We need our market towns to be places where people want to live, work, visit and grow businesses.

That’s why, throughout my time as local MP, I have been a passionate supporter of initiatives looking to enhance our local ‘offer’ – and why, having supported Revd Paul Cubitt’s ‘A Dereham Plan for Dereham People’ event in Dereham in November, I continue to work with him and other key stakeholders from across the town as we seek to establish a non-political, community-led Partnership that can drive forward positive progress in a wide range of areas.

Now named the ‘Dereham Action Partnership’, the group met again this past Friday and is working on a number of positive workstreams – such as how best to strengthen the local community and business voice, work together with partners on key local projects, and help Breckland Council deliver their impressive ‘Dereham Town Delivery Plan’.

With figures from the town’s local public, private and voluntary sectors, the Partnership already has a diverse membership – but we what need is for more local leaders to come forward who have an abiding love for the town.

If YOU are a local Dereham business or stakeholder, please do reach out and signal you interest to be involved.

By building on its heritage and culture, and attracting new investment, new businesses and new jobs and opportunities into the area, Dereham has a fantastic chance to ensure its long term success.

I look forward to doing everything I can to help the Partnership get off the ground and move forward strongly.

To find out more about my ongoing work with the Partnership, please scroll below.

UDPATE 15 February 2024

‘A Dereham Plan for Dereham Residents’ Partnership

Our Mid Norfolk Market Towns are vital hubs of community spirit and services. After a difficult few years, it’s more vital than ever that we do all we can to help fuel their success and prosperity – and shape positive futures for them – so as to ensure they remain thriving and vibrant.

We need our market towns to be places where people want to live, visit, work and grow businesses.

That’s why, having agreed at the ‘A Dereham Plan for Dereham Residents’ event in November to help stakeholders establish a local Partnership that could work with local Councils and drive forward positive initiatives in the town (see more here), I was delighted to chair the first meeting of that new group this past Friday.

With members from across a wide variety of public and private sector fields (including local businesses, the Town Council, Breckland Council, Norfolk County Council, the aboutDereham Partnership and Revd Paul Cubitt at St Nicholas’ Church – among others), we had some promising early discussions – particularly around the future of the High Street and the centre of the town – and are now following up on a variety of actions as the group decides what its main focusses should be and how it might be able to deliver tangible progress.

Rest assured, I look forward to working with the group over the coming months to make sure this cross-party effort takes off – and hope to be able to share further progress updates soon.

To stay up to date with updates on this work, please do regularly check my campaign page here.

UPDATE 6 December 2023

‘A Dereham Plan for Dereham Residents’

Our Mid Norfolk Market Towns are vital hubs of community spirit and services. After a difficult few years, it’s more vital than ever that we do all we can to help fuel their success and prosperity – and shape positive futures for them – so as to ensure they remain thriving and vibrant.

We need our market towns to be places where people want to live, visit, work and grow businesses.

That’s why I was delighted to help organise a recent gathering of business, community and civic movers and shakers at St Nicholas Church in Dereham to bring key stakeholders together and focus on how we all would like to see the town develop, grow and prosper over the coming years.

The idea of Reverend Paul Cubitt (Rector of Dereham), the event saw over 30 people join the conversation – with many others signalling their desire to participate in the conversation going forward.

With the Breckland Local Plan Update underway, there is an important opportunity for Dereham to put forward a strong, positive vision for itself over the next 10-20 years. What we need is for local leaders to come forward who have an abiding love for the town – and I’ve suggested the creation of a non-political, community-led Dereham Plan Partnership that can draw on the expertise and views of all groups in Dereham to help inform the vision and work with Breckland Council to deliver it.

By building on its heritage and culture, and attracting new investment, new businesses and new jobs and opportunities into the area, Dereham has a fantastic chance to ensure its long term success.

I’ve offered to help stakeholders set up and convene the Partnership and am following up with them to see about organising the next meeting and discussion early in the new year. Already, those involved are discussing what more can be done to improve the town market place – the gateway to the High Street and Town Centre.

I look forward to working with the likes of Breckland Council, the Town Council, the aboutDereham Partnership and others over the coming months.

