Column in the Barry & District News by Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP:
At the weekend I had the pleasure of starting the Rotary Club of Barry’s annual Duck Race at The Knap Gardens. I want to say thank you to everyone at the Rotary Club for their hard work to bring this event together and to all of the community groups who set up stalls for the day. It was an excellent day out for families and raised significant funds for charities and local good causes.
This weekend, on Saturday from 10.30am, I’ll be holding a ‘Cuppa with a Copper’ at Age Connects on Holton Road. As some constituents raise matters which relate to the police, it’s often useful to hold an informal, joint surgery with a member of our local policing team. I am pleased that I’ll be joined by PCSO David Chadwick, so if you have any matters you wish to raise then please call in to see us for a cuppa and a chat.
I’m also looking forward to taking part in the return of the annual Barry Island 10k on Sunday 4th August, which was very successfully launched last summer. Over 3000 runners participated in the inaugural event and I am certain that it will be just as popular this year. If you’re not running, please come down to show your support. There is always a great showing from our local running clubs, including Seriously Mad Runners and Major Milers, who I know will appreciate being encouraged over the finish line.
I am delighted that on Tuesday we welcomed the election of Boris Johnson as Leader of the Conservative Party, with him taking office as Prime Minister yesterday. Having supported Boris throughout the campaign, I am excited and optimistic about his leadership uniting the country, delivering Brexit and taking us forward. I feel that he has energised politics once again. That was apparent when I took Boris to Barry Island, it was clear to see the fantastic support he has from the public and I am confident that he will bring people together in every corner of the UK.
This week it has been a pleasure to announce further investment in Welsh transport infrastructure, as Secretary of State for Wales. This includes £58m of funding for Cardiff Central Station and taking forward plans for the £20m West Wales Parkway station in Swansea. Added to my decision to scrap the Severn Tolls and making funding available for the M4 relief road, this demonstrates our joined-up approach to fixing our transport infrastructure in South Wales. While it is disappointing that the Welsh Labour Government decided not to go ahead with the relief road, I am pleased that the UK Government is taking a proactive approach.
These measures will help to improve our lives and attract further investment and quality jobs to South Wales. I am confident that scrapping the tolls and improving Cardiff Central Station will have a positive impact on our local economy in the Vale, helping to make our area more accessible to visitors and investors. I am excited about the ongoing regeneration of Barry and this can be a catalyst for further opportunities.
