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 monthly column for Wrexham.com, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes:
As your Member of Parliament, I strive to help local communities address concerns that they may have.
On 27th October, I met with the Plas Power Residents Group to listen to their views on the proposed Lightsource BP Solar Farm near Bersham. I agree with residents that some of the solar panels are too close to their houses.
I strongly support the Residents Group’s proposal to reduce the size of the project and will continue to work with other local elected officials to ensure that this compromise is agreed to.
Clwyd South is home to many dynamic enterprises, working in innovative areas of the economy.
On 27th October I was pleased to visit OR3D in Chirk. The company was established in 2011 and has since grown to employ 12 members of staff.
Whilst touring their offices, I spoke to Managing Director James Earl about their leading work on robotics, 3D-laser scanning and CT scanning, including seeing their recently acquired third office for training as the UK’s only CT training provider for Volume Graphics.
Technological advances provide an opportunity for UK businesses to grow but also present new challenges. IT-Pro Support, based at the Malthouse Business Centre in Llangollen, were founded in 2003, and I joined them on 27th October to celebrate their 20th anniversary and to meet owner, David Pinel. IT-Pro Support have 80 clients across North Wales, Cheshire, and Shropshire to whom they offer bespoke IT-support and IT-security services.
The Covid-19 pandemic affected every community across Clwyd South, forcing events to be cancelled. On the 4th November I had the honour to open the first Corwen Fireworks Display to take place in four years.
The free display was attended by about 1,400 people, including 200 who arrived on a Llangollen Railway steam train. The spectacular fireworks display was designed and supplied by Emma Sciesinska of Uproar Fireworks from Llangollen.
It was organised by the fantastic team of Corwen Fireworks Volunteers including Andrea Ellison, Cllr Alan Hughes, Martin Lyons, Arwel Hughes and Ali Al-Bayati. The event was also supported by Corwen Town Council, Corwen FC and the Corwen Fire Brigade.
Corwen Fire Brigade and Simon Baynes MP (from left to right): Guy Lowe, Mark Evans, Martin Upton, Simon Baynes MP, James Hughes, Josh, Cheryl Shuttleworth and Katie Barnes at the Corwen Firework Display on Saturday 4th November.
Clwyd South is home to many museums and other heritage projects, and I am always delighted to have the opportunity to find out about their work.
The Llangollen Motor Museum houses a large collection of vintage and antique cars and motorcycles that I learned about during my visit on 4th November.
The museum welcomes over 4,000 visitors every year and it was a great to meet its owner, Geoff Owen, to learn about their important conservation work.
Simon Baynes MP and Geoff Owen at the Llangollen Motor Museum on Saturday 4th November
Family-run enterprises are the lifeblood of communities, providing essential services and opportunities.
On 4th November I visited Agri-Cation near Bangor-on-Dee to learn more about the work of founders, Cheryl and Andrew Reeves.
Agri-Cation was founded in 2020 to bring together the local community to develop skills through agriculture. Agri-Cation host educational visits for schools and colleges, and work with the DWP to upskill and enhance people’s employability through alternative educational methods.
It was a pleasure to speak to Cheryl and Andrew about their work, including the rearing of goats and calves and their on-site sensory garden and allotment.
(from left to right): Cheryl Reeves, Simon Baynes MP, Andrew Reeves and Rebecca Hands feeding Agri-Cation’s goats at the Agri-Cation Farm on Saturday 4 th November.
Other businesses in Clwyd South have been family-owned for decades and it was a pleasure to visit Josie’s Chip Shop in Rhosymedre on 4th November, which has been owned and run by the Joseph family for 42-years.
Initially run by Vincent and Kathleen Joseph and now run by their sons and joint owners Antony and Ian, they are an exceptionally popular local takeaway.
During the month of November, it is important to remember those who gave their lives in wars both recent and historic. I
joined the Llangollen Royal British Legion on the 11th November to lay a wreath at the war memorial in Llangollen following a moving service conducted by Father Lee Taylor of St Collen’s Church.
It is great to see the hard work of local business owners being recognised, and on the 14th of November I welcomed Louise Lidford and Nichola Hembury of the Two Doves Café and Gift Shop in Overton to the House of Commons to celebrate their hard work through the MP HERoes Awards.
(from left to right): Louise Lidford, Simon Baynes MP, and Nichola Hembury in the House of Commons during the MP HERoes Award Reception on Tuesday 14 h November.
The Awards recognise, encourage, celebrate, and support female enterprise in every area of the UK, highlighting female entrepreneurship across all sectors and industries.
I was delighted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement during his Autumn Statement on Thursday 22nd November that the UK government will establish an Investment Zone in Wrexham, Clwyd South and Flintshire, following representations made by Sarah Atherton MP and myself to which the Chancellor referred in his speech.
The proposal will see £150m invested into the region by the UK government over the next ten years, providing direct benefit to businesses and constituents in Clwyd South.
As your Member of Parliament, my team and I are always here to provide advice and support. For updates on my work in Clwyd South and Westminster, please visit my website www.simonbaynes.co.uk
I will be holding constituency surgeries Overton on 1st December and Bronington on 15th December.
If you would like to attend one of these surgeries, or would like to book tickets to attend PMQs, please get in touch on [email protected]
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