Laura Anne Jones, the Senedd Member for South Wales East, is urging Monmouthshire County Council to conduct a comprehensive review of the county’s sporting facilities. This stems from a concern that every resident should have equal access to physical activities, given their proven benefits for both physical and mental health.

Laura, a keen cricketer, emphasised, “Physical exercise is one of the most effective ways to promote and achieve good health and well-being, which in turn eases pressures on our National Health Service. It is a preventative investment that needs to be made. We need to ensure that Monmouthshire’s sporting facilities are fit for purpose and accessible to all.”

She raised the shortage of high-level and community 3G pitches: all weather facilities across the county, stating, “There simply aren’t enough top-quality and community 3G pitches or all-weather facilities available. This limits opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in sports and reap the associated health benefits. It isn’t right that people have to drive miles to different counties to access these facilities. I am eager to hear what steps the council is taking to address this gap.”

Laura also pointed to the importance of maximising the use of existing facilities. “It’s vital that our schools open their sporting amenities to the public after school hours. This would significantly enhance access to sporting facilities for our local communities,” she said.