'Last week I went on a walkabout in the city centre'

MP for Wrexham

Firstly, my focus has been on progressing the £22m funding given to Wrexham by the UK Government, which replaces EU funding.

Last week I went on a walkabout in the city centre to find out what residents and local businesses want the £22m to be spent on in Wrexham. Following this, I met with the Chief Executive of Wrexham Council to let him know your opinions. I’m pleased to report that the Council are very enthusiastic about your involvement and has asked me to continue to update them with your suggestions.

For two decades, Wrexham has been neglected with funding often bypassing North Wales and being spent in the Welsh Government heartlands of South Wales. However, with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, coupled with Wrexham’s new city status, we should all be hugely proud that Wrexham is now firmly on the map.

If you have not done so already, please fill out my Shared Prosperity Fund survey to give your view: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/uk-shared- prosperity-fund.

This is a great opportunity to reinvigorate Wrexham with an injection of funding, and I am looking forward to seeing how the Council spends the money.

Wrexham has a long and proud military heritage and is home to a large veterans community, so it is fitting that Wrexham has been chosen to host this year’s Wales’ Armed Forces Day on Saturday 18th June. All eyes will be on Wrexham on Saturday as a huge celebration has been organised in our new City! We will celebrate the Armed Forces and acknowledge the contribution of veterans, as well as those currently serving in the Armed Forces. It promises to be a fantastic day, with a parade of 300 marching servicemen and veterans starting from Bodhyfryd and a fly-past by Lancaster Bomber.

Events for Armed Forces Day are running all week, ranging from the rugby match on Saturday 11th June between Wrexham RFC and 1 Yorks RFC to the Battle of Britain Exhibition at Ty Pawb. As a veteran myself, I am proud that Wrexham is the heart of celebrations this year.

I am passionate about championing our military and veterans in Parliament so as a member of the Defence Select Committee and the Falklands APPG, it was an honour to attend the service at the Speaker’s House in Parliament to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War last week, which was attended by the Princess Royal. Wales has a strong military history with the Falklands War, and with so many Welsh Guards sadly losing their lives at the attack on the Sir Galahad on 8th June 1982, and so I am pleased that there will be events to commemorate the Falklands War specifically for Armed Forces Day this year. On 25th June, which is UK Armed Forces Day, I am looking forward to paying my respects at the Welsh Guards Memorial at Bodhyfryd in Wrexham.

I have mentioned this before but as a reminder, the Falklands Islands Government is still running the competition for UK 16 to 18-year-olds to win the trip of a lifetime to the Falkland Islands next year. This is a great opportunity for Wrexham teenagers that does not come around often - make sure to get your entry in!

If you would like to find out more, please follow this link: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/news/meeting-leona-roberts-mla-and-discussing-fantastic-competition-uk-16-18-year-olds-win-trip.  

As always, if you are resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issue, please contact me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.