Dawn Bowden MS: “The shutters have come up on my constituency office”

Constituency office open

After the months of lockdown, I was very pleased that the shutters have come up on my constituency office on the High Street and the constituency team has been able to resume their work in the office.

We are not yet able to fully open to the public, so wherever possible your queries are dealt with via the telephone, email and the various technologies (Zoom etc) that have become popular during recent months. 

I can also make arrangements for a personal meeting in the office if there is no other option.

Outdoor community surgeries

As we all find new ways of working I have been able to offer a number of ‘Outdoor Community Surgeries’ across the Rhymney valley so people can continue to meet me in person.

I think this is important as your local Member of the Senedd, though we always need to respect social distancing.

You will find details of these surgeries on my social media – including any late changes that might be required due to the uncertainties of our summer weather!

Free visors for local groups 

With the help of UNITE Wales members at Ford Bridgend, I have been delighted to deliver free visors to a range of local community groups and small businesses.

This includes Furniture revival in Rhymney who are making plans for the reopening of their unit on the Lawns industrial estate.

Good luck to their team of volunteers as they resume their really important work supporting people across our communities.

Rhymney High Street 

Before lockdown, and working with Gerald Jones MP, we had started discussions with the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Councillor Philippa Marsden, about Rhymney and Rhymney High Street.

It was good to have the council officers back on the High Street with Cllr Carl Cuss recently to talk about various issues to do with housing and renewal on the High Street.

We hope to make more progress in the near future.

Local policing

Once again we are in regular discussion with Gwent Police about issues raised with us by the local community.

A number of warrants have been executed and arrests made in recent months. We are pressing them to make sure the local presence is maintained consistently.

In return, the police remind everyone to keep reporting any incidents and concerns using the 101 number if it is not an emergency.

I understand the frustrations of many in the community at persistent and worrying incidents on the High Street and other places. However we can only make progress by working together.