Ben Lake - Ceredigion Preseli

01/11/2026

Braint oedd ymuno yn ddiweddar â phobl Cilcennin a’r grŵp cymunedol arbennig, Cilcennin Cyntaf ar gyfer agoriad swyddogol eu Hwb cymunedol newydd.

Mae gwirfoddolwyr Cilcennin Cyntaf a’r gymuned leol wedi gweithio’n ddyfal am flynyddoedd i ddod a bywyd newydd i’r hen ysgol, a braf oedd gweld ffrwyth eu llafur. Diolch yn fawr iawn iddynt am greu adnodd bwysig i’r pentref, ond yn bennaf oll am greu calon newydd i’r gymuned.

Llongyfarachiadau mawr i gymuned Cilcennin. Rwy’n edrych ‘mlaen i alw am frecwast yn y caffi yn fuan!

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I was honoured to join the Cilcennin community Cilcennin Cyntaf recently for the official opening of their new community hub.

The local volunteers have worked tirelessly to bring a new lease of life to the old school building and it was a pleasure to be there to celebrate their hard work.

Congratulations to everyone involved - I’m looking forward to my full breakfast in the cafe very soon!

31/10/2026

🛢Y siom fwyaf o'r gyllideb eleni oedd y diffyg sylw derbyniodd aelwydydd 'off-grid' mewn ardaloedd gwledig fel Ceredigion Preseli. Er i'r Llywodraeth gynnwys toriad ar dariff mewnforio Kerosene, does dim sicrwydd y bydd hyn yn golygu prisiau llai wrth i'r pris barhau'n llwyr ddibynnol ar y cyflenwr.

Mae dros 73% o gartrefi yng Ngheredigion Preseli heb gysylltiad i'r rhwydwaith nwy, sy’n golygu mai ond tair etholaeth ar draws y DU i gyd sydd â chanran uwch sy’n ddibynnol ar olew neu LPG i gynhesu eu tai.

Yn ogystal, ni chafwyd unrhyw sylw ar ymestyn y Cynllun Rhyddhad Treth Tanwydd Gwledig i Gymru fel rhan o'r mesurau i helpu costau byw. Er i'r Llywodraeth rewi’r Dreth Tanwydd ar gyfer y flwyddyn a***nnol nesaf, dyw hyn ddim yn ddigon i'r niferoedd sy'n gorfod teithio i gyrraedd eu gwaith, addysg, neu apwyntiadau iechyd hanfodol mewn ardaloedd gwledig.

Yn dilyn derbyniad y Llywodraeth o holl argymhellion adroddiad diweddar Yr Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd, byddaf yn parhau i bwyso ar y Llywodraeth i sicrhau eu bod yn gweithredu unrhyw newidiadau a sicrhau llais ardaloedd gwledig mewn trafodaethau ar driniaeth deg i ddefnyddwyr.

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🛢One of the biggest disappointments in this year’s budget was the lack of attention given to off-grid households in rural areas like Ceredigion Preseli. Despite the Government including a cut to the import duty on Kerosene, there is no guarantee that this will translate into lower prices as they remain at the mercy of the supplier.

73% of households in Ceredigion Preseli do not have a connection to the mains gas grid, meaning that there are only three constituencies in the UK with a higher percentage of households dependant on oil or LPG for their heating.

There was also no consideration given to extending the Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme to Wales as part of the cost of living measures. While freezing Fuel Duty for the next financial year is welcome, this does not address the inherent unfairness that those who still have to pay a premium to travel to their place of work, education, or essential healthcare appointments face.

Following the announcement that the UK Government has accepted all recommendations made in the Competition and Market Authority's recent report, I will be continuing to ensure that they follow through on this and that rural areas are not forgotten in discussions on ensuring consumers receive fair treatment and can take action when things go wrong.

28/10/2026

Dydy cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU ddim yn darparu hanner digon o genfogaeth i bobl gyda chostau byw.

