By Mark Isherwood

MS for North Wales

I attended a meeting in Connah's Quay of the ‘Bash the Barriers’ working group, for an update on action by the campaign for Flintshire County Council to remove the barriers to access by disabled people on the Wales Coast Path in Flintshire, in compliance with the UK Equality Act and Welsh legislation.

In a meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, we discussed plans for the development of Hanmer Surgery and a way forward so that work on the new Surgery can begin as soon as possible. This would deliver 21st Century services to a rural and isolated community, relieving pressure on other GP Practices and Health Board services and generating better health economics.

Widespread concerns about the proposed North-East Wales National Park have been raised with me on behalf of our local food-producing farmers, who are not generally favourable, worried that this will introduce an extra layer of bureaucracy and restrictions when flexibility is needed. During a call with someone farming near Llangollen, concern was also raised that the impact on housing prices could result in their children and grandchildren not being able to live in the area, affecting local schools, services and the Welsh language.

Other engagements included a meeting with the British Deaf Association and the Secretariat of the Cross-Party Group on Deaf Issues in the Welsh Parliament, which I Chair, to discuss the next steps for my much-needed British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill now that it is moving forward after a vote in the Senedd, and Saturday’s 100th Anniversary of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades’ Annual Reunion Parade and Act of Remembrance in Wrexham.

It is deeply concerning that the latest official statistics for ‘Regional gross disposable household income, UK’ to 2022, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this month, report that gross disposable household income in the UK grew by 6.3% in 2022, but of the four countries of the UK, only England exceeded this growth and the smallest increase was in Labour-run Wales.

The one-year anniversary of implementation of the 20mph legislation in Wales is approaching and the ‘United Voices - Senedd Lobby Group’ is organising an ‘Around Wales Protest’ .

As they state, “The Labour Welsh Government say they are listening, but so far it is hard to see any evidence for that statement. Nothing has changed other than the problem being deflected onto Local Authorities who then have their hands tied by the guidance from the Labour Welsh Government”.

For my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.