Whilst the Welsh Parliament might be long into recess, I have been pleased to continue working for Aberconwy’s best interests during the holiday.
Rather than just being in the office, I am making the most of the extra opportunities I now have to be out and about in the constituency.
For example, I was honoured to be asked to spend an afternoon with Cartrefi Conwy so to visit some of their residents’ most outstanding gardens across Conwy County, and only last week undertook more visits to local businesses, including Roualeyn Nursery.
What the family team have achieved at their nursery and their triumph in shows across the United Kingdom is quite remarkable. For example, last year the business won numerous awards, including best in show at Hampton Court Palace Show; the Master Grower Plaque at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show; and a gold medal at RHS Flower Show Cardiff.
Their business is a wonderful success story, and I cannot but be proud of the fact that one of the leading fuchsia specialist in our country is situated in Trefriw.
Trefriw and other communities in the West of the Conwy Valley have been receiving my full attention this Summer as I have been working to see concerns raised at the highways public meeting I held in Tal-y-Bont last June acted upon.
I am pleased to report that there has been considerable progress.
Firstly, so to clamp down on speeding along the B5106 and B5279, I have been cooperating with North Wales Police. This has resulted in GoSafe committing to carry out enforcement along the roads, and a Constable undertaking work, including an operation, dedicated to speeding along these highways last week.
I have also had some success in convincing the First Minister to consider changing the Welsh Government guidance which on so many occasions has enabled speed limits to be left without being reduced. For example, the current system is seeing roads set with life threatening limits – such as the B5106 near Ty’n-y-Groes, the roads to Rowen, and Tremorfa Road (beside which Ty Gobaith is situated).
Essentially, Welsh Government guidance has led to the situation in which the emphasis is being placed on the number of accidents instead of risk or near misses when speed limits are considered.
Going forward, I have secured a promise from the First Minister that my request for the guidance to be amended will be considered as part of a review.
As you will be aware, there are many other highway issues requiring attention too. These include the volume of traffic, and planning for future infrastructure.
Having communicated with Snowdonia National Park Authority, plans are now in place to commission a transport and parking study for the Northern section of the National Park, so I hope that its findings will benefit our area considerably.
There is more to achieve so you can be sure that I will continue to liaise with all relevant authorities, including our Local Authority, with the aim of getting the best outcomes for Aberconwy.