To see the recent EDP article on the event, please click here.

To stay up to date with updates on this work, please do regularly check my campaign page here.

How we take care of, and educate, some of our most vulnerable people is a measure of us as a society. EVERYONE has the right to a good education.

That’s why I am delighted to hear the news that Fred Nicholson Schools’ relocation to a new, expanded state-of-the-art school is another step closer.

See the EDP article here

Last week, members of Norfolk County Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to grant permission for a new £20m school on land already secured in Swaffham (see here) – one that will see the number of SEND places the school provides increase from 173 to 224.

When I visited Fred Nichs back in 2019, I was struck by the tremendous spirit of the teachers and pupils, and the love that the wider community has for the school. However, the buildings were visibly falling into disrepair around them and short-term repairs were no longer sustainable. (Learn more here).

Having previously helped the campaign to move Chapel Road School in Attleborough to its new state-of-the-art home at Chapel Green in nearby Old Buckenham and consistently called for greater SEND funding for rural schools, I set about working with Fred Nichs to try and help them secure a long-term solution to their future.

The decision last week is therefore great news! With the new school due to open in April next year.

While the new school site will be outside of Dereham and Mid Norfolk, I am delighted that the pupils and staff will now have the facilities they deserve. I also welcome the news that the school will now be able to cater for children all the way from ages 5-16.

Here in Dereham and Mid Norfolk, we have a long proud tradition of helping the SEND community – and I am therefore determined to ensure Fred Nichs relocation does not sever our ties with the school. I continue to actively engage with Fred Nichs and Norfolk County Council as we explore how best we can preserve and enhance that legacy – and I remain a vocal supporter of NCC’s efforts to expand SEND provision across the county, as well as to develop a stronger ‘Hub and Spoke’ approach for SEND support across our Mid Norfolk schools.

To find out more about my work over the years with Fred Nichs, please scroll below.

To see more about my wider campaign for ‘SEND Support in our local schools’, please visit my campaign page here

UPDATE 12 June 2023

Dereham Times Article – Fred Nicholson School

Every few weeks, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to write a few words in the Dereham Times on an important local matter of my choosing.

Having previously written a piece on the campaign on my opposition to a potential 5,000 house new village/town near North Elmham/Bintree/Billingford (see here and here), I was delighted to be able to focus on Fred Nicholson School this time – highlighting the great strides that have recently been made to secure the school’s long term future.

See the article below.

Rest assured, I remain firmly committed to supporting Fred Nichs – and continue to be one of the SEND sector’s biggest advocates here in the East.

To stay up to date on all my work supporting SEND provision in our local schools (both specialist and mainstream), please click here.

UPDATE 7 March 2023

Fred Nicholson School

Following my webstory update last week, I am delighted to hear that NCC’s Cabinet have indeed given the greenlight for the purchasing of the necessary land in Swaffham required for the construction of a new home for Fred Nicholson School.

This is great news! And sends the clearest possible signal to the SEND community that NCC are committed to doing all they can to ensure Norfolk has the support it needs.

While there is much work still to be done, this is a huge step forwards locally – and I commend Jane Hayman and her wonderful team at Fred Nichs for all the hard work they’ve put into this campaign to date. I remain firmly committed to doing all I can to help them drive it forward – and look forward to the day (not in the too distant future) when I can visit in person the brand new, fit-for-purpose home of this truly inspiring and much valued school.

UPDATE 28 February 2023

Fred Nicholson School

How we take care of, and educate, some of our most vulnerable people is a measure of us as a society. EVERYONE has the right to a good education.

That’s why, having previously helped the campaign to move Chapel Road School in Attleborough to its new state-of-the-art home at Chapel Green in nearby Old Buckenham (read more here) and called for greater SEN funding for rural schools, I have also been working with Fred Nicholson School in Dereham over the past few years to try and help them secure a long-term solution to their future. 

When I visited the school back in 2019, I was struck by the tremendous spirit of the teachers and pupils, and the love that the wider community has for the school. However, the buildings were visibly falling into disrepair around them and short-term repairs were no longer sustainable. (Learn more here).

