A view from Wrexham’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).

Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths writes…

With the public health situation steadily improving since the New Year, the Welsh Government was able to outline its first steps out of lockdown at the latest review of coronavirus regulations. Just as it has done throughout this pandemic, the Welsh Government continues to adopt a cautious, careful and phased approach to relaxing restrictions. There are currently much more infectious forms of the virus present in Wales and we risk losing control again if we do too much too quickly. The Kent variant, which is the dominant strain of Covid-19 circulating, raises the R rate by up to 0.4 and is up to 75% more contagious. Although the general picture is improving as we approach spring, it’s clear we must all remain vigilant.

Here are the key announcements from last Friday:

Many will be aware the review of Covid-19 regulations takes place in Wales every three weeks, with the next one scheduled for 2 April. As long as we continue to follow the rules and coronavirus rates remain under control, further consideration and steps will be taken to relax restrictions. Towards the end of April, the Welsh Government will consider “bubbles” and what more can be done to reopen the economy, such as outdoor hospitality, the wedding sector and gyms.

I understand this has been an incredibly challenging winter. Everyone wants definitive dates so they can plan ahead but we’ve seen there are very few guarantees in this pandemic. We have now taken the first steps forward on the road to reopen Wales. Thanks to everyone following the rules, the headroom has been generated to allow the Welsh Government to let children return to schools, let people meet and socialise again outdoors and to let certain businesses trade again. We must all continue to be careful and cautious and, hopefully, we will then see further relaxations in the weeks and months ahead.

Get your vaccine to protect yourself.

Wear your mask, wash your hands and keep 2 metres from others to protect the people you love.

We will see a better future. Don't give up now. pic.twitter.com/A0whPSItNA

— Welsh Government #StayLocal (@WelshGovernment) March 13, 2021

In amongst all the announcements at the end of last week, it was confirmed a further £150m has been made available to support businesses affected by the ongoing impact of coronavirus. In effect, this will be the third top-up of the Restrictions Business Fund. Hospitality, tourism, leisure and non-essential retailers that pay business rates will receive up to £5,000. Once again, the funding will be distributed to Councils across Wales so they can administer the funds to local firms automatically and as quickly as possible.

We’re giving businesses an extra £150m to support them during ongoing restrictions.

Hospitality, tourism, leisure and non-essential retail businesses will get up to £5k, on top of existing support, to help them through March.

We look forward to their safe reopening. pic.twitter.com/XNu3qdCIPF

— Welsh Government #StayLocal (@WelshGovernment) March 12, 2021

This news follows the decision to extend the business rates holiday for a further 12 months. I do not underestimate how difficult this period has been for local firms and the weeks ahead will continue to be challenging.  I hope this latest £380m package that will cover the whole of the next financial year will provide local businesses with greater certainty in these troubling times.

Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in #Wrexham will not have to pay any business rates for a further 12 months.

This has been a troubling time for local firms but I hope this latest announcement provides greater reassurance.

More here: https://t.co/hvTns0QN0X pic.twitter.com/yNp5fguYFx

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) March 4, 2021

I also welcome the news Wrexham Council is to play a key role in the latest phase of the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns initiative. A new £15.2 million funding package is specifically designed to aid town centres post-pandemic. Designed in collaboration with local authorities, it has been agreed one council within each region in Wales will take the lead and be responsible for administering the fund – Wrexham Council has been selected as North Wales’ representative. This approach allows greater flexibility, enabling individual local authorities to tailor their projects to suit local needs. Post-Covid, the landscape will look very different and its clear our town centre will need support to aid its recovery.  This funding has the potential to make a lasting difference and I am pleased the Welsh Government will do all it can to help towns like Wrexham not only survive but thrive in future.

https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1367369286512173059

The rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine continues to be a prime issue for local residents. There was a positive major milestone last week as figures revealed more than 1 million people in Wales have now had their first dose of the lifesaving vaccine. This marker was reached ahead of schedule and is testament to the sheer hard work and dedication of our fantastic vaccination team. It means around a third of the population have now received at least one dose and I am grateful to all those who have had their jab. Every vaccine administered is a step closer to a brighter future for us all.

I recently met with the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and I receive regular updates regarding the progress of the rollout locally. After hitting the first target by mid-February, the North Wales Health Board remains on course to meet the second key milestone by offering the vaccine to all those in priority groups 5 – 9 by mid-April.

https://twitter.com/lesley4wrexham/status/1369312857448476678

I am continuing to hold virtual advice surgeries and support constituents through this challenging period. If there is something I could help you with, please get in touch.

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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).