MINISTERIAL VISITS TO MONTGOMERYSHIRE REINFORCE FUNDING COMMITMENTS
Since my last Newsletter, I have been able to welcome a number of guests to Montgomeryshire. At the beginning of July I made a number of visits to success stories across the constituency alongside our Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart. This included Greg & Dawn Pickstock’s Farm at Llanfechain – a great family business and big exporters; Montgomery Waters in Churchstoke – one of the UK’s leading water bottling companies, whose Stretton Hills brand will now be stocked in Tesco stores across Wales; and Monty’s Brewery in Montgomery – one of Wales’ finest breweries.
A highlight was our visit to Welshpool’s Canal Wharf to discuss the very exciting plans to restore and reconnect the Montgomery Canal to the national network. The Secretary of State met with the fantastic volunteers at the Montgomery Canal Partnership and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, who have campaigned tirelessly for decades and dedicated much of their personal time to restoring sections of the Canal.
I am delighted that we have a funding bid currently with the UK Government as part of the Levelling Up Fund. Reopening this wonderful attraction on our doorsteps is a massive opportunity for Montgomeryshire’s economy, as I recently highlighted to the Prime Minister during PMQs. Boris termed it a “beautiful plan” and it certainly is!
My question in the House to the Prime Minister regarding our Levelling Up Fund bid to re-open the Montgomery Canal, and reconnect it to the national network (click on picture to play video).
Visit to Welshpool Canal Wharf - (L-R) Russell George MS, John Dodwell – Chair of Montgomery Canal Partnership, Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart, Owen Paterson MP, Cllr Rosemarie Harris – Leader of Powys County Council, Mark Evans - Director for Wales and South West from the Canal and River Trust/Glandwr Cymru, Craig Williams MP and Pat Ward – Vice-Chairman of the Heulwen Trust.
Photo by Phil Blagg Photography
(L-R) Craig Williams MP, Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart, Greg Pickstock and Russell George MS at Pickstock's Farm, Llanfechain.
Photo by Phil Blagg Photography
(L-R) Craig Williams MP, Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart and Nathan Edwards, Local Sourcing Wales Buying Manager for Tesco, at Montgomery Waters in Churchstoke
Photo by Phil Blagg Photography
(L-R) Pam Honeyman, Craig Williams MP, Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart and Russ Honeyman, at Monty's Brewery in Montgomery.
Photo by Phil Blagg Photography
We also welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail to Montgomeryshire, visiting the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. It was brilliant to be able to show the Group’s members one of Mid Wales’ most popular visitor attractions, which is served so well by the Railway’s superb volunteers and everyone involved within its organisation. We also discussed the importance of retaining coal for heritage railways
It was a massive pleasure to welcome the APPG for Heritage Rail and guests to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. The party included APPG co-chairmen Liz Saville Roberts AS/MP & Lord Faulkner of Worcester, and Baroness Nicky Morgan. We had a great day out!
Photo by Phil Blagg Photography
We were also visited by Conservative Party Chair, Amanda Milling MP, who visited the Chartists 1770 restaurant at the Trewythen Hotel in Llanidloes. The recently opened restaurant and hotel is operated by Cambrian Training Company, creating many new jobs and apprenticeships within the licensed hospitality and food production sectors. We met with Cambrian Training CEO Arwyn Watkins to discuss training and skills within Mid Wales, and new opportunities for apprentices in conjunction with the UK Government’s Kickstart programme. It was a highly productive discussion, and I would well recommend a visit to Trewythen Hotel soon. With organisations like Cambrian Training locally, we are very well served in delivering skills and training, especially within the hospitality sector.
(L-R) Conservative Party Co-Chairman Amanda Milling MP with Vicky & Arwyn Watkins of Cambrian Training Company, Craig Williams MP, Russell George MS, and Glyn Davies, Chairman of the Welsh Conservatives.
These visits underline that Montgomeryshire is central to the UK Government’s plans for a more visible and active role in Wales, through such funding programmes as the Mid Wales Growth Deal and the Levelling Up Fund. Such initiatives will bring real investment, real growth and real jobs to our vibrant communities across Montgomeryshire and Mid Wales.
NEW BLACK BRIDGE IN MACHYNLLETH
Earlier in July I had the pleasure to be invited to the reopening of the Black Bridge near Machynlleth, following the completion of restoration works. Raising the bridge will ensure that closures of the line during flooding will now be significantly reduced.
It was also fantastic that Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail came out to officially open the bridge following the investment of £2million into the works. I had the chance to speak with Sir Peter about some of the other projects along the Cambrian Line, such as the campaign to reopen Carno Station, and expressed my hope to reintroduce the heritage steam service that was a hugely popular attraction in Mid Wales every year. I understand Network Rail are already carrying out feasibility works on this.
Craig & Russell George MS with Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail and the local contractors and developers who helped carry out the vital works on the bridge.
RECALL OF PARLIAMENT
As I am sure everyone is aware, Parliament was recently recalled to discuss the troubling situation in Afghanistan.
I travelled down to London to listen to the Prime Minister's statement on the next steps the UK Government will take to support those fleeing the region and how it will engage with the new regime.
I firmly believe that we must uphold our commitment to Afghans who supported British service personnel during our time there. The Home Secretary announced that the Home Office is preparing a bespoke settlement scheme for Afghan refugees, with 20,000 refugees planned to be taken in by the UK. I am pleased that Powys County Council has committed to help with the resettlement of some of these refugees.
The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) has already supported over 3,100 former Afghan staff and their families to start new lives in the UK, with more than 1,800 of them arriving over the last few weeks. We must continue this important work and support those who supported us. I will be speaking with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure we can do this quickly and efficiently.
More broadly the new Taliban Regime must make its objectives for governance clear. It must never become a hotbed for international terrorism again. While the warm words by the Taliban do provide a glimmer of hope, we must hold them accountable for their actions. It is clear we cannot act in isolation and I welcome the current united response emerging from both the UN and NATO.
As with every international crisis, the professionalism and bravery of our diplomatic core and military capability is on display to all. I pay huge tribute to those currently deployed to help the evacuation of Kabul and wider Afghanistan. Our Ambassador is demonstrating the very best of what it means to be a UK Diplomat, on the ground assisting asylum requests
Craig in the House of Commons on the 18th August listening to the Prime Minister's statement on Afghanistan
MEETING YOU
Since my last Newsletter, I have continued to visit constituents, businesses and organisations across Montgomeryshire. I very much hope to meet many more of you whilst Parliament is on recess for the summer.
Craig with Slawomir, Jake, Sylwia and Carla from the newly opened Health Loaded in Newtown, which offers a variety of healthy meals which cater for everyone. The Andalusian Chicken looked and smelt fantastic!
Craig & Russell George MS visited Garth Holiday Park in Machynlleth, who have just installed the area's first EV Charging Points.
Craig with Mike, one of the volunteers at Llanfechain's brilliant Community Shop.
Craig with Gwynfor Thomas, County Councillor for Llansantffraid, outside of the newly reopened Sun Hotel in Llansantffraid.
Dulas Ltd in Machynlleth are manufacturing world leading refrigerators to store Covid-19 vaccinations, which will play a critical role in the fight to vaccinate the global population (click on picture to play video).