While Norfolk County Council have worked closely with Jane Hayman and her dedicated team of staff at Fred Nichs to provide all the support that they can, it has long been clear that a proper long term solution is needed. I have therefore helped convene meetings between Fred Nichs and NCC (including with the leader of the council, Andrew Proctor – who has been a big support) in order to bring about the necessary conversations regarding what can be done to ensure the school has the fit-for-purpose facilities it needs.

NCC takes SEND provision incredibly seriously indeed and, as part of their overall strategy to expand and strengthen the support they provide, have actively participated in discussions with the school to explore whether they should relocate to a new building on the existing site or to an alternative one nearby.

I am delighted to hear the news therefore that NCC’s Cabinet will be meeting on Monday to discuss giving the greenlight to the purchase of some land near Swaffham – which it is hoped could be the location of Fred Nichs’ new home. (My understanding is that, should the land indeed be purchased, a planning application could be made as early as the spring).

As part of my ongoing efforts to support the Fred Nichs community, I have today written to Andrew Proctor to formally reiterate my support of the school and place on record my hope that the NCC Cabinet will sanction the purchase of this key piece of land. By doing so, NCC would not only allow Fred Nichs to move on to the next stage of securing the home they need and deserve, they would also send the clearest possible signal to the SEND community that they are committed to doing all they can to ensure Norfolk has the support it needs.

I will be following Monday’s meeting closely and will continue to do all I can to support Fred Nichs, as well as the wider SEND community.

UPDATE 22 March 2022

Visit to Fred Nicholson School

How we take care of, and educate, some of our most vulnerable people is a measure of us as a society. EVERYONE has the right to a good education. 

As part of my work as an MP I have been helping campaign to find new premises for the Fred Nicholson school in Dereham to try and help them secure a long-term solution to their future. 

That’s why I met up with Jane Hayman and her incredible team again this past Friday to discuss updates on how its progressing, what more I can do to help and how the school is getting on post-pandemic.

Working with the Leader of Norfolk County Council, Andrew Proctor, and others, we aim to move the school to new premises that ensure Jane Hayman and her incredible team can provide the care and support they truly want, and which the children deserve.  

UPDATE 17 December 2020 

Fred Nicholson School

How we take care of, and educate, some of our most vulnerable people is a measure of us as a society. EVERYONE has the right to a good education. 

That’s why, having helped the campaign to move Chapel Road School in Attleborough to its new state-of-the-art home at Chapel Green in nearby Old Buckenham (read more here) and called for greater SEN funding for rural schools, I am now working with Fred Nicholson School in Dereham to try and help them secure a long-term solution to their future. 

When I visited the school back in 2019, I was struck by the tremendous spirit of the teachers and pupils, and the love that the wider community has for the school. However, the buildings are falling into disrepair around them and short-term repairs are no longer sustainable. (Learn more here) 

Working with the Leader of Norfolk County Council, Andrew Proctor, and others, we aim to move the school to new premises (constructed on the same site or nearby) – ones that ensure Jane Hayman and her incredible team can provide the care and support they truly want, and which the children deserve.  

Today we took part in a Zoom catch up to hear of the progress that is being made on this project and I look forward to continuing my support of this incredibly worthwhile campaign as we move on into 2021.

UPDATE 8 October 2019

The Fred Nicholson School Visit

Delighted to join the head of The Fred Nicholson School, Jane Hayman, and her team this past Friday. And speak to the school council on their plans this year.

To find out more about the visit, please see the short video below

NHS Dentistry continues to be one of the biggest issues in my inbox — which is why, with fellow Norfolk MPs, local NHS officials and partners like the UEA, I am actively pressing on with my campaign to bring about the improvements to services that we need.

A key part of that is ensuring we train more dentists right here in East Anglia.

That’s why I have co-signed a letter from the UEA Vice-Chancellor to the Dental Minister Andrea Leadsom – emphasising the enormous opportunity currently on offer to build a new Dental School at UEA at a fraction of the usual cost and urging the Government to support it.

See the letter below.

