View this email in your browser
March 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to my March 2025 Newsletter.
Welcome to my latest E-newsletter, giving you an update on what I have been doing recently to support you both within the constituency and in Cardiff.
As ever, if you would like an update on something not mentioned in my newsletter, or I can help in another way, please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 01686 610887.
Air Ambulance Base Decision
The proposed closure of Air Ambulance Bases was challenged at a Court Hearing over a three-day Judicial Review at Cardiff Crown Court during January and February.
I believe that the decision taken by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) last year, to permanently close and centralise the Welshpool and Caernarfon Air Ambulance bases was fundamentally wrong. The campaign group that I am part of has been working to challenge this decision. As campaigners we have argued that the reconfiguration will lead to slower response times for critical care in rural areas.
The hearing offered an opportunity to scrutinise the decision. We now wait for the Judge to consider the vast amount of information which was presented by both sides at the Judicial Review hearing before he announces his decision. I would like to register our thanks for the extremely professional way that our claim was presented by Ms Joanne Clements KC and colleagues at Watkins & Gunn, and to thank the many thousands of people who have offered their support during the campaign.
Welsh Government Budget
This week, the Welsh Government Budget was passed in the Senedd. In my opinion, the Welsh Government has not given adequate support in their budget to rural areas of Wales.
I and my Welsh Conservative colleagues voted against the proposed budget as we didn’t believe the Welsh Governments had addressed the issues Wales faces within there proposals.
The political arithmetic of the Senedd means that the Welsh Labour Government need one or more members of another party to either support or abstain for the budget to pass. The one Lib Dem member of the Senedd did not vote against the budget, which allowed the Welsh Government's budget to pass.
Previously, Plaid Cymru have had an arrangement with the Labour Government which has allowed the budget to pass over the past four years.
Council Car Parking Charges
Cllr Pete Lewington with Russell George MS.
Currently, Powys County Council charges a minimum of £2.50 for up to two hours, having removed the option of a lower-cost, one-hour stay in long-stay car parks in April 2023.
I have been working closely with Cllr Pete Lewington on pushing the council to lower the car parking charges because I believe this will encourage more people to visit our high streets and ultimately support small businesses.
I recently conducted a survey to ask for views on the current charges and options for change. One of the survey’s key findings was that over 90% of respondents believed that lowering car parking charges in Council-run car parks would encourage people to shop in town centres and support local businesses. Only 2% of those who responded to the survey believed that lower charges would have little impact on trade.
The survey results clearly show the desire for shorter stay options to be re-introduced, and for lower parking charges. The survey results also underline the benefits of seasonal parking incentives.
I have passed views and the survey results onto the Council.
Progress on Mobile Mast Coverage
I have been supporting plans for 16 new mobile masts across Montgomeryshire. These will form part of the new 4G critical communications system for Britain’s emergency services.
Several masts came online last year, and others are scheduled to become operational soon. Last month I met with Government officials to discuss progress on the project.
My full update lists the masts already online and those due to come online soon, along with updates on the rollout of superfast broadband.
Powys Council Recycling Centre Changes
Russell George MS raises PCC Recycling centre changes with the Deputy First Minister.
Last month, I raised the issue of Powys County Councils decision to introduce an appointment system and charges at Recycling Centres. I asked the deputy first minister if he would agree with me that local authorities need to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle. My concern is that Powys County Councils changes are doing the opposite and making it more difficult for people.
The Deputy First Minister said my points were right, and that the principle should be that we need to make recycling as easy as possible. I hope this intervention will make the Council re-consider their plans. However, the Deputy First Minister also pointed out this is a matter for Powys County Council.
In my view, Introducing an appointment system, amongst the other changes are a backward step and will make recycling more difficult for residents. I have represented this view to both the council and the Welsh Government and will continue to do so. I also hope that, if a majority of County Councillors agree, the proposals can be reversed.
Welsh Lamb and Beef Trade with the US
The Friends of Wales Caucus is a congressional caucus consisting of Welsh and Welsh-heritage congresspeople in the United States Government, including the Senate and House of Representatives.
I was pleased to meet with Congressman Morgan Griffith, who chairs the group and has a strong passion for building direct relations with Wales. Following our discussions on supporting the sale of Welsh lamb into the US, I hope to facilitate greater links with the industry in Wales, and I am currently seeking to set up a meeting with Farming Unions in Wales.
The meeting I attended was part of a conference and a series of meetings in Washington, DC, as part of a UK cross-party delegation of politicians representing each of the parliaments of the UK. A meeting with Republican and Democrat Congressmen, alongside the UK cross-party delegation, allowed for a frank discussion on trade and, critically, the issues around tariffs.
Other meetings and events included discussions with government officials about energy matters, security, and opportunities for Welsh ports.
British Heart Foundation Cymru Annual Reception
I sponsored and spoke at an event hosted alongside the British Heart Foundation in the Senedd in February.
The British Heart Foundation have a vision to have a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases, they also raise money to research cures and treatment. I have been a big supporter of their work and was pleased to work with them at this event.
One of the purposes of the event was to announce that one of their partners, the National Cardiovascular Research Network, has been awarded funding which will support stronger collaborations between scientists across several Welsh universities.
A significant advantage of having greater research facilities in Wales, is that in turn it helps to improve retention and recruitment in the NHS.
Underground not Overhead Pylon Line
Russell George MS raises undergrounding of electricity transmission cables with the First Minister.
During February, I asked the First Minister to explore the undergrounding of electricity transmission cables. This follows a statutory consultation launched last month asking for views on a proposed electricity distribution line in north Powys.
Green GEN Cymru is proposing to develop a 132 kV electricity distribution connection to connect proposed wind farms in Powys to the existing national electricity transmission network in Shropshire. The company is holding a statutory consultation on its Vyrnwy Frankton project from 19 February until 16 April 2025.
The Project comprises a 132 kV collector substation near Cefn Coch, Powys, and approximately 45km of new overhead line on steel lattice pylons (average height of 28.5m) across areas of the Vyrnwy Valley in north Powys, to a switching station to connect to the national electricity network near to Lower Frankton, Shropshire.
As part of Green Gen Cymru’s consultation, they are holding a series of events. The locations, dates and times for events taking place in North Powys are:
- Llanymynech Village Hall, Station Road, Llanymynech, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY22 6EE: Saturday 1 March - 10am - 3pm.
- Llanfair Caereinion Public Hall and Institute, Bridge Street, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, SY21 0RY: Thursday 6 March, 2pm - 7pm.
- Llansantffraid Community Centre, Treflan, Llansantffraid-Ym-Mechain, SY22 6AE: Friday 7 March - 2pm - 7pm.
- Meifod Village Hall Community Centre, Meifod, SY22 6DF: Saturday 8 March - 10am - 3pm.
I continue to work closely with Montgomeryshire Against Pylons (MAP) and id encourage people to attend events, and respond to the consultation. If you agree with my views, and the views of MAP, I would encourage you to sign up to there newsletter by visiting: https://www.montgomeryshireagainstpylons.co.uk/
Surgeries
Last month, as well as holding my regular surgeries in my Newtown and Welshpool offices, I held advice surgeries in Caersws, and Adfa.
Promoted by Russell George MS, 13 Parkers Lane, Newtown, SY16 2LT
The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.