I was elected on a commitment to work as hard as I can to deliver the reliable and efficient transport options we deserve locally - from expanded and enhanced train services to improved road, cycling and walking infrastructure.
I’m delighted to report that I have secured £50,000 from Government to develop a business case for a one service per hour train service to Nottingham and Leicester, via Syston and Loughborough, from Melton. We were one of only thirteen successful projects for the heavily oversubscribed Reversing Beeching Programme.
On top of this, my work to increase the number of trains stopping on the Poacher Line at Bottesford continues, and I’ve had some extremely promising discussions with Transport Ministers to champion the case. Please do support my efforts by completing the survey on my website.
I’m acutely aware that the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road is a pressing concern for all of us, and I’ve been working consistently for the last year to ensure this vital infrastructure is delivered in full. I’ve raised the need to deliver the MMDR in full with Ministers, and in the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed its commitment to the entire by-pass, confirming that £15 million is held ready by the Government to deliver the Southern Section of the road.
I have every confidence that Leicestershire County Council will next week submit the necessary application to release these vital funds, allowing our two councils to move forward on our shared priorities, working together, for the good of Melton. It is right that central Government is taking our transport needs seriously, and I have worked tirelessly with our Councils to ensure this once in a generation investment in our town becomes a reality.
I was also elected on a commitment to improve local access to healthcare – notably by securing enhanced GP provision for Melton. I share local concerns that Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) proposals seem to only strip Melton’s of healthcare provision. I continue to work to secure a new GP practice for us, although this will take some time, and to secure a plan for long-term investment in Melton’s healthcare provision.
Looking specifically at maternity services, I have written to the CCG urging them to consider retaining St Mary’s post-natal unit. I await the CCG’s response but it is so important that residents have their say in the consultation before it closes on December 21st.
On a more positive note, I’m pleased to report that since my last article Holwell Church has been awarded an Historic England grant to replace its roof. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Holwell Church and learning about Framland Deanery’s pioneering Sustainability Project which could shape sustainable energy in churches across the country – watch this space!
The last two weeks have also brought some fantastic and much-needed news: we are the first country in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for use and vaccinations have already begun.
Locally our vaccine programme will be delivered through community hub sites such as GP practices, and gradually also at the vaccination hub being established in Melton. Regional Health Chiefs have decided that their preferred approach is to proceed with these, a central hub will be in place shortly in Leicester too. For now, we must all wait until we are contacted by the NHS and it is our time for vaccination, whilst abiding by the Government’s tier measures.
On that note I wish to thank everyone for their perseverance to defeating COVID-19. Tier 3 for Melton, the Vale and Harborough is disappointing, but it is clear we need to get our COVID-stats down locally as we remain above the national average which has fallen to 126/100. I’m aware that many residents living in our villages have been particularly frustrated, however I wish to correct the misunderstanding that our villages are COVID-19 free, that is just not the case. In the last week of November we had at least three villages with rates above 200 per 100,000 - one of our villages had a rate as high as 297.2, higher than many parts of Melton town. Our villages are not immune, and everyone has work to do.
As we protect each other and get cases down locally, I continue to lobby the Government to un-couple the Leicestershire districts from Leicester City. However, the pressures on our hospitals in Leicester and Nottingham remain high, which plays a large role in determining which tier we are in.
I have taken our cause directly to the Prime Minister to make the case for tiering by Borough and hope to make further progress before the December 16th tier review. Until then, I need your help to get cases lower so I can make the strongest possible case to Government.
With our victory over COVID-19 firmly in sight and within grasp, I have every confidence that we will all continue to act with a strong sense of civic duty and personal responsibility to protect one another.
