'Many of us are taking stock of what has been a difficult and turbulent twelve months'

MP for Clwyd South

With Christmas getting closer, and the New Year just around the corner, many of us are taking stock of what has been a difficult and turbulent twelve months – not least due to the Covid-19 pandemic, changing restrictions and, more recently, the emerging Omicron variant from South Africa. I know many families will be worried. We continue to see the very best of our communities in Clwyd South and North Wales coming together to support the most vulnerable through the winter and the pandemic.

As the local MP, I have been very fortunate to meet some of the people and groups making a huge difference in our area. On 9th November, it was a privilege to meet with both staff and service users of The Rainbow Foundation in Penley, and to see for myself the exceptional work they carry out. During my visit, I was able to see the benefits of groups such as the Community Art Class and the way the day opportunities service was able to benefit the health and well-being of our more elderly community. For a lot of people, these services are a great way to meet with others and are a lifeline to remain living independently, so I would like to take the opportunity to thank The Rainbow Foundation for what they offer the local area.

I also want to pay special tribute to the volunteers at the Chirk Community Cupboard in the Parish Hall who do amazing work every week, serving the community. I was grateful to learn more, during a visit on 6th October, about the kind of products which are in high demand locally, and the ways in which residents support each other by dropping off essential items.

And I was very pleased to visit and show my support for the Community Open Day at the Canolfan Ceiriog in the Ceiriog Valley on 3rd October, which was a celebration of the community and was an opportunity for people to come together, which hadn’t been possible for many months due to COVID-19.

It was an honour to attend the very moving Broughton Community Act of Remembrance at the Brynteg Memorial Centre on Sunday 14th November 2021, which was blessed with beautiful weather. And on 15th November in the House of Commons, I was very glad to thank and congratulate the Broughton Community Council and the many other volunteers, organisations and veterans across Clwyd South who have worked so hard to raise money for the Poppy Appeal this year during Questions to the Veterans Minister.

On Friday 19th November 2021, I visited the landslip on Newbridge Road between Newbridge and Cefn Mawr, alongside Sam Rowlands, MS for North Wales and local resident, Tony Partridge. Sam, Tony and I were able to see first-hand the damage that has been caused on the road and called on the Welsh Government to urgently conduct essential repairs. Since the visit, funding of £175,000 from the Welsh Government has been confirmed to make technical studies with regard to repairing the extensive damage caused to the B5605 earlier this year during Storm Christoph. This is a small step in the right direction on repairing the Newbridge Road. But it is astonishing that the Welsh Government has taken so long - almost a year - to react and there can be no further delays on their part in making sure these repairs are done as fast as possible.

I was very pleased during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 17th November 2021, to ask the Prime Minister to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary this year of the formation of the 177-mile path for walkers along Offa’s Dyke, which runs through Clwyd South, and to invite his support for the recently launched Offa’s Dyke rescue fund to repair and preserve this monument and nature reserve for future generations.

I continue to send out a monthly e-newsletter so constituents can read more about my activities in Clwyd South and Westminster. If you’d like to start receiving this monthly MP’s e-newsletter, you can sign up using the following link: www.simonbaynes.co.uk/sign-simons-e-newsletter.

As Clwyd South’s MP, I am always here to provide advice and support. If you’re a Clwyd South constituent, you can contact me and my team at any time by email on simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s anything I can do to help you.