A view from Clwyd South’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here.

In his column for December, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes:

In the run up to Christmas I have continued to visit residents, businesses and individuals across Clwyd South.

I visited Ysgol Penycae on Friday 9th December to congratulate Mila Griffiths on her winning entry in my MP Christmas card competition and to present her with a copy of the card and her prize.

It was also a pleasure to meet with the headteacher Tim Newbould and Mila’s class teacher Kirsten Dodd, as well as the other children in Mila’s class.

I have also congratulated the two runners-up: Darcy-May Anslow of Rhosymdre CP School and Luca Burgoyne of Ysgol Bryn Collen for their excellent designs.

It was also a pleasure to present the design by Mila to the Prime Minister in his office in the House of Commons.

It was an honour to be at the Civic Service in St. Giles’ Parish Church in Wrexham on 9th December attended by His Majesty The King and The Queen Consort to mark and celebrate the granting of City status to Wrexham by Her late Majesty The Queen.

Later that day, it was a pleasure to attend the very enjoyable Esclusham Senior Citizens Christmas Party which was held for the first time since 2019, organised by Esclusham Community Council and County Cllr Mark Pritchard.

I have also had the pleasure of hosting visitors from Clwyd South to Parliament including Jonathan Greatorex of the Hand at LLanarmon as well as Damon Richard-Gwilliam and his mother Tina.

It was great to have Louis Bear, who also lives in Clwyd South, join my Westminster office for a week’s work experience in November. If you would like to visit Parliament, please do get in touch with my office and we will be very happy to arrange this.

I have also been very active in Parliament speaking in a wide range of debates on issues of significance to residents in Clwyd South. On Tuesday 15th November, I highlighted the importance of step-free access at Ruabon Station during a debate on the importance of North Wales transport infrastructure.

The Minister for Railways in the Department for Transport, Huw Merriman MP, wound up the debate and said afterwards that he looks forward to visiting Ruabon with me. This follows a visit by the former Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, to Ruabon Station with me last year.

Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I was very pleased to be able to highlight the importance of our campaign to UK Government representatives in person.

On Thursday 17th November, I asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, to join me in praising the excellent work of the Hanmer Surgery in Clwyd South. I also highlighted the need for the Welsh Government and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to enable the building of appropriate new surgery premises due to increasing patient demand.

I have worked closely with the Surgery and the Hanmer Surgery Patient Action Group, alongside my colleague Mark Isherwood MS in the Senedd, to ensure that BCUHB and the Welsh Government authorise the improvements needed for the Hanmer Surgery.

On Tuesday 22nd November 2022, I asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, during his Autumn Statement about the support available for vulnerable residents here in Clwyd South.

I was reassured by the Chancellor’s response that the UK Government’s measures will save the average household £500 and that the UK Government will go further in working towards energy self-sufficiency and efficiency, which is a vital part of reducing energy costs for consumers.

Finally, improving broadband and mobile connectivity in Clwyd South is one of my key priorities as the local MP so it was good to meet with Martyn Taylor Chief Commercial Officer of the government organisation Building Digital UK, to highlight the need to improve connectivity in certain areas of Clwyd South.

I continue to send out a monthly e-newsletter so you can read more about my activities in Clwyd South and Westminster. If you’d like to start receiving this monthly MP’s e-newsletter, you can sign up using the following link

I would like to wish everyone in Clwyd South a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda.