Last month, I was delighted to attend the official opening of the Sixth Senedd, which would have normally taken place after the election in May but was understandably delayed as a result of Covid restrictions.
Her Majesty, The Queen, was joined at the opening by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and Her Majesty looked remarkably well. At the age of 95, I find her unstinting dedication and steadfast commitment to all corners of the United Kingdom remarkable and I'm sure you will all join with me in wishing her well as she takes a much deserved rest over the next couple of weeks on the advice of medical professionals.
As always, I hope you find this update useful and informative. If you would like to meet with me face-to-face or arrange a suitable time for a telephone conversation on any issue of concern on which you require my assistance or support, please contact my office by email at [email protected] or by phoning 01686 610887.
Kind regards
Russell George MS
Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire
Update on Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Powys
Powys continues to have the highest first and second dose vaccination rates of all health boards in Wales. 91.1% of people aged 18+ have had their first dose and 88.9% have received their second dose.
Powys also has the highest vaccination rates in Wales for 16-17 year olds, with 82.5% of this age group receiving their first dose. Around 60% of 12-15 year olds have also taken up their first dose. The health board have now reached 25,000 booster doses in Powys, including nearly 7000 people aged 80+ in the county.
I have had concerns raised about letters going out in a timely way to update residents on their booster appointments, and have taken this up with the health board and health minister.
I provide a further general update below with relevant links.
Booster appointments are under way. Your invitation will normally be from the health board, and I’m told will be no earlier than six months after your second dose. In practice it will normally be around six to seven months after your second dose. If your second dose was before 21st March and you have not received your invitation letter then the health board have a priority access form which you should complete.
Everyone aged 12-15 registered with a GP in Powys should have received their invitation. “First offer” appointments have taken place. If relevant, and you did not receive an invitation, or were not able to take up your first offer then drop-in sessions are available.
First and second dose appointments are continuing, and you can use the regular drop-in clinics if you have not already taken up the invitation.
Third primary doses are recommended for certain individuals who had severe immunosuppression in proximity to their first or second dose.
COVID-19 infection in pregnancy carries a significant risk of hospital admission and a higher risk of severe illness than for the non-pregnant population. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you can attend drop-in clinics, or talk to your Powys midwife to find out more about COVID-19 vaccination.
You can continue to find all the latest information about COVID-19 vaccination on the health boards website at pthb.nhs.wales/covid-vaccine
Montgomery Canal Funding - Welcome News
I welcome last week's significant announcement from the UK Government of a huge investment in providing the funding to restore the Montgomery Canal.
This will be a brilliant boost for Mid Wales which will see a project benefit the local economy and I would like to pass on my congratulations to everyone who has campaigned for many years for funding which will be a major contributory factor to the final aim of seeing the restoration of the canal.
I got involved myself when first elected, and was pleased to provide my formal support back in June to Powys County Council's bid via the UK Levelling-Up fund to support the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.
My colleague, Craig Williams MP, has also made it one of his top priorities, and we welcomed the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart MP to Montgomeryshire to meet with the fantastic volunteers who have been working on the Montgomery Canal for many years.
The Montgomery Canal Partnership and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust have been campaigning tirelessly for many years to restore sections. It is fantastic to now see that this vital restoration will take place. I would like to pay tribute to volunteers at the Montgomery Canal Partnership and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, Canal & Rivers Trust and all of the other volunteers who have worked so hard to campaign for this project.
The Chancellor's £15.5 million Levelling Up funding announcement will give a very welcome boost to the local economy and will benefit both Montgomeryshire residents and tourists. It will take some years of course to progress, but I am looking forward to the benefits of this project which will protect the Montgomery Canal's unique, natural and built environment and make it accessible to residents and tourists.
The ultimate aim is to restore the canal all the way to Newtown, and I have a meeting this Friday to further discuss the options now available, and I will report back further as details and options become available.
Powys Council changes to Education
In October, Powys County Council’s cabinet approved the change to Machynlleth's Ysgol Bro Hyddgen’s language category from dual stream to Welsh Medium. The proposal will mean that from September 2022, the reception class at the school will be taught in Welsh, in a move which will eventually see all classes from reception to sixth form taught in the language.
Dozens of people from the Machynlleth area have been in touch with me concerned about this proposal. Whilst it is fantastic to see that many want to learn through the medium of Welsh, removing reasonable choice from those who wish to or need to learn through the medium of English is a huge concern for many.
