Latest news with #FrancesTaylor
South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Call to make Magor and Undy railway station a priority
The UK Government announced a £445 million boost for rail funding in Wales as part of its comprehensive spending review which the Welsh Government has said will allow it to press ahead with five new stops between Cardiff and Chepstow and intended to ease congestion on the M4. Councillors in Monmouthshire will now be asked to step up lobbying efforts to prioritise the proposed station at Magor. It is intended as a 'walkway' station easily accessible to local commuters on foot and would further contribute to efforts to relieve congestion on the road network as commuters currently need to reach Severn Tunnel Junction, two miles away, to travel by train. In July 2023 the council recommitted itself to supporting the principle of the walkway station and lobby for it to be a priority amid concern it was only being brought forward in line with the other four stations at Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern. At Monmouthshire County Council's Thursday, June 26 meeting councillors will again be asked to support further lobbying of the UK Department for Transport, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales as well as Network Rail which is responsible for tracks. Magor West and Undy independent councillor Frances Taylor has tabled the motion which states the £445m announced 'doesn't appear to include the relief lines upgrade' and argues for the council to push ahead with lobbying for Magor as it isn't dependent on work to the relief lines. READ MORE: No priority for new Magor 'Walkway' station councillors told The motion wants the council to demand: 'Magor Station is recognised as a quick win and is delivered immediately and without delay with the comprehensive spending review funding.' The council is part of the Burns group responsible for considering and acting on recommendations made by the Burns Report which examined alternatives to an M4 relief road. The Welsh Government has said most of the £445m, promised over 10 years, will be spent within the next three years with nearly £100m for longer term projects. Councillors will discuss the motion at their meeting at County Hall in Usk.
South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire council backs direct care payments push
It has also been confirmed 11 people have approached Monmouthshire County Council for more information on the process of applying for the support so they can directly control payments for their own social care. The council has retendered domiciliary care contracts in the south of Monmouthshire and some residents have complained their care provider will change. A motion calling for the council to commit to supporting people to access direct payments, was brought forward by independent councillor for Magor West Frances Taylor. She reminded Monmouthshire County Council's May meeting the direct payments 'are a right'. But she said qualifying for direct payments requires an assessment by a social worker and she was aware of someone who has waited seven months for a social worker assessment and claimed there is a 'bottleneck' in waiting for advice. Green Party councillor Ian Chandler, who is a member of the Labour-led cabinet and responsible for social care, said they were 'happy to support the motion' but said the council does comply with the legislation on direct payments. It currently provides direct payments to 120 people who have to meet with an independent living assessor who will provide advice to them on becoming an employer, their rights and responsibilities. 'There are no bottlenecks for independent living assessors,' said Cllr Chandler. The councillor also said 11 people have come forward seeking advice on moving to direct payments. Caldicot Cross Labour councillor Jackie Strong said she was always keen to promote direct payments when she worked as a social worker. She said: 'I was a very passionate promoter of direct payments and probably wiped out the direct payments budget in Newport for a family some years ago.'
