Taran Clayton

Your Voice, My Commitment. The only independent candidate in Casnewydd Islwyn. For Welsh translation email: Am gyfieithiad Gymraeg ebostiwch: taran.clayton@voteislwyn.cymru The Senedd Affects You The Senedd is Wales’s legislature and drafts, debates, and votes on laws, known as Bills, most of which are introduced by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government is the executive and decides how taxes and funding are spent in Wales and presents draft budgets to the Senedd each year. Senedd has tax powers to control: • local taxes (business rates and council tax) • land transaction tax (the devolved equivalent to stamp duty land tax) • landfill disposals tax (replacing landfill tax in Wales) • Welsh Rates of Income tax (WRIT) Senedd has key devolved areas of responsibility in: • Health & Social Services: The NHS in Wales, social care, and public health. • Education: Schools, nurseries, colleges, and higher education. • Environment: Protecting and managing Wales’s natural resources. • Housing: Housing policy, homelessness, and building standards. • Transport: Roads, public transport, and some railway responsibilities. • Local Government: Structure and funding of local councils. The Senedd scrutinises the Welsh Government, including Ministers who develop policy and lead government departments. Ministers have a duty to account for their policies and decisions to the Senedd by appearing for questions when asked to do so by MSs. Senedd committees are formed by MSs to scrutinise expenditure and policies of the Welsh Government, holding Ministers to account, and examining proposed legislation. Countless Conversations I believe in representation rather than policy. I believe the best politician comes from listening first, using expertise wisely, and acting in line with the values of the people you represent. I want to understand my constituents’ concerns and then draw on the Senedd resources of independent experts, evidence, and scrutiny mechanisms in shaping proposals around your local views and judging policy with your values. That is why I have been campaigning around Islwyn since February. Walking over 60 miles to listen to what you have to say. I have visited you in the areas below and will continue to do so up to the election on the 7th of May. • Blackwood & Cefn Fforest • Penmaen, Oakdale, Croespenmaen & Trinant • Crumlin, Treowen, Hafodyrynys & Pantside • Rock, Argoed, Markham & Hollybush • Abercarn, Cwmcarn, Pontywaun & Crosskeys • Risca, Pontymister & Rogerstone • Rhiwderin, Bassaleg & High Cross I am thankful for all I have met so far and to whom I will meet as I continue my campaign. What I have heard Since February, I’ve been campaigning across Islwyn to understand your values, concerns and priorities. These are some of the issues you’ve raised most often: Transport • Potholes: Repairs only cover marked potholes, while new ones appear beside them. Some are now so severe buses no longer need to lower ramps. • Traffic calming: Speeding in residential areas, repeated collisions with traffic‑calming measures in Pentwyn‑mawr, and crashes on routes into Newbridge where measures are missing. • Buses: Outdated timetables, poor connections and inefficient routes. • Parking: High costs in Blackwood; poor enforcement and layout in Newbridge; high‑street parking in Pentwyn‑mawr blocking buses; and yellow‑line parking in Rogerstone restricting emergency access. Your community • Edge‑of‑borough communities feel overlooked: Poor promotion of high‑street businesses and events (e.g. Risca and Newbridge), ongoing litter issues, delayed playground upgrades, and the loss of post offices and banks. • Pavements, paths and rights of way: Eroding riverbank paths in Rogerstone and Pontymister, weak flood defences, overgrown paths and dangerous pavement potholes. • Specific concerns: Limited high‑street diversity, rising anti‑social behaviour and calls for more visible policing, concerns about the cost and use of Homeleigh House in Newbridge, and new housing around Oakdale putting pressure on local services. Building and businesses • Developments: SuDS approvals are delaying building projects. • Independent businesses: Unfair rates and rising costs, alongside parking charges and restrictions that reduce high‑street footfall. Health, care and education • NHS: Corridor care, long waiting lists and dissatisfaction with the Grange, with calls for more local health hubs. No Right to Choose and limited shared care mean many patients are forced to pay privately. • Social care: Carers risk losing homes and receive just £86.45 a week; returning expats face long waits for essential services. • Vets: Soaring bills, costly insurance and pressure‑driven policies, with calls for stronger regulation. • Education: Wales falling behind in core subjects, limited options for school‑leavers, strong demand for apprenticeships, and concerns over Flying Start fairness. Positives • Many residents are happy with their communities. • Council libraries and hubs support local people. • Social care staff are delivering exceptional support despite the intense pressure the service is under. • Schools have been outstanding in accommodating pupils with special needs . • Some small businesses benefit from rates relief. Your Voice, My Commitment. From listening to you, I will prioritise local government, public spending efficiencies and health and social care. I aim to represent your voices in committees that deal with these matters. Before the election these were: • Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee: Scrutinising how public resources are used across Wales —focusing on economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. • Finance Committee: Scrutinising Welsh Government and local government spending and oversees the governance of the Wales Audit Office. • Local Government and Housing Committee: Ensuring local budgeting is where it needs to be. • Health and Social Care Committee: Scrutinising resource expenditure and policy. As an independent candidate all that I can promise is to do my best to represent constituents’ concerns and scrutinise policy, bills and budgets on your behalf. I am confident I have gauged your values, concerns and priorities to act as the best representative on your behalf. To be your voice in the Senedd. Having walked over 60 miles listening to you; I have met many of you who appear to have given up on the idea that change can happen. I don’t blame you! Over the years it appears more and more that public consultations are ignored, decisions aren’t explained and those asking questions are given lip service. It is not good enough. We can’t give up and get complacent; every vote matters. Vote for what you’ve read and heard. Don’t avoid politics because it’s hard, tackle it head on, chat with family, with friends, with strangers. A talking voice, is a voice heard. I want to represent that voice, so please do encourage your family, friends and neighbours to vote.

Taran Clayton - Casnewydd Islwyn Election leaflet

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