Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central, said:
“The council has failed to listen to the people yet again. The arts, culture and heritage have taken a big hit with the confirmed closure of the Pontypridd Muni Arts Centre and the Cynon Valley Museum.
“Anyone who needs assistance because they are elderly, infirm or disabled will be worse off as a result of the changes implemented by their Labour-run local authority.
“The closure of the paddling pools means RCT’s children and young people take a further knock. After losing libraries and youth facilities many young people will now lose popular and cherished leisure facilities.
“The Plaid Cymru group on RCT council put forward alternative ways to save money despite only having access to limited financial information from the council. Every single one of the alternatives has been ignored by the ruling Labour cabinet.
“The local authority has not prepared as well as other councils for this budget squeeze, which everyone knew for many years was coming down from the Tory/Lib Dem coalition in London. We may oppose austerity politics, but we have all known the cuts are a reality and so not to make long term contingency plans to cushion the worst blows was, at the very least, neglectful. Now local people in Rhondda Cynon Taf have to pay the price. And a dear price they are paying.”
