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May 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to my May 2025 Newsletter.
Welcome to my latest E-newsletter which provides an update on what I have been doing recently to support you both within the constituency and in Cardiff.
Last month, I made a statement regarding withdrawing as a candidate for next May’s Senedd election. I remain the Senedd Member for Montgomeryshire, and in any event will remain as such until April 2026.I will remain as active as ever, and If I can help and support on any issue, please do not hesitate to contact me by email, or call my office.
If you would like to meet with me to discuss any matter or if I can help in another way, please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 01686 610887.
Wales Air Ambulance bases – Campaign continues
The fight to retain our Air Ambulance Base continues. We are currently awaiting a for a Judge to make a determination following a challenge and Court Hearing over a three-day Judicial Review at Cardiff Crown Court earlier this year.
The campaign group that I am part of has been working to challenge the decision that would see the Welshpool Air ambulance base close.
As a campaign group, we remain active and are meeting next week as we expect an announcement soon regarding the Judge’s decision.
We remain committed to raising awareness, garnering support, and ensuring that both Welshpool and Caernarfon air ambulance bases remains operational to support our rural communities.
Delays in Treatment for Powys Patients
Russell George MS in the Senedd this week.
In March plans proposed by Powys Teaching Health Board were agreed that will ultimately lead to Powys patients facing slower access to treatment in English hospitals despite available capacity. The Health Board said that the plans were brought forward for financial reasons. These measures will begin from July 2025.
Asking health providers in England to slow down the delivery of care for Powys patients, despite there being sufficient capacity, is indefensible. It is not acceptable for Powys patients to be treated as second-class citizens.
In an exchange in the Senedd this week, I requested an urgent statement of position from the Welsh Government.
When I raised this with the First Minister in March, I was pleased she agreed that the situation was unacceptable. I followed up the matter in a formal letter copied below. Sadly, the Welsh Government’s response to me was disingenuous, and did not answer the questions I raised.
There is further scrutiny needed on the Welsh Government position; they can’t have it both ways, stating that Powys’s position is not acceptable when they are ultimately responsible for the Welsh NHS and Powys patients.
Post 16 Education in Powys
Powys County Council have published options and their preferred way forward for post 16 education. The Council's preferred option involves closing all Sixth Forms across Powys and establishing new post-16 centres in Newtown and Brecon, in partnership with NPTC (who has college sites in both towns). The proposal includes a different approach for Welsh Medium education.
Schools in Powys do need urgent improvements. This was the recent view of the national inspection body Estyn, who raised ‘significant concerns’ about Powys County Council's education services. There is a necessity for change and a need to enhance and support post-16 provision in Powys, but I remain unconvinced that this is the best course of action, and there seems to be little evidence that the Council’s preferred option of closing 6th Forms would address Estyn’s recommendations.
There are several excellent Sixth Forms within the county that should be supported and allowed to flourish, rather than being closed. Additionally, the viability of High Schools without Sixth Form provision needs much further consideration.
Local Success at Countryside Alliance Awards
The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, were borne of a need to support and promote rural communities. They celebrate people going the extra mile to ensure that rural Britain’s food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprises and, most of all, its people, can succeed.
Nominated by the public, the Awards recognise and honour those who routinely go the extra mile for their community.
The Welsh champions were announced at the annual Senedd ceremony last week.
My congratulations go to Woosnam and Davies in Llanidloes who won the Highly Commended award in the Village Shop & Post Office category, Ricky Lloyd Butchers in Welshpool who finished runner up in the best Butchers category, Gazm Drinks near Newtown and Fork Handles Farm Shop in Llangedwyn, who both won Highly commended awards in the Local Food and Drink Category respectively.
Audit Wales asked to Review Powys Planning Service
During April, I asked the Auditor General for Wales to review Planning Services at Powys County Council.
In April 2023, Audit Wales released a critical report highlighting significant deficiencies within Powys County Council's Planning Service. Last year, Audit Wales conducted a follow-up review to assess the council's progress in implementing several recommendations.
I acknowledge both reports but I am of the opinion that the follow-up review did not provide a comprehensive examination of the Planning Service. In particular, the report did not evaluate the overall performance of the department, nor did it assess the merits or handling of individual planning applications.
In my letter, I highlighted a list of concerns that had been raised by constituents, which I believe demonstrate systemic failures within the Planning Service.
The Auditor General has accepted my invitation to meet with him to further discuss the concerns and potential next steps.
Water charge Hike challenged
Last week I sponsored an event at the Senedd with the Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat and Water companies in an attempt to address the sharp rise in water bills.
The meeting and event also brought together the regulator, Ofwat, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Welsh Water, and the Consumer Council for Water and I convened it in response to mounting concerns over the steep and sudden rise in household and business water bills across Wales.
We discussed the potential long-term reform in water pricing during the meeting. The Consumer Council for Water is the independent voice for water consumers in England and Wales. They exist to help consumers resolve complaints against water companies
A major outcome from the event was learning more about the Consumer Council for Water’s call for a single, consistent social tariff across England and Wales. This model, according to the CCW, would offer targeted financial support based on need, rather than postcode, and aims to cap water bills at no more than 5% of a household’s income after housing costs.
A single social tariff is a standardised discount or support scheme for water bills that would apply consistently across all water companies in a region or country, rather than varying depending on which water provider a customer has. The CCW say that an England and Wales Single Social Tariff could end the postcode lottery of water bills.
The discussions were constructive, and I would like to see further investigation into the proposals and will be following this up with the Welsh Government.
Asthma and Lung UK Cymru
I met with Asthma and Lung UK Cymru at the Senedd.
Respiratory disease is one of the top three killers in Wales with 1 in 5 people have been diagnosed with a lung condition at some point in their lives.
They are campaigning for lung health to be treated as a national priority and fight for a Wales where everyone can breathe clean air with healthy lungs.
Find out how they're fighting to change this through research and campaigns via https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/about-us/our-latest-work .
Withdrawing as a Candidate
During April, I made the following statement regarding withdrawing as a candidate for next May's Senedd election.
I remain the Senedd Member for Montgomeryshire, and in any event will remain as such until April 2026 and will continue to be as active as ever.
If I can help and support on any issue, please do contact me by email, or call my office. If you would like to meet with me to discuss any matter, please do get in touch.
My Statement:
I was shocked and surprised to have been informed by the Gambling Commission that I am facing charges for cheating.
To be clear, I have never cheated. However, given the Gambling Commission’s decision, and my understanding of what will follow, this is likely to be a lengthy process that may not be resolved by May 2026. In the circumstances, I feel I have no alternative but to withdraw my candidacy for next year’s Senedd elections so that I can focus on fighting to clear my name. I will of course continue to serve the people of Montgomeryshire to the very best of my ability.
I am grateful for the many messages of support that I have received in recent days, particularly from constituents.
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.
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