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Tories aiming to keep up momentum Tories aiming to keep up momentum
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservatives say there are no "no go areas" as they launch their local council election campaign in Wales. The Welsh conservatives have launched their local council election campaign pledging a "safer, greener, Wales".
Hoping to benefit from strong UK opinion poll ratings, the party plans to field "substantially more" candidates than four years ago. They say they will do more to hand back power to communities, invest in local services, improve the environment and tackle anti-social behaviour.
The Tories hope to keep power in Monmouthshire, take overall control in the Vale of Glamorgan and win more wards across Wales in the 1 May poll. The party say there are no "no go areas" and hope to benefit from strong UK opinion poll ratings by fielding far more candidates than four years ago.
A spokesman said the party was focused on issues which matter to people. In the 2004 elections the Conservatives contested just 27% of wards.
In the 2004 elections the Conservatives contested just 27% of wards and the party leadership acknowledges that local government is its weakest area in Wales. The party leadership acknowledges that local government is its weakest area in Wales.
Party local government spokesman Nick Ramsay said the Conservatives had "won more seats and more votes at every election in Wales since 1999". Speaking at the launch at Glamorgan county cricket club in Cardiff, Nick Ramsay AM said more people in Wales would have a chance to vote for Tory policies at the elections on 1 May.
"Welsh Conservatives are determined to continue the momentum we built up at last year's assembly elections," he said. "We have won more seats and more votes at every election in Wales since 1999," said Mr Ramsay, the Conservatives local government spokesman.
"More people in more parts of Wales will get a chance to vote for our policies on 1 May," he added. "I am confident that impressive performance will continue next month."
Nick Bourne wants to 'empower people and communities' KEY POLICY COMMITMENTS Introducing a £100 per pensioner household council tax discount Re-introducing weekly bin collectionsWorking with developers to ensure all new social housing projects are environmentally-friendly Ensuring Welsh Conservative-controlled councils meet or exceed European waste recycling targets Nominating local green spaces and protecting them from development Introducing local projects to tackle graffiti, litter, dog fouling and fly tipping
Whilst the party stressed it will be campaigning hard at a local level, the BBC understands several "big hitters" from the UK party leadership will be lending their weight to the Welsh campaign. As well as policy ideas on the environment and waste, the party is also campaigning to save local schools and post offices.
Mr Ramsay said the party was winning votes from the three other main parties in "Welsh-speaking heartlands, rural areas, towns and cities". The Tories believe they can build on their successes in the last council elections in 2004 when they won power in Monmouthsire.
"We're committed to the issues which really matter to people - support for communities and local services, safer streets, and a greener environment, he said. They are the largest group in the Vale of Glamorgan and share power in Bridgend, Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham.
At last month's party conference in Llandudno, Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said he wanted to make "significant gains" in the local elections.At last month's party conference in Llandudno, Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said he wanted to make "significant gains" in the local elections.
While the party has stressed it will be campaigning hard at a local level, the BBC understands several "big hitters" from the UK party leadership will be lending their weight to the Welsh campaign.
He stressed the approach would be based on "empowering people and communities" because "people not governments know what is really needed".He stressed the approach would be based on "empowering people and communities" because "people not governments know what is really needed".