Your choices from the main political parties in profile
WITH COUNCIL elections happening in just a few months time,The Cardiffian is profiling your options for your local representatives.
To learn more about your voting choices for Llandaff and Danescort you can scroll through the text below or just click on a specific party name here to go directly to the candidates and some of their policies: Conservative, Common Ground (Plaid Cymru and the Green Party), Labour, Liberal Democrats.
The Council elections will be held on Thursday, May 5.
Conservative
Councillor Sean Driscoll is standing for a second term representing Llandaff and Danescourt. His colleague Philippa Hill-John is standing down and Matt Smith is the candidate hoping to take her place.
Coun Driscoll said: “Standing as a councillor with my colleague Pip Hill-John in Llandaff and working with individuals, resident associations, volunteer groups and many businesses to resolve issues and concerns has been very rewarding.”
Mr Smith grew up in Cardiff and stood for Parliament in Cardiff West in the 2017 general election. He practises as a solicitor.
He said: “I will bring my extensive knowledge and drive to representing Llandaff residents on Cardiff City Council.”
Among Coun Driscoll and Mr Smith’s plans are improving access to public transport, saving Llandaff’s green spaces and taking action against fly-tipping.
They are also demanding better road safety at the notorious Waungron Avenue and Western Avenue junction.
Coun Driscoll and Mr Smith said: “We have called for more safety cameras, vehicle activated speed warning signs and a local speed awareness campaign.
“Cardiff Council’s overdevelopment of Cardiff West is bringing more cars on to already congested road in Llandaff.”
In terms of planning, the Conservative candidates are asking for an overhaul of the Local Development Plan.
They said: “As the Plasdwr Development
steamrollers through Cardiff West, the opportunity to review the LDP is welcome.”
“Worryingly, two additional candidate sites for housing that impact Llandaff have been put forward. We will ensure that resident’s views are given full consideration when the consultation opens.”
On fly-tipping, Coun Driscoll secured funding to implement gated lanes at fly-tipping hotspots in the ward.
Coun Driscoll and Mr Smith said: “Gates not only cut down fly-tipping but add to the security of homes in the area. We will continue this campaign to gate more lanes in Llandaff.”
The candidates will also campaign for better access to local rail services.
Coun Driscoll raised this issue last year, highlighting the steep slope up to Waun-Gron Park train station. He said: “An unassisted wheelchair user would have great difficulty using this path.”
Mr Smith added: “Improved station access and safety would also encourage people to use train services rather than cars, thereby relieving congestion on roads.”
Asked why he is running again, Coun Driscoll said: “I’d like to think we’ve made a positive difference in people’s lives and hope that I could have the opportunity to work with Matt Smith to continue this work. There’s still a lot to do.”
Common Ground Alliance (Plaid Cymru and the Green Party)
Last September, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party in Cardiff announced their Common Ground Alliance, a deal to work as a united party for the council elections.
Judith Allan and Steffan Webb, who have both previously stood as Plaid candidates, are standing this year as part of the Common Ground Alliance. Ms Allan stood for Plaid in Llandaff in the 2017 council elections, when Plaid Cymru came second with a 28% share of the vote.
On the Common Ground Alliance, Mr Webb said: “We have a green agenda as Plaid members so it suits us well to be working with the Green Party.”
Ms Allan, a retired teacher who worked in the Bishop of Llandaff High School for 20 years, said: “I’m standing for The Common Ground Alliance for Llandaff because our area is on the frontline of the environmental and social damage which Cardiff Council’s Local Development Plan is wreaking.
“I want the people of Llandaff to show the Labour Council just how unpopular they are. There is no planet B, there is no Cardiff B and there is no Llandaff B. I want Llandaff to prioritise environmental issues in this election.”
Ms Allan and Mr Webb hope that, with the pact, the combined votes for Plaid Cymru and the Green Party will help them win a majority.
Asked why he was standing as a councillor, Mr Webb said: “I was born and bred in Cardiff – I am Cardiff through and through.
“I feel strongly that making a contribution to one’s own area is important.”
Mr Webb and Ms Allan will be focusing on the preservation of green spaces and rectifying public transport and planning issues in the ward.
“We want to drive a movement towards planning for people rather than profit,” said Mr Webb.
He added: “In Cardiff we don’t fare very well for green spaces, we have lost green spaces and we are losing our trees. The proposed Danescourt area for social housing would require cutting down forest.
“We want to ensure that any further development in the ward is done on brownfield sites.
“We would also like to expand free bus services for school children, which would in turn reduce school run traffic and improve air quality.”
Labour
Llandaff has not had Labour councillors since 2004. Peter Jenkins and Laura Rochefort are hoping to change that.
Mr Jenkins was born and raised in Danescourt and lives there now. Ms Rochefort has lived in Wales all her life, and her children have been educated at Welsh medium schools and are both fluent Welsh speakers.
Ms Rochefort said: “I’ve worked as a caseworker in the office of Kevin Brennan MP for eight years, where I have supported and helped many people from Llandaff and Danescourt. This has given me a great understanding of people’s concerns and a passion for the local community, I would like to continue to support and raise the issues that matter to them.”
Asked why he wanted to stand as a councillor for the ward, Mr Jenkins said: “The problems and issues that affect everyone else when they leave their door affect me in the exact same way. That’s a powerful motivator to stand and try to make positive change happen.”
One of their key plans is to tackle public transport issues in the ward.
They said: “We’d campaign to increase the frequency of the bus and train services, particularly when you get into Danescourt. Increasing the capacity of public transport increases people using it, which will remove cars from the road.
“It is not the only solution, but it is the most sustainable in the long term.”
Ms Rochefort and Mr Jenkins also want to protect the ward’s green spaces.
“The Llandaff Ward Labour Party has written in support of keeping the trees in Danescourt Woods rather than putting inappropriate housing down, we’re committed to that and would look to expand both the amount and access to green spaces.
“The current footpaths that lead through our community do need to be looked at, given that there are many currently inaccessible for somebody with mobility issues.”
They added: “There are roughly 7,000 people in the ward, many of them will be experiencing the effect of rising energy prices, a Tory cost of living crisis and a hundred other things that they need support with.
“Councillors are, in most cases, the representatives in our democracy that are the closest to the people they represent and advocate for.
“We will be there for people who need that help and support. If elected, we will both be that strong Labour voice for the community.”
Liberal Democrats
The Cardiffian contacted the Liberal Democrats, who said: “Liberal Democrat candidates will be announced when the statement of persons nominated is published by the council.”
