Petition to save Wrexham’s second full-time appliance

MP for Wrexham

Last week, I was pleased to welcome the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak MP to Net World Sports, Wrexham. During the visit, he spoke with employees and members of the local community about questions they had, not only about Wrexham, but about Wales and the United Kingdom. We heard about his vision and his determination to deliver on his five pledges, whilst also addressing the major failings of the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff, with regards to healthcare, housing and investment in our road infrastructure.

Net World Sports is a fine example of how aspiration and determination can produce results and is a credit to our local community. Many people do not realise that our industrial estate in Wrexham is one of the biggest in Europe and is a huge success for Wrexham and our people. Net World Sports, in particular, is a Brexit success, a Covid success and a Wrexham success – all under the stewardship of a Conservative UK Government which keeps a watching brief on what is happening in Wales – all of which is shown by the Prime Minister visiting. Wrexham is on the cusp of an exciting future. We are not only on the national map, but the international map as well. We have progressed immensely as a community over the last three years, and we look forward to an exciting future together.

Another excellent example of a successful Wrexham business is Ipsen, and I was delighted to visit the team there with the Health Minister, Will Quince MP last week. Having recently received UK Government funding via the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, it was pleasing to see how this investment will maximise Ipsen’s potential not only within the UK pharmaceutical industry, but also globally. Ipsen is a biopharmaceutical company which improves patients’ lives through research, innovation, and the development of transformative medicines. Ipsen performs a very rare function by manufacturing and developing end-to-end neurotoxins, meaning that lifesaving treatments are created in Wrexham! Ipsen provides a home to nearly 500 Wrexham employees and due to ongoing global demand for products, it continues to expand and set site ambitions even higher.

Following the news that the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority (NWFRA) is consulting on the provision of fire service emergency cover for Wrexham, I launched a petition to save Wrexham’s second full-time appliance (fire engine) and crew. One option sees our third appliance under threat once again and would leave around 60,000 houses in Wrexham covered by only one full-time and one retained appliance and crew. To sign the petition, please click ‘Fire Service Petition’ on my website homepage, https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/. I will present this petition to the NWFRA as part of the consultation process.

If this decision goes ahead, the safety of Wrexham residents will be compromised. The Welsh Labour Government manages the fire service in Wales. If the fire service needs more money to be able to offer an adequate emergency service, then instead of risking people’s safety, the Welsh Government should step up and give the fire service the resources they require.

Lastly, huge congratulations to our constituent, Niamh Collins, who successfully secured a gold medal for Wales at the Commonwealth Championships in India earlier this month. I was really pleased that my office was able to assist in helping to secure Niamh's passport ahead of her departure to India. We are extremely proud of your achievement, Niamh, and we look forward to supporting you as you represent yourself, Wrexham, and our country in your future endeavours.

If you are a Wrexham resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my help with any issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.