As we know, statistically, students that study at the likes of UEA and the University of the Arts are far more likely to settle locally than students elsewhere in the country. I believe we would see the same occurring were a dental school established here and, with a full School of Dentistry, more would be incentivised to stay – no longer needing to head to major cities like London in order to progress their skills.

I was delighted to meet with Professor Charles ffrench-Constant at UEA recently to discuss the University’s proposals in greater depth and find out what more I can do, alongside parliamentary colleagues, to help make a new Dental School a reality.

See my video with him above.

There is no doubt that UEA would be the ideal location for a new Dental School and I’m determined to do all I can to help bring it about.

To find out more about my wider NHS Dentists campaign, and to stay up to date with progress, please visit my campaign page here

To see my most recent interventions on NHS Dentistry in the House, please click here

We all want to be as welcoming and hospitable as we can for those fleeing persecution around the world. But before any community is nominated with “Sanctuary” status, there are important considerations that must be made.

Brain Tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.

We can change this. Together.

Today, I’ve joined MPs from across the political spectrum in writing to the Minister for Health to call for a National Brain Tumour Strategy.

See our letter below.

To find out more about my wider work on Brain Tumour Research, please visit my campaign page here.

For 30 years, Norfolk has campaigned for A47 dualling.

I, myself, have been on the case for 15 years, working with fellow Norfolk MPs, the A47 Alliance and the EDP – and was delighted to get the then Prime Minister to Mid Norfolk back in 2014 to agree the next phase of A47 improvements.

But we’re still awaiting the North Tuddenham-Easton dualling and Thickthorn Roundabout improvement works – as well as full dualling of the A47 from Lowestoft in the East to the A1 in Cambridgeshire to the West.

I have been very vocal in opposing Dr Andrew Boswell and his fellow eco-campaigners as they continue to try and block these vital improvement projects. (See more details here). However, even as these projects are finally delivered, we must go further. Only with full dualling of the entire A47 will we be able to unlock Norfolk (and the East)’s full economic potential – and make the most improvement to safety along the route.

That’s why I have co-signed a joint-MP letter to the Roads Minister Guy Opperman – making clear our support for the Alliance and Norfolk County Council’s proposals for a joint-study with National Highways that specifically looks at the challenges and opportunities the A47 presents to our Norfolk businesses and communities, as well as to outside investment, so that we can strengthen the Business Case for delivering full dualling.

See our letter below.

I am determined to do all I can to help our region get the investment it needs to improve this key road and unlock enormous growth that will fuel new jobs and opportunities, and investment, in our local communities.

That’s why I’m also going further and writing to the Roads Minister myself to invite him to Norfolk to see the route himself and meet with local leaders – and why I’m working with the A47 Alliance and Norfolk County Council as we look to take a delegation of stakeholders to Westminster to lobby for further support.

Rest assured, I will keep on this.

To stay up to date with all my work on this issue, please visit my ‘Making Our Roads Fit for the 21st Century’ campaign page here.

How we take care of, and support, some of our most vulnerable people is a measure of us as a society.

That’s why I was delighted to secure and join a meeting for Breckland Council’s Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen and Cllr Claire Bowes with DLUHC officials to discuss the vital Disabled Facilities Grant fund this afternoon.

The DFG provides home adaptation funds that help eligible individuals remain and live independently in their own homes - often alleviating pressure on the wider health and social care system in a preventative way, saving considerable sums for the taxpayer longer term.

Breckland has an excellent track record on delivering these adaptations, but with surging demand and rising costs, delivery is increasingly challenging.

That’s why I’m supporting Breckland as they push for greater support for district councils from the DFG – as well as their suggestion of becoming a pathfinder for a bolder, more innovative approach to delivering these home improvements in a way that is faster and more beneficial for those that need them.

I look forward to providing further updates in due course.

Preventing a recurrence of the flooding that impacted over 100 properties in Attleborough back in October has been one of my major focusses over recent months. No one should live in fear each time it rains.

That’s why I followed progress at today’s latest stakeholder meeting closely – reviewing progress over the past few weeks and continuing to give my firm support to the efforts to install a new trash screen at the Mill Lane culvert, clear the Mill Lane and Norwich Road culverts and implement a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme upstream.

