'Just the beginning of what Wrexham can achieve'

MP for Wrexham

Since becoming Wrexham’s MP, our city has benefitted from a string of UK Government Minister visits, and I know a particularly special moment for our community was seeing the Prime Minister sport a Wrexham AFC scarf! Adding to the ever-growing list, last week, I was delighted to showcase Wrexham to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho MP and the Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young MP.

To start, I showed the Energy Secretary the Rossett Food Cupboard, highlighting that the Cupboard works with supermarkets to collect goods that would otherwise be wasted. The Energy Secretary was particularly impressed to learn that even when the Cupboard is unable to take on certain items, they work with local farmers to ensure that nothing ends up in landfill. The Cupboard’s eco-friendly approach to reducing food waste was championed as this contributes to 4% of carbon emissions!

I am continuing to work closely with the Cupboard’s owners, Paul and Claire, and Wrexham Council to secure bigger premises so that they can expand and carry on this vital work. It was a pleasure to show some of the best of what Wrexham has to offer – keep up the great work Paul, Claire and all your fantastic volunteers!

Later on in the day, I took the Levelling Up Minister into the city centre to show him how the £20million could be used by the Towns Board to regenerate Wrexham. This £20million UK Government investment is designed to give the local area long term certainty to deliver projects over ten years and flexibility to invest on what matters to local residents. Ultimately, the Towns Board is responsible but is working with the council to deliver this fund. Since its recent creation, I have been playing an active role on the Towns Fund Board to ensure that this funding is well spent and that it delivers the local impact that everyone wants to see.

However, this is just the beginning of what Wrexham can achieve with a Conservative MP under a Conservative government. Since 2019, Wrexham has become a city, received £24million UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding, is now an £160million Investment Zone and is soon to have a Civil Service Hub. Together, with continued collaboration, championing Wrexham from all corners and securing UK Government investment, we will ensure a prosperous future for our community.

Last week, it was announced that, at long last, the nearly 500,000 signature petition to scrap the Welsh Government’s 20mph policy is to be debated in the Senedd this month. Whilst Welsh Labour claim to be listening to the people of Wales, nothing has changed. The 20mph blanket speed limit still stands. In stark contrast, my efforts calling on Welsh Labour to scrap this anti-car anti-driver policy and to get Wales moving again continues and I would like to draw your attention to my 20mph survey.

Recently, the Welsh Government’s new Cabinet Secretary for Transport announced that he is open to making changes to the 20mph blanket policy, urging councils in Wales to exempt roads from the 20mph speed limit. This means that from September, councils across Wales will have the authority to reinstate 30mph on certain roads.

Whilst I appreciate the new Transport Cabinet Secretary’s effort to appease Wrexham’s drivers, it is a dereliction of duty for the Welsh Government to pass responsibility for their disastrous policy to Wrexham Council.

To ensure that residents can have their say on which roads they would like to be exempt from 20mph, I have launched a survey. The results will be forwarded to Wrexham Council. To share your thoughts, please click on ‘Road Survey - 20mph’ on my website homepage: www.sarahatherton.org.uk. Thank you to everyone who has shared their views already, please circulate this with your family and friends.

Lastly, I welcomed the news that the UK Government is investing £1.1million into mental health funding to help tackle repeat offending. This means that around 700 offenders in Wales will be asked to attend mental health treatment when they are handed a community sentence.

For years, I have played an active role on HMP Berwyn’s Employment Advisory Board, which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders and reducing reoffending, and I am pleased that this scheme isn’t just about tackling crime; its about tackling its root causes. By prioritising mental health, this scheme is not only speeding up treatment for offenders but most importantly, safeguarding our communities.

If you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me on: sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.