Simon Baynes, the Member of Parliament for Clwyd South, welcomed Gail McEvoy-Jones, a constituent of Clwyd South who has played a leading role in securing community-ownership of the Llwyneinion Woods near Rhos, to a Reception on Tuesday 5th December at No 10 Downing Street. The reception was to celebrate the work of community champions and was hosted by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP.
Mr Baynes has worked closely with Gail and the Llwyneinion community since he was elected as the MP for Clwyd South four years ago in order to secure environmental and green-space protection for the Llwyneinion Woods, which have previously suffered from vandalism and poor management. With the help of Mr Baynes and the hard work of Gail and Mr Baynes’ Office Manager Marianne Kemp, who also attended the reception, the Llwyneinion community has now secured ownership of the woodland. Wrexham County Borough Council and the local police have also played a major part in achieving this outcome.
During the reception, Mr Baynes introduced Gail McEvoy-Jones to the Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Alex Chalk MP, and they discussed the way in which community ownership can benefit sites such as Llwyneinion Woods, which had previously been left unprotected from vandals. Through the collaboration of the Llwyneinion community and Mr Baynes’ team, the woodland will now be preserved for use by the community and future generations.
Mr Baynes, speaking after the Reception, said: “Gail McEvoy-Jones and the Llwyneinion community have worked incredibly hard to protect this woodland and safeguard local green space. I am proud to have been able to recognise the hard work and success of the Llwyneinion community and my team at No 10 Downing Street with the Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, and I look forward to my next visit to the Llwyneinion Woods.”
