After a long, cold winter, good news can be hard to come but we have at last had some on the campaign to keep Brecon Barracks open. Since my election, I have been pestering the Ministry of Defence to overturn the plan to close the Barracks in 2027. After a year long campaign, the Minister confirmed in January that 160th Brigade - the headquarters of the Army in Wales who are stationed at the Barracks – will now stay in Brecon. This is a huge step forward but we are by no means finished. Selling off the site would be a disaster for Brecon and I am determined to get the Ministry of Defence to scrap the plan altogether.
But the most positive news in many months has been the rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine. Powys Teaching Health Board has made a phenomenal start with over 30% of the country vaccinated. I’ve been able to see the joy first hand as a volunteer at the mass vaccination centre in Builth Wells. I really cannot thank everyone involved in the vaccine rollout enough. From the volunteers, to the vaccinators and the GPs administering jabs in surgeries; everyone has worked their socks off to make such a brilliant start.
A very special thank you should go to the members of the Armed Forces who have left their families behind for four months to come and assist us. In Builth and Bronllys, we are lucky to be joined by musicians from the RAF band and I very much hope they will be able to return to the Royal Welsh Showground for a special concert, once the Coronavirus pandemic is well behind us.
Constituents should know that there is the option to get their jabs at their local GP if they cannot travel to the mass vaccination sites. Contact the Health Board online and you will be referred on to your GP who will offer you an alternate appointment. Please do get in touch if you need some help in arranging this.
In the meantime, Spring is on its way.
