MIKE HEDGES MS PRAISES WORK OF MORRISTON AND LLANSAMLET GROUPS IN LOCAL ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES

 MIKE HEDGES MS PRAISES WORK OF MORRISTON AND LLANSAMLET GROUPS IN LOCAL ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES 

speaking from the Senedd after First Ministers questions, local Swansea East member, Mike Hedges, said … ‘many of us attend services at this time of year and we often notice the presence of local voluntary sector groups, but we do not recognize their contribution, nor recognize that their involvement in such events is often planned over many months, and it is right that we recognize such contributions to our local communities. I thank groups such as Morriston Salvation Army Band and Llansamlet Historical Society who give up their time to help organize and take part in remembrance day events 

 

I am pleased that the Welsh government is considering establishing a web page where all relevant information can be gathered together so that a person can look quickly at what is happening in their area. 

We all owe our servicemen and women a huge debt of gratitude and I hope that others will join me over the next few days in attending remembrance services in our communities.’ 

 

 

Mike Hedges MS14:15:39 

 

  

Like most if not all Members of the Senedd, I will be attending remembrance services on Thursday and Sunday. I congratulate and thank the Royal British Legion and others such as the Morriston salvation band and Llansamlet historical society who will be putting on events within my own constituency. A request for the Welsh Government: could you provide a list of events on your website, so that people can look on it and find out what is happening in their area?59 

 

Mark Drakeford MS14:16:04 

  

First Minister of Wales 

  

I thank Mike Hedges for that. He draws attention, Llywydd, to the importance of those local events that happen in so many communities across Wales, and so many Members of this Senedd will be involved in them. I know very much that the Morriston salvation army band, for example, has very long played a part in Swansea in the commemoration events that will be taking place there. We are at the moment exploring with our armed forces liaison officers the possibility that such local events could be publicised through the new Covenant Wales website. That website is under development, it's due to be in place by the end of this year, and it would be, I think, a very appropriate place for events of the sort that Mike Hedges referred to, to be listed and publicised and drawn to the attention of more people as a result.  

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Government Building a confident future for electric car users

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Government Building a confident future for electric car users 

Speaking from his Morriston office, local MS, Mike Hedges said…. ‘ I welcome this announcement as I have been contacted by many local people over the last year or so with queries about public charging points. People are would like to make the switch to electric vehicles but are worried that charging the vehicles will be a problem, especially if they live in flats or terrace houses which makes home charging difficult. These new fast charging points will make it much easier for people to make the switch to Electric Vehicles.  

We all need to do our bit to combat climate change and this initiative will ease the process for lots of people.’ 

Ambitious plans that set out how the Welsh Government will be investing in infrastructure and working with the private sector to give people in Wales the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles have been unveiled today. 

With already more than 1,000 public charging points across Wales, one for every six battery electric vehicles, the plans set out an approach to ensure that the number of charging points continue to grow to meet increasing demand as fossil fuel vehicles are phased out. 

The EV Charging Action Plan also sets out how the Welsh Government will be working closely with the private sector, with the aim of delivering a charging point facility for every 20 miles of the strategic trunk network across Wales by 2025, providing further reassurance to electric vehicle drivers.  

With transport generating around 17% of all carbon emissions in Wales, improving electric vehicle infrastructure is just one step that the Welsh Government is taking to reduce the impact transport is having on both the environment and our health. Llwybr Newydd, the Welsh Government’s transport strategy sets out how we will shape our transport system in Wales over the next 20 years encouraging more people out of cars and using public transport, walking or cycling.  

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: 

“We need to do more in the next ten years than we’ve done in the last thirty if we’re to reach our NetZero target by 2050. Changing the car dependency culture that has been created in the past and encouraging more people to use public transport will be key, but for those essential car journeys, making the switch to an electric vehicle is another way we can make a difference. 

“The plan I’ve published today sets out the action we will be taking to deliver high quality electric vehicle infrastructure across Wales. Working with the private sector we have ambitious plans in place to increase the number of charging points across the country, so drivers feel confident to make the switch as demand for electric vehicles increases.” 

The Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund has already provided a kick-start for many EV projects across Wales. 

Carmarthenshire Council was awarded a £350k grant to develop a rapid charging facility on the A48 in Cross Hands. The multi-point charging facility will serve one of the main tourist routes through Wales. The facility comprises five rapid chargers from 50kW to 150kW under a solar canopy with capacity for further expansion and is expected to be operational later this year. 

The next round of ULEV funding will open for bids in December 2021. The fund will help local authorities deliver more than 300 publicly accessible fast and rapid charging points across Wales this financial year.  There are also plans in place to increase both public and private sector delivery in line with the Welsh Government’s strategy in future years. 

  

Notes to editors 

Notes to editors 

In April 2021 the Welsh Government published the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, setting out its plans for charging electric cars and vans in Wales. It is written within the context of Llwybr Newydd: a new Wales Transport Strategy and establishes an ambitious vision for charging in Wales. 

