November Newsletter
Russell George AM's monthly update on his work in Montgomeryshire and the Assembly
Dear resident,
It is important to me that I stay in touch with you, and that you can be aware of the issues I’m working on in Montgomeryshire and at the Senedd.
I was particularly pleased to attend events to support Dementia Friendly Newtown and Dementia Friendly Welshpool over recent weeks and witness the good work of volunteers in both areas.
I hope that you find my newsletter useful. Please get in contact anytime on 01686 610887 or by email at [email protected]
Best regards,
Russell George
National Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Newtown Bypass
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I’m pleased to be able to provide an update on the Newtown Bypass which remains on track. It is a massive undertaking which will be hugely beneficial to the Mid Wales economy. The general rationale for the programme of works is that all the structures along the bypass will begin next year and be completed by mid 2018. The earthworks will be largely completed to the west of the Dolfor road and to the east of the Kerry Road to the railway line in 2017. The balance of earthworks in the middle of the scheme and at the eastern end will be completed in 2018 following the construction of the bridges.
The works at the western end of the scheme near Glandulas are progressing well and are planned to be completed by mid 2018 and the bridge that links the holiday park is on track to be completed by spring 2017 which should help reduce any disruption to residents of the park.
The works that have recently commenced on the Upper Dolfor Road are the excavations for the Upper Dolfor Road overbridge and this structure is due to be completed next summer.
The works for the main bridge across the Dolfor Valley are due to commence this February and are due to be completed by the spring of 2018. This will allow the earth works and road works to the east of the bridge to be completed.
I have been supporting a number of landowners who are affected by the works and have made representations to the Welsh Government on the compensation which is due to landowners affected by the scheme. I often get asked about compensation for land and homeowners, and although it would not be correct for me to share information raised with me by landowners, as it is of general interest, I thought I would set out the processes involved.
The value of any property is a matter of negotiation between the agent acting for the owner and the District Valuer Services (DVS) who represents the Welsh Government. The “market value” is said to be the amount the property might be expected to realise if sold on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer at the date of valuation. Comparable evidence should be provided based on actual market transactions.
If matters cannot be agreed between the DVS and landowners’ agents, then the matter can be decided at a Tribunal.
Finally, although construction started some 8 months ago, I’m pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed to my request for a formal “sod-cutting” event to mark the construction of the bypass, and this will take place this Monday.
Dyfi Bridge
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The Welsh Government has informed me that it is continuing to progress the development of the new Dyfi Bridge and will be in a position to publish draft Statutory Orders and an Environmental Statement before the end of the year. Once published, residents will be able to express their views on the proposals and comments will help the Welsh Government decide how the scheme should be progressed and whether a public inquiry will be required.
Talerddig Level Crossing
A drop-in event will be held by Network Rail at the Carno Community Centre on the 23rd November between 3pm and 7pm.
The aim of the session is to give local residents the opportunity to discuss a scheme, developed jointly with Powys County Council, to enable the closure of 5 user worked and 3 footpath crossings on the Cambrian Line in the Talerddig area.
The Office of Rail and Road have made it clear that they expect Network Rail to close level crossings wherever practicably possible due to the number of fatalities and injuries on the line.
Consultation on Future of Household Recycling Centres in Powys
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I have been inundated with letters and emails from residents who are concerned at the consultation which is currently being conducted by Powys County Council relating to household waste, which provides a number of cost cutting proposals that will potentially result in the closure of further household waste recycling centres at either Newtown or Welshpool.
It is important for residents to respond to the consultation via the survey on the Powys County Council website by 30th November. The survey is available here. Please remember, when responding to consultations, don’t feel you need to complete the survey, you can also provide an email or letter with your views. You can email the Council at the following address: [email protected] . This is likely to have much more of an impact than signing any petition.
For my part, I have recently raised this issue with the Welsh Government Minister responsible for Local Government, Mark Drakeford AM, to express my concern at the prospect for further closures to recycling centres in Powys.
As a result of the closure of the Potters Yard Recycling Centre in Machynlleth, some Montgomeryshire residents are already expected to travel up to 30 miles to their nearest recycling centre.
