A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

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 column for November, Clwyd South’s MS writes:

This week in the Senedd I raised the urgent need for improvements to the A483 in Wrexham.

In 2018, the Welsh Government announced funding for work to improve junctions 3 to 6. However, all new major road projects were later paused and have been under review.

The review panel has submitted its final report and recommendations to the Welsh Government, and we can now expect an announcement on the next steps by the end of the month.

The problems on the A483 are leading to increased traffic on local roads, and one area of concern which has been raised with me is the main road outside St Mary’s School in Ruabon. I have a site meeting there next week with Wrexham Council.

I have invited the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, who is now responsible for transport, to visit our area and see for himself the issues we experience every day with the A483. I hope the Welsh Government will also commit to working with Wrexham Council to improve Junction 1 at Ruabon, which constituents contact me about on a regular basis.

Following the announcement that McColl’s in Ruabon will close in the new year, Cllr Dana Davies and I have been in contact with the Post Office to press for counter services to be retained in the village.

After completing a review of the area, the Post Office has confirmed to us that it is now advertising for a new postmaster. You can find more information, and register your interest, here.

Dana and I also contacted Cardtronics UK, which operates the cashpoint at McColl’s. They are keen to retain ATM coverage in the village, so if your business could help relocate it please contact me and I will you put in touch with the company.

We have also been given assurances by Morrisons that it will redeploy as many of the nine affected McColl’s employees as possible.

As Wrexham.com reported earlier this month, the Welsh Labour Government has earmarked funding for a brand new primary school for Brymbo.

This multi-million pound project has been talked about for a long time, so I’m pleased that the Education Minister Jeremy Miles is committed to making it happen and I look forward to Wrexham Council submitting its business case for the funding in the spring.

I have raised the matter a number of times with WCBC chief executive Ian Bancroft, and look forward to continuing to work with him and the council to deliver this vital investment.

With people throughout Clwyd South and Wrexham continuing to feel the effects of the Conservative cost-of-living crisis, I’m pleased and proud that our Welsh Labour Government has extended its groundbreaking childcare offer for parents.

More families and parents in education and training can now apply for up to 30 hours of Welsh Government-funded early education and childcare for three and four-year-olds. The Welsh Government last week launched a new national digital service which will streamline the process for parents and childcare providers.

I know from talking to constituents and visiting local childcare providers that the Welsh Government’s childcare support – which is the most generous anywhere in the UK – has already made a huge difference to working parents.

I held my latest advice surgery in Rhos on Friday, and have two more before Christmas.

On Friday December 2 I will be at Llangollen Town Council from 10-11am, and my final surgery of the year will be at Chirk Parish Hall from 3-4pm on Friday, December 16. North Wales Police will be joining me to discuss any police matters constituents would like to raise.

You don’t need an appointment, but these surgeries are only for people who live in Clwyd South.

The closing date for my Clwyd South Christmas card competition is the end of November.

This year, the competition is open to artists of all ages. I’m asking primary schools to take part as usual, but I’d also love to see entries from local art groups and older artists.

Entries can be posted to Unit 22, The Malthouse Business Centre, Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8HS or scanned and emailed to [email protected]. Please ensure you include your name and contact details or school.

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