It's been another busy month of delivering for North Norfolk.
From lighting up the first Christmas tree of the year to working on some significant problems for constituents right across North Norfolk, I hope you enjoy reading this update. If you have any questions on the content please do feel free to send me an email.
1) Prime Minster visits North Norfolk
I had the honour of welcoming the Prime Minister to Bacton Gas Terminal to meet with the brilliant team at National Gas and discuss the role Bacton could play in the future as a key site for our national energy security.
Bacton is a key part of our national energy network. It is an asset which I have frequently campaigned to see invested in and improved, particularly when it comes to Hydrogen production. It was really useful to be able to show the Prime Minister the site first-hand. I think it clearly shows that my campaigning is being noticed by the government.
He also announced a major development in our energy policy that new oil and gas licences will now be reviewed on an annual basis.
I think this is a pragmatic step, with hostilities and tensions rising around the world, we need to ensure that we have a diverse energy supply and mix as we transition to net zero.
The sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. That is exactly why it’s important to keep our oil and gas infrastructure up to date as we transition. It’s sensible and pragmatic - and vital to retain countless local jobs in North Norfolk.
Following the visit by the PM, I held a meeting to keep up the campaign for Bacton, with Lord Callanan, the Minister for Hydrogen.
Kay Mason-Billig (Leader of Norfolk County Council), Steve Blatch (CEO NNDC) Tim Adams (Leader NNDC) and myself met with Lord Callanan, to talk more about the role Bacton could play in Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen production.
UK plans are very much in their infancy for hydrogen production, but for CCUS we have just had the largest allocation round for new sites, double that of any in Europe. We are leading in this industry.
The Government has been very willing to talk about Bacton Gas Terminal and the opportunities it has to be a world-leading force in securing our energy and transitioning to Net Zero.
I won’t give up and I’ll keep making sure Bacton stays on the radar.
2) Remembrance
"Their name liveth forever more"
Thank you to everyone who came together to remember those who gave so much for our country. This year, I attended Sheringham’s Remembrance parade and laid a wreath, followed by attending the service in St Peter’s Church, Sheringham.
In the afternoon my family joined me for the Parade and service at St Nicholas’ North Walsham.
The sheer number of groups represented that laid wreaths today was quite remarkable and just shows the incredible community spirit we have across North Norfolk.
It is our duty to remember those who paid the ultimate price in the defence of our island home, we will remember them.
3) Sheringham Barclays Closure Announcement
It was devastating news that another banking branch in North Norfolk is set to close.
All the normal reasons for closure were given. Declining footfall and changing banking habits. I told Barclays that this is an older resident population with a vibrant trading high street. The closure is simply unwarranted and will be a hammer blow to our community. Many completely rely on the branch.
The only glimmer of positive news is that Barclays will be leaving a bank hub. What they call a ‘Barclays local’ hub. This will be open for 3 days a week for 16.5 hours and manned by staff.
The Post Office will cover paying money in, withdrawing it and balance checking. The local hub will do most other account related transactions, except dealing with cash. There will still be access to cash at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Nationwide.
To ensure we show our strength of feeling about this, I started a petition about this.
The petition is still running if you wanted to contribute your views.
4) Fighting a huge rise in Broads Tolls
All Norfolk MPs who touch the Broads, have signed my letter to the Broads Authority to complain at yet again, an exorbitant increase in tolls.
This year the increase is 8.5%, on top of 13% last year. By the time this fee is payable, this increase will likely be at the very least, double the rate of inflation.
These increases are unsustainable for those with private craft and for the many businesses that are the lifeblood of the Broads.
The unique governance structure of the Broads Authority, means these increases continue to happen.
You can read my letter by following this link to my Facebook page.
5) Ensuring Access to Cash in Hoveton
After a long-fought campaign, I'm pleased to say that the new ATM in Hoveton will be an external, 24-hour free service, located at the Post Office.
I know this will prove to be very welcome news to both residents and people across the village who depend so much on having reliable access to cash services.
The process will now require a planning application through North Norfolk District Council - I've made the commitment to write to NNDC as soon as this has been received to ask them to speed it up and urgently pass it.
I'll keep you up to date with progress on this.
6) Rwanda Plan
As you probably know, tomorrow in Parliament there is a major vote on the Government’s Rwanda Asylum Plan. As your local MP, it is so important for me to be able to gauge your views on critical pieces of legislation. If you could just take 10 seconds and answer the below question I’d be most appreciative.
Illegal migration and protecting our borders is absolutely critical to so many people. We simply cannot take mass, uncontrolled numbers of people illegally into our country. It places huge pressure on the NHS, housing and welfare.
We have reduced the number of illegal crossing by a third this year - down by roughly 16,000 people. However, without a proper and robust deterrent we will find hundreds of thousands of people continue to illegally cross the channel - Labour and the Liberal Democrats have NO PLAN to fix this. The Liberals seem to want to offer asylum to everyone. We simply can’t do this!
7) MAJOR NEWS ON WATER QUALITY!
The latest classification for our bathing waters is out!
East Runton has been restored to “EXCELLENT” status. None of our beaches have gone backward and we now have more of our beaches rated “EXCELLENT” than not - 4 out of 7!
I've now written to NNDC and said they need to reapply for our blue flag on East Runton Beach as soon as possible.
As I’ve always said, I would campaign to get our blue flags back. Misinformation from other political parties has damaged local businesses and worried residents, regarding the quality of our beaches. This is justification that there has been no decline in our local water quality, in fact, they are improving - thanks to the work my Environmental Select Committee has done and the laws that I am proud to have passed to improve our bathing waters.
Amazing news!
