IT MAY be three and a half weeks’ late – but I feel it would be rude not to start by wishing everyone across Penarth a very happy New Year!

The year has got off to a good start in one respect – and that’s because the Vale Council have rightly scrapped the controversial wakeboarding scheme planned for Cosmeston Country Park.

Several residents from Penarth and beyond contacted me to express their dismay at the plans – which they feared were completely inappropriate for the park.

I have been calling for the scheme to be stopped for some time – so it is really pleasing that common sense has won out.

I’d like to congratulate the new administration at the Vale of Glamorgan Council for putting an end to these absurd plans.

When he took on the role – one of the first things Council leader John Thomas did was put the scheme on hold – and it’s now been stopped completely.

In light of the strength of feeling against the plans – it would have been absurd to go ahead with them – and I’m delighted this will no longer be the case.

On a less positive note – the year has begun with well documented problems with our NHS here in Wales.

I’m the first to accept there has been a winter crisis across the UK – but there was a key difference in how it was handled in England compared to Wales.

When the problems first arose – Jeremy Hunt was out straightaway to give interviews and explain the action he was taking to handle the situation.

Meanwhile – here in Wales – Welsh Government Ministers were silent – and it took days for the Health Secretary to come out and explain the situation.

I know that people in Penarth will demand better than this.

When things go wrong – it’s absolutely right for those in control to front up and at the very least offer an explanation.

Sadly – the Cabinet Secretary did neither – and unfortunately it is not the first time he has not treated such issues as seriously as he should.

With the sort of complacency the Welsh Government have shown – it’s little wonder our NHS constantly performs worse than England.

Wales is the only part of the UK to have seen health spending cut – while cancer outcomes and waiting times are far worse here than in England.

It’s time to stop the complacency and aim to reach parity – and then do better – than England.

In last month’s column – I discussed The Big Lottery Fund – and the lack of funding that has gone into projects in the Vale.

I’m pleased to say that I’ve now been contacted by them – and they are keen to promote the opportunities available here.

They are going to set up a visit to a project they’ve funded in the Vale – and I’m very much looking forward to going along.

I very much welcome their engagement on this and I hope we can work together to secure funding for community projects across the Vale of Glamorgan.