There is no doubt that the economic outlook for next year is going to be tough. High Streets in towns and cities up and down the country are going feel the squeeze as household incomes contract. However, one potentially positive message came from Mary Portas last week, who published a report on the future of our High Streets.

Many of you will know Mary Portas from such BBC television series as ‘Mary Queen of Shops’. As one of the UK’s leading retail marketing consultants, she was commissioned by the Prime Minister back in May, to lead an independent review into the future of our High Streets. In her final report unveiled last week, she makes a number of key recommendations to set about regenerating our ‘failing’ High Streets, which included improving the management of High Streets with new ‘town teams’, more affordable town centre car parking and disincentives for landlords who leave shops empty.

Her principal message was clear – yes our High Streets are at crisis point but if we invest in and create social capital in the heart of our communities, then economic capital will naturally follow.

Having read the report from the both a political and business perspective, I found myself agreeing with the majority of the recommendations made. We do need to look at our High Streets in a different way and we need to redefine their role and purpose because only a radical new vision for our town centres will ensure their viability in the future.

I think that some of the ideas in the report must be examined by both the Welsh Government and Powys Council because it is vital that government at all levels have the responsibility to work with shops to regenerate our town centres. For example, if Welsh Ministers supported Welsh Conservative proposals to scrap business rates for small business, this would not only ease the financial burden but it would also encourage new business start-ups to enter the market.

Again with parking, if the council made it free to park on certain days of the week, I believe this would encourage shoppers to come into our town centres, rather than shop in out-of-town outlets, which would increase footfall and help stimulate business growth.

There is no simple answer to retail revitalisation but we must all work together to find opportunities and workable solutions tailored to cater for local needs.

I am very pleased that a Newtown Chamber of Trade has been established. I have been promoting this over the past few months, so I am delighted that it has taken off the ground. I have also been working with the FSB and the Mid Wales Manufacturing Group in recent weeks, to see how we can encourage manufacturing growth and additional trade across Mid Wales. Finally, I am due to meet with a business forum in Welshpool early in the New Year and I will do all that I can to help their cause in revitalising Welshpool and make it a town where people want to spend quality time and money.

There is a lot of work to do in 2012 and I do not underestimate the significant challenges ahead. However, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

The petition has been signed by people from right across Montgomeryshire and beyond, which has confirmed that this is a problem affecting the whole region. I have even had people from Ireland sign the petition saying that they now travel a different route to avoid Newtown.

Newtown has experienced serious traffic problems for many years and the situation deteriorated with the removal of the Kerry road roundabout. The Welsh Assembly Government has let us down, and I believe the high No vote in Powys in the recent referendum was a protest vote about the neglect of the Assembly Government to us in Mid Wales. Residents and businesses are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Assembly’s transport department which seems to be completely out of touch with issues in Mid Wales.

The traffic problems in Newtown are causing growth in the economy across Mid and West Wales to stagnate, businesses are suffering as tourists and locals are avoiding the area. We have HGVs driving though residential areas which is seriously compromising the safety of residents and in particular school children and of course the closure of the Aberbechan Bridge has caused further problems. This situation is causing misery for drivers and residents. We urgently need a start date on the bypass and in the short term an answer to Newtown’s traffic problems.

I have been involved in lobbying the Assembly and in particular the Minister for Transport for some time as a County Councillor, and in fact was encouraged by many to stand as an Assembly candidate following my lobbying over the neglect we receive from the assembly government in Mid Wales.

My petition asked that a trial roundabout is put in place on the Kerry road junction, and if traffic flow improves, that a permanent roundabout is reinstated and that there must be an early start date for construction of a Newtown Bypass.

I should also say that I believe the campaign is having an impact. Over a two year period I have discussed the matter with the transport minister and have gained the full support from the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in Wales Nick Bourne AM and our MP Glyn Davies. We have had conformation of the bypass route which has now been protected and the traffic department is now giving serious consideration to the roundabout being reinstated with near by adjustments, but we must keep up the pressure.

The final total was 10,361, 30 signatures had supported the roundabout but not the bypass or vice versa.

Although the petition has been handed in, I’m going to continue to collect petitions right up to the point the committee discuss the issue in May. You can sign the petition at Newtown Post Office or complete online at www.newtowntraffic.com

It was good to meet and chat to all on the coach, a real mixed group of people from young to old. I found out one protester on the bus was the Nan of the chief reporter of the County Times. He should be grateful, he nearly had to report on his own Nan, lucky I was there to intervene when I saw his Nan charging towards Ieuan Wyn Jones. That handbag could have done some serious damage to the Deputy First Minister!

