Back in 2020, I was pleased to launch a Wales-wide consultation on how the country can be at the forefront of the global drive to tackle plastic waste as part of a plan to make Wales free from unnecessary, single-use plastics. This week saw us take a step closer to that aim as the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill was agreed by the Senedd and will ban, from autumn 2023, a whole host of single-use plastic products including plastic cutlery, plates, drinking straws, cotton buds and polystyrene cups and fast-food containers.
This legislation is well warranted and well needed – it also reinforces Welsh Government’s commitment to tackle climate change and pollution in Wales and beyond by removing non-biodegradable plastic waste, most of it made from fossil fuels and much of it hugely damaging to the environment. Wales is already the third best domestic recycler in the world and we’re leading the way on environmental policy, something which I have consistently fought for.
Here in Delyn, we’ve been doing our bit too, with the Naked Takeaway pilot project in Mold and Caerwys – where disposable takeaway cartons have been replaced with reusable ones – and the not long launched Bws Benthyg (Borrow Bus) – a mobile library of things which is intended to help households save money and to reduce local levels of waste. These are both superb local initiatives and get my full support.
Also this week I met with Transport for Wales to discuss how plans are progressing for a new station at Greenfield and how that fits into the vision of a North Wales Metro. TfW are currently engaged in further work looking at potential options for a new train station, but it is something we’ve needed in our part of Flintshire for some time – helping to better connect communities with the east of the country and further afield across North Wales, the North West and Crewe as well as providing a boost to the local economy, not least through tourism. I’ve been pushing for a new station at Greenfield since I first raised the question in the Senedd in 2017, working with the then Transport Minister to secure Welsh Government funding towards the initial feasibility study and I took the First Minister to see the site just last year.
Many of us here in our area have been campaigning for better public transport for years and, while I welcome the progress being made by TfW, we’re fighting against the tide of years of historic underinvestment in our rail infrastructure by the UK Government. I’ve said before that it is disappointing that although Wales has more than 11% of the UK’s rail infrastructure, we only receive 2% of the funding and that has been exacerbated by the UK government’s decision to class the HS2 project as England and Wales, despite not reaching Wales, therefore putting a stop to any consequential funding which Wales deserves.
However, the Welsh Government is committed to improving public transport in Wales and that’s why bus service reform is high on the political agenda, something I know would have far-reaching potential positive impacts for our towns and communities here in Delyn.
As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email Hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/hannahblythynMS. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait until an advice surgery.