The latest key updates are:

• The specification and costings for the new trash screen have been updated – with the stakeholders keen to ‘greenlight’ progress as soon as possible. Everything remains on track for the removal of the existing trash screen and installation of the new one in the summer (when water flow is low enough for the works to be completed).

• Conversations around the long term maintenance and ownership of the new trash screen and associated culvert remain ongoing – with Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance working together to try and find a positive resolution. I hope to hear more soon.

• Culvert clearance work remains a priority, and all parties continue to work together to overcome the logistical complications that have delayed progress to date. I am supporting them with that.

• Following further site inspections, additional culvert clearance works have been identified as necessary for the culvert going under the A11. I’ve committed to supporting Breckland, NCC and the NSFA as they push National Highways to get on and carry out works this year.

• Norfolk County Council’s work with local landowners and the Norfolk Rivers Trust to develop plans for a proposed upstream Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme continues. Plans for the “leaky dams” I highlighted in my previous update (see here) are hoped to be ready by the end of the month – with the intention of installing them in the summer. Early funds from the £150,000 secured from the Government’s Natural Flood Management Scheme will likely be put towards the installation of water gauges along the watercourse – which will help shape the larger, longer term Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme that the remainder of the £150,000 will be spent on. I’m assured that work on that longer term scheme remains actively ongoing. 

I will be meeting with the stakeholder group again in the coming weeks. Rest assured, I will keep on this and use all of my power as local MP to speak up for those affected – and to help drive forward progress.

In the meantime, I continue to support residents in other parts of the town that have been affected by flooding over recent months – as well as households and businesses more widely across Mid Norfolk. I am in regular contact with stakeholders on their behalf – and continue to drive forward efforts to establish the first annual Norfolk Flood Prevention Summit before the summer.

In Westminster, I am finalising the drafting of the Flooding Bill I intend to bring to Parliament progresses. More information can be found on that here – and I hope to provide a full update once it is complete.

To see full details on my work regarding the Attleborough Flooding, please scroll below.

To find out more about my wider Mid Norfolk Flooding campaign, please click here.

UPDATE 21 March 2024

We must do all we can to prevent a reoccurrence of the terrible flooding that affected over 100 properties around Mill Lane as a result of Storm Babet in October.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing flooding campaign work, I was involved in the latest stakeholder meeting this week – reviewing the group’s progress over the last few weeks as it drives forward work to install a new trash screen at the Mill Lane culvert, clear the Mill Lane and Norwich Road culverts and implement a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme upstream.

Key updates:

• Work on the design and construction of the new trash screen remains on track, with installation expected this summer – when the water level/flow of the watercourse has sufficiently dropped and it can be properly dewatered for the construction of the trash screen’s concrete base.

• Despite some logistical challenges around culvert clearances, NCC are working with Anglian Water, Breckland Council and the local Internal Drainage Board to ensure contractors can carry out the works as soon as possible – with subsequent monitoring to take place. I have committed to doing all I can to add weight to those efforts.

• Norfolk County Council are working with local landowners and the Norfolk Rivers Trust as they continue to develop plans for the proposed upstream Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme. As we know, we have secured £150,000 from Government for that work (see here) and, while the full scheme could take some time to develop and implement, positive conversations are ongoing with the aim of introducing earlier measures, such as “leaky dams”, as soon as this summer.

I will be catching up with the stakeholder group again in a couple of weeks’ time – and joining a subsequent conversation between stakeholders and local councillors. Rest assured, I will keep on this.

In the meantime, I continue to work on bringing my Flooding Bill to Parliament – and am also working with NCC and the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance as we look to establish the first annual Norfolk Flood Prevention Summit before the summer.

To see full details on my work regarding the Attleborough Flooding, please scroll below.

To find out more about my wider Mid Norfolk Flooding campaign, please click here

UPDATE 26 February 2024

The latest serious flooding in Attleborough is a further reminder of the importance of properly tackling the problems in the town.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing work to hold stakeholders to account and help bring about the solutions my constituents desperately need, I was back in Attleborough on Friday to meet with local councillors, as well as representatives of both Norfolk County Council’s Flood and Water Management team and Anglian Water.