Thank you to the 10,361 signed the petition and to the 50 people who filled the 50 seater coach today.

Most important of all – The petition’s committee will now debate the detail of what is being asked and discuss what action should be taken. We need a short term and long term fix to Newtown’s traffic problems – that is affecting the region.

I believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I was part of an announcement today by my party in Wales announcing some news to help businesses. The proposals by my party in Wales would mean that 5,383 small business properties in Powys would pay no business rates at all, thus encouraging local enterprise.

Under the new proposals, businesses with a rateable value of up to £12,000 would not pay any business rates. Rates would be tapered for small businesses with rateable values between £12,001 and £15,000, thereby reducing bills for a further 251 small firms in Powys.

The Welsh Conservative proposals to cut business rates will help our small businesses ride out the current economic downturn and encourage small business start-ups by giving people the confidence to invest. These proposals would provide a considerable boost to the local economy and help fill empty shops and industrial units in Welshpool and Newtown. Of course, for this proposal to come into being, the Welsh Conservatives need to get into government next year in the Welsh Assembly.

I thought that today’s announcements did provide Wales with a far better settlement than had been expected.

The Assembly Government had been preparing for a bigger reduction than the one announced. The Business Minister had been planning for reductions of £500 million year on year. Instead, the Assembly Government will have to find savings of £500 million over the next four years in total.

I do find it unbelievable the way that Labour are reacting. They brought the UK to the brink of bankruptcy.  If Labour object to the way the coalition is reducing the deficit, they should come up with their own deficit reduction plan to explain how they would have implemented the 20% cuts they were planning before the election.

Anyway, need to digest all what has been announced today.

We are taking two approaches: I am launching a campaign in which I aim to attract more than 10,000 signatures whilst Glyn is going to ask the National Assembly’s Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones to meet him with a small delegation of business people to discuss the issues.

There was a clear view at the meeting that although pressing for an announcement on the bypass was crucial, the current priority should be on relieving the current traffic issues. We have to find ways of making our anger known to the Assembly Government.

As well as my aim to get over 10,000 people to sign petition cards I am also encouraging people to write to the deputy first minister, I have produced a template letter with pre-addressed envelopes so that all protesters need to do is to complete address details and post it.

The petition card and letter have two objectives. The short term aim asks that works are carried out to improve traffic flow, including for a trial roundabout to be returned on the Kerry road junction and if shown to improve traffic flow, for an improved roundabout with additional lanes to be built. In the medium term we need to have an early start date for construction of a Newtown Bypass and for the works to be “Fast tracked” through to completion.

Had a lot of support at the meeting, Steve Kaye from the Federation of small businesses was supportive and I hope that he can be part of the group that goes to visit the Deputy first Minister to have face to face discussions.

I have always said that this is not just a Newtown problem. Alison Williamson who attended the meeting runs a business in Llanbrynmair. In discussions with Alison, she tells me that as people are now travelling to the coast along the northern route to avoid Newtown, this means they don’t come past her visitor centre and café, as a result they have noticed a significant drop in passing trade from the Midlands.

If you would like to sign a petition card or want a template letter to send, or if you want a pile of cards and letters to give to others, please call into my shop ‘Fuze’ in Newtown, or call the office on 01938 552315 or email me at russell.george@hotmail.co.uk.

Without question Newtown must be provided with a by-pass, and in the meantime action taken to relieve congestion.  This can only be done by persuading the decision makers, the Welsh Assembly Government and in particular the Deputy first Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM.

The world’s best cyclists  lined up in Newtown for the start of the third stage of the Tour of Britain to Swansea.

In my footage of the start of the race, the Harp you can hear playing in the background from the main stage is played by Ellie Jones aged 10, a local girl and a relative of mine – she did really well!

Newtown Town Council has organized a Fun Day to celebrate the start of the Welsh stage.

I don’t think the race has ever started from Newtown before, and the cycling race is returning to Wales for the first time since 2004. Olympians Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy and Welshman Geraint Thomas, who wore the White Jersey for Best Young Rider during this year’s Tour de France, taking part.

All credit must go to Mayor Joy Jones who has been working really hard organizing the Fun day to be held on Sunday 12^th September. Joy has managed to attract loads of funding from various organizations and business’s, so many thanks to the sponsors also.

