'I’m looking forward to a summer of events bringing people together again'

MS for Delyn

As we transition from the pandemic, it’s been great to be able to get out and about more to events and activity across the constituency and the past weekend was no exception. On Friday night, it was a privilege to be a guest at the Flint Mayor Inauguration and Civic Dinner. The evening’s ceremony saw Councillor Michelle Perfect take over the reins as Mayor of Flint from outgoing Mayor, Councillor Melly Buckley at a ceremony in the historic Flint Town Hall. There was a fantastic and warmly received poetry recital about ‘Our community’ by pupils from Cornist Park Primary School and it was great to see students and the headteachers of both Flint High School and St. Richard Gwyn Catholic High School in attendance. The service was followed by a dinner at Flint Mountain Hotel which helped raised money for the Mayor’s charities. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr. Melly Buckley for everything she has done during her term in office and for being a fantastic role model and I look forward to working with Mayor Michelle Perfect over the coming year.

Then on Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Flowers of Halkyn Mountain event at Halkyn Parish Village Hall. Organised by Halkyn Mountain Nature Conservation Group, the group launched their new book on Wild Flowers of Halkyn Mountain alongside fabulous displays of wild flowers, moths, rocks and fossils found on the mountain. The book is available for individuals to take away for a small donation. The group are also very kindly giving a set of books free to local schools. I hope to join the conservation group over the summer for a walk on the mountain.

I’m looking forward to a summer of events bringing people together again, starting with the upcoming Jubilee Weekend and will be sharing details of what’s happening across the constituency on my Facebook Page.

This coming summer, I’ll be following up last summer’s Transport Survey in different communities, alongside sharing key findings. From the work I have carried out, through last year’s survey and the conversations I have time and time again, it’s clear that more people would take the bus if bus services were better – better in terms of cost, frequency and local connections. As someone who has grown up, lives and works here, I know that a bus system that serves and supports our communities, would be the most viable public transport alternative, alongside a network that links bus and train services. But thanks in large part to the deregulation of the bus sector during the 1980s, all too often bus companies today tend to serve their own profit margins rather than prioritise people and connecting communities.

I’ve already written to both Flintshire County Council and the Welsh Government to raise key and common points that constituents shared with me and I am really pleased to see the Welsh Government launch a new consultation that sets out proposals for ‘buses as a public service for Wales.’ The consultation sets out proposals for public transport bus services to better plan and grow the bus network, making sure it meets public needs and maximises the value we get for investment in bus services. Further details can be found here and I would encourage as many people as possible to respond:

One network, one timetable, one ticket: planning buses as a public service for Wales | GOV.WALES Submit your comments at busbillconsultation@gov.wales

The consultation will close on 24th June 2022.

If you have any questions about my work as your Member of the Senedd or would like to ask for advice and support, please get in touch with me on 01352 762102 or at Hannah.Blythyn@senedd.wales.