It has been a busy and varied couple of months as your Senedd Member for Brecon and Radnorshire.
In early January I was delighted to meet with Sharon Hammond and Stella Owen at Newbridge on Wye as part of NFU Cymru's #GrowingTogether campaign. It is crucial that we plant more trees which will enhance our local habitats and protect our environment for future generations, but in doing so we must ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places.
I’ve been out and about throughout our communities and recently visited PAR Homes development site in Brecon. With many residents now moved into finished homes, and more houses still under construction, it is good to see house-building in the constituency creating much needed housing stock for all ages and providing employment for local traders. This could be the last major housing development in our constituency for some years given the restrictive phosphate regulation requirements. We need to encourage house-building and new developments – great for our communities, it's good for the local economy to have a diverse housing stock for the people of Brecon and Radnorshire.
It's always a pleasure to catchup with CFfI Cymru Wales YFC and in January I met with Phil Ellis to discuss young peoples mental health and the amazing work YFC organisations do up and down the country for their local communities. As your Senedd Member I’m determined to listen to the views of local people and organisations in our area.
I recently visited the Windfall Centre in Llandrindod Wells. It was great to see this fantastic facility in the heart of Mid Wales. They support the emotional health of children and families and I heard some heart warming stories where young lives have been transformed by the centre.
I visited Hay on Wye to meet Hay’s very own “Mr Dial-A-Ride”. The service offers a lifeline for many residents, enabling them to get out and about – for social, shopping, doctors appointment and so much more. Services like dial-a-ride play an essential role in combating social isolation and loneliness, for all age groups. It is reassuring support from organisation like “Mr Dial-A-Ride” is available.
I recently met with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow and Natural Resources Wales & Welsh Water to discuss cleaning up Brecon & Radnorshire’s’ rivers. What is needed is action and greater resource for Natural Resources Wales. The Westminster Government has introduced some tough targets for the water companies but in Wales, all we have is the finger of blame pointing at Welsh farmers.
To keep up with my work please follow my Facebook page @JamesEvansMS and my website – www.jamesevans.wales
