I’d like to open this week by thanking all of the public and emergency services who have worked hard over the last week in dealing with preparations and repairs after Storms Dudley, Eunice and now Franklin hit, with a serious of alerts for wind and flooding in place. There are continuing pressures on some services including delays to the waste and recycling collections, so please be sure to check websites and social media for updates.

Hopefully the storm won’t have caused too much damage but if there is anything you feel I am able to do to support you or your loved ones, please let me know.

In particular I’d like to encourage sports clubs across the constituency to consider applying to Sports Wales for funding if any of their facilities – pitches, clubhouses or outdoor equipment – were damaged by Storm Eunice. Grants of between £300 and £5000 are available this week to support clubs in making any necessary repairs. You can find out more at www.sport.wales.

The Welsh Government has also announced additional steps to help those households who may be struggling in the face of increased costs-of-living in the last week. Every property in Council Tax Bands A-D will receive a grant of £150 to support them to pay their increasing bills, including those who already receive some form of Council Tax Reduction. The details of how this payment will be made are still being worked out but I will be sure to share further information with Leader readers through my weekly column and my social media.

The Pupil Development Grant has also been expanded to make the £125 grant available to pupils in all school years who are eligible for free school meals, as well as keeping the £200 grant for pupils starting secondary school. Applications are open until 30 June 2022 and can be made through Flintshire County Council.

I am always keen to ensure that our voices are heard as much as possible on issues which are important to our part of the country and do my best to publicise consultations as much as I am able to.

This week Awel Y Mor have launched a six week consultation to hear what our communities wish to see from their community benefits package as they develop the offshore wind farm. They are keen to hear the voices of individuals in the area, as well as Town and Community Councils, Flintshire County Council and the Welsh Government. Please help shape what the benefits to our community will look like by visiting www.awelymor.cymru/the-community/

Later this year there will be two important opportunities for people living in North Wales to have a say on issues which impact our lives – transport and tourism.

It has been confirmed that Lord Burns will Chair a Commission here in North Wales to explore how we can effectively improve our transport infrastructure to meet the needs of our communities. Once an interim report has been published the Commission will be seeking feedback from stakeholders from across North Wales and I will do my best to ensure that as many voices as possible are heard.

In the Autumn a consultation on a potential “tourism levy” will open seeking views of communities across Wales, in particular tourist destinations. The idea behind the levy is that visitors will help contribute towards the maintenance of the infrastructure within our towns and villages, to ensure that they remain attractive destinations and make our tourism industry a success.

Links to any consultations in the area which I am aware of will always be shared to my Facebook page – Hannah Blythyn MS – and in my regular columns.

Get in touch and I’ll do my best to help

If you have an issue you’d like to speak to me about, I will do my best to help.

You can drop me a line by emailing Hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales or get in touch by using the contact form on my website: www.hannahblythyn.cymru/contact.