I believe that the Environment Protection Act 1990, which states that local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide its residents with at least one facility where they may deposit their household waste, needs to be amended to ensure that all residents in Wales have access to a household recycling centre within a reasonable distance from their home. The Environment Act came into being before local government re-organisation in 1996. In Powys, due to the way in which the Act is worded, only one facility across Powys would be required to fulfil the statutory obligation. Although Powys Council is not currently proposing to go this far, it’s clear that this legislation needs to be updated.
There is also serious concern that the potential closure of a site at either Newtown or Welshpool will result in an increase in fly-tipping and a reduction in recycling rates in the area.
Consultation on Changes to the Local Development Plan
I will be responding to the consultation on the Powys County Council Consultation on Focussed Changes to its Local Development Plan and would encourage you all to make your views known by Monday 21st November. The Consultation can be accessed here: LDP - Further Focussed Changes.
As a result of direction from the Welsh Government through a series of “Dear Chief Planning Officers (CPO) letters, which form part of the suite of documents that make up Welsh Government Planning Policy, Powys County Council have been directed by the Welsh Government to introduce local search areas for local-authority scale (5MW – 25MW) renewable energy schemes which are outside the scope of the existing extensive strategic search areas introduced by Technical Advice Note 8 and Planning Policy Wales in an effort to ensure that the Local Development Plan is consistent with Welsh Government national policy on renewable energy. In my view, the Welsh Government already have a policy on Strategic Search Areas so I question why it is necessary to have these additional local search areas.
I have grave concerns about the top down nature of these proposals and the considerable additional powers which Welsh Ministers are accruing for themselves. This serves to undermine local democracy and adversely affect community engagement in the planning process.
Powys County Council’s cabinet must resist any attempt to erode local democracy and strip decision making away from elected planning authorities. I passionately believe that efforts should be made to ensure that important planning decisions are made closer to the people they affect. On the contrary, we have seen a centralisation of these important powers, denying local people a voice.
In reality, local opinion will become completely irrelevant and this is a charter to ensure that major developments can take place anywhere across Powys, regardless of local opposition. As a result, I believe that no decision should be made on changes to the draft LDP until the outcome of next May’s local government elections are known so that residents can question all council candidates on their views during the run up to the elections.
Nevertheless, throughout this process, I urge Powys County Council to ensure that its decisions are made in accordance with its stated objectives outlined in its LDP i.e. that any “development which impacts on the landscape must be carefully managed and appropriately designed particularly in terms of visual impact.” (Para (2.4.13).
Day Centres for Older People Consultation
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I have formally responded to the consultation on Day Centres for Older People. The services offered and supplied at the day centres are vital to those which use the service and their families on many levels. Please read my full consultation response here.
Support for Major events
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Earlier this month, I was pleased to be able to highlight the ongoing success of the Welshpool Air Show which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary next June. The Air Show, which is now held in memory of the late Bob Jones, should receive grant funding from the Welsh Government to help the event grow and attract further visitors to Mid Wales. The event is rapidly becoming a major event in Montgomeryshire, and has previously played host to the Red Arrows, RAF Falcons parachute display team, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a Typhoon. I was pleased that as a result of my question, the First Minister confirmed that he was aware of the bid for grant funding which has been submitted by the organisers and that Welsh Government officials will be in touch with them in due course.
Broadband & Mobile
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Yesterday evening, I was pleased to be able to attend a public meeting at New Mills Community Hall to discuss the lack of mobile coverage in the Manafon Valley. It was a constructive meeting and, as a result, the Community Council and I will be making enquiries with the mobile network operators, the Welsh Government, the UK Government and Ofcom on the range of measures which are required for the Valley to obtain mobile coverage.
Last week, I also led a debate in the National Assembly urging the Welsh Government to honour its promise to deliver universal broadband. As you know, I have been a vocal advocate for the rollout of high speed broadband and improved mobile coverage across Mid Wales.
