companies, or a nationalised company to go around the country installing different types of insulation in different types of property.