It's been a very busy month all around the constituency and dealing with issues you have brought to me. Here are the highlights over the last few weeks.
TAKING AID TO UKRAINE
During my recess a small group of constituents made the near 4,000 mile round trip to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Ukraine. This was all donated by the sheer generosity of North Norfolk residents. Many will have seen the reports in the media, but it was one of the most humbling, moving and emotional experiences of my life. With us, we took the two refugees that have been living with me for the last 7 months, Anna and little Sviatik, so they could see their husband and father for a few hours whilst we stayed overnight in Lviv. The blankets are going straight to soldiers on the front line this Winter and all the other aid given will help those poor communities being bombed by this dreadful war in Europe. My thanks to Rob Scammell, Michelle Foulkes and Paul East for accompanying me on the trip.
OVER £49,000 DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES
It is beyond my wildest dreams to announce that this year’s London Marathon has raised £49,198 for local charities all doing incredible work in North Norfolk. It means each of the 25 charities you picked, will receive £1,611 this year. It means I am going to take a break from marathon training now to spend a little more time with my family but I am very proud that you have helped me to donate £87,395 to around 40 amazing causes in the last two years.
SAVING THE BANK IN HOLT
I’m delighted that I was able to open the newly located Barclays Bank in Holt having helped save it for the town. This is not just a Godsend for residents, traders and visitors but for all the surrounding villages who rely on their banking services. Don’t worry, I am still heavily involved in trying to save other vital community assets such as the Post Office in Sheringham. I will not give up!
PRESERVING THE TRIPLE LOCK
We all recognise that with a war in Europe and as the aftershocks of covid affect the entire world, we have to make measured, sensible and compassionate interventions to help society through this difficult time. I have fought tooth and nail to get my constituents the pension increase they deserve and am delighted that the Triple lock has been restored to the 1 in 3 residents it affects for me.
YET MORE BIN FIASCO
The Liberal Democrat run District council is continuing to deal with total chaos over the new bin contract they are running. I have written to the Council Leader, Tim Adams who is responsible for this disaster, expressing how quickly he must deal with improving the service and will do so again as I understand there have been 2,000 missed collections now in nine weeks. If you continue to experience your bin not being emptied please email my office as we will happily sort out getting your bin emptied. It is not good enough at all.
SUPPORTING TRADERS IN NORTH WALSHAM
Many have written to me about the situation in North Walsham where the Council is causing huge concern to traders over the progress of the redevelopment works and subsequent lack of footfall into the town. This is seriously damaging the traders livelihoods and I have called Cllr Richard Kershaw to answer traders questions on 25th November in the town centre, where I will be present.
As ever, if you have any concerns or issues you'd like me to look into or to discuss with me, please contact me on 01692 557140 or at [email protected].
