'Confusion over the speed limit remains'

MP for Wrexham

As part of the devolution settlement, most transport policies are decided by the Welsh Government. Since the blanket introduction of 20mph, Wrexham residents and businesses have raised serious concerns that this policy has cost £32million to implement, yet confusion over the speed limit remains, particularly when crossing the border to England. Many 20mph signs have been vandalised in protest and a lack of adequate speed limit signage, or contradictory signage may leave speeding convictions open to scrutiny.

The policy is set to cost the Welsh economy a staggering £4.5billion and, by slowing down our taxi drivers and delivery drivers, the harm it is doing to our local economy is already evident. Public transport has suffered too, with bus timetables having to be completely changed at huge cost and inconvenience to passengers and bus companies. This policy is unfairly criminalising motorists, causing confusion on our roads and slowing Wales down.

Whilst 20mph is appropriate outside schools and hospitals, the Welsh Government is ignoring the 470,000 Welsh individuals who signed the petition calling for the policy to be reversed. Having led an anti-20mph rally in Wrexham and surveyed residents on their views, I have listened. As such, prior to the First Minister announcement, I wrote to both candidates calling on them to repeal the 20mph speed limit. At the time of writing this article, I do not know the winner. However, whoever the next First Minister is, the people of Wales deserve a leader who puts their priorities ahead of vanity projects, and that includes the 20mph policy.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government’s track record on education is abysmal. The serial mismanagement of our education system by successive Labour Ministers for 25 years has left Welsh children suffering.

The education budget faces a below-inflation increase, resulting in real-term cuts, increased class sizes, reduced extracurricular activities, and redundancies likely to follow. This is all at a time when Wales has the lowest PISA results in the UK. Local headteachers in Wrexham feel neglected and unheard, despite the tireless efforts of teachers and support staff.

The Welsh Government consistently argues that they do not receive enough money from the UK Government to sufficiently fund and manage education in Wales. This is simply untrue. The Welsh Government has the money available and in fact, receives £1.20 for every £1 spent per pupil in England. Yet, the Welsh Government choose to spend only £1.05 per pupil.

Despite receiving £25million from the UK Government to spend on Welsh councils, there’s little evidence of this money being utilised. Labour’s deliberate underfunding of local councils is forcing Wrexham residents to endure a 9.9% council tax hike this year, with councils cutting spending and contemplating merging primary school to reduce costs.

Sadly, Labour-run health services are no better. Just last week, I received reports that the Maelor Hospital had no cardiac capacity, no beds, one nurse looking after 52 patients in the emergency department. Only the day before, I raised concerns that a 90-year-old constituent had waited 31 hours in the back of an ambulance with the Health Secretary, David TC Davies MP.

The Maelor is in a crisis situation and the Welsh Government’s inaction is shameful. I have called for the Welsh Health Minister to put immediate measures in place to safeguard patients’ lives.

Despite receiving £18 billion a year from the UK Government to run Wales and an additional £170million in the Chancellor’s Spring statement, the Welsh Government neglects crucial areas like health, education, roads, funding our councils. Instead, they allocate £32million to a 20mph policy, £52million to Cardiff airport and £120million to increase Senedd members.

Since my election, I’ve seen countless Wrexham residents facing crises: delayed appointments, difficulty accessing GPs, resorting to payday loans for private medical care, even attempting DIY dentistry due to lengthy waitlists. Despite 4 years of campaigning, the Welsh Government has offered only empty promises and excuses, neglecting their responsibility.

Having returned to nursing during COVID-19 I saw how hard the staff are working and they are being continually let down. I am asking the Welsh Government to step up and show that they are capable of running our health service and Wales.

If you have not done so already, please share your experiences via my ‘Health Survey’ by visiting www.sarah.atherton.org.uk.

If you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me on: sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.