October 2018
Dear Resident,
One issue which has dominated my postbag has been the huge concern about Natural Resources Wales' decision to ban shooting on Welsh Government land. I have also attended a large public meeting in regards to Powys County Council's decision to build a recycling depot in Abermule. Please do contact me if you would like further information on either of these issues.
I would like to take this opportunity to urge you to respond to the Welsh Government's consultation on how it intends to support farmers post-Brexit. The consultation can be viewed here and I am in agreement with the position of the farming unions in Wales that the Welsh Government needs to do far more in placing food security at the heart of its policy-making.
I would also like to congratulate my friend and colleague, Paul Davies AM, who has recently been elected as the new Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly. I'm delighted to have been asked by Paul to continue as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Business, Economy & Infrastructure as well as taking on Shadow Ministerial responsibility for Mid Wales.
Congratulations also go to Llanymynech for winning the Montgomeryshire Village Award 2018. Llanymynech was this year's winner, but the event and presentation at Welshpool Livestock Market demonstrated that all 11 vibrant villages had worked hard.
As always, I hope you enjoy reading my newsletter and if you would like to contact me with any issue or concern, please don't hesitate to contact me by phoning my office on 01686 610887 or by emailing [email protected]
Best wishes
Russell
Russell George AM
Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Newtown Bypass & Fun Run Event
I have recently provided a report on Newtown Bypass works. A summary of the report is below, but please click here for a fuller summary.
I am pleased to report there has been significant progress on the Newtown bypass, with sections of the bypass now visible at the roundabout on the Kerry Road, at Glandulas, Dolfor Road and on the Pool Road.
After recently visiting the site, I was impressed with the progress made and it is certainly taking shape. With the warm dry weather over the Summer it has allowed the contractors, Alun Griffiths, to progress earthworks ahead of schedule, with most now reaching completion. Now the weather has cooled down, landscaping and planting is taking place to allow new plants to establish.
Completion is planned for the early part of next year and those of us who have vehicles are expected to be able to drive on the completed bypass in early Spring. You may wish to see the latest fly through of the project which was recorded in July here
Alun Griffiths Contractors have announced a Charity Fun Run event on the bypass which will take place on Sunday 21st October 2018 whereby a completed section of the bypass will be used.
In the morning, an elite 5k run will begin at 9.30am followed by an amateur/club run at 11.30am. All runners must be 14 years and over to take part and all money raised will go to the Wales Air Ambulance and Cancer Research UK but people will be able to raise money for their own chosen charities. Then, in the afternoon, a fun walk for families, children included, will take place between 1pm and 3pm.
I understand that all spaces have now been filled for the walk and limited spaces remain for the run. I have asked the Welsh Government to allow a further walk to take place on the full bypass route before it opens without limits on the numbers of walkers or attendees.
I will be taking part myself and hope that I see as many people as possible on the day.
GP Out-of-Hours Service
Earlier this year, I raised concerns in the Assembly about proposed changes for GP Out-of-Hours services. I also met with the health board and local GPs to discuss this issue.
Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) has now confirmed that Shropshire Doctors Co-operative Ltd (ShropDoc), in partnership with Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (ShropCom) have been successful in their bid to provide the GP Out-of-Hours service in our area.
As ShropDoc has been successful in this tender process, our local health board (PTHB) will continue to have discussions with ShropDoc regarding the future delivery of GP Out-of-Hours service for the people of Powys.
From Wednesday 3rd October 2018, NHS 111 Wales has been in place across the whole of Powys. This is the new easy to remember number to contact both GP out of Hours (provided by ShropDoc) and NHS Direct Wales health information and advice.
111 is free and aims to help patients find the right advice, support and treatment 24 hours a day. Overnight and at weekends, it is the number to ring for urgent medical attention that will not wait until your GP surgery is next open.
Christmas Card Competition
I'm inviting children from across Montgomeryshire to take part in my 2018 Christmas card competition.
I hope that all children (aged 5 – 11) will have a go at designing the official picture, depicting a Christmas scene, which will feature on the front of my cards later this year.
Prizes are given to the winner and runner up and every child taking part in the competition receives a certificate.
All entries should be maximum A4 or smaller and entries should be submitted via hard copy to my office at 13 Parkers Lane, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2LT or 20 High Street, Welshpool, SY21 7JP by Friday 2 November 2018.
I am very much looking forward to receiving and judging this year's entries.
Advice Surgeries
You can make an appointment with me in either my Newtown or Welshpool office most Fridays.
Please contact me if you would like to meet with me by calling 01686 610887 or by email at [email protected]
I will also be holding the following joint advice surgeries.
Friday 12th October
12pm - 3pm
I will be holding a joint advice surgery with Traveline Cymru at Morrisons in Newtown.
Monday 15th October
2pm - 3pm
I will be holding a joint advice surgery with Cllr. Dan Rowlands (Newtown, Llanllwchaiarn North) at my office at 13, Parker's Lane, Newtown.