Candidates hoping for votes in Thursday's Saron Ward by-election

Karen Davies, Plaid Cymru

Karen Davies is a local Pharmacist and lives in Penybanc. She has a proud history of service having been a Saron Community Councillor since 2012. Karen was re-elected at last year’s local elections and was this year elected unanimously as the Chair of the local Community Council.

Karen is particularly keen on keeping playing facilities and parks available to the community and in a good state of repair.

On a more personal note, Karen is the wife of the Late Councillor Alun Davies and is acutely aware of the issues facing the communities of the Saron Electoral Ward, having already played a key role in supporting the successful work of Alun over a number of years.

Karen is proud of the positive work her late husband and Plaid Cymru have undertaken in the community including a series of major investments to make roads safer in Capel Hendre and slow down traffic across the ward. The upkeep of local parks, providing more dog bins and ensuring our sidewalks are well maintained are Karen’s immediate priorities for the ward, as well as driving forward the £260,000 grant secured for new footpaths and pedestrian safety across Saron and Penybanc.

Tom Fallows, Labour

Tom Fallows, 25, has lived in Saron all of his life, attending Ysgol Tycroes and Ysgol Dyffryn Amman, before graduating with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Religious Studies from University of Roehampton.

Speaking after being selected, Tom Fallow stated: “I am extremely pleased to be selected to stand for the Labour Party in my home seat.

“The communities of Saron, Cwmgwili, Penybanc and Capel Hendre are very close to my heart and I will be fighting to champion the area and deliver real change.

“It is also essential that we address our broken public transport network, create a vibrant town centre, improve our local environment, tackle speeding and traffic issues in the ward, reduce the senior salaries at the top of Council and deliver compassionate care that focuses on the needs of the individual and not the profit margin of private care providers.

“As the local Councillor for Saron, I would work from day one to achieving these goals.”

Labour Leader, Cllr Rob James said: “It is fantastic to have a strong local campaigner wishing to stand for Labour to represent the views of those living in Capel Hendre, Saron, Cwmgwili and Penybanc.”

Aled Crow, Conservative

ALED Crow is running for election to Carmarthenshire County Council for the Saron Ward in this by election.

He said: “I have lived in the Saron area all my life, and care passionately about our community. Your concerns are my concerns – and working together, we will make them a priority. I understand and share the anxiety many people feel over the state of our services – particularly when it comes to health. 

“Care of the elderly and people with dementia are high on my agenda, and that’s why I’m campaigning to keep vital beds at Amman Valley Hospital. I also want to see our council tax spent more efficiently, instead of being increased again. I believe our area is a great place to live, work and raise a family - and I want it to stay that way. 

“I also believe more needs to be done to create opportunities for the next generation, and to encourage them to play an active role in our community. In the past, I have been a member of both Ammanford and Carmarthen Youth Councils. 

“A fluent Welsh speaker, I attended Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and competed many times in the Urdd Eisteddfod during my school years.”

Caryl Tandy, Liberal Democrat

CARYL Tandy is standing for election to Carmarthenshire County Council in the Saron ward by-election on Thursday, representing the Liberal Democrats.

She said: “I was born and raised in the Sirhowy valley and have worked in furniture retail, including running my own small business in Wales until I retired last year. I have been married for 25 years and we have four grown up children, two rescue greyhounds and live on Waterloo Road.

“I was active in local politics on the Penygroes Ward Forum and helped to design and build the community garden. Serving my community and helping people has always been central to my life.

“I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1998 and have worked hard for disabled rights, including giving a recent speech in the Houses of Parliament on behalf of the MS society on the awful PIP 20m rule which has taken so much money off the disabled community.

“If elected I will fight to improve the local economy, fight for better disabled support in Carmarthenshire, restore trust in our democracy and expose complacency, cronyism and lack of vision in local government.”