Nick Smith MP on extra funding to protect old coal tips
A former coal tip collapsed, sending trees, slurry and debris running through the streets. Homes were washed out. Residents were evacuated. It was a worrying time and a stark reminder of the work that needs to be done to protect our communities by making coal tips safe.
On behalf of residents who contacted me, I raised this with the environment minister, Steve Reed, in Parliament and then with the Prime Minister during PMQs.
That's why I was especially pleased to see £118m for coal tip maintenance announced in the recent Spending Review, extra funding on top of the £25m UK Labour already committed in last year's budget.
This is a great example of what happens when we have Labour in both Wales and Westminster, working together on the issues that matter most.
It is also good to see Blaenau Gwent council working with the Welsh Government on this.
There were many other welcome announcements for Wales.
A record settlement of £22.4bn per year on average for the Welsh Government to invest in public services and drive down NHS waiting lists.
£445 million secured for rail investment.
£211m in local growth funding in Wales, each year for the next three years.
Labour's first budget was to fix the foundations, and now we have delivered a plan for investing in national renewal.
In another very welcome recent announcement, planned new laws have been set out to help clamp down on illegal off-road biking.
This has become a serious concern across so many of our communities. These bikes are not only churning up our mountainsides but, increasingly, also being driven dangerously in our town centres and on our main roads.
Through the regional roundtable group I established I've held many meetings with local police and landowners to discuss tackling this, and so I strongly welcome the proposed new powers for police to crack down on anti-social vehicle use, not just on off-road bikes, but also cars.
These include the ability to seize and destroy vehicles after 48 hours, down from the current 14-day period, and the power to seize any vehicle involved in antisocial behaviour, without needing to first issue a warning.
In our manifesto, we promised to get tough on this menace, and these laws are a strong step in the right direction. I know communities across our valleys will welcome this action.
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