A view from Wrexham’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 their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌ ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

In this month’s column Wrexham’s MP, Sarah Atherton writes: ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP and Sarah Atherton MP

Christmas came early for our city as the Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen MP, announced that over 300 new civil service roles will be moving to Wrexham, as part of the UK Government’s Places for Growth programme.

Having worked very hard behind the scenes with Ministers and local stakeholders since 2022, I am pleased that my campaign for a Wrexham civil service hub has been successful.

The programme will deliver over 300 new civil service jobs in Wrexham through the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice.

This is yet another win for our city and comes just three weeks after the Chancellor made Wrexham an Investment Zone, which has the potential to bring £160m of investment, tax incentives and more better-paid jobs for local people.

Meanwhile, the issue of stopping the boats and controlling our borders remains important to the people of Wrexham.

My position on illegal migration is clear: illegal entry to the UK must be blocked, the business model of people-smuggling networks must be broken and the removal of those with no right to be here must be accelerated.

I am pleased the Prime Minister has acknowledged that the current situation at our borders is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Whilst the Rwanda Bill has generated a large amount of publicity, it is only one of several measures the Government is taking to tackle illegal migration.

The Bill was voted on in the House of Commons last week and contains the toughest illegal migration laws to date.

Whilst the Rwanda Bill is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction, and I hope the Government capitalises on any possible opportunities to amend and strengthen this piece of legislation in the New Year. To read my full comments, click here.

Recently, a number of constituents have contacted me regarding faulty ticket machines at Island Green car park.

Many of the ticket machines have been damaged and due to this, it has been particularly difficult for the elderly or for those with visual impairments to read the instructions and enter their car parking details.

Having worked hard to ensure Euro Car Parks replace these machines, I was extremely pleased to see the new models in place early last week!

Now, residents will be able to enter their parking details correctly and can continue to pay with cash and card.

Rest assured, my parking campaign to introduce a UK Government ‘Code of Practice’ to help protect motorists and keep cowboy parking firms in check continues. To see what I have done so far, click here.

I was delighted to attend the Local Community Safety Champions reception at Number 10 Downing Street with our very own Chief Inspector Luke Hughes.

Sarah Atherton MP and Chief Inspector Luke Hughes

This was an excellent occasion to champion how the £521,644 worth of UK Government Safer Streets Funding has enabled residents and visitors to feel as safe as possible in Wrexham. Nominating Luke for this award was an easy choice!

Not only did Luke’s daily police updates keep us informed, our worries at bay, and entertained, but his and the wider team’s dedication to making Wrexham safer and also reducing anti-social behaviour is commendable.

With less than a week to go until Christmas, it was great to be a part of the 2023 Everyone Deserves a Christmas (EDAC) packing morning at Mecca Bingo.

Individuals and organisations came together, bringing the festive spirit, to pack the hampers before delivery to recipients.

Last year, EDAC provided hampers and gift boxes to support individuals and families in Wrexham over Christmas.

This year, the appeal increased to providing 120 food hampers and 130 gift boxes. It was fantastic to see the community rally behind such a meaningful and local cause.

I would like to thank fellow organisers (Mecca Bingo Wrexham, Wrexham Rotary Club, Caia Park Partnership) and volunteers who have supported the appeal, in addition to the individuals and businesses who donated to my JustGiving page – Wockhardt UK, Wrexham Club Ties and TACP Architects.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas ‘Nadolig Llawen’ and a Happy New Year.

Thank you to all of the dedicated emergency service staff and key workers in Wrexham who will be working hard over the festive period to keep us safe and healthy.

As always, if you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me by emailing: [email protected].