'I hope Wrexham Council is now able to use this new momentum as a springboard to invest in and improve'

MS for Clwyd South

While we had disappointing news on the City of Culture bid last month, the thousands of people who supported the campaign can be proud of what they helped achieve.

We have a lot to be proud of here, and I hope Wrexham Council is now able to use this new momentum as a springboard to invest in and improve the whole county borough.

Wrexham still has a lot to be optimistic about. The separate designation of City Status, which was announced recently, will present new opportunities for inward investment that the council must take advantage of, and I have also written to Economy Minister Vaughan Gething for assurances that the Welsh Government will continue to support our area.

Despite the double Wembley disappointment for Wrexham AFC, it’s clear that it’s now a club that, like the town, is on the up. I hope the UK Government will soon respond to the calls from the club and from across the political spectrum to step up and give the Wrexham Gateway project – which includes the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground’s Kop stand – the same level of support that the Welsh Government has pledged.

This campaign is one that transcends political differences, and which should unite everyone in supporting the transformation of Wrexham and its iconic stadium so it can once again host international fixtures. A new Kop would be the final piece of the jigsaw in achieving this.

Ministers in the Welsh Government have been helping to drive this vision from the outset and have already committed millions of pounds to the project. However, to realise Wrexham’s ambitions, UK Government money is also needed. It’s time for them to step up.

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As a proud vice president of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, I look forward to welcoming visitors back to the town’s showpiece event for the first time since 2019.

This year marks the 75th year of the iconic event. Given what is happening around the world at the moment, particularly in Ukraine, the Eisteddfod’s message of international peace and harmony is as important and poignant now as it was when it was created in the aftermath of the Second World War.

The Welsh Government has provided crucial financial support to help keep the Eisteddfod going in recent years, and I hope it will continue to show its support for major events in north Wales. I send my congratulations and best wishes to the organisers as they prepare to welcome back international visitors to Clwyd South once again.