Britain and the world’s scientific communities have made remarkable strides in their efforts to find a COVID-19 vaccine, the national lockdown is almost over, and the Prime Minister has confirmed that there will be a time-limited change to social restrictions for the Christmas period. We have much to be hopeful for, but a challenging few months still ahead of us.
By Spring, our advances in testing and vaccines should reduce the need for economic and social restrictions, and we should have a vaccination centre established locally and vaccinations underway before Christmas if vaccines are successfully approved.
But we are also approaching the time when the NHS is traditionally under the most intense pressure, the early New Year. Therefore, we must continue to take adequate precautions to keep COVID-19 under control and so the Government will re-introduce the regional tiered system from December 2nd.
As I write, I am in the midst of tough negotiations with Government regarding our post national lockdown COVID tier level. Reading this, it may have been announced. I want you to know that I’ve lobbied hard to ensure that tiers were set at a borough or district level, rather than at a county or larger level, but given the high levels of infections in our communities, and pressures on our hospitals, I am not confident I will win this fight. However, I will persist in my efforts, to have Leicestershire treated as an exception, and have taken Melton’s case directly to the Prime Minister, Health Secretary and Health Ministers over the last two weeks.
I’m also working hard to ensure our area can thrive once we are free of COVID-19 and working hard on residents’ pressing concerns.
Locally we’ve all quite rightly had enough of the perilous A52 junction at Bottesford, and I’ve been raising the urgent need to address this issue with Highways England. I’m delighted to report that they have now completed the site survey of the junction that I requested, and the results will see the design of measures to make it safer. This is a promising sign that residents concerns are being taken seriously, and that despite the pandemic, I am delivering on my election promises.
My work to improve the regularity of services at Bottesford Rail Station on the Poacher Line continues and last week, I had an extremely productive meeting with the Department for Transport on the bid I submitted in June to do just that. I’m optimistic that the Department will deliver the services residents deserve, but we still have a long way to go. I urge residents to help me make the strongest case to Government and show them that this is what our area wants by replying to the survey on my website before it closes on Monday 30th November.
I want Melton to reap the benefits of the Government’s exciting new 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution – and for rural communities to be at the heart of it. In light of the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars being moved up to 2030, I’m lobbying my colleagues at the Department for Transport to provide details of how they plan to install a robust electric vehicle charging infrastructure in rural areas such as ours. It is vital that our area benefits from extensive charging facilities, not only for residents’ convenience and safety, but so that we can welcome tourists and day trippers.
Our area has huge potential to become more of a tourist hub with beautiful scenery, outstanding food and a rich history. I’m excited to reveal that I’m in the preliminary stages of launching a campaign to get Melton on the map as a tourist destination. I hope to work with Melton Borough Council and other local stakeholders on this project.
Alongside this work, I’m teaming up with neighbouring MPs to get the Vale of Belvoir recognised as an Area of Natural Beauty - to afford the Vale increased protection for environmental conservation, to preserve our historic villages and to attract more visitors.
I’m also relieved to report that the last fortnight has seen Melton Borough Council receive over £732,000 to provide grants to businesses forced to close due to the national restrictions. I’m also working with East Midlands MPs to establish a freeport at East Midlands Airport so that our businesses can thrive at the end of the Transition Period. I hope to have an update shortly following a letter I coordinated to the Government.
We have much to look forward to over the coming weeks and months, and I’m pleased that we will be able to spend Christmas with our loved ones. I’m confident that once the guidance is published, residents will make informed and sensible personal judgements about their festive plans - keeping in mind the risk to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable. Thank you to everyone for your persistence.
