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A £38m leisure complex is being built in Caerphilly but the swimming community have lobbied me to highlight their dissatisfaction with the plans.

The proposed 1.1-metre pool is seen as unsuitable and regular swimmers believe it will lead to a loss of revenue for the council as well as many swimmers having to go elsewhere.

I wrote to the council leader to ask him – even at this late stage – to review the scheme. There is no point developing a facility which is not up to the standard expected and needed by swimmers. To press ahead regardless, would be a mistake.

My feet really haven’t touched the floor since the by-election – it has been non-stop yet very enjoyable getting stuck into issues that really matter to people.

I also met a group of residents at Llanfabon. They are very concerned at the impact of a battery bank being built on Eglwysilan Common. I’ve promised to raise those concerns with the Welsh Government.

In between the Senedd meetings, I went to a BigMoose charity event in Cardiff which was raising funds for mental health issues, something that was very dear to Hefin David, my predecessor as Senedd Member, and his staff and friends. Very emotional.

A tree of life concert at Penyrheol in my old council ward was also very successful. There was a packed audience and pupils from Ysgol Ifor Bach and Hendre schools were brilliant with their range of Christmas songs. Funds raised were also for BigMoose, the community council chairman’s charity.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank residents for their patience. I’ve had a large volume of emails, many of them on personal issues, but have not had until recently the staff to support me. Thankfully, my team is now in place.

In less than five months the people of Wales will have the opportunity of voting for change in the Senedd elections, which is turning into a straight fight between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. I earnestly hope voters will choose the Party of Wales option as they did in the recent Caerphilly By-Election.

As this is my last Caerphilly Observer column for 2025, I hope everyone has a happy Christmas and that 2026 is much better for all in our communities.