Opinion: restructuring and closures are disappointing

In my second column for All About Newtown, I would like to share some of the issues my office has been working on in the town and update readers on local developments.

Firstly, the news that Nidec Drives are planning to restructure their Control Techniques workforce, putting up to 65 jobs at risk, is certainly disappointing. The company is currently going through a consultation with their Employee Action Group and they have indicated they will seek to offer to relocate some employees. I will be speaking with Interim President Miles Ackerman in the coming days to speak about what assistance the UK Government can offer to affected employees, and I encourage those to get in contact with my office to see how we can help.

Secondly, Powys’s Replacement Local Development Plan has been published, with many housing projects planned for Newtown, which you can see here. With a big expansion of housebuilding both a major Labour manifesto pledge and a crucial route to economic growth, I am certainly in favour of welcoming new housing into our towns. While I appreciate concerns about the capacity of local infrastructure and public services, new housing will make it easier for young families to get on the housing ladder and bring a sense of prosperity back to our communities.

As I wrote in my last column, opposing the closure of Llanidloes Hospital, which will have a big impact on Newtown residents, remains a top priority. I submitted a collective response on behalf of constituents to Powys Teaching Health Board last month, calling on the Board to drop the proposals. Regrettably, they have decided to push on despite significant public opposition.

The recent news that the challenge to the closure of Welshpool’s Air Ambulance base will be heard by the High Court is a victory in itself as it will reexamine the consultation process. Nevertheless, the big picture is that people in Mid Wales have long often had to travel far to access healthcare and further cuts will have a disproportionate impact on us. I will be raising these issues in meetings with Welsh Government ministers.

In more positive news, I am giving my full backing to Drenewydd Actif Newtown’s bid to build new facilities at The Rec. They are planning to replace their outdated 1970s changing rooms with modern ones and build an accessible activities space. As a former teacher and a keen amateur rugby player in my youth, I know how brilliant sport can be for young people’s physical and mental health and I always encouraged my students to get involved. New facilities for the cricket, tennis, and rugby clubs based at The Rec will be a huge benefit to Newtown and I hope to see them realised. They have applied for both a UK government and a Welsh Government grant, and I have written in support of their bid.

Finally, the Post Office is planning to move around the corner to the old Peter Jacks Butchers building on 6 Market Street. They are holding a consultation, which you can contribute to here until 20 November.

While I have not been out of the classroom for very long, I will be visiting Newtown High School on 6 December, and I am looking forward to meeting pupils and teachers there.

Please contact me at steve.witherden.mp@parliament.uk if you want to discuss any of these issues with me. I apologise if there are any delays in responding, but all emails will be diligently replied to.

Steve Witherden MP