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 Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes…

Two weeks ago, I returned to the House of Commons along with other MPs from all parties although my team is still working from home and we continue to be very active in helping people across Clwyd South with enquiries and problems, particularly arising from the Coronavirus crisis.

The dedication of frontline workers is amazing in keeping the most vulnerable people in our communities safe and I send my deepest sympathy to those who have lost a loved one to Covid-19. However, hopefully, we are now turning a corner with the pandemic and better times lie ahead.

MPs socially-distanced in the queue to vote in the House of Commons Chamber.

Parliament is working well with appropriate social distancing, proxy voting for those MPs who cannot attend for health reasons and continued remote access to meetings when required. Over the last fortnight we have discussed many important issues, not least the tragic death of George Floyd in the US and the need to be ever vigilant against racism in the UK and across the world.

I have raised important local issues for Clwyd South on the floor of the House of Commons including, on 3rd June in Welsh Office Questions, the need for investment in step-free access at Ruabon train station. This is building on the work of my predecessor Susan Elan Jones, other local representatives, Councillors and organisations in Ruabon. On the same day I took part in a conference call with the Prime Minister in which I emphasised the importance of improving broadband and mobile connectivity in parts of Clwyd South, fully utilising the new £5bn fund set up by the UK government and BT for this purpose.

On 10th June I signed up to support the cross-party Local Electricity Bill in Parliament which would allow small, community-scale energy generators to become local electricity suppliers, benefitting local communities and environmental projects. Corwen is a good example of a community that would benefit as they are already at the forefront, having launched their own renewable energy project pooling power from a local hydro scheme and domestic solar panels.

Simon paying tribute to Clwyd South councils in the House of Commons Chamber on 11th June.

I paid tribute on 11th June in the House of Commons to Wrexham and Denbighshire County Councils and to all Town and Community Councils across Clwyd South who have done an incredible job from day one of this crisis. The Cabinet Office Minister, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, joined in praising them and emphasising how important the role of local Councils has been in assisting the UK and Welsh governments’ work during the crisis.

This month also saw the fire at Hafod Quarry Landfill site in Johnstown and I am very sorry for the local residents who have not only had to put up with the smoke and fumes from the fire but also adverse effects of the landfill site over many years. I fully support the residents and Johnstown County Councillor David Bithell who believe that the site should not have re-opened until completion of the enquiry by Natural Resources Wales and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service into the causes of the fire.

I have also been very active as a member of the Welsh Affairs select Committee which has been taking evidence from a wide range of organisations in Wales about the effect of the Coronavirus crisis and ways in which we can get the economy moving again as restrictions are gradually lifted. This was also the main topic of a recent meeting that I held remotely with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways of which I am a Vice-Chairman. The Llangollen Canal is vital for Clwyd South, not only for our tourism and hospitality businesses but also for the quality of life and well-being of local residents.

As the MP for Clwyd South, my team and I are always here to provide advice and support. I can be contacted by email on [email protected] or by phone on 01978 269386.

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 Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).