April Newsletter
Dear resident,
Please find below my monthly update on my activities in both the National Assembly and Montgomeryshire.
On May 4th, we will be electing our next set of county, town and community councillors. I would urge you to make your voice heard by voting in these important local elections, the results from which will have an impact on the policy priorities of Powys County Council and the overall direction which Powys takes over the next five years. To find out more information about these elections, please follow this link:
http://www.powys.gov.uk/en/elections/find-out-about-upcoming-elections/
As always, if you feel that I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or on 01686 610887.
Best regards,
Russell George
National Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Closure of NatWest branches in Welshpool & Machynlleth
I have recently hosted a public meetings in Welshpool and attended a meeting in Machynlleth, at which there was unanimous support for NatWest bank to reconsider its decision to close its branches in both towns, scheduled for 27th September and 12th October respectively.
Everyone at the public meetings were unanimous in their view that we should do everything we can to change the decision of NatWest to close the doors of its branch in Welshpool, a view which I have put to the bank's management.
It is clear to me that the transfer of banking services to the post office and mobile or online banking doesn’t always replace permanent over the counter facilities, especially for those who are elderly or disabled.
I have also raised the issue again with the First Minister and renewed my calls for a new community banking model which would preserve the presence of banks on Powys’ high streets. The First Minister acknowledged the serious situation which communities face when it comes to the loss of their banking services and has agreed to take up my calls to facilitate a discussion with the banks, the regulators and other partners to explore a new community banking model which would see banks share premises and services. I hope that the Welsh Government is now able to exert some pressure to ensure that adequate alternative solutions are found.
Shropshire NHS Reform and Emergency services
Our MP, Glyn Davies has recently written 3 very informative news pieces on NHS Reform in Shropshire, and other issues concerning Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals. The articles can be found here:
http://glyn-davies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/avoidable-deaths-in-shrewsbury-and.html
After questioning the First Minister earlier this month on whether his Government has made its views known on its preference for the location of emergency services which serve Mid Wales, I was pleased that Carwyn Jones confirmed that the Welsh Government support my view that emergency services should remain in Shrewsbury.
To date the Welsh Government has been reticent to make any public comment on its preferred option for the location of Emergency services which serve Shropshire & Mid Wales.
However, during First Minister’s questions earlier this month, I was pleased that the First Minister threw his weight behind my and Glyn Davies' calls for the NHS services to be retained and strengthened in Shrewsbury.
I have always maintained that it is common-sense that emergency care serving Shropshire and Mid Wales should be located in the centre of the region in Shrewsbury but to date, the Welsh Government has previously balked at the chance to add its considerable weight to my calls for this outcome.
In February, NHS bosses in Shropshire and Mid Wales agreed to commission further work on the proposals from the Future Fit Programme Board. An independent report will be now compiled by health experts, to review the work carried out so far in developing long-term options for NHS services in Shropshire and Mid Wales.
Household recycling centres
The new Powys County Council policy which imposes a blanket restriction on small vans entering household recycling centres is absurd and shows a total lack of common sense.
Some residents have contacted me to say that they only have access to small vans as their only mode of transport but the council have basically said that it is not their problem and that they are not prepared to "dilute" the policy to allow residents to access household recycling centres to dispose of their non-commercial waste.
It cannot be right that residents are discriminated against for owning a small van for personal use and I would like to see a reversal of this ill-conceived policy which only makes people wonder what they are paying their council tax for if they can’t access the services which are provided by the council.
I would also like to thank the many people who have completed my recycling survey, due to the level of interest in this issue, I extended the deadline for completion, and I will now be reporting on the results in next month’s e-news.
Rural schools can't teach the full curriculum
In recent months, a couple of rural primary schools in North Powys have contacted me, frustrated that they are unable to teach the full curriculum due to the lack of high speed broadband. This is putting primary school students in Mid Wales at a disadvantage, prompting me to raise the issue with the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
There are currently 23 schools across Wales which still cannot access adequate broadband to enable them to teach pupils using the Hwb digital learning resource and I was therefore pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has announced an additional £5 million to ensure that the infrastructure is upgraded and that all schools will be able to receive high speed broadband so that they can be taught the full curriculum using all of the resources which are currently enjoyed by those in urban areas.
Rural School closures
Data drawn from the Schools Register show that Powys has closed 26 schools since the establishment of the National Assembly in 1999. Too many good schools have closed their doors due to the policies of successive Welsh Governments and it is our rural areas that have been hit hardest. Not only have these closures caused heartache and disruption for pupils, parents and teachers, but they have damaged the economy of rural Wales. Now that we have a Cabinet Secretary for Education who represents part of Powys, I hope that we see a reversal in this trend which has seen good schools shut their doors. No good school which is able to deliver the national curriculum should be forced to close without the agreement of parents, teachers and governors. Schools are an enormous focal point for community cohesion in rural areas. When a school is closed, it’s not just pupils who are impacted but parents, teachers and local businesses.
