AS THE drama of the elections fades away, the real work must begin. The representatives must now deliver on the promises they made to win the election.
It seems to me that most pressing ones are: protecting jobs; preventing the merger of our high schools; fixing the traffic in Newtown and getting a bypass; and preventing the creation of extended wind farms and the associated electricity hubs.
I’ve been disheartened to see the loss of many jobs since May 2010.
So far, I have not seen any clear political strategy to replace these.
This is the single biggest concern for Montgomeryshire and so far I can’t see anything strategic being done to help with this.
I do think it is about time we saw some progress; so far, the trend seems not to have been driven by any political input, and that is a worrying trend.
Despite all the noise made last year about it, the traffic lights are still there, snarling up central Newtown. When will we see these removed?
Frankly, it shouldn’t have taken a year for so little to happen, and I am at a loss to understand why this issue has not been resolved.
Also, could the MP assure us that he still holds to his prediction that we’ll get a bypass in Newtown: he disagreed with me when I said this was not looking like a goer last year...
In the General Election, I predicted that, unless we had proper action from our political representatives, the council would try and merge our sixth forms.
I still believe this is a real danger.
I’d be grateful to hear from our MP, who made a very big issue of it at the election, that he would protect all the schools just as they are.
Finally, on the turbines, given the pressing nature of the issue, we need precise clarity on what our new AM will be doing – now – to stop the turbines coming. You could say that, given the totemic way in which the issue was built up in the Assembly elections, this is a non-negotiable ‘must deliver’ commitment.
It’s easy to make statements in elections. After those elections the work must be done to deliver the things which were highlighted by successful candidates.
We’re no more than four years away from the next elections.
On this occasion, given the detailed policy statements made, it will be easy to see whether our current politicians live up to their campaign statements.
Now, more than ever, people are tired of politicians who don’t follow up the expectations they themselves create.
The people are watching and the clock is ticking.