Andrew Ranger MP for Wrexham

Category: Information

  • LDP response – sent to Wrexham Leader

    Full text

    As Councillor Jones is aware, I had a long-standing prior engagement in my diary which meant I could not attend the meeting held at Maesgwyn Hall last week. I did inform Cllr Jones of this when I was invited to the meeting. However, I welcome the meeting happening as an initial stage in resolving the issue that has plagued Wrexham for nearly 15 years.  

    Wrexham needs ambition. Businesses are ambitious for Wrexham, the University is ambitious for Wrexham, the UK and Welsh Governments are investing in our city along with private investors. We could miss out on a golden opportunity to create a future for the area where we have the workforce and services needed to look after our aging population as well as creating a Wrexham that serves our younger and future generations well.  

    Whilst it is important to recognise that the Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Government and the UK Government are separate sovereign bodies and not conflate the three, I would like to see a serious discussion that involves all stakeholders and works across the political spectrum to strive for a better future for Wrexham.  

    There is clear evidence that we need to look again at the type of housing we have in Wrexham and that includes social housing and council housing. A report published late last year by Rightmove shows that Wrexham is the busiest rental market in the UK outside of London, whilst figures published by the ONS earlier this month show that monthly rents have risen 7.5% in the past year. Furthermore, Belvoir Estate Agents have published statistics showing that house prices have risen by 27% in the past 5 years. This unfortunately means that a lot of people aged 18-34 have been priced out of the market and will be unable to purchase their own homes.  

    An LDP isn’t just about homes, it’s about infrastructure and services, including GP surgeries, schools, green spaces, transport links and shops. Without an LDP, we will end up with speculative development that will not provide services and infrastructure that we need.  

    I would also like to address Cllr Jones’s question on the Cefn Road and Ruthin Road key strategic sites. As he is aware due to his role as a councillor, these sites were selected by WCBC. As a community councillor in Offa, I opposed the Ruthin Road development as it was presented. I was at each public meeting to discuss that development.  

    The preparation work for the new LDP in 2028 should be happening now. I wish to see us move forward for the right plan for the future of Wrexham and I am prepared to work with anyone who shares that aim.  

    Wrexham Leader article

    https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24955111.wrexham-mp-andrew-ranger-challenged-new-ldp-plan/

  • Statement – Ukraine

    Today we remember the Ukrainians fighting for the values we share – freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of international law. We stand with Ukraine and with those who have come to Wrexham and Wales for sanctuary. We recognise the contribution they have made and will continue to make to our community.

    24/02/2025

  • Press Release: Communities of the future

    Wrexham is a place where people want to be. We are part of the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone, we have the Town Centre Fund and we have businesses that want to expand their operations here. What we don’t have is a suitable LDP for our city and the surrounding area.

    The ongoing issue with Wrexham’s LDP brings into sharp focus the need for a sensible discussion on the future of Wrexham. The reality is there is not enough appropriate housing or rental properties in our area. The LDP which is currently disputed should have been in place from 2013-2028, therefore meaning we haven’t had one for 13 years. The fact Wrexham does not have an LDP means that speculative building has been able to continue for years, without the necessary infrastructure. If this lack of affordable and appropriate housing continues, then young people will move away from the area and our ageing population will not have the support it needs. Our lack of LDP does not serve our community well.

    A new LDP is needed, one that carefully considers where housing is built, what type it is and the infrastructure needed to support this, schools, doctors’ surgeries, public transport, active travel and green space etc. The shortage of social and council housing must be addressed. Businesses I speak to want to employ more people and those people need housing. We can seize this opportunity for skilled jobs and to attract younger people to stay in Wrexham. Andrew Ranger MP said, “Ultimately, this is about building communities of the future where people are born in Wrexham, educated and trained here, have employment opportunities and housing options if they want to stay. My hope is that Wrexham County Borough Council and Welsh Government can resolve the current situation, and we can move forward with a plan to benefit Wrexham. I support efforts to bring the community together to create an LDP for Wrexham.”

    Wrexham MP calls for formation of new Local Development Plan | The Leader

  • First Minister at Welsh Affairs Select Committee

    Summary

    First Minister Eluned Morgan answered questions from the WASC on Wednesday 12th February. In my exchanges with her, I was keen to find out about her discussions with UK Government Ministers. She had met both the Chancellor and the Transport Secretary and saw both meetings as extremely positive. We will have to wait for the Spending Review but the acknowledgement of historic underfunding of rail in Wales for example is clearly something that the UK Government is looking to rectify. Wales has approximately 11% of the rail track in the UK and doesn’t get 11% of the funding. That has to change.

