A view from Wrexham’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In this month’s column Sarah Atherton MP writes: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last week, I was pleased to meet with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water representatives to discuss Wrexham’s planning applications backlog caused by the Welsh Labour Government’s (WLG) phosphates policy.

This policy sets new targets for phosphate pollution in rivers and has severely impacted housing and wider planning developments in Wrexham. Due to this policy, in 2021-22, only 5,273 council houses were built in Wales, 24% less than in 2015-16.

While the aim to reduce phosphates levels in the River Dee is laudable, the way that the WLG introduced this policy has been detrimental to Wrexham.

The Wrexham constituency is covered by two treatment plants, Gresford (which currently doesn’t hold a permit and sits in Tranche 2 for consideration) and the main plant, Five Fords which covers the City Centre and Industrial Estate.

At my meeting with Welsh Water, they confirmed that the Five Fords treatment plant’s existing permit meets Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) new requirements. The decision to grant the permit is now in the gift of NRW and now falls within an administrative task rather than environmental challenge.

This new development makes me hope that, after a two-year phosphates journey, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have written to NRW requesting that they allow development to start as soon as possible.

This will allow the development of care home extensions, supported living and the redevelopment of the historic Kop Stand at the Racecourse Ground!

While democracy was placed under considerable and unacceptable pressure in the Wrexham Council Chamber during the recent Local Development Plan (LDP) vote, the voice of the majority in Wrexham held out.

The Welsh Government’s Future Wales 2040 Plan imposes around 7,000 new homes in Wrexham on green belt land with no road upgrades to support such mass development. This LDP was not designed with Wrexham’s best interests in mind.

What we saw at Wrexham Council was true devolution. The local councillors who voted against adopting the LDP under considerable pressure truly represented their constituents. Whilst the potential for judicial review looms, for now, democracy prevailed.

Having joined North Wales Conservative colleagues in calling for an urgent police investigation into the BCUHB scandal, I was pleased to meet with senior police officers to discuss this issue.

A recent Ernst and Young report evidenced a misappropriation of funds. In addition, I am calling for the Welsh Labour Government to release the damning report which evidenced concerns. Once I receive an update, I will share the news with residents via my website.

In other health news, I have written to BCUHB and Wrexham Council asking if we can urgently work together to solve the diabolical parking issue at the Maelor.

The ‘cut and shut’ structure of the hospital is not fit for purpose. This is a part of the reason why I launched a campaign for a new Wrexham hospital.

Residents who have waited months for an appointment – if not years – have contacted me to say they have missed their appointment due to poor parking arrangements. The health campaign continues, and if you have not done so already, you can give your views here.

Last week was Armed Forces Week, which I started with a Defence Select Committee visit to the Royal Navy Command HQ in Portsmouth. During the visit, we looked at the Royal Navy’s operations, readiness, equipment, and procurement.

I was particularly impressed by the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier, which you can see in a video here.

In Wrexham, we had the grand opening of the Memorial Site at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Located at the main hospital entrance, the site memorialises those who served in the Armed Forces, NHS staff and Blue Light Services and Volunteers.

As a veteran myself, I am proud that Wrexham is remembering those who have bravely served to protect us.

I had the pleasure of visiting Lle Hapus as part of their Grand Opening. Lle Hapus, which means ‘Happy Place’ in Welsh, is a community café and events space on Eagles Meadow.

It’s the latest venture by non-paid volunteer organisation, Wrexham Clothing Exchange. Wrexham Clothing Exchange are looking for donations and volunteers!

If you are able to and have some spare time, I encourage you to pop down to the Clothing Exchange to give them a helping hand or donate your unwanted clothes.

If you are a Wrexham resident in the current constituency boundary and need my help with any issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email on [email protected].