A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency 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 MS Ken Skates writes…

Working with leading charity Mind Cymru, I will soon be chairing a cross-party group in the Senedd dedicated to improving the nation’s mental health.

The Cross-Party Group for Mental Health will be formalised and its first meeting held in September following the Senedd’s summer recess. I have invited Jane Dodds (Lib Dem); Llyr Huws Grufydd (Plaid Cymru); Laura Ann Jones (Conservative) and my fellow Welsh Labour MS Jack Sargeant to join the group, and can’t wait to get started.

Mental health is a subject close to my heart, and I’m pleased that the Welsh Government has dedicated more and more funding to it in recent years. I was particularly proud to see the First Minister appoint a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in May.

I look forward to working with Members from across the political spectrum to discuss and drive ideas to improve Wales’ mental health.

In the constituency, I recently visited St Dunawd’s Church in Bangor-on-Dee in support of the appeal to raise £55,000 to have its bells restored.

I have written to the Heritage Lottery Fund to back the church’s funding bid, and would urge any local businesses which would like to help to get in touch.

I’d like to thank the Rev Canon Sue Huyton, churchwarden Janis Nicholas and bell ringer Peter Furber (pictured) for their warm welcome.

I also really enjoyed walking the Ruabon Heritage Trail with Jo Smith and Sybil Bremner from the fantastic Friends of Ruabon a few days ago.

The trail starts at Ruabon Station and takes in numerous points of interest detailing over 2000 years of local history, and Jo has done an amazing job spearheading the project. The newly installed boards also have QR codes, which will soon be able to be accessed by mobile phones to give more information and help those with impaired vision.

It’s a very scenic walk which takes in parts of our area which people might not have seen before. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes the outdoors and has an interest in local history.

I have received a number of emails from constituents about planned road closures on the A483.

Wrexham Council has clarified that the stretch between Ruabon and Halton will not be closed for 18 months after incorrect information was posted on social media.

However, I have made urgent representations to Welsh Government about the impact any roadworks could have locally given the road closures already in place. It is my belief that the work should not take place until the damage caused by the land slip at Newbridge has been completed so that a safe, viable diversion can be established.

I will continue to work with both Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government to try to find a solution and will be seeking assurances from the Minister that the work will be prioritised should the Welsh Government be allocated additional funding from the next UK Government Comprehensive Spending Review, which the Welsh Government budget is dependent upon.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board confirmed within the last few days that more than a million Covid-19 vaccinations have now been given to people living or working in North Wales – an incredible effort by everyone involved.

The health board also said it has had a fantastic response since opening up the vaccination programme to 16 and 17-year-olds, and will be contacting everyone in that age bracket who have yet to receive their first dose to encourage them to book it using its online booking service or attend one of its walk-in sessions.

Parental consent is not required, but people in this age group may be accompanied by an adult if they wish. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said that advice on when to offer the second dose will come later.

You can find information on BCUHB’s approach to vaccinating young people aged 12-15 with specific underlying health conditions and those living with immunosuppressed adults in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website.

Anyone, regardless of age, is able to book the second jab online if they haven’t had it yet and six weeks have passed since they had their first dose – just follow the link here.

If you need advice or support, please email [email protected] and include your home address and a contact number. You can also find regular coronavirus updates on my Facebook page and sign up to my weekly newsletters here.

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency 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).