A view from Clwyd South’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd 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 first column for 2023, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes…

Since securing as the local MP the £13.3m Levelling Up Fund bid for Clwyd South, in partnership with Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils, in 2021 from the UK government, we are now seeing steady progress on a wide variety of projects along the Dee Valley including in the Trevor Basin, Llangollen and Corwen.

I look forward to sharing more information with you about some of these projects in the coming months.

I am delighted that the speed limit in Bettisfield has now finally been changed to 30mph which is of vital importance in ensuring the safety of local residents.

I have campaigned hard to ensure a 30mph speed limit in Bettisfield following a very serious incident on Monday 12th April 2021 when Bettisfield resident Yvonne Lee-Jones and her children narrowly escaped being run over by an out-of-control speeding vehicle on the canal bridge in the village.

New 30mph speed limit sign in Bettisfield

I held a socially distanced meeting in Bettisfield on 21st May 2021 with residents, the local County Councillor John McCusker and PCSO, and representatives of Maelor South Community Council, where road safety concerns in Bettisfield were discussed after which Wrexham Council said they would start the preparations for implementing the 30mph system, a process which has now reached its successful conclusion.

Simon Baynes MP with Hayley Henson & Steve Cooke at Vale of Llangollen Golf Club

At Westminster, on 17th January I attended a very productive breakfast meeting at No.10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister and other colleagues to discuss issues that residents in Clwyd South have raised with me.

On 13th January I had informative visits near Llangollen to Tyn Dwr Hall, the very successful weddings venue business, and to the thriving Vale of Llangollen Golf Club, both of which bring many visitors to Clwyd South, particularly from England.

Simon Baynes MP with Tracey Owen at Tyn Dwr Hall

This boosts the local economy in Clwyd South and provides significant employment for people locally, particularly young people.

On the same day it was also a great pleasure to visit Ysgol Bryn Collen to present pupil Luca Burgoyne with his runner-up prize for his excellent design in my 2022 Christmas card competition.

I attended the morning assembly led by Headteacher Miss Lisa Howden and was very impressed by this happy and successful school.

Simon Baynes MP with Miss Howden, Luca Burgoyne & pupils of Ysgol Bryn Collen

I was delighted to be elected as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Woods and Trees on 20th December.

The cross-party group of MPs and Members of the House of Lords meets regularly to discuss the important role of woods and trees in tackling the nature and climate crises, as well as the importance of woods and trees to our local communities across Wales and the rest of the UK.

The APPG is supported by the Woodland Trust – the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity – who celebrated their 50-year anniversary during 2022. I have supported The Woodland Trust for many years in championing the role of woods and trees in society, and particularly the importance of protecting our oldest and most precious ancient woods and trees.

On 13th December I asked the Prime Minister, during his statement in the House of Commons on illegal migration, about how the Small Boat Operational Command will help to ensure the detection of small boats arriving on our shores.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the Small Boat Operational Command will bring together the government’s civilian and military capabilities and will be supplemented by the implementation of new technology to increase the number of crossings that are intercepted.

Simon Baynes MP with Baroness Young & Dr James Cooper of the Woodland Trust

Having been the Minister for Tackling Illegal Migration in the summer last year, I was reassured by the range of measures announced by the Prime Minister in his statement.

The changes will make the asylum system fairer by ensuring that illegal migrants who originate from safe countries and travel through safe countries should not be able to remain in the United Kingdom.

I hold regular MP surgeries across Clwyd South and, on Friday 27th January, I’m holding an MP advice surgery in Bangor-on-Dee where I’ll be available to help residents on a one-to-one basis with any issues and concerns.

To book an appointment to see me, please email my office in advance on [email protected].

As your Member of Parliament, my team and I are always here to provide advice and support. If you’re a Clwyd South constituent, you can contact me at any time by email on [email protected].

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s anything I can do to help you.