The fun day will start at 10am and go on until 4pm, activities will be taking place including a children’s entertainer, marching band, bucking bronco, a fun fair. There will also be a Singing in the Park event from 4pm to 7pm with a free hog roast on offer.

There will also be a golden ticket picnic for children aged from three to 10-years of age Newtown Town Council has 100 tickets to give away to children who live within a 10-mile radius of the town. Last I heard tickets are still available, you can get them from Mayor Joy Jones, contact her at – joy.jones399@btinternet.com

This is really good news for Montgomeryshire, the country’s best known and most viewed cycling event starting here in Newtown. The event will also attract loads of visitors to the area which I hope will be helpful to the local shops!

The Welsh leg of the tour is 150 kilometres in length and will start from Newtown at 10.15am with the route heading south on the A483.

Thanks again to the sponsors supporting Newtown Town Council and to Town Counillors Joy,  Phil and Vicky for all their time and commitment to the Fun day.

Newtown is the main transport route from the West of Wales to Welshpool Livestock market and my concern is that there is a real cost to the farming industry in extended journey times, and of course, the animal welfare issues with livestock held up in lengthy queues etc.

Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough in the present climate without the traffic issues.

I am particularly pleased that the Western Mail has covered this story in today’s Farming & Country supplement. I certainly hope that the Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones read this while having his mid morning coffee!

In this article notice how Ieuan Wyn Jones’s spokesperson has shifted his position again. When the County Times and Star asked the question 4 weeks ago, the answer they received was “We intend to make an announcement before the end of the summer”.

Now we are at the end of the summer the language has changed to “It remains our intention to announce the preferred route for the Newtown bypass shortly.” The “It remains our intention” is what angers me. I have a letter dated from Ieuan Wyn dated 30th April which says “I intend to make an announcement before the summer”.

View story at WalesOnline

Newtown traffic – this is beyond belief!

cameras never switched on

Bellow is a letter I sent yesterday to the man and department responsible for approving the removal of the roundabout and for the layout and design of the new traffic system.

We just keep being let down, an early start date for the Newtown Bypass is vital to people’s sanity and the local economy.

After last Saturday’s gridlock situation in Newtown around lunchtime, I asked questions. What I found out was beyond belief!

Earlier this year a new traffic management system went into operation in Newtown following the removal of the Kerry road roundabout. Like most local people, I had little confidence in this new system when it was being promoted. We were told that this system would link back to a remote centre to monitor and control traffic flow in the town. Despite these cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all!

This traffic light and camera system together cost £100,000, I will be interested in what the Minister for transport has to say. If the cameras are not working why not, this is the busiest time of the year for traffic in Mid Wales. If we are being told it’s not going to help or make a difference, why was the system put in place at a huge cost in the first place.

Below the letter in full –  But if you want the shortened version its this:

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones – Can you please make your announcement on the Newtown Bypass, start work ASAP, and in the meantime make changes to improve traffic flow:

County Councillor R.I. George
Fuze Ltd
Broad Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2LS

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA

18^th August 2010

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Newtown Traffic Chaos & the Announcement on the Newtown Bypass

I wrote to you on 26^th February setting out Newtown’s traffic problems. When I received your reply on the 30^th April, you informed me that you intended to make an announcement on the preferred option before the Summer. As I have received no further communication from you, and we are now nearing the end of the Summer period, I hope you can appreciate my disappointment that no announcement has been made.

As I hope you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and the problems have become significantly worse over the past 12 months. I have been inundated with complaints from people expressing their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown.

The Kerry road (McDonalds) traffic lights continue to cause serious problems. It’s your Department that approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic system. Your department gave various assurances in February that the new traffic light system would be working to its optimum performance within 3 weeks of “going live”. Your department also confirmed that the new system would be monitored remotely by “Traffic Wales”. I understand that despite cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all. Can you please confirm when Newtown traffic will be monitored; as your department had advised would be the case?

People in Mid Wales where advised that the new traffic light system and removal of the Kerry road roundabout would not create further congestion or cause significantly more delay. As this is clearly not the case, can you please detail what considerations have been giving to restoring the roundabout and what considerations have been given to purchasing adjoining land in order that a roundabout with duel lanes can be put in place?

