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 local Member of Parliament, I am always proud to highlight the work of volunteers who work to make Clwyd South a better place.
On Tuesday 5th December I welcomed Gail McEvoy-Jones, a resident of Clwyd South who has played a leading role in securing community-ownership of the Llwyneinion Woods, to a Reception at No 10 Downing Street with the Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP.
Community champions in Clwyd South work tirelessly to make real changes with profoundly positive impacts in their local community.Gail McEvoy-Jones, Simon Baynes MP and Mr Baynes’ Office Manager Marianne Kemp on Tuesday 5 December at No 10 Downing Street
On Tuesday, 14th November I welcomed Phil Coles, Chairman of the Llangollen Steam Railway, to another Reception at No 10 Downing Street with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to celebrate the success of the Railway which has since been recognised by them winning the Attraction of the Year award at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.
It was very good to highlight the importance of UK government Levelling Up funding support for Clwyd South and the wider northeast Wales region at Levelling Up, Housing and Community Questions in the House of Commons on Monday 4th December.
Simon Baynes MP with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP and Phil Coles of the Llangollen Steam Railway on Tuesday 14 November at No 10 Downing Street.
In response, Jacob Young MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, outlined how the £13.3 million Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund, which I secured from the UK government in 2021, is helping to preserve heritage and improve amenities in the Dee Valley and that the recently announced Investment Zone for Clwyd South, Wrexham and Flintshire continues to demonstrate the UK government’s commitment to our area.
This was underlined by the visit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Airbus factory in Broughton which I was pleased to attend.
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, with Simon Baynes MP on 23 November at the Airbus Factory in Broughton.
On Small Business Saturday on 2nd December, I celebrated the many small businesses in Clwyd South who sell on stalls at fairs, markets, and fetes. One such example is Helen Mackenzie of Addabow from Overton whom I met recently at the Criftins Christmas Fair where we discussed Addabow’s fantastic range of gifts ahead of the Christmas season.
It was also good to visit the Chirk Trout Farm and Smokery on Friday 17th November which is an impressive family-run business near Chirk that supplies fisheries and produces a range of delicious smoked fish, meat and dairy products in an environmentally conscious manner.
Richard Simpson, Annabel Simpson, and Simon Baynes MP at Chirk Trout Farm and Smokery on Friday 17 November.
It was a pleasure to meet owner Richard Simpson and his daughter Annabel and tour the farm and visit their on-site farm shop.
Having grown up in Montgomeryshire, at Lake Vyrnwy where my father ran the hotel, it was a pleasure to champion Montgomeryshire Day on behalf of their MP Craig Williams (whose role as PPS to the Prime Minister precludes him from speaking in the Chamber) in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 6th December.
As neighbouring MPs, we often work on projects together such as the Pant-Llanymynech by-pass and our shared canal network.
Craig and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) hosted a wonderful Montgomeryshire Day reception in the House of Commons which showcased Welsh farming and food producing businesses.
Christmas celebrations are a great opportunity for communities to come together and it was a pleasure to join the Esclusham Senior Citizens Christmas Party on Friday 8th December organised by the Esclusham Community Council and Cllr Mark Pritchard.
Cllr Jean Kelly, Chair of the Community Council, was the perfect host and MC for the evening and it was an honour to draw the raffle with Cllr Andy Williams, Mayor of Wrexham.
I also enjoyed playing bingo and the musical entertainment, provided by Craig Jason.
Every Christmas, I am proud to hold my annual Christmas Card Competition to showcase the superb artwork of primary school students in Clwyd South and to pick a design for my Christmas Card.
After a record number of entries, I was delighted to announce the winners with first place going to Chloe Williams (aged 10) from Ysgol Gymraeg Y Gwernant for her excellent design.
MP Christmas Card Competition winner and runners up
The runners-up are (in age order): Taylor Butterton (aged 4) from Ysgol Bryn Collen, Lola Penzer (aged 6) from Rhosymedre Community Primary School, Kacey Williams (aged 8) from Ysgol Penycae, Isabella Hardy Clarke (aged 10) from Froncysyllte CP School and Amelia Dulson (aged 10) from Bronington VA School.
I was extremely proud to see the talent we have in Clwyd South and want to give my sincere thanks to everyone who entered.
Lastly, I would like to wish everyone in Clwyd South a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
As your Member of Parliament, my team and I are here to provide advice and support over the festive period.
If you’ve got an issue of concern, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me on [email protected].
For updates on my work in Clwyd South and Westminster, please visit my website www.simonbaynes.co.uk
Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]