  • Positive news on rail link to London

    I’m delighted to see the Department for Transport support in principle for the WSMR Service. The 3-hour journey time with 5 trains a day to London and 5 from London, will be a game changer for Wrexham not only economically but also in terms of opportunity and connectivity. I have met regularly with ministers and regulators, and I look forward to the proposal moving forward to National Rail for analysis.

    Andrew Ranger MP meeting with Darren Horley, WSMR Mobilisation Director, January 2025

  • Holyhead and connectivity across North Wales

    Welsh Affairs Select Committee summary of Andrew Ranger’s Q&A

    This week the committee took evidence from Witnesses Councillor Gary Pritchard, Leader, Ynys Mon Council; Dr Edward Jones, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Bangor University; Howard Browes, Chair, Cybi Business Forum; Ian Davies, Head of UK Port Authorities, Stena Line about the impact of the closure of Holyhead Port following Storm Darragh. I asked them about the importance of Holyhead to the Welsh economy. Due to my work with Growth Track 360 I was particularly keen to see how the Port connects with other parts of Wales. Where do people come from and go to when they use Holyhead? The linking of Holyhead is not without its challenges due to the resilience of the 2 bridges. However there is also a wider discussion about the A55 to Chester and the rail network. For the free port to thrive, any bottlenecks whether on the island itself or further along the North Wales corridor need to be minimised.

    Video

  • We need to support our businesses to export.

    This week in Parliament, I highlighted some of the issues with exporting faced by some of our big businesses like JCB, Wrexham Lager and Kellogg’s but also some of our smaller ones in exporting to the global market. The Government is committed to removing those barriers and reducing the red tape experienced by firms.

  • We need to change the way we vote

    “Be bold, be brave” says Wrexham’s MP Andrew Ranger. There is a change coming. Recognition that our voting system isn’t fit for purpose and is turning people off politics, is now being debated in Westminster.

    Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger is focussed on turning around the disaffection, and rebuilding trust in British politics. First Past the Post does not produce representative parliaments where the public can clearly see that their vote matters. Recent polling from Survation found that two thirds of the public want this addressed before the next election. Turnout figures for general elections hover around 60% and for other types of election like Senedd or local they are even lower.

    Mr Ranger is calling for a National Commission to be established which will crucially involve the public and not just politicians. This national conversation would consider what that new system would look like.

    As Andrew Ranger said today in Parliament, “This is fundamentally about fairness. Everyone’s vote should be equal and everyone’s vote should count.”

    Read my LabourList article here

    Labour MPs: ‘We shouldn’t exploit broken electoral system – we need PR’ – LabourList

  • Statement: Chancellor’s plan for growth

    I am delighted that the Chancellor backs the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone as highlighted in her speech today. The Investment Zone will create thousands of jobs in our local area and boost the economy by over £1 billion. Kelloggs, JCB and other big firms clearly see the value of Wrexham and Flintshire, and I look forward to working with the Investment Zone for Wrexham’s bright future. This will help create the jobs for young people which I asked the Deputy Secretary of State about today in Parliament.

  • Campaign for fairer pensions for miners and other British Coal employees.

    Press release

    Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger is part of a group of MPs representing former mining constituencies who are fighting for fairer pensions for all those who worked for British Coal

    In the Budget, the UK Government has already authorised the transfer of £1.5 billion Mineworkers Pension Scheme Investment Reserve Fund. This historic decision significantly benefitted constituents in Wrexham and other mining communities including former miners and their widows, with many receiving a 32% increase in their pensions.

    Mr Ranger and his colleagues are now turning their attention to those who had pensions with the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS). Many of them also worked underground but also in canteens and offices. They are calling on the UK Government to forgo the final £2.3 billion payment from the BCSSS reserve, due in 2033 and for this reserve to be transferred to BCSSS and ensure fairer pensions for them.

    The MPs specifically want to address the injustices faced by women in the coal industry. These women, the majority of whom are BCSSS members, were often paid significantly less than their male colleagues and deserve pension justice in retirement.

    Mr Ranger said “We don’t want any miner, widow or employee to be excluded here. There should be justice whichever pension scheme you were part of if you were working for British Coal. This is important for ex-mining communities around Wrexham.”