THE Welsh Conservatives have selected Leighton Rowlands to contest the Cardiff South & Penarth seat in next year’s Senedd elections.

Mr Rowlands has lived in the Vale all his life and knows Penarth and Cardiff well, and he says he knows the issues at the heart of the community.

“I am delighted to have been selected,” he said. “I am passionate about Cardiff South and Penarth and know what matters to voters. I will be their voice and campaign hard on the issues that affect them.”

Mr Rowlands, who was elected as the youngest County Mayor for the Vale in 2018, says he has raised many issues relating to Penarth like attempts to sell the Kymin, the demand to preserve Penarth's Victorian streetlights, and delays to much-needed upgrades to Penarth Leisure Centre.

He added: “I would like to improve the NHS here in Wales. Wales is the only part of the UK that has ever seen health spending cut in real terms. I’ll fight for proper funding of the Welsh NHS, and make sure residents get access to the care they need and deserve”.

He also placed importance on shopping locally and supporting independent stores.

“Cardiff South and Penarth should have Business Rate-Free Zones, where all businesses would be free from paying for up to three years,” he said. “Outside of these zones, businesses with rateable values under £15,000 should be exempt from paying.”

On education, he says he wants to see the Welsh Baccalaureate scrapped, so that pupils can focus on courses that get them where they want to go.

He says it is vital young people are helped onto the housing ladder.

“The re-introduction of the Right-to-Buy scheme, and the scrapping of the Land Transaction Tax for first time buyers on properties up to £250,000 would help,” he said.