Together, we visited the New North Road residents flooded last week – before heading over to the Mill Lane culvert to receive an update there too.

I was delighted to hear therefore that:

1. The Natural Flood Management Fund bid I supported Norfolk County Council with has been successful – securing £150,000 towards work to deliver a proper water storage and flooding mitigation scheme upstream of the Mill Lane culvert.

2. Anglian Water have listened to NCC and I and have appointed a Mid Norfolk Flooding Liaison, who was present at Friday’s meeting and who will be working closely with our communities moving forward.

Two very positive steps.

However, there is much more to do. No one should have to live in fear each time it rains. Stakeholders have got to properly grip these problems and address them.

That’s why I remain committed to driving forward my Flooding campaign – particularly through the Flooding Bill I am bringing to the House and through the establishment of a Norfolk Flooding Summit.

Full details of my ‘Flooding and the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership’ campaign can be found here

To see the EDP article on my visit, please click here

For more information on my work on the Attleborough Flooding specifically, please scroll below.

UPDATE 22 February 2024

More terrible flooding in Attleborough. More appalling trauma for all those households affected.

Thank you for the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and Breckland Council for their rapid response.

Am in urgent contact this morning with Breckland and the key local agencies to get a proper plan in place for the next few days with more heavy rain forecast.

Rearranging tomorrow’s constituency plans to get to Attleborough to see the scale of these floods for myself and thank local volunteers.

This has to stop. That’s why I’m pushing on with:

• Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership
• My Flooding Bill to change the planning and liability laws
• The Norfolk Flood Summit I’m convening to get all the c.36 agencies responsible together to stop the buck passing and sort it.

More on my work to tackle the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse flooding issues here.

More on my wider flooding campaign work here.

UPDATE 21 February 2024

With Storm Babet still fresh in the memories of the 100+ Attleborough households and businesses flooded back in October, I am very aware of the ongoing pressure and stress heavy rainfall is putting upon many of my constituents in the town.

That’s why, since the multi-agency meeting I convened last month to strengthen coordination between stakeholders at all levels, I have continued to take a close interest with local councillors.

I recently joined a stakeholder conversation to discuss the Mill Lane culvert and receive an update on progress, and can confirm that:

• The design for the new Mill Lane culvert trash screen has now been approved and costed – with Norfolk County Council, Breckland Council and Anglian Water all reaffirming their commitment to share those costs and proceed as quickly as possible.

(As highlighted previously however, the new trash screen may not be in place for several months – with the screen itself taking up to a month to construct and then stakeholders having to wait until the water level has dropped sufficiently and the watercourse can be dewatered for the construction of the screen’s concrete base).

• NCC have had the culverts at Mill Lane and Briar Gardens inspected again. Deposits of gravel and silt have been found in parts and NCC are pressing ahead with arrangements to have these cleared – with the necessary contractors set to carry out works in early March.

In addition to this, I can share news that:

• I continue to support NCC’s Flood and Water Management team and local councillors as they engage with landowners upstream to explore potential flood prevention and mitigation measures on their land.

• NCC sent riparian ownership reminder letters to landowners and homeowners along the problem watercourse in mid-January to remind them of their riparian responsibilities and make clear what they must not throw into the stream.

• NCC are working with the Internal Drainage Board to lobby Network Rail to inspect and, if necessary, clear the culvert they are responsible for downstream under the A11.

• Stakeholders continue to look at what more can be done to protect the most at risk properties this winter.

Once again, I’ve reiterated the importance of looking at the longer term issue of responsibility and maintenance of the culverts and watercourses – and I will be involved in the next Mill Lane culvert stakeholder meeting next week as these vital conversations continue.

I am also arranging the next wider multi-agency meeting on the Attleborough flooding too.

Rest assured, I will continue to work with local councillors and residents to hold the key stakeholders to account on this to drive forward the solutions Attleborough needs to see.

To learn more on the Attleborough Flooding campaign to date, please scroll down and read the updates below.

To learn more about my wider ‘Flooding and the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership’ campaign, please click the link here.

