Row after street drink problem is blamed on Poles
A POLITICAL row has broken out after a councillor blamed a rise in street drinking in Llanelli on Polish people.
Tyisha councillor Keri Thomas claimed that since an "influx" of Polish nationals there had been an increase in outdoor drinking.
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Councillor Keri Thomas
His comments have now been raised in the Welsh Assembly.
Plaid AM Simon Thomas alerted the chamber to an "unfortunate incident" in which the Labour councillor made the comments at a meeting of the Safer Communities Action Group.
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During the meeting Keri Thomas said: "Since we have had this influx of Europeans coming in, there has been an increase of drinking in lanes.
"Whatever the cultural name for it is, I do get problems with Polish people.
"It's since they came into this area."
Raising the issue at the Senedd, Simon Thomas addressed Jane Hutt and said: "As the Leader of the House, could you ask yourself, as the minister with responsibility for equalities, for some kind of debate on the multiplicity and diversity of cultures that we have in Wales.
"I ask for that because of an unfortunate recent event in Llanelli where Councillor Keri Thomas of Tyisha ward blamed the Polish people in Llanelli for the on-street drinking there.
"This has undermined the work of the Llanelli Multicultural Network, as well as people, for example, in the Polish-Welsh Mutual Association in Llanelli.
"Llanelli has a huge number of Polish people, who have gone there to work, and many of them are in work.
"It would be a good opportunity to nip this kind of blaming in the bud early on."
In response Keri Thomas said: "They can say what they wish. I'm just saying what I have experienced here in the Tyisha area, and it is unfortunate that they are Polish individuals.
"I'm not against any particular ethnicity.
"I have had complaints about Polish people from constituents.
''There is an element that seem to congregate and they cause a nuisance.
"People are concerned about it and they are being pestered for money.
"I have informed the police about it, particularly in St Paul's cemetery where people take a short cut to town, they are begging, asking my constituents for money."
Speaking after the Safer Communities Action Meeting Halina Ashley, project manager at the town's Polish-Welsh Mutual Association, disputed Keri Thomas's claims.
"I don't agree with his comments.
''He is entitled to his opinion, but he should get his facts right," she said.
Comments
by simontaverner
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 2:07PM
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Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:11AM
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Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:56AM
“maxmin
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by maxmin
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:21AM
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by Eric_Pode
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:38PM
“williamwaun
You're off topic.
The EP is not published every day so, your calculation is wrong.
The price rise applies to all, not just pensioners.
He who reads for free online and buys the printed edition in the evening needs a budget review at the very least.
This post is intended for the use of the consenting adults and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humour or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this rubbish is not authorised (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social fauxpas. No animals were harmed in the transmission of this post, although the mutt across the street is living on borrowed time, let me tell you.”
by Neathboy234
Monday, October 08 2012, 8:12PM
“williamwaun That's the Tories for u whenever they get in inflation goes through the roof. Only plus point was i didn't have much savings back in the early 80's. I was only a lowly apprentice back then. I remember my first pay back in the late 70's, time i had money taken out for buying my tools i was left with £18/week.”
by williamwaun
Monday, October 08 2012, 7:43PM
“Went to buy the evening post tonight and they have put the prices up by 3p. It now costs a pensioner a total of £10.95 extra per annum. Tough times we live in.”
by tory12345
Monday, October 08 2012, 6:23PM
“Neathboy..... The stabbings that i have mentioned have happened in Morriston. Just google it or ask anyone who lives around Pentremalwed Road or anywhere in Morriston for that reason. BTW my name is TORY ehich has nothing to do with Tories lol”
by Neathboy234
Monday, October 08 2012, 2:58PM
“flepwales Tories have never been very popular in Wales, just added my red arrow. BTW i wonder where all these stabbings take place”
by tory12345
Monday, October 08 2012, 12:14PM
“I lived on a road which seen more and more Polish renting out on. The police were always called for thier drunkeness and many stabbings”