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South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Catherine Fookes MP on Welsh public services funding
This is a clear example of two Labour governments in Westminster and the Senedd, working together to invest in our country's renewal and deliver for people across the UK. I know that many people across the UK are angry and fed up. After 15 years of Conservative underinvestment in our public services and infrastructure, Wales in particular, has been left underfunded for far too long, with the Welsh Government doing their absolute best to deliver for Wales, dealing with limited budgets and an uncooperative UK Government. Compare that with today, it's so encouraging to see the UK Government committed to working with our Welsh Labour Government and finally giving Wales the investment it deserves. I know some people across Monmouthshire are still angry and fed up, and rightly so. 15 years of neglect by the former UK Conservative Government can't be undone overnight. People want to see action and they want to see real change in their daily lives. I truly believe that with this new partnership between the UK and Welsh Labour Governments, we finally have the opportunity to start delivering that. One of the most exciting announcements from last week's Spending Review was the £450 million allocated to rail infrastructure in Wales. This gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally deliver a new train station in Magor and Undy – a project I've long supported alongside MS John Griffiths, MP Jessica Morden, Labour councillors on Monmouthshire County Council, and the Magor Rail Group. From knocking on doors and speaking with residents, I know how much this station means to our community. It would deliver greener, more reliable transport, ease congestion, and open up new job opportunities by better connecting us to the wider region. I've already raised the project in Parliament and held conversations with transport ministers, so I'm glad to see that this project could soon become a reality. I'll keep pushing to ensure Magor Walkway Station receives its share of this new funding and hope that we can get spades into the ground as soon as possible. But it's not just about transport. Wales will also benefit from £211 million each year for the next three years via a Growth and Community Fund, supporting our high streets, community centres, and investing in local regeneration. Other highlights from the Spending Review include: £80 million for green industries in Wales to drive the clean energy transition. £211 million a year for three years to support local growth and regeneration projects as a replacement to the Shared Prosperity Fund £118 million to maintain and make safe coal tips across Wales This is just the beginning. For the first time in a long time, we have two Labour Governments working hand-in-hand, and the benefits of that are being felt already. There's more cooperative decision-making, more fair funding, and more opportunity to deliver real, positive change for all of us across Monmouthshire. As your MP, I'll continue doing everything I can to make sure all of us here get our fair share of this investment. That means not only fighting your corner in Parliament, but also staying closely connected to your concerns and priorities at home. That's why I'm continuing to host regular face-to-face constituency surgeries to support residents with specific problems. I've also launched a series of 'Street Surgeries', where I visit different areas of Monmouthshire and go door-to-door to speak directly with residents and learn more about the issues you think we need to address. These conversations help shape the work me and my team do every week to support you – and I'll be continuing them over the coming months in every corner of Monmouthshire. Together, let's continue to build a stronger, fairer, greener Monmouthshire. But I can only do that by listening to you and working with you. If you have an issue or concern you think I can support you with, please don't hesitate to get in touch. You can email me at or call my office on 01291 200 139. Catherine Fookes is Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Call to use rail investment to fund Magor Walkway Station
The investment, which forms part of the UK Government's latest spending review, is seen as a pivotal moment for Welsh railways. It is expected to fund significant transport upgrades throughout the country. Catherine Fookes MP, John Griffiths MS, Monmouthshire County Council leader Mary Ann Brocklesby and other local councillors are keen for part of this funding to be channelled towards the development of a station in Magor. Ms Fookes said: "Wales was starved of rail funding under the previous Conservative government and so this investment is long-overdue. "A new train station in Magor and Undy will have a huge positive impact on Monmouthshire. "I'll be doing everything I can to ensure a share of this investment goes towards finally delivering the station." The hope is that a station would deliver greener travel, better transport links and boost the local economy through improved access to jobs and services. Mr Griffiths said: "Magor Walkway Station has overwhelming local support and would bring huge benefits to our communities. "I've worked alongside campaigners for years and this investment gives us the best opportunity yet to make the station a reality." Ms Brocklesby added: "Magor Walkway Station is a project with strong community backing from local councillors, residents, and campaign groups. "I'll continue working with Catherine, John, and all partners to make sure Monmouthshire sees the benefit of this long-overdue rail project.'