Post-EU support for Mid Wales farmers
By far the biggest concern of the farming sector relates to the future of subsidies, and in particular how that funding is distributed to Welsh farmers once we have left the European Union. Measures must be taken to allay the fears of Mid Wales farmers following Brexit and I have called for assurances that farm payments will be ring-fenced at a UK level and remain outside the usual budget process. Without ring fencing this important funding, money for Mid Wales agriculture would be forced to compete with other public services like the Welsh NHS and schools. This would be devastating for Mid Wales' economy.
Cross Party Group on Cross Border Issues – Farm Payments
The next Cross Party Group on Cross Border Issues, which I am pleased to Chair, will examine cross border agriculture issues. A particular focus for the meeting will be the way in which the Basic Payments Scheme is administered and the way in which data is shared between the Rural Payments Agency and Rural Payments Wales. I’m delighted that the FUW has agreed to sponsor the event and am pleased that the Head of Rural Payments Wales, and the interim Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency have agreed to attend.
Calls for a Mid Wales Growth Deal
I believe that Mid Wales must seize the economic opportunities which are presented by both Brexit and the UK Government's Industrial Strategy. After the referendum to leave the European Union and the inevitable uncertainty and challenges associated with the result, the UK Government’s recently published Industrial Strategy is set to provide businesses in Mid Wales with the security and certainty to plan for their future as well as a firm foundation for improving living standards.
Regrettably, the Welsh Government has been slow to respond with its own long term Economic Strategy which would complement this ambitious UK Government effort to rebalance the UK's economy.
The Industrial Strategy puts great emphasis on addressing the regional disparity in economic prosperity and the skills shortages which exist within Wales, which if successfully addressed, will drive increases in productivity and social mobility in Mid Wales.
In order to do this, I have argued that consideration should now be given to devolving economic levers to Mid Wales through establishing a Mid Wales Growth Deal to boost investment in our region. The Food and Drink sector in particular is one in which Mid Wales plays a leading role and there are clearly opportunities in growth markets such as China which we need to capitalise upon.
There's a North Wales Growth Deal, Cardiff Region City Deal and a Swansea Bay City Deal so there's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have a Mid Wales Growth Deal to enable us to take advantage of the investment and export opportunities which arise as a result of Brexit in boosting trading links with other partners from all over the world.
I have raised these issues last month in meeting with Welsh Government Ministers, and with the UK Government Minister responsible for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark MP.
Road safety measures on A470
I also had the opportunity of raising the ongoing road safety issues on the A470 between Talerddig and Dolfach with the Welsh Government. The area suffers from repeated incidents of HGVs leaving the road where there is no barrier or kerb in place and after raising the issue in the Senedd, I am delighted that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed to visit the site with me to see for himself the issues which face motorists. In my view, speed is only one contributory factor which results in vehicles leaving the road so it is essential that a full assessment is undertaken to ascertain what other improvements to the layout of the road are necessary to ensure that this stretch of the A470 is fit for purpose and safe for motorists.
Grass Cutting
We are now once again in the ‘grass growing’ season and I have raised the issue with Powys County Council to seek assurances that this year will see an improvement in the grass cutting service provided by Powys County Council after last year's unacceptable situation which saw dozens of complaints from residents about the length of the grass which provided an image of neglect to both residents and visitors to the area.
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
I am pleased to be able to support Bowel Cancer UK’s campaign to urge more people to take part in bowel cancer screening as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowl Cancer is Wales' second biggest cancer killer but it is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. However, at the moment, only half of those who receive a test complete it and thousands of people are missing out on the chance to detect bowel cancer early when it is easier to treat.
I would urge the people who are sent a bowel screening test to use it. Taking part in bowel cancer screening is the best way to get diagnosed early. If you are over 60, take the test when you receive it in the post. If you are younger, tell the people over 60 in your life to take the test. Early diagnosis really can save lives. Visit Bowel Cancer UK’s website for more information: bowelcanceruk.org.uk.
Free First Aid Guides
St John Cymru Wales are currently offering free pocket first aid guides to members of the public in Wales. These credit-card-sized booklets contain all of the first aid advice you will need to deal with five common medical emergencies including choking, bleeding, burns, heart attack and what to do if a casualty is unresponsive. Although nothing can replace hands-on first aid training, these little guides could be the difference between life and death in an emergency, providing the user with the confidence to proceed with lifesaving techniques. To get your free guide visit: stjohnwales.co.uk/first-aid-advice/freeguides/
Forthcoming Advice Surgeries
I hold advice surgeries in my Newtown and Welshpool offices most Fridays and I will also be in the following areas on the following dates. If you would like to meet with me, please contact me on 01686 610887 to make an appointment.
Llandinam - Saturday 22nd April
Machynlleth - Friday 12th May
Welshpool - Saturday 13th May
Newtown - Monday 15th May