'I called on the Welsh Government to clarify its position on the A55/A494/A548 Flintshire Corridor 'Red Route.'

MS for North Wales

Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, I called on the Welsh Government to clarify its position on the A55/A494/A548 Flintshire Corridor 'Red Route'.

The Labour Welsh Government announced in 2017 that they had decided on the ‘Flintshire Red Route’ option to the A55 at Northop.

Last December former Economy Minister, Ken Skates MS, told me ‘this route was determined to be the most suitable for the challenge that we face in that particular area of Wales’.

However Delyn MS, Hannah Blythyn, herself a Member of the Welsh Government, then opposed her Government’s proposed route during the recent Senedd election.

Local people and campaigners deserve to know what is going on as soon as possible.

Leader of the Welsh Conservative Official Opposition in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, announced his new Shadow Cabinet, and I was pleased to be appointed as the Shadow Minister for Social Justice and the Shadow Counsel General.

As I have previously stated, social justice can only be delivered by empowering people to fulfil their potential and to take ownership of their communities. I will continue working for this approach to be taken in Wales.

I was pleased to attend Mold Plastic Reduction’s online event celebrating their 2nd birthday by holding a community conversation about food + drink packaging, to showcase their own reusable food container project - 'Naked Takeaway' - in conjunction with Mold Town Council.

As Chair of the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care in the last Welsh Parliament, I met Hospice UK and Hospices Cymru online to discuss re-establishment of the Cross Party Group in the new (6th) Senedd, advocating for people who need hospice, palliative and end of life care.

Other engagements included an online meeting with the Welsh Beer and Pub Association (WBPA).

There is a significant degree of discontent in the sector regarding the latest round of Welsh Government business support funding compared to support for the sector in Scotland and England, with many pubs in Wales “falling through the cracks”.

The general level of funding does not take into account either that around 50% of pubs in Wales had to remain closed until 17th May because of a lack of usable outside space, or the shutdown/restart costs incurred over the last few lockdowns. There is also a real need for some form of roadmap to removing restrictions, as in England.

The Welsh Government needs to listen to the sector and plug the gaps they are identifying.

If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.