Dear resident,
General Election 2015
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On May 7th, the people of Montgomeryshire elected their Member of Parliament. I would like to extend my congratulations to Glyn Davies who has been re-elected as our MP.
I am looking forward to continuing our close working relationship in supporting the residents of Montgomeryshire over the next year until next May’s Assembly Election, when it will be my turn to seek your approval to remain as your Assembly Member, a position which I’m honoured to hold.
Over the next 11 months, I will continue to work hard on behalf of all residents of Montgomeryshire on the issues which matter to you. Please find below just a snapshot of the issues which I have been working on over the last month.
Broadband
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2 weeks ago I met with the Director of BT Wales, Ann Beynon, and the Director of the Superfast Cymru project, Ed Hunt, for an update on the fibre broadband rollout in Montgomeryshire and the rest of Mid Wales.
As Chair of the National Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Digital Communications, an improvement in broadband connectivity has been high on my agenda after a significant amount of correspondence from residents across Montgomeryshire.
BT informed me that around a third of properties (13,000) in Montgomeryshire are already able to receive high-speed broadband and I was encouraged to hear that good progress is being made on the remaining properties.
BT also said that it is still committed to the Welsh Government’s stated aim to make available superfast broadband at a minimum of 24 Mbit/s to 96% of premises in Wales by Spring next year.
I have expressed some concern that some rural residents may be left behind and that this ambitious target wouldn’t be hit, so it is comforting to know that BT still believe they are on target.
Nevertheless, I will still be looking for assurances from the Welsh Government that those 45,000 premises from across Wales, who will miss out from the initial rollout will be able to access superfast broadband at the earliest opportunity to ensure that Mid Wales remains competitive with its urban counterparts in an economy which is increasingly reliant on high speed broadband and mobile connectivity.
I will also be looking for an improvement in the way in which both the Welsh Government and BT communicate to residents who will miss out, and will be urging the Welsh Government to publish a comprehensive list of premises which they have already identified as being outside the scope of the initial Superfast Cymru rollout.
BT has also accepted my invitation to visit Montgomeryshire later this year to meet with various community leaders.
In the meantime, please contact me if you have any queries about the Superfast Cymru project in your area and I will facilitate a reply from BT.
Planning Bill
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Over the last few months, I have led on the Welsh Government’s proposed planning legislation on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives. The Bill has just reached the end of its legislative journey.
The overall aim of the Bill was to create a more consistent planning system that enables development and enhances built and natural environments. However, in my view, instead of a radical and ambitious piece of legislation which would devolve more power to local communities and put decisions in the hands of local people, the changes to the planning system regrettably fail to properly devolve power down to the communities of Wales.
In my view, the people of Mid Wales already feel distant from the political bubble in Cardiff Bay where decisions are imposed upon them, often without consideration of local circumstances.
To succeed, this Bill had to streamline and simplify the planning process, and ensure that the planning system became more democratic, empowering local people to make the big decisions that will impact upon their lives. Unfortunately the complete opposite has occurred as the Bill centralises too much power in the hands of Welsh Government Ministers.
The final legislation is unnecessarily complex and will erode local democratic accountability. Ultimately, the Welsh Conservatives could not support this.
Mobile Post Offices
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During the last month, I called on the Welsh Government to support the extension of mobile Post Office services in Montgomeryshire.
The Post Office is already providing a mobile Post Office service in a number of rural communities. For example, I have previously been in discussions with communities and the post office in regards to providing services in Llanbrynmair, Castle Caereinion and Sarn.
However, after a series of Post Office closures, there remain communities in Montgomeryshire without a Post Office service at all.
I would like to see the mobile outreach service extended to other communities in Montgomeryshire such as in Abermule, Trefeglwys, Forden, and Leighton and I’ve asked the Welsh Government to support the Post Office in their efforts to do this.
While not a full replacement for permanent Post Office services, the mobile outreach vans seem to be providing an alternative which can support a number of needs for local people. It’s also important that discussions continue for permanent post office solutions.
I’m meeting the Post Office shortly to discuss the viability of other locations and whether it can extend its mobile service.
Newtown Bypass
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Construction work is due to start later this year and the bypass is due to be completed by the end of 2017.
There will be a Public Inquiry held in Newtown later this month, and I have requested to speak to present the views that have been made to be over many years.
Hourly Train Services from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
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On 18th May, the first hourly services began on the Cambrian Railway line.
I welcome this news and was delighted to join Welshpool Town Council on 18th May to greet the first train from Shrewsbury into Welshpool at 1.54pm. I pay tribute to all the groups and individuals who have campaigned for many years for hourly services to commence on this route.
The additional train services run from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury and provide a long-awaited improvement in rail services for the people of Mid Wales, providing additional opportunities for residents to access key public services and a more frequent commuter service for those needing to travel to Aberystwyth, Shrewsbury or Birmingham. It will also boost tourism in the area. The benefits will be transformative across Mid Wales for residents, local businesses and visitors.
Over the years, I have consistently urged the Welsh Government to prioritise this issue, as it is clear that good quality transport connectivity is of significant economic importance to Mid Wales. I’m therefore pleased that the Minister for Transport, Edwina Hart, has engaged positively with the campaign and has played a significant role in making this hourly service possible.
The new timetable is available here
Update from Police & Crime Commissioner – Christopher Salmon
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Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre
Christopher Salmon, the Dyfed Powys Police & Crime Commissioner has announced that the Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre will receive £3,116 from the third round of support from his Commissioner’s Fund.
The third round of assistance from the Commissioner’s Fund offered grants of up to £5,000 for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups to develop ideas that have a positive impact on the area they serve.
Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre provides refuges for both female and male victims of domestic abuse. This money will be spent on replacing old, worn and broken items within the female refuge with the aim of encouraging women to stay at the refuge.
National Rural Crime Network Survey
Both Christopher Salmon and I would also like to encourage you to take part in the largest ever national crime survey which aims to investigate the true impact of crime on countryside communities.
The survey, which is open until Wednesday 24th June, will allow you to share your views which will ultimately influence how crime prevention and rural policing is shaped in the future.
The full scale of crime in rural areas has never before been accurately assessed so this survey, backed by the Countryside Alliance and supported by the Home Office, is aiming to build a picture of what is a widespread but misunderstood issue.
The survey is available by clicking here
Surgeries
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I have published a full list of surgeries for the coming year. You can find the complete list on my website. This month, I am holding two drop-in surgeries at Morrisons in Newtown and Welshpool on:
Friday 5th June – 5pm – 7pm – Morrisons, Newtown
Friday 19th June – 5pm – 7pm – Morrisons, Welshpool
I’ll be positioned at the front of the store by the checkout and you don’t require an appointment.
Also, if you would like me to hold an advice surgery at your business or local community event, please ask.
Please find below my other upcoming surgery dates for June. Please contact me to make an appointment.
Saturday 6th June – 10am – 12 noon – Tregynon
Monday 20th June – 10am – 11am – Middletown