I had urged Powys County Council to reconsider their proposal and to listen to the community and their representatives on this matter. However, now that Powys County Council have made this decision, it is important that the council do what they have said they will do to mitigate some of the concerns which have been raised by local people. At the very least the council needs to ensure fairness when applying their Home to School Transport policy and this is an issue which is relevant for all areas of the county.
There will be pupils (who for various reasons) either need or choose to be educated in the medium of English and Powys Council must ensure that these children’s needs are met and that pupil need/choice is not hindered by whether school transport can be afforded by parents.
Whilst the transition to Welsh Medium Education at Machynlleth may very well be phased, it would be understandable to see some pupils from the Machynlleth area who want to be educated in a school where English medium is not being phased out and Powys Council should also consider this when deciding whether to grant free transport to such pupils.
As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I have asked Powys Council to review their Home to School Transport Policy and I hope that this will be forthcoming.
We are shortly expecting decisions on the future of other schools, including Churchstoke CP and Castle Caereinon. Ahead of an expected decision, I have been ensuring that the views of these communities and my views are expressed to decision makers at Powys County Council.
There remains a strong need for community banking services in Mid Wales.
Need for banks to reopen in Mid Wales
I have been a long time advocate for a community banking model supported by Government and have been vocal in my support for Banc Cambria who want to introduce physical banks into local communities that supply everyday retail banking services.
Whilst banks have pointed out the increased use of online banking, there remains a strong need for the presence of high street banks.
I recently pressed the Welsh Government on what it has been doing to support community banking because I am keen to keep campaigning to see face-to-face banking services on our high streets once again.
Bank branch closures have had such a detrimental impact for communities and customers, especially those who are elderly and disabled, but there are also wider implications for local businesses.
It will require Government intervention and support for a community banking model that would see physical banks opening once again on our High Streets.
I would like to see towns such as Llanidloes, Machynlleth and Welshpool being considered for banks to open once again on our high streets.
Protecting our Natural Environment
Protecting our natural environment, climate change and biodiversity loss will be the defining issue of our time and I am pleased to have been invited as a delegate to the COP26 Conference in Glasgow in my capacity as Chair of the Senedd's Health Committee.
As the Prince of Wales said in his speech to the G20 in Rome last week, COP 26 is a very important conference which is literally the "last chance saloon" to ensure that we turn warm words into actions on which all world leaders can agree to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Last week, I was also pleased to attend Gregynog Hall for the Green Connections Powys event to find out more about the project.
Green Connections Powys is a collaborative Wildlife Trusts project across Powys working with community groups, small businesses, landowners and local councils to take action to address climate change and biodiversity loss and create a nature recovery network across the county. They will be surveying and mapping wildlife, advising on habitat management and nature-based solutions, helping people encourage more wildlife into their communities and offering opportunities for upskilling and volunteering. This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
This Saturday, I will also be attending an event to receive petitions from Climate Action Newtown, who are holding an event in the town centre to mark the mid-point of the COP26 conference. Between 10.30am and 11.30am, there will be information tables in Bear Lanes (near High Street entrance) which will explain the purpose of Climate Action Newtown and will also have information about e-bikes, Newtown’s electric car club etc. There will also be an exhibition of children’s artwork organised by One Planet Newtown in the window of Club Sports in Broad Street.
Visit to Cylch Meithrin at Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd
For five decades, Mudiad Meithrin has grown into a national network which facilitates fun services for children and their families through the medium of Welsh.
I visited Cylch Meithrin at Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd last month following the campaign to celebrate their work. The thumbs up was part of the campaign!
Local Help and Advice Surgeries
We were all shocked and saddened by the appalling murder of Sir David Amess MP who was serving his constituents at an advice surgery in Southend West.
Craig Williams MP and I thought long and hard about whether we ought to postpone our surgery in Guilsfield the day after his death but I'm pleased that we decided to proceed. Not only did we think that Sir David would have approved of our decision to cancel, but also felt that it is crucially important to be as accessible as possible to residents and continue to hold face-to-face meetings to hear about local issues and take away casework so that we can do our jobs of helping residents. Helping and supporting residents with their issues is the main part of our work as a Member of Parliament and Member of the Senedd respectively so face-to-face meetings should continue whilst being mindful of personal security. Nevertheless, a huge thanks go to Dyfed Powys for their presence and reassurance.
If you would like to meet with me or know when I plan to have an advice surgery in your area, please contact my office by telephone on 01686 610887 or by email at [email protected]
Other advice surgeries which are coming up in November are:
Meifod – Saturday 6th November
Newtown – Monday 8th November
Machynlleth – Friday 19th November
Welshpool – Friday 26th November
