Teachers, nurses and other NHS staff will get a 5.5% rise,

MS for Wrexham

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers in Wales are set to receive an above-inflation pay rise, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Teachers, nurses and other NHS staff will get a 5.5% rise, with doctors and dentists receiving 6%. The pay rise is for the current financial year and will be backdated to April.

This Welsh Government announcement is welcome and reflects how valued the workforce is. Many of the workers who have received this pay increase are the backbone of our society, providing the key services we rely on day in and day out.

Regular readers of this column may recall that earlier this year I met with Network Rail representatives at Gwersyllt Station, along with Welsh Labour Community Councillor, Sheelagh Mackenzie Jones.

A number of improvements had been carried out, which included the opening of a new access point to Platform 2 off Station Court. However, it was clear further improvements were needed and I was assured Network Rail and Wrexham Council were working together to look at providing alternative and safer access to both platforms.

Passengers and local residents are now being urged to have their say as Wrexham Council has launched a joint consultation in partnership with Transport for Wales and consultancy firm, Atkins Realis. A number of potential changes have been outlined aimed at improving routes around the station for pedestrians and cyclists.

On Wednesday 2 October, there will be an opportunity for residents to discuss the plans face to face at the Gwersyllt Resource Centre between 10am – 7:30pm.

The consultation is available online and member of the public have until 13 October to view the proposals and offer their opinions.

I am pleased the work to improve access to Gwersyllt Station is ongoing and I will continue to monitor developments.

For 85 years, Citizens Advice has been offering practical, independent advice and support to those in need.

To mark the milestone, Wrexham Citizens Advice recently held a special celebratory event and it was a pleasure to pop along.

The team provide such a valuable service to the local population and I am sure they will continue to play a crucial role in the community for many more years to come.

As always, if you’re a constituent and there is an issue I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743.