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Teenager at elite Sydney private school wins HUGE payout after suing primary school over an accident at an athletics carnival that left him with lifelong injuries
A student at an elite Sydney private school has won a huge payout against his public primary school after life-changing injuries suffered at a Year 6 athletics carnival. On Friday, the now 17-year-old, a current student at Shore, secured a $275,000 judgment against Neutral Bay Primary School and, vicariously, the state of NSW. The lawsuit concerned a long-jump competition at the public school in 2019 when, at the age of 11, the boy landed on a hard surface in a sandpit and injured his back. The student, unnamed for privacy reasons, said he suffered a significant spinal injury during the long-jump, resulting in permanent back pain and impairment. He first brought the suit to the NSW District Court which, in October, dismissed his claim, finding the school had taken adequate steps to protect the students. In that instance, Judge Robert Newlinds SC found the teachers supervising the event reasonably believed the sandpit was safe and had been sufficiently sanded. Judge Newlinds ruled that while schools must take reasonable steps to keep students safe during sporting events, they cannot be expected to eliminate risks altogether. 'There will always be unfortunate consequences and injuries suffered by children at school or at play, even when there has been every reasonably precaution taken to prevent such actions,' he said. On appeal, acting Justice John Griffiths, with whom two other judges agreed, disagreed, claiming the risk of harm was foreseeable and easily avoidable. He held the school failed to ensure there was adequate sand to soften the area where the student landed and the two teachers failed to give adequate supervision. The primary judge relied on an image of a tape measure alongside the sandpit to infer there was at least was at least 20cm of sand combined with other soft-fall material. Justice Griffith disagreed with the inference, claiming the tape measure appeared to be kinked in the image and that the lower court relied too strongly on the single image. 'I am comfortably satisfied that there was a breach of duty on the part of the school in failing to take reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of injury from long jumping,' Justice Griffiths said. 'There was a breach of duty here because of the school's failure to take reasonable precautions which could have prevented [the student's] injuries. 'Those precautions were not onerous.' In determining damages, Justice Griffiths accepted the evidence of the student's doctor who claimed the injuries were 'likely to affect his future outcome'. Medical evidence held the boy suffered 'significant structural damage' to a spinal disc which, in turn, caused 'permanent structural damage' to his spine. Both courts accepted the injury interfered with his 'ability to enjoy life to date' and would 'continue to do so'. During the trial, the student suggested he might wish to follow his mother into IT or finance after school and that his back pain might make sitting all day 'quite hard'. He also raised the possibility of joining the military after school but said his experience in cadets at high school had been undermined by his injuries. Justice Griffiths decided to award a 'buffer' of $250,000 for future economic loss and an additional $25,000 for non-economic loss in the form of pain and suffering. He also rejected the school's claim the injury would have arisen regardless of the force or hardness of his landing in the pit since it arose from intra-abdominal pressure. 'It is possible [the student] may still have suffered the same injuries had there been an adequate amount of sand in his landing area,' he said. 'However, it is no "answer to the question whether something has been demonstrated as being more probable than not to say that there is another possibility open".' Ultimately, the Court of Appeal panel ruled the school had failed to protect the student from a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury. 'There are undoubted risks in school sports, but they form part of the curriculum in many primary schools and the community rightly recognises that such activities are beneficial for young children when properly supervised,' the panel ruled. 'I am comfortably satisfied that there was a breach of duty on the part of the school in failing to take reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of injury from long jumping.'
South Wales Argus
06-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd members hail Newport as ‘a city on the rise'
John Griffiths began a debate on the city by quoting business journalist Douglas Friedli, who wrote: 'Best thing about London? It's less than two hours from Newport.' Mr Griffiths agreed with the journalist's assessment, describing Newport as a place with a significant past, a strong present and a promising future. Newport has been dubbed a 'city on the rise' (Image: NQ) The Senedd member, who was born in Pill after his mother moved from Ireland, said the city has long welcomed people from all over the world who want to make Newport their home. With many moving from across the border from Bristol in recent years, he told the Senedd the city's population has increased by nearly 10% to 160,000 over the past decade. 'There really is a sense of the city growing in confidence and being on the rise,' he said. Mr Griffiths, who will stand down next May having represented Newport East since 1999, said the city is quickly becoming central to the world in terms of the semiconductor industry. He welcomed the opening of KLA's new £100m research and development centre in the west of Newport in May, creating around 750 jobs. KLA opened a new research and development centre in Newport in May (Image: KLA) The former barrister pointed to 14 semiconductor businesses in a 30-mile radius, saying: 'All of that powering the everyday technology that we all use and rely upon.' And, highlighting the city's Roman and Chartist history as well as the iconic transporter bridge, Mr Griffiths described Newport's cultural offer as equally impressive. 