UPDATE 17 January 2024

Storm Babet flooded over 100 homes in Attleborough back in October and local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been affected) are rightly furious.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership and Flooding Campaign work, I continue to take an active role in supporting those affected and holding the key stakeholders to account – both here in Mid Norfolk, but also in Westminster.

While a number of short and medium term measures have already been carried out or are underway (see here), the incredibly high water levels at the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse at the start of the new year, and the serious risk residents are having to take in order to protect their homes, shows more must be done.

Last week, I convened a multi-agency meeting with representatives from Norfolk County Council, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Breckland Council, the local Internal Drainage Board, Anglian Water, Natural England, the Environment Agency – as well as local Town, Parish, District and County Councillors and representatives of local landowners upstream of the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse – to emphasise again the importance of tackling these serious issues and explore in greater depth the short, medium and long term work required to significantly reduce future flood risk.

I drew particular attention to those homeowners most at risk of flooding on Mill Lane – many of whom feel helpless and desperate, believing they have no choice but to seriously risk their own safety to try and keep the trash screen across the Mill Lane culvert clear each time it rains.

The key discussion points from the meeting were:

• A shared acknowledgement that residents are seriously risking their own safety to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear of debris – and of the fact that conditions and circumstances at the culvert can change rapidly during periods of heavy rain.

• Agreement that the existing Mill Lane culvert trash screen should not be removed until the new replacement has been installed (work currently underway – see here) – as the culvert has a 90 degree bend that, were it to become blocked, would be extremely difficult and costly to clear – and significantly worsen the current flood risk to the area.

• NCC Flood and Water Management officials met with Anglian Water contractors on-site (the day prior the meeting) to verify the new trash screen designs ahead of pricing the work – with a multi-agency agreement already in place to fund it.

• The installation of the new trash screen will likely not be possible prior to the summer. This is because the watercourse will need to be de-watered so that a new concrete base can be constructed and the trash screen fitted.

• Further measures are therefore required in the short term to try and reduce flood risk along the watercourse and at the Mill Lane culvert.

• NCC are going to work with local landowners and other stakeholders to explore installing an additional, temporary screen somewhere upstream that can catch debris and prevent it becoming a problem in Attleborough itself.

• The Mill Lane culvert, and others along the watercourse, cannot be expanded – nor the watercourse itself deepened or widened – due to the amount of development and road access around and across it. The enormous cost and disruption, and lack of space, make it impossible.

• Given concerns over residents and local councillors risking their safety by entering the watercourse to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear, a suggestion was made to appoint a jointly funded contractor to be on 24/7 call out to clear debris and blockages at the culvert trash screen when required. This suggestion was dismissed on the basis that no organisation would allow their staff to entering the water in storm flow conditions (when they would be most needed) – especially if Norfolk Fire and Rescue themselves have said the risk would be too great for even their own teams.

• A suggestion was made to explore how the watercourse may, long term, be diverted to another course away from the town. Flooding Officers explained this would probably not be possible given local topography.

• It is therefore not possible to immediately remove all flood risk. Instead, agencies must work with the properties most at risk to do as much as possible to improve their flood resilience.

• NCC have also submitted a bid to the Natural Flood Management Fund, supported by myself and others, and I am working with them and local landowners upstream to explore how we might deliver a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme that could drastically reduce the long term flood risk to homeowners and businesses in Attleborough (see more here)

• Everyone affected in the area by flooding in October must formally report their cases via the Norfolk County Council website to enable the Flood Investigations underway to be as accurate as possible – which in turn will strengthen the hand of local stakeholders to lobby for additional funding and support.

• NCC are to look at monitoring water volumes and storm flows on the watercourse – again to strengthen their hand when lobbying for resources.

• Local councillors asked what more could be done to improve safety for those homeowners currently taking risks to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear. It was asked if lighting and cameras could be installed.

• I reiterated my ongoing support for all the efforts to tackle these flooding issues – and highlighted my efforts in Westminster to bring about the national reform needed also (see more here)

As is clear, this isn’t an easy fix – with multiple challenges faced. However, I am determined to all I can to support the community.