In the meantime I would ask that you urgently review the design and layout of the trunk road though Newtown and most especially the new set of traffic lights. I should further be grateful if you could ask your department to support the following small changes to help improve traffic flow on the new layout immediately:-

• Move the central island on the southbound arm of the A483 closer to Cambrian Bridge, this will allow the right turning lane to be moved over slightly with the addition of the hatch markings to separate the 2 lanes.  This should improve visibility for the A483 North bound lane traffic wishing to turn right into Kerry Road.
• Altering the kerb-line from the crossroads to the lane next to the Indian restaurant would also improve traffic flow as it is noted that traffic is mounting the kerb to go round the inside of the waiting right turning vehicles.
• Introduction of a loop just after the stop line for South bound vehicles. The loop will mean that the traffic will determine if the right turn phase needs calling or not and if so for how long (I am sure this terminology will be familiar to staff within your Department). At present the right turn arrow is demanded automatically for a set period regardless of traffic flow so it is not as efficient as it could be. Once the loop is installed it will be interactive and the signals will proportion what it thinks is the optimum times for the right turn filter.
• The current settings seem to be disproportionately balanced towards the trunk road. Please revise the current settings as a number of residents have contacted me who have been in long queues towards Kerry and, at certain times of the day, people have to wait whilst the light changes 5 times before they can eventually travel over the trunk road towards Cambrian Bridge.
• Can you further confirm that the software that synchronizes the signals through Newtown is now operating at optimum performance?

The current chaos is causing significant damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most. Newtown is a central point in Wales, but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth are being affected by this mess. Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already. I believe there is a serious safety issue with HGVs and other vehicles diverted and taking short cuts though residential areas. This in turn compromises the safety of local residents, and in particular school children. Examples of this can be seen on the estates of Treowen and Garth Owen and Canal Road.

When I wrote to you in February, I requested an urgent reply from you seeking your assurances and your commitment to resolving the traffic problems in Newtown. After several calls to your office, I eventually received a reply 8 weeks later. I understand there is a procedure that Ministers must respond to correspondence within a set period, and your reply to me clearly failed to comply. Your Department does not seem to be taking the traffic problems in Newtown seriously and does not seem to be in touch with what is happening. We need urgent action.

At the Newtown Traffic Study Exhibition last September, which revealed three possible routes for a By-Pass, your Department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. Given that the second date has now also passed, can you confirm when an announcement on the Newtown Bypass and the preferred route may be expected?

I have discussed the issue with Powys County Council’s executive management board, and I understand that the Chairman of the board has also written to you seeking assurances on the timing of the announcement on the Newtown Bypass.

As a local Councillor, I will be relaying your answer to many concerned people throughout Mid Wales. I would appreciate not just your decision on the preferred route but a detailed timetable for construction works though to completion of the project. An early start date is vital to the local economy.

Yours sincerely,

Russell George
Cynghorydd Sir / County Councillor – Newtown Central
Office: 01686 626500
Mobile: 07867782727

However, my blog post is not on election news, but on good news for Newtown. 

The five Newtown County Councillors, Peter Harris, Frank Torrens, Richard White, Bob Mills and myself have been working together to secure funding for a number of Newtown projects, and we have recently had conformation of funding for three of our top priorities. 

A skatepark is just one of the options that a panel of young people will consider

I’m most excited about the funding for the Skate Park myself. A young persons group will be set up. Youth service staff have been investigating various options to put to Newtown’s youth including different options for a skate park, an Adizone, which is an outdoor gym sponsored by Adidas, and a multi-use games area. I have asked a member of the youth staff to attend a community meeting in my ward on 28^th April at 6.30pm at Trehafren meeting hall and all are welcome. 

What is important to me is that the locations of these facilities are in appropriate places and are good value for money. I’m keen that what is selected is not just a fad and that the facilities will be used for many years to come. 

The largest sum of money, £812,000, has been set aside for improvements at Theatre Hafren, they can now make improvements to there facilities and I’m excited about the proposals which will now be drawn up. I am fully expecting the theatres management team (which I sit on) to use this sum to leverage further match funding. 

£397,000 has been earmarked for improvements at Maldwyn Leisure Centre – £230,000 for the replacement of the synthetic pitch, £87,000 for the athletic facilities and £80,000 for replacement of tiling at the pool. 

Although this funding is welcomed, we have further work to do. Our top priority has always been the refurbishment of the Market Hall. I believe we must have investment in the commercial centre of Newtown and especially since the loss of big names such as Woolworth’s and Curry’s. What better way to do this than a total refurbishment of the hall for the benefit of small and new start up business with further facilities such as tourist information centre to make this a focal and centre point in Newtown to be proud of.