[This article may also be read on our Facebook page]

GWLAD will be seeking to build upon its grass-roots presence in Wales next month.

The party will be contesting a council by-election in Hendy, near Pontarddulais, with only Gwlad and Plaid taking part in the contest.

Gwlad will be represented by Wayne Erasmus, a Welsh speaker who has lived in the village since 1986.

‘It’s an opportunity to get out there and introduce Gwlad, and talk about the changes that we want to see here in Wales, both locally and nationally ‘ said Wayne, who runs a local food bank to help the needy in the area.

He added that he would be focusing in particular on the loss of services that Hendy had endured over the past years, despite Plaid’s hold over the county council.

With the village having lost its community centre, cricket club and Aelwyd yr Urdd over the past few years.

Wayne will also be highlighting the loss of an open air Lido pool, one of the last such places in Wales, which he believes could actually be resituated elsewhere in Yr Hendy.

‘I think people here would be very supportive of restoring the Lido, especially if this could be linked to a new community centre for the village as well’ he said.

‘There is a resurgence in open air swimming these days because of all its health benefits, and I think this would be a very positive development for the village’.

He said he was hoping to run a positive campaign for Gwlad – the Welsh Independence Party – and to raise awareness about the party and its range of policies both short-term and long-term.

‘Hopefully my local profile will be helpful here and people will be willing to listen to what we have to say’ he added.

Gwlad leader Gwyn Wigley Evans said the Hendy community council by-election was a very useful trial run for the nationwide county council elections next year.

‘It’s our first official by-election as a party, so obviously it’s going to be a learning experience, but we think we have a really good and locally well-connected candidate in Wayne, and we believe he will do well for us’ he added.