Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By Mariam Kamish, Caerphilly Trades Council Secretary
Public Debate! We had a hard time persuading a Plaid Cymru councillor to take part. Would Labour send someone to represent the council?
In the end, they didn’t. But the room filled with people determined to save Abertridwr library. In the front row sat two young boys who’d come on their own.
Posters shone from bus shelters, utility boxes, telephone poles. Everyone we stopped with a leaflet knew all about it.
Labour Caerphilly council proposes to close ten libraries, saving £500,000 over three years, claiming to concentrate resources into hubs – that they expect people to travel miles to. Our debate was organised as ten one-minute exchanges on how we can stop this – followed by an open discussion.
The Plaid Cymru councillor didn’t address the issue. She told us we were a deprived area – which didn’t sit well with our pride.
She talked council jargon. She told us to blame democracy – ‘Plaid haven’t won enough seats’.
I argued we have to build a mass campaign that the council can’t ignore. I called on the council to set a legal no-cuts, needs-based budget. I explained how to buy time by dipping into massive council reserves.
Speaking from the floor Robert Hopkins, a former miner, said: “Wake up Labour councillors. You need to represent us.”
Another attendee, Kenny Matthews said: “One thing I’ve seen today is the community spirit of the mining valleys. I believe we make our own luck. And I believe we can beat the council.”
Labour’s consultations feel based on the Hunger Games. They want us to fight each other. We won’t play.
We’re supporting every area to save its library or leisure centre. There’s still time to link up, fight back, and win.
