My priorities for Clwyd East are:
Improving accessibility and safety within the NHS in North Wales
Healthcare should not be a postcode lottery. The NHS in Wales has been devolved to Cardiff Bay for 25 years and as a GP, I am very concerned at the repeated and serious failings of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. I will continue to champion patient safety and challenge poor standards. I believe that we need an urgent independent Public Inquiry into the NHS in North Wales. The quality of healthcare in North Wales must be driven up through better UK-wide comparable data on performance and outcomes and by aligning NHS audit and inspection mechanisms across Britain. Patients in North Wales deserve the right to access to NHS services elsewhere in the UK, should they so wish.
Levelling Up our communities
Using public and private investment to regenerate our High Streets and support local businesses. The UK Government is delivering £10 million of LUF into Llangollen and environs, and £11 million for Ruthin town centre, helping preserve and enhance the heritage and culture of the area. In the latest round of Levelling Up Fund announcements a further £20million has been promised to help deliver important regeneration projects in Rhyl, Prestatyn and Denbigh. I am keen to see that Mold and Holywell receive similar investment. A £160m NE Wales Investment Zone is set to bring £1.7bn of investment in Flintshire and Wrexham, and thousands of jobs. Meanwhile, the Community Ownership Fund has allowed for the community buy-out of the Salusbury Arms in Tremeirchion the Llandyrnog Village Shop. The Sun Inn, Eryrys and the Llangollen Museum are the latest to also receive hundreds of thousands of pounds of support from the fund – supporting valued local facilities. This investment will allow regeneration of our High Streets, support local businesses, help make the area the best place to live, work, and play, and provide more and better paid jobs.
Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour
Stamping out anti-social behaviour and making our area safer. North Wales Police now have more officers than ever before but better visibility can provide reassurance and deter crime. I have successfully campaigned for a new police base in Prestatyn and I am now looking to secure an enhanced police station in Holywell. It is vital that antisocial behaviour is stamped out in our communities and that more rural areas do not get overlooked.
Improving transport
Regional transport requires vital investment to connect our communities. That is why I will work to implement the promised electrification of the North Wales Main Line and to secure a new Deeside Parkway station. I will also press for the improvement to A55 connections and bottlenecks. Potholes are an issue in many areas but local roads in Flintshire have been particularly neglected by the Labour County Council and this needs to be addressed. I will also continue to fight against the 20mph default speed limit brought in by Welsh Government.
Ensuring a brighter future for our young people
Our young people deserve the best opportunities in life. I want to see our young people have the best opportunities, and that requires a strong start. I will fight for new-build High School buildings in Prestatyn. I will work with businesses to promote apprenticeships and skills. I will also fight to ensure fit-for purpose digital connectivity.
Maintaining and enhancing local quality of life and community pride
We must celebrate all that makes our community special. Working with community figures and businesses, I will ensure that local sports teams, charities, and arts, such as Theatr Clwyd in Mold, get the support they need. I will also work to protect and enhance our beautiful environment.
More information on these and many other important issues that I have been working on can be read on my Campaigns page.
