December 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to my December 2024 Newsletter.
I would like to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Earlier this week my own party leader in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, stood down. Darren Millar MS was elected as the new Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Welsh Parliament and will now lead the official Opposition. I wish Darren well and look forward to working with him in his new position.
This morning I visited Ysgol Calon y Dderwen and was delighted to present Evan Morgan aged 10 with a prize as the winner of my Christmas card competition. Thank you to all children who entered my annual event. I received fantastic entries and every year the standard gets even better.
As ever, if you would like an update on something not mentioned in my newsletter, or I can help in another way, please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 01686 610887.
Russell George MS with Christmas Card winner 2024 - Evan Morgan aged 10.
Small Business Saturday
Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, which is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, highlighting small business success and encouraging consumers to 'shop local' and celebrate small businesses in their communities.
The day is an opportunity to champion the key role played by small firms across Powys' high streets. I am encouraging people in Montgomeryshire to join me tomorrow in pledging to shop locally to support the independent businesses we all know and love.
Over recent weeks, I've been able to meet and chat with independent shop owners in Welshpool, Newtown, Llanfyllin, Machynlleth and Llanidloes.
Our local high streets are instrumental in bringing people together, acting as a meeting place for friends and families and supporting jobs for local people. Let's do all we can to ensure that our high streets can flourish. Please consider shopping local in the lead up to Christmas.
Supporting our Farmers
Russell George speaking in the debate on Inheritance tax changes.
Last week, I spoke in the Senedd to highlight how we will all be impacted by the UK Government's decision to change Agricultural Property Relief.
I am concerned that the UK Government’s Inheritance tax changes will lead to the breakup of family farms. Many families will have to sell off parts of their farm, making the business less viable.
Why should everyone be concerned? Rural economies depend on the farming industry. No Farmers, No Food. The consequences of family farms dwindling away is that we will become more reliant on food supplied from outside of the UK.
Access to cash
Cash transactions still make up over 40% of takings in small shops. Yes, we are moving more and more to cashless transactions, but access to cash remains crucial, particularly in rural areas.
I've been a member of the Welsh Parliament’s Cross-party Group on Small Shops for a few years. Last month I was elected the Chair. The group is made up of Senedd members on a cross party basis, with each meeting focusing on different subjects.
Our first meeting focused on the need to safeguard cash access, which has become a greater issue with bank closures and the loss of ATMs. The Association of Convenience stores gave a presentation on current access to cash trends across the sector and the role cash plays in local communities. A representative from the Financial Conduct Authority also joined the meeting to discuss the FCA's interventions to protect access to cash. I am looking forward to getting more involved with the group, and hope this allows me to advocate further for small and local businesses.
Mobile Masts coming online
I have kept in contact with Building Digital UK (BDUK) which is a UK Government organisation aiming to bring fast and reliable broadband and mobile coverage to hard-to-reach places across the UK.
There are several masts already operational. I will be meeting with BDUK next month to discuss the progress and to advocate the importance of these masts coming online as soon as possible.
Updates on the masts below:
- Y Fan, Llanidloes - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since March 2024.
- Llanidloes - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since March 2024.
- Llangynog - Handed over to Mobile Network Operators in October. Will be activated over the next 12 months.
- Staylittle - This mast has been descoped from the original programme. However, the mast will still have EE commercial coverage as part of EE’s agreement with the Home Office.
- Llanrhaeadr-ym Mochnant - Handed over to Mobile Network Operators in October. Will be activated over the next 12 months.
- Hafren Forest, Llanidloes - This mast was approved in October. The build for the upgrade is due begin this month.
- Manafon, Welshpool - This mast is still under consideration for the programme.
- Rhiwargor - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since May 2024.
- Lake Vyrnwy, Llanwddyn - This mast is still under consideration for the programme.
- Tyn-y-ffynon, Lake Vyrnwy - This mast is in the design and implementation phase which is in the first stage of the approval process.
- Maengwynedd, Oswestry - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since November 2024.
- Llanfyllin - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since October 2024.
- Tregynon - This mast has been activated and delivering new coverage since June 2024.
- Bettws Cedewain - This mast was approved for the upgrade in October 2024 and the build upgrade is due to be completed in February 2025.
- Aberhosan, Machynlleth - This mast is still under consideration for the programme.
- Hirnant, Abertridwr - This mast is still under consideration for the programme.
Powys National Park Concern
Last month, I participated in a very well attended public meeting on the proposals to include North Powys in a new National Park.
The overwhelming message from the 250 people that attended the meeting in Llanrhaeadr was clear. The proposals to create a fourth National Park in Wales, to include a large area of North Powys, are not welcome.
There are concerns that changes to planning regulations will negatively affect farm diversification. There are questions about the affordability of a further National Park. This comes down to priorities; funding would be better spent upgrading existing infrastructure, than the large sums of money just examining this proposal.
The overarching issue for me, is that despite a whole range of concerns and questions, no adequate assurances have been provided.
2025 Calendar
If you would like a copy of my 2025 calendar, which includes useful contact numbers, please let me know.