Mae costau ynni yn parhau i godi’n syfrdanol, ac maent yn cael effaith anghymesur ar gymunedau gwledig fel Ceredigion Preseli.

Mae Llafur wedi colli cyfle i wneud gwahniaeth go iawn i fywydau pobl.

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The UK Government’s budget doesn’t touch the sides when it comes to helping people with the cost of living.

Energy costs continue to soar and they are having a disproportionate impact on rural communities like Ceredigion Preseli.

This was a missed opportunity to provide the support people really need.

28/10/2026

Ar ôl misoedd o addewidion ynglŷn â pherthynas newydd â Chymru a sôn am ffordd newydd o weithio gan y Trysorlys, y cwestiwn y mae nifer ohonom yn ei ofyn yw – ble mae'r uchelgais?

Today's Budget was UK Labour's opportunity to prove that Wales is more than an afterthought in Treasury decisions. Instead, it appears to have delivered the worst funding settlement for Wales in years.

Plaid Cymru's Treasury spokeman says scrapping gas standing charges is "not enough".

He added: "Many households across Wales are not connected to the gas grid and will see no benefit from this measure. Yet they continue to face some of the highest electricity standing charges in Britain, and the Budget does nothing to address that unfairness.

"The people of Wales voted in May for a new relationship with Westminster and a fairer deal for Wales. Today's Budget suggests that, while the faces in Downing Street may have changed, the Treasury's approach to Wales has not."

23/10/2026

Changes to social care in England will have implications for Wales.

I succeeded in securing confirmation of Welsh representation in cross-party talks. Wales must receive our fair share of funds to advance our plans for a Welsh National Care Service.

🏥

Bydd newidiadau i ofal cymdeithasol yn Lloegr yn cael goblygiadau i Gymru.

Rydw i wedi llwyddo i sicrhau cadarnhad y bydd Cymru yn cael ei chynrychioli mewn trafodaethau trawsbleidiol. Rhaid i Gymru dderbyn ein cyfran deg o a***n er mwyn gweithredu ein cynlluniau ar gyfer Gwasanaeth Gofal Cenedlaethol i Gymru.

23/10/2026

❗️💨Storm Austen 💨❗️

Mae rhybuddion melyn o wyntoedd cryfion ledled Geredigion Preseli heddiw felly cadwch yn ddiogel. Gall Storm Austen arwain at risg uwch o doriadau trydan a phroblemau eraill. I weld rhybuddion eich ardal chi dilynwch y linc yma: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings #?date=2026-10-23

I baratoi am unrhyw anawsterau:
❗️Gwiriwch y rhybuddion tywydd diweddaraf os bod rhaid teithio
🚗 Gwiriwch dudalennau Cyngor Sir Ceredigion a Chyngor Sir Benfro am ddiweddariadau ar y ffyrdd
⚡ Ffoniwch 105 i roi gwybod am doriadau trydan
🔗 Map toriadau trydan Scottish Power: https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/power_cuts_map.aspx
🔗 Map toriadau trydan Y Grid Cenedlaethol: https://powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk/power-cut-map/

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There is a yellow warning of wind in place for the entirety of Ceredigion Preseli today so please stay safe. Storm Austen may lead to an increased risk of power outages and other disruptions. To find what warnings are in place for your area follow this link: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings #?date=2026-10-23

To best prepare for these conditions:
❗️Check the latest weather warnings if you must travel
🚗 Check Ceredigion County Council and Pembrokeshire County Council's pages for updates on the roads
⚡ Call 105 to report a power cut (24/7 service)
https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings.../uk-warnings...
🔗 Scottish Power live power cut map: https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/power_cuts_map.aspx
🔗 National Grid live power cut map: https://powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk/power-cut-map/

21/10/2026

Mae biliau ynni cynyddol yn cael effaith sylweddol ar aelwydydd ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

Ond mae aelwydydd mewn cymunedau gwledig fel Ceredigion Preseli yn cael eu heffeithio'n anghymesur, gan nad yw'r rhan fwyaf wedi cysylltu â'r grid nwy. Mae hyn yn golygu nad ydynt yn cael eu diogelu gan y Cap ar Brisiau Ynni, a'u bod yn agored i newidiadau a chynnydd sydyn ym mhris tanwydd ar y farchnad.