'In fact, between 2015 and 2022, Newport saw the fastest growth in the creative sector of any city in Wales – at an astonishing 125%,' he said. Mr Griffiths, a proud grandfather who ran Saturday's riverfront parkrun with his 11-year-old grandson, also emphasised Newport's notable sporting history and present. Newport celebrated 20 years of parkrun in the city in October 2024 (Image: NQ) Recognising challenges around transport and congestion, he urged ministers to back the Burns commission blueprint and proposals for four new railway stations in Newport. Natasha Asghar, the Newport-born Conservative who represents South Wales East, described the city as a wonderful place to grow up. 'I love the fact that Newport is a diverse place,' she said. 'There are so many different people from so many different communities who all get on coherently, cohesively with each other and they're the ones who truly bring the place to life.' Proclaiming Newport's location as 'unbeatable', Ms Asghar called for better transport links. She also criticised the UK Government's 'short-sighted' decision to cut the shared prosperity fund, saying this has resulted in significant job losses across the city. Plaid Cymru's Peredur Owen Griffiths, who also represents South Wales East, highlighted that the Urdd Eisteddfod will be coming to Newport in 2027. Newport is set to host the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2027 (Image: Eisteddfod) Responding to the debate on June 4, Jayne Bryant pointed to Welsh Government funding for leisure centres, refurbishment of Market Arcade and the former railway station building. Arcadia is one of the businesses at the Arcade (Image: NQ) She said Newport's economic evolution is being shaped by semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and energy, positioning the city as a 'hi-tech leader with global influence'. Ms Bryant, who is responsible for councils and housing in Wales, hailed Vishay's acquisition of Newport Wafer Fab in 2024 which was accompanied by a £300m investment. The Newport West Senedd member said: 'Through the strategic investment in renewal, culture and community, and engagement with the local authority, businesses and community groups will all help to shape a vibrant, modern city ready to seize future opportunities.'
South Wales Argus
01-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
'Trade deals will bring significant benefits to Newport East'
During May, I visited Flannery Plant Hire on Traston Road, a family-run, nationwide company whose only Welsh base is here in Newport. They shared with me the work they do with young people, helping them gain the qualifications needed to work in the construction industry, operating plant machinery to support infrastructure and housing projects. I had the huge pleasure of meeting one of the young apprentices there, the brilliant Evie, who is a wonderful example of how industry can offer so much to young people starting out in the world of work. As you may have read, the UK Government in Westminster has, over the past few weeks, announced a number of trade deals which will bring significant benefits to Newport East. The UK/EU trade deal will save UK businesses millions, create jobs, and help reduce the cost of living for everyone, thanks to increased cooperation to bring down energy bills. As part of this deal, discussions are also underway to allow UK citizens to use e-gates at European airports once again, making travel to the EU quicker and more convenient. I've shared more detail on this, and on Flannery, on my website. Head to to read it in full. Along with John Griffiths MS, I recently visited the new Blue Cross rehoming and animal behaviour centre in Langstone. The work the team there do to care for animals in need of a new home and to support pet owners is phenomenal. As a charity, it takes a lot to keep them going, so if you're able, please consider donating to their animal food bank, which supports both the animals they care for and pet owners affected by the rising cost of pet food. You can drop off donations at the Blue Cross site in Langstone Business Park or at Pets at Home in Maesglas. Huge congratulations to the Urban Circle team on the opening of their new base at the Share Centre on Stow Hill. I popped in last week while workshops were running, and the whole place was buzzing. Find out more about what they're doing by visiting The issues you bring to me are the issues I raise in Parliament on your behalf, and I'm always keen to hear from as many residents as possible. My team and I hold regular resident advice surgeries across the city. In May, I met with residents in Underwood and Maindee, and during June I'll be holding a resident advice surgery in the Stow Hill ward. If there's something you'd like to raise with me or think I might be able to help with, get in touch with my office to book an appointment by calling 01633 841725. Recently, I launched a Newport East residents' survey to find out more about the things that matter to you. Leaflets with more information will be distributed to homes throughout Newport East over the coming weeks and months, but if you'd like to share your views in the meantime, the survey is live on my website. If you're able, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with me by scanning the QR code on this page. If you'd like to keep up with my work, you can also join my WhatsApp channel. Just search for Jessica Morden, Member of Parliament for Newport East under the Updates icon in your WhatsApp app. And, as always, if there's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to get in touch. My office and I can assist with a wide range of issues, from passports and immigration to crime and policing, pensions, benefits, and much more. You can reach us by phone on 01633 841725 or by email at . Jessica Morden is MP for Newport East
