AS THIS is the last Editor’s Chair column of 2015 (I’m on holiday next week), I thought I’d take a look ahead to some of the major events coming our way next year.

There are elections almost every year for one public body or another and next year it is the turn of the National Assembly for Wales.

As devolution continues to be strengthened and the Assembly is granted more powers, the 2016 Assembly elections will be the most important yet.

Labour has ruled the roost at the Senedd – either with a majority or as the main partner in a coalition since the Assembly came into being in 1999.

It will be interesting to see whether Carwyn Jones will be able to deliver a majority for Labour next year, and whether events on the UK-wide stage have an impact at the polling booth.

It is also likely there will be a referendum on Britain’s future membership of the European Union next year, possibly in June.

This will be the “in-out” vote promised for some years by David Cameron.

The referendum campaign will turn up some unlikely political bedfellows, as different factions from the same parties line up either side of the “yes” or “no” divide.

We are also likely to see some substantial local developments taking place in 2016.

Work will hopefully start on the Circuit of Wales MotoGP racetrack near Ebbw Vale.

This has the potential to transform Blaenau Gwent, a long-term economic blackspot, and create many skilled jobs in an area that desperately needs them.

It will also bring many thousands of visitors to the site and place the area firmly on the world sporting map.

I hope we’ll see some positive movement on the M4 relief road as well, but I won’t be holding my breath on that one.

Friars Walk opened to much fanfare in Newport last month and there will be a series of stores and entertainment venues opening there in the new year, including a bowling alley.

The new shopping centre has undoubtedly been good for the city centre.

However, there still needs to be proper talks between market traders, Newport Bus and the city council over the withdrawal of the High Street bus routes.

The council owns both the bus company and the market and it is surely in its interests to find a solution that is practicable and suitable for all.

On the sporting front, let’s hope Newport Gwent Dragons continue the fine form they have shown in Europe recently on the domestic front.

And remaining in the Football League is the only aim for Newport County AFC come next May.

Wales will look to rid themselves of their World Cup hangover with a strong performance in the Six Nations, particularly as so many of their rivals are in transition or crisis.

The Olympics take place in Rio in the summer and there will no doubt be new British heroes to cheer in athletics and many other sports.

But the highlight of 2016, for Welsh fans in particular, will be the European Football Championships in France.

Wales will be at Euro 2016 – taking their place in the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1958.

They are in a group that sees them pitted against England, but that also contains nothing to fear.

If Chris Coleman’s men can make the knockout stages then anything can happen.

And in Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, Wales have a genuine world superstar. A player as good, if not better, than any other in the tournament.

If he is fit and in form, Bale will be a danger man and none of the other nations will look forward to a match against Wales.

Can Wales do a Norway and surprise the football world?

Don’t bet against it.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all Argus readers a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

See you in 2016.