Link to EV Charging Action Plan 

https://gov.wales/electric-vehicle-charging-strategy-wales-action-plan 

 

Senedd election- view from a re-elected member by Mike Hedges Swansea East MS

Senedd election- view from a re-elected member by Mike Hedges Swansea East MS

In an article written immediately after the General election in 2019 published on, I described that election as the Brexit election, in the same way the Senedd election of 2021 was the COVID election. The handling of the COVID crisis in Wales and the vaccination programme was the major issue during the election in the many discussions I had with voters.

Mark Drakeford’s careful handling of the lockdowns and our coming out of them may not have played well with the keyboard warriors on social media but was immensely popular with most of the electorate. People wanted to be safe, and they wanted their families to remain safe and for us to come out of the pandemic. Having the best vaccination rate in the four nations and the lowest number of cases per 100,000 people was a positive electoral asset. Following the science and keeping people safe in Wales was endorsed by the people in Wales at the ballot box or in many cases at home filling in their postal vote. People were stopping me on the street during the election to say that they were “glad they had lived in Wales over the last twelve months because they felt they have been kept safe in Wales”.

The Conservative campaign revolved around building roads to deal with traffic jams that no longer occurred, due to the substantial growth in home working. If the election had taken place in 2019 it may have worked but by 2021 it no longer resonated with the electorate, the traffic jams had gone and, I believe, following the growth and success of home working, for ever.

Plaid Cymru’s campaign saying it was time for change failed to get the electorates support and the presidential way that Plaid Cymru fought the election was off putting to voters, because people wanted a continuation of the way COVID was being dealt with not a change.

The many far right parties, some of which came from the UKIP split, failed to gain a seat in the Senedd and that is something that must please all Labour supporters. When UKIP won seven seats in 2016 it came as a shock and it was so pleasing to see them, and the other far right parties disappear from the Senedd.

This was an excellent result returning to the 30 seats won in 2011. For Labour, the Rhondda was gained back, Vale of Clwyd lost but replaced by a North Wales regional seat giving a net gain of one and importantly Labour now holds half the seats in the Senedd. Although you would not think it from the media, it was a better result in terms of seats than the SNP in Scotland.

Positive lessons to be learnt include candidates matter and incumbency is a huge advantage with across Wales only one sitting Senedd member was defeated and that was Leanne Wood in Rhondda. Rhondda was won by Buffy Williams a well known local community activist who lives in the Rhondda. Ticking the three boxes of Labour, local and active within the constituency. This can be observed by her action on Sunday, the day after being elected, taking up flooding problems in the constituency.

There is substantial number of Labour loyalists, who know Labour is the party who best represents their interests and are prepared to continue to vote for it. The campaign slogan of “if you value it, vote for it” enthused people to believe that voting Labour was important to them and keeping them and their family safe.

One constituency seat, Vale of Clwyd, was lost and although in Senedd seats it was made up by winning a regional seat in north Wales, it must obviously be a disappointment. The Conservatives continually pointed out the many failings of Betsi Cadwalladr (north Wales health board) but to the voters its importance was mainly overridden by people’s views on the vaccine roll out.

A very good result for Labour matching 2003 and 2011 but we must not be complacent and must keep on campaigning and more importantly listening to the electorate. I am looking forward to another five years of Labour controlling the Senedd in Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT UP TO 6 PEOPLE CAN MEET IN PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT UP TO 6 PEOPLE CAN MEET IN PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY

 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, local MS Mike Hedges said.. This is great news for local hospitality business who have struggled through the pandemic. It is also news for families who can meet up again for family get togethers in restaurants etc.

I would encourage local business in the hospitality sector to look to see if they are eligible for the new business support which the Welsh Government is making available to coincide with the reopening of the hospitality sectors.

I would urge a degree of caution however, given the concerns regarding new variants. We cant take our eyes off the ball yet for we don’t want to see new variants emerge and spread through the community. I would urge everyone to exercise a degree of caution and common sense when enjoying the lifting of some restrictions next week. Please do not attend mass gatherings or indoor parties; we have come too far to risk the progress made.

Mike Hedges AM Urges Dog Owners to act responsibly when walking their Dogs

Mike Hedges AM Urges Dog Owners to act responsibly when walking their Dogs 

 

 

Following recent reports of Sporting fixtures being disrupted by incidents of dog mess having to be cleared up from sports fields, Mike Hedges AM for Swansea East has urged dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their dogs.  

 

‘Recently I heard about rugby practice being disrupted at Glais RFC by the need to deal with dog mess on playing fields. I am aware of other instances where this issue has disrupted football and cricket matches in our area.  It is not a good situation for dog mess can cause horrible complications if it enters the body through cuts and causes infections. People playing in sports fixtures should be able to do so without the worry of what is on the grass. 

 

I would really urge dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their dogs have been to the toilet. I am sure people don’t want to risk the health of children and adults playing sport. I will be raising the issue of enforcing legislation regarding dog fouling with the local authority – no one wants to resort to enforcement but the problem is becoming more and more acute – PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOGS!