http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats en-GB Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats 2010-09-07T22:38+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000026/politically_speaking__natwest_service_cuts.html It is often said that you don't appreciate something fully until it is taken away from you. Sadly this has become strikingly real with the recent news that the Natwest services in Llanfair Caereinion, Llanidloes and Montgomery may soon be cut to reduced opening hours. 2010-03-31T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000023/politically_speaking__parliament.html WITH the election looming, it's a good time to consider if parliament still matters, and whether the election can make any difference to our county and our country. 2010-03-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000025/politically_speaking__wales_yfc.html Wales YFC is a voluntary youth organisation that represents 6,000 young people in rural Wales. Although the name of the organisation refers to 'Young Farmers', members are young people from all walks of life - so you don't need to be a farmer to be a member - in fact if your between 10 and 26 years old and want to live a little and learn a lot, then Wales YFC is most definitely for you! 2010-02-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000022/powys_school_modernisation.html The most crucial element of any modernisation strategy proposed for Powys is to ensure full consultation with all stakeholders, primarily parents and professionals, so that the key principles of any strategy are agreed long before the specific details are laid out. Leaked documents and sensationalist outcries will not allow for a rational, well considered proposal and I believe we must scrap the current process that has caused such alarm and begin afresh. 2010-02-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000021/politically_speaking__new_year.html Happy New Year to everyone. A new decade and new hope although on reflection I think the issues that will dominate 2010 will be very much those that dominated 2009. Jobs and war. The war in Afghanistan has already produced many acts of great valour, individual stories of courage and heroism. I also know of many employers and employees who have been heroes, making sacrifices to keep jobs that could have been lost through a difficult economic time. 2010-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000018/a_year_in_the_bay_2009.html The landmark this year has been being a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, the first party to elect a female leader in Wales, heralding equality across all sectors. 2009-12-31T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000020/politically_speaking__climate_change.html Climate change is never more apparent than when we see the impacts in our everyday lives. With increasing flooding across the country, the stark reality is that climate change is no longer a distant concern, a phenomenon affecting people in other regions or future generations, but is here and now, impacting families and businesses in communities across Wales. 2009-11-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000024/politically_speaking__agriculture.html BOVINE TB and Bluetongue have been extremely unwelcome blights on what has been a difficult rural year amid the recession. 2009-11-16T00:00+00:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000019/politically_speaking__health.html Living in Montgomeryshire, I always feel lucky to enjoy the tranquillity of our countryside and the benefits of a rural life. Sadly rural realities mean that whilst we can enjoy these pleasures, factors such as a poor infrastructure, a sparse and diverse population and the cost of delivering services in a rural area puts immense pressure on the delivery of local services, in particular health care. 2009-10-21T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000017/politically_speaking__renewable_energy.html It's been a long summer of bad weather and difficult times so this week I was pleased to attend the exciting opening of the Carno II Windfarm and the Carno Community Wood Pellet Boiler. With the future health of our planet and our rural economies so deeply linked, these projects are fantastic examples of how a local community can benefit from the development of renewable energy and help to tackle climate change at the same time. 2009-09-15T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000002/he_was_my_father_and_therefore_he_had_to_be_fine_lembit_opik_on_the_relentless_illness_that_is_motor_neurone_disease.html Death is as inevitable as it is tragic - all the more so when it happens in one's own family. 2009-08-16T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000016/politically_speaking__royal_welsh_show_09.html Shows such as the National Eisteddfod have taken on an iconic status in recent years, becoming the focus in a calendar rich with cultural events. In Montgomeryshire we are very fortunate to have a vast number of dedicated people who annually organise fantastic events across the county, in celebration of our history and traditions, language and our beautiful landscape and environment. 2009-08-12T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000015/politically_speaking__governance.html When written in Chinese the word Crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity. It's my experience that this is true in all aspects and none more so than the current crisis in the political world over expenses. 2009-06-03T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000014/politically_speaking__economy.html Last week saw the occurrence of two political events surrounding the future of our local and national economies. The Black Boy in Newtown and Parliament in Westminster could not be further apart than the differing approach taken to these events at both ends of the road. 2009-04-28T00:00+01:00 http://www.montlibdems.org.uk/articles/000013/politically_speaking__climate_change.html As the Copenhagen Climate Summit rises on the horizon I was pleased to have the privilege to host the screening of a powerful and acclaimed new climate change film 'Age of Stupid' which I would urge everyone to watch. This film is a wake-up call, telling us that we can't afford to waste any more time - we must take action now, not just look back in fifty years and ask why we didn't do everything possible to tackle climate change when we had the chance. 2009-03-25T00:00+00:00