'Campaigning until the last barrier has come down'

MS for North Wales

Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Transport about Welsh Government investment in bus services, I asked how he plans to support the industry to navigate the additional funding challenges created by increased National Insurance costs following the UK Government Budget.

Having long campaigned with disabled people and others across Flintshire to remove barriers along the Wales Coastal Path, I joined the online Coastal Path Accessibility Meeting with Campaign Group members and Flintshire County Council.

Although the Council Leader’s statement that the barriers would be removed over a scheduled period is great news, we will continue campaigning until the last barrier has come down.

I met with Age Cymru’s Head of Policy and Projects to discuss the impact on older people across Wales of public spaces becoming increasingly inaccessible due to the disappearance of public toilets, benches, dropped pavements and other essential pieces of infrastructure, which can affect people’s confidence to get out and about. Other issues discussed included Digital exclusion and the work of Compassionate Cymru to improve how people in Wales care, die and grieve.

Other engagements included Chairing a meeting of the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee; Chairing the joint meeting of the Cross-Party Groups on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency and on Housing, where discussion included the ‘securing a path towards Adequate Housing’ White Paper, published in October; the Electrical Contractor’s Association’s “Charter to Recharge Electrical Skills in Wales” launch; Celebration of 150 years of The Salvation Army in Wales; and a pre-meeting ahead of the next Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister session on December 13th.

I also joined the Carers Trust Wales “Supporting Unpaid Carers in Financial Hardship” event, which included a presentation by North East Wales Carers Information Service (NEWCIS) on ‘A partnership approach: carers, finances and energy’, and attended the Carers Rights Day Reception hosted by Carers Wales.

After being contacted by a Flintshire constituent whose son has suffered from long COVID for three years, I visited and spoke with the ‘Long Covid Kids’ Charity at their stand in the Senedd. I also visited the UK Charity AbilityNet & BT Group “Senior Skills Programme” stand, British Gas and British Gas Energy Trust “Winter Support” stand, which I sponsored, and Pancreatic Cancer UK stand ahead of World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

As a Patron of the Enbarr Foundation, the award-winning non-profit community interest company, I was pleased to visit them in Queensferry for an update on their work in the communities they serve.

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