By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

Having met with the Chief Fire Officer at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service earlier this year to discuss their options for how they continue to provide emergency cover in North Wales in the future, I had a meeting with a firefighter representative to discuss their concerns that although the point of this review was to improve fire cover in North Wales, all three options in the public consultation ‘reduce fire cover’ and will have a ‘detrimental impact on the emergency fire response across North Wales’.

We also learned that the Fire Brigades Union have proposed two further options, which are being reviewed by the Fire Authority.

The Welsh Government is responsible for Fire and Rescue Services in Wales.

Further to raising awareness of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) in the Senedd following the death of Flintshire singer Ali Thomas, I met with Diabetes UK Cymru and Ali's mother, Dee Pinnington, to discuss Dee’s work on raising awareness of DKA; future actions to support this; and ‘Ali Fest 2024’, an amazing event in memory of Ali to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes complications and to raise funds for Diabetes UK. This will be held on Saturday 6th July 2024 at Rhydymwyn FC’s Mornflake Mighty Oats Ground in Rhydymwyn, near Mold.

I attended a technical briefing on the permanent works phase for the Menai Suspension Bridge.We were told that hanger replacement works are on schedule to begin on September 4th, with completion of works in 2026, the 200th anniversary of completion of works on Menai Suspension Bridge.

I have submitted further questions including whether there will be any community meetings regarding this, what, if any, compensation is proposed for adversely affected businesses, and what contingency planning is in place for periods when traffic restrictions on high-sided vehicles are in place on Britannia Bridge.

Other engagements included an online Trustee Board Meeting of charity ‘FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru’, and an exhilarating visit to Rhyl Air Show on the Bank Holiday weekend.

It is extremely disappointing that the Labour Government have been unable to at least match the UK Conservative Government’s pay offer for doctors to end the pay dispute, given that for every £1 spent per head on health in England, Wales receives £1.20.

The BMA Cymru Council Chair, called the pay offer the ‘worst offer in the UK’, and has led the BMA to ballot on industrial action.

Labour must stop focusing on vanity projects and prioritise our Welsh NHS instead.

For my help, email mark.isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.