Mae Plaid Cymru yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddarparu mwy o gefnogaeth i gartrefi sydd oddi ar y grid nwy.

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Rising energy bills are having a real impact on households in every part of Wales.

But households in rural communities like Ceredigion Preseli are disproportionately affected because many are not connected to the mains gas grid, meaning they are not protected by the Energy Price Cap, and are instead fully exposed to sudden increases to the market price of these fuels.

Plaid Cymru is calling for greater support for off-grid homes from the UK Government.

21/10/2026

60 mlynedd yn ôl i heddiw, cafodd 116 o blant a 28 oedolyn eu lladd yn nhrychineb erchyll Aberfan.

Safwn gyda chymuned Aberfan, a chofiwn am y rheini fu farw.

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60 years ago today, 116 children and 28 adults were killed in the horrific Aberfan disaster.

We stand with the community of Aberfan, and we will always remember those who lost their lives.

20/10/2026

Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y Canghellor cyn Cyllideb yr Hydref yn nodi mesurau ymarferol y gall ei Lywodraeth cymryd i gefnogi cymunedau Cymru, gan gynnwys:

🚂O leiaf £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru yn ystod y cyfnod Adolygiad Gwa***nt presennol
📄Cymorth costau byw ychwanegol i aelwydydd
💷Cyllid cynaliadwy ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru, gan gynnwys sylw llawn i gostau Yswiriant Gwladol cyflogwyr cynyddol.
📈Gostyngiad mewn TAW ar fusnesau lletygarwch, gwallt a harddwch o 20% i 10%

Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU ddod â degawdau o danfuddsoddi Cymru i ben trwy cefnogi twf economaidd, cryfhau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a helpu busnesau i greu swyddi.

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I have written to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget setting out practical measures his Government can take to support Welsh communities including:

🚂At least £1 billion of rail investment in Wales during the current Spending Review Period
📄Additional cost of living support for struggling households
💷Sustainable funding for Welsh public services, including full coverage of increased employer National Insurance costs.
📈A reduction in VAT on hospitality, hair and beauty businesses from 20% to 10%

The UK Government must end decades of short-changing Wales through supporting economic growth, strengthening public service sand helping businesses create jobs.

Mark Mansfield Plaid Cymru has called for at least £1 billion of investment in Welsh railways and a cut in VAT for hospitality, hair and beauty businesses in next week’s UK Budget. The party’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, has written to Chancellor John Healey seeking additional support f...

19/10/2026

Newyddion arbennig bod pob un o'r graddedigion nyrsio ym mhrifysgolion Aberystwyth a Bangor bellach mewn swyddi.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio’n agos gyda phrifysgolion, byrddau iechyd, a’r sector iechyd yn ehangach i sicrhau bod dros 250 o raddedigion nyrsio ychwanegol bellach mewn swyddi ledled NHS Cymru.

Bydd hyn yn ei dro yn cryfhau ein gwasanaeth iechyd mewn ardaloedd gwledig, yn gwella darpariaeth iechyd yn lleol ac yn sicrhau bod gan bobl gyfleoedd gwaith yn eu cymunedau eu hunain.

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Fantastic news that every single nursing graduate at Aberystwyth and Bangor universities are now in posts.

The Welsh Government has been working closely with universities, health boards and the wider healthcare sector to ensure that over 250 additional nursing graduates are now in posts across NHS Wales.

This will strengthen our health service in rural areas, enhance local healthcare provision, and ensure people can find employment within their own communities.