Withybush Hospital

Protecting the services and status of Withybush Hospital is Paul’s top priority.  Maintaining access to hospital services based locally is vital to the safety and convenience of Pembrokeshire people.

Along with Stephen Crabb MP, Paul has given his unqualified support to the Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT), and has repeatedly called for assurances from the Welsh Assembly Government that services will not be downgraded, and nor will they be centralised.

Housing

The combination of relatively low incomes and soaring property prices has left Pembrokeshire with a severe shortage of affordable housing, and means that many local families are unable to afford their own homes, and some are increasingly forced out of the county all together.

With more than 4,000 people currently on the waiting list for a Council or Housing Association home it is obvious that urgent action is needed to prevent this problem from becoming a crisis.

A40

Keeping competitive in the 21st Century is vital if Pembrokeshire is to maintain its position as one of Wales’ preeminent areas for industry and tourism. That is why Paul has long campaigned to see the dualling of the A40 from St Clears to Haverfordwest and Fishguard.

With new major developments of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminals at Herbranston and Waterston, as well as the ever increasing number of tourists and visitors to Pembrokeshire every year we cannot afford to let our infrastructure continue as it is, and risk the business and tourist benefits that Pembrokeshire possesses to be thrown away.

Also, the increasing danger of travelling on the un-dualled A40, as compared to the dualled section after St Clears reveals the pressing human need for the safety of all those travelling to and from our great county.

Rail Services

Improved rail services to and from Pembrokeshire is something Paul has been fighting for. At a time of massive fuel price increases, investment in the rail network in West Wales is vital both economically and environmentally, as well as giving residents more opportunity to use public transport. Paul has been fully supportive of the recent Jacobs report that recommends putting another five services per day to Fishguard, and upgrading the station there.

Paul is also very keen to improve services on the Milford Haven line, and to have a more integrated transport system where the train timetables fit in with bus timetables.

Rural Affairs

As a largely rural constituency, the farming industry remains at the heart of the Pembrokeshire economy. The issues facing the agricultural industry – from TB and Foot-and-Mouth to unsustainable prices – are ones that Paul feels passionately about.

Paul has met regularly with farming groups, such as the National Farmers Union and Farmers Union of Wales, as well as the Assembly Rural Minister Elin Jones, to protect one of Pembrokeshire’s principal industries.

Ysbyty Llwynhelyg

Amddiffyn gwasanaethau a statws Ysbyty Llwynhelyg yw blaenoriaeth uchaf Paul. Mae cynnal mynediad i wasanaethau ysbyty lleol yn hanfodol er diogelwch a chyfleustra pobl Sir Benfro.

Ynghyd â Stephen Crabb AS, mae Paul wedi rhoi cefnogaeth heb ei ail i Dîm Gweithredu Achub Llwynhelyg (SWAT), ac wedi galw dro ar ôl tro am sicrwydd gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru na fydd gwasanaethau’n cael eu hisraddio na’n cael eu canoli.

Tai

Mae cyfuniad o incwm cymharol isel a phrisiau tai sydd wedi mynd drwy’r to wedi golygu bod Sir Benfro yn wynebu prinder difrifol o dai fforddiadwy, ac mae hyn yn golygu nad yw llawer o deuluoedd lleol yn gallu fforddio eu cartrefi eu hunain, ac yn gynyddol mae rhai yn cael eu gorfodi i adael y sir yn gyfan gwbl.

Gyda dros 4,000 o bobl ar y rhestr aros am gartref gan Gymdeithas Dai neu’r Cyngor ar hyn o bryd mae’n amlwg bod angen gweithredu ar frys i atal y broblem hon rhag datblygu’n argyfwng.

A40

Mae parhau i fod yn gystadleuol yn y 21ain Ganrif yn hanfodol os yw Sir Benfro yn mynd i gynnal ei enw da fel un o ardaloedd gorau Cymru ar gyfer diwydiant a thwristiaeth. Dyma pam mae Paul wedi ymgyrchu ers tro byd i weld yr A40 o Sanclêr i Hwlffordd ac Abergwaun yn cael eu gwneud yn ffordd ddeuol.

Gyda datblygiadau mawr newydd terfynfeydd LNG (Nwy Naturiol Hylifedig) yn Herbranston a Waterston, yn ogystal â nifer cynyddol o dwristiaid ac ymwelwyr â Sir Benfro bob blwyddyn allwn ni ddim fforddio gadael i’n seilwaith barhau fel y mae, a wynebu’r posibilrwydd o golli manteision busnes a thwristiaid sydd gan Sir Benfro.

Hefyd, mae’r perygl cynyddol o deithio ar yr A40 fel ffordd unffrwd, o gymharu â’r rhan ddeuol yr ochr draw i Sanclêr yn angen gwirioneddol bwysig er diogelwch pawb sy’n teithio yn ôl a blaen i’n sir wych ni.

Gwasanaethau Rheilffordd

Mae gwell gwasanaethau rheilffordd i Sir Benfro yn rhywbeth y mae Paul wedi bod yn ymladd drostynt. Ar adeg o gynnydd anferth ym mhris tanwydd, mae buddsoddi yn rhwydwaith rheilffordd y Gorllewin yn hanfodol o ran yr economi a’r amgylchedd, yn ogystal â rhoi gwell cyfle i drigolion ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Mae Paul wedi bod yn gwbl gefnogol i adroddiad diweddar Jacobs sy’n argymell ychwanegu pum gwasanaeth arall y dydd i Abergwaun ac uwchraddio’r orsaf yno.

Hefyd, mae Paul yn awyddus iawn i wella gwasanaethau ar linell Aberdaugleddau, ac i gael system drafnidiaeth fwy integredig lle mae amserlenni trên a bws yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd.

Materion Gwledig

Fel etholaeth wledig yn bennaf, mae’r diwydiant ffermio yn parhau’n ganolog i economi Sir Benfro. Mae’r materion sy’n wynebu’r diwydiant amaethyddol - o TB a Chlwy’r Traed a’r Genau i brisiau anghynaladwy - yn rhai y mae Paul teimlo’n angerddol yn eu cylch. Mae Paul wedi cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â grwpiau ffermio, megis Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr ac Undeb Cenedlaethol Amaethwyr Cymru, yn ogystal â Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig y Cynulliad, Elin Jones, i amddiffyn un o ddiwydiannau pwysicaf Sir Benfro.