While it ought to be acknowledged that in many cases, the Superfast Cymru project has undoubtedly improved the availability of fibre broadband across Montgomeryshire benefitting both residents and businesses, I am highly critical of the Welsh Government’s failure to honour its commitment to deliver universal access to superfast broadband by 2015. I and many others remain frustrated that we are still waiting for improvements to reach us. We are now in 2016 and the reality is that we are still some way off providing universal access to next generation broadband. The goalposts have been repeatedly moved, people have been fobbed off, and businesses have been unable to plan for the future.
It is now essential that the Welsh Government closely collaborates with the regulator and network operators; looks at reforming the planning system as has already been the case in England and Scotland; and puts in place a mobile action plan which addresses market failure – these are some of the measures which are desperately needed to actually deliver the 21st Century digital connectivity which some of our urban counterparts currently enjoy.
For my part, I will continue my campaign until the digital divide has been eradicated and I was pleased that the Minister has agreed to join me in Montgomeryshire to meet with residents and businesses who are still waiting to receive fibre broadband, and outline to people in our area, what she and the Welsh Government intend to do to support us.
You are able to read my contribution to the debate and the Minister’s response on my website here.
Mobile - Newtown
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Last month I reported on mobile issues in Welshpool and Llanidloes, and you will be aware that I have consistently raised the lack of mobile coverage in rural areas of Montgomeryshire. This month, I received an update from EE about signal in Newtown and the surrounding areas.
You may recall that I held a meeting with all network providers in Newtown last November at which EE confirmed that Newtown would have 4G signal by February 2016. Unfortunately they failed to do this due to technical issues and I met with them again in July. They confirmed that they were still trying to resolve the technical issues in order to provide 4G and to improve capacity on their masts. EE stated that they were fairly confident that this work would be completed by November 2016 and they have now confirmed to me that enhanced 2G, 3G and 4G services will all be activated at the end of this month (November).
National Lottery Funding to tackle poverty in Powys
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From 1st November, community groups in rural Wales can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £350,000 from a £13.5 million National Lottery funding programme aimed at tackling poverty in rural communities with a population of 10,000 or fewer. Types of activities that could be funded are not being prescribed, but applications would need to show how groups are doing any of the following to address poverty: improving well-being, raising aspirations, enhancing skills available in the community or helping people deal with tough circumstances. This could include themes like employment and income, transport and access to services, poor broadband and digital exclusion, housing and fuel poverty and demand for welfare and advice services.
To find out more about the latest funding and apply visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ruralprogramme
I would be happy to meet and support groups with the application process.
Remembrance Sunday & Commemoration of Centenary of the Battle of Mametz Wood
Last week, I jumped on the exercise bike and joined The Royal British Legion, veterans and other Assembly Members for the 8 hour bike ride which saw AMs and MPs cycling as far as they could in 5 minutes in an effort to collectively cycle the distance from Westminster to the Somme, to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
On Sunday, I will also mark Remembrance Day by attending the Remembrance Sunday service in Newtown after attending the Welshpool Remembrance Parade last year.
I am also calling on the Welsh Government to consider the suggestion of creating an Armed Forces and Veterans Commissioner for Wales, which would be of immense benefit to the many important projects carried out on behalf of veterans, their families and the wider armed forces community.
Powys War Memorials Project
Powys County Council has secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cadw (the Welsh Government's historic environment service) and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority for the Powys War Memorials Project 2014-18: A Mark of Respect.
The project commemorates the centenary of World War 1.
There are many elements to the Powys War Memorials Project, including:
Identifying, recording and mapping all the war memorials in Powys.
Encouraging and enabling local communities to carry out research about the men and women named on war memorials.
Supporting local communities to apply for project funding for a rolling programme of repairs and restoration to war memorials and their immediate surroundings.
Developing a series of walks and trails, including apps for mobile devices, that will enable people to explore the war memorials in Powys.
Contributing to other World War 1 centenary projects, events and initiatives.
Advice Surgeries
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Friday 25th November – Newtown
Friday 9th December – Llanidloes
Friday 16th December – Welshpool
Friday 16th December – Llanfyllin
If you would like to make an appointment, please call my office on 01686 610887 or email [email protected]