Last Thursday, it was an honour to welcome the Minister for Brexit Opportunities, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and the new Secretary of State for Wales, Robert Buckland to Wrexham. We were joined by Channel 4 cameras for the visit, and other journalists to document the day. It was great for Wrexham to be showcased - Wrexham is certainly on the map!

The agenda for the visit was 'Growth in Wrexham': the success of the football club, the Levelling Up Fund Bid for the Wrexham Gateway Project, the £22m from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund for Wrexham Council to spend in a localised way and the potential to bring Civil Service Hubs to Wrexham were all discussed. Exciting times are ahead!

After a meeting with Council representatives at Glyndwr University, we walked down the road to Wrexham AFC for a meeting with the football club at the Racecourse Ground. It was important that the Minister and Secretary of State spent time in and around the Gateway site, which includes the Football Club and the University, to understand the importance of the Gateway Levelling Up Bid and regeneration of the area, to bring jobs, skills and growth to Wrexham.

It was brilliant to have one of the most prominent Brexiteers coming to Wrexham, which was a Brexit constituency, to look at the opportunities of leaving the EU. Many businesses have reaped the rewards of Brexit through exporting and growing their business. For example, the Minister visited Wrexham-based Matclad which specialises in creating ‘slim bricks’. Matclad is a shining example of what Wrexham has to offer, a skilled business that smoothly adapted to the post-Brexit climate and employs locally.

We also visited Magic Dragon Brewery Tap at the end of our day, so the Minister could pull a pint and chat to Brewery owner Richard about the potential for the pubs and brewing sector now that we have left the EU.

I wanted to show the Minister Wrexham Town centre and the High Street, so I could point out the fantastic architecture, and also the suggestions constituents have made to me about how we should spend the £22 million the Council have received.

The UK Government’s commitment to unite and level up the whole of the UK now we have left the EU is clear and I will continue to work closely with the Minister to ensure as much investment and opportunity is brought to Wrexham as possible. It is time that we call an end to the injustice of the postcode lottery.

Following the Welsh Government’s controversial announcement of the proposed 20mph speed limit in built-up areas in Wales and having been contacted by many constituents about this, I created a survey to hear Wrexham residents’ views. Whilst the Welsh Government will be spending £32m on this unnecessary scheme, most of the country continues to struggle with the cost of living. To be clear, I do not object to introducing 20mph speed limits outside schools and playgrounds, but a blanket roll-out is unreasonable and will make criminals of responsible drivers. This decision should be up to councils who know their local areas best. If you have not done so already, follow this link to have your say: https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/labour-slowing-wales-down.

I am pleased to share that through my office’s grant finder service, to date, we have facilitated more than £258,000 of funding for local charities and community groups. Lately, Wrexham Warehouse Project at Miners Rescue Centre has been awarded £10,000 from Hafren Dyfrdwy, which has provided a new kitchen and great facilities for the centre. Most recently, Caia Park Partnership has been awarded £8,000 by Hafren Dyfrdwy, which they have purchased furniture for their Community Hub. Many local charities have contacted me, and I have worked hard to help them secure alternative funding that perhaps they had not considered.

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