The key focusses/timescales moving forward are:

Short Term (Now-next few weeks)

• Doing as much as possible to improve the flood resilience of the most at risk properties
• Explore what more can be done to improve safety for those putting themselves at risk to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear
• Find a suitable location for an additional, temporary screen upstream to collect debris – and explore additional short term measures upstream that can reduce flood risk

Medium Term (Summer)

• Replacement of the existing trash screen with a new one that is designed specifically for the challenges being faced.
• Continue to explore what measures can be introduced to reduce flood risk.

Longer Term

• Deliver a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme upstream that can significantly reduce flood risk
• Deliver legislative changes and reform in the House to better empower local communities so that they can protect themselves from flooding, while also holding developers to account when new housing exacerbates local problems.

Rest assured, I will keep working tirelessly on this issue.

To stay up to date, please visit my flooding campaign page here.

UPDATE 4 December 2023

Over 100 homes in Attleborough were flooded in Storm Babet at the end of October.

We cannot allow this to happen again. Local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been impacted) are rightly furious.

That’s why earlier today, as part of my ongoing campaign (and having recently reconvened the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership that I established back in early 2021 – see here), I met with Norfolk County Council’s Flood and Water Management team, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance and representatives for some of the landowners upstream of the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse.

It’s clear that that we need a proper long term strategic plan that addresses problem watercourse pinch points AND looks to better control the flow of water downstream during heavy rainfall events. While some positive progress is already being made at the Mill Lane culvert itself (as explained in my previous Attleborough Flooding campaign update here), today’s call focused on what can be done further upstream – and I am committed to actively supporting NCC/the NSFA and partners as they work with landowners and other agencies to explore what flood mitigation and water storage scheme measures might work best for Attleborough.

To see all of my recent work supporting Attleborough residents, please click here or see below.

For full details on all of my flooding campaign work, please visit my website here.

UDPATE 29 November 2023

Attleborough was one of several Mid Norfolk communities badly impacted by recent flooding.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing campaign, I visited Mill Lane with Cllrs Samantha and Taila Taylor this past Friday to see the problem culvert/watercourse first hand and meet with some of the worst affected residents.

Please see my video above.

Local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been impacted) are rightly furious – and I continue to hold the key stakeholders to account to ensure everything that can be done is indeed being done to provide affected residents with the support they need, as well as to put in place a short, medium and long term plan that looks to try and prevent future such flooding again in future.

Some positive progress is already being made (as explained in my previous Attleborough Flooding campaign update here), but there still remains much more to do.

That’s why, as highlighted in my recent update here, I recently reconvened the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership to give our communities the strongest possible voice on these issues. Attleborough had strong representation on that call and I am determined to do everything I can, alongside local councillors, to ensure residents like those on Mill Lane and surrounding streets are heard.

I will be involved in more meetings in the coming days and am also writing to ministers and officials in Westminster to re-emphasise again the need to put greater emphasis on flooding and drainage matters in the planning process – including putting increased responsibility on developers who’s developments subsequently flood and/or impact the existing community.

To stay up to date with all my work on these issues, please visit my Flooding campaign page here.

UPDATE 3 November 2023

Further to my webstory update last week (see here), I can now provide more information on the work being done by multiple parties to address the terrible flooding that has recently affected many households and businesses in Attleborough. 

On Monday, the Town Council and local district and county councillors held a public meeting in the town for local residents to speak with key stakeholders. The event was well attended and I am pleased to report that stakeholders have been following up on a number of the points and concerns raised – with additional site visits undertaken to the culvert and watercourse on Mill Lane (as well as the culvert in Briar Gardens). Meetings with developers to assess drainage on their building sites have also taken place and I am aware that a series of additional measures, along with further clearing of drains and ditches, are already being implemented – with anecdotal reports of additional blockages being addressed. I will continue to monitor progress closely.

Further to the emergency meeting I held last week (see here), an urgent meeting took place on Tuesday between Norfolk County Council, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Breckland Council and Anglian Water to discuss in greater depth the specific issues that caused flooding at the Mill Lane culvert and connected watercourse. 

As many are aware, the culvert and watercourse were divested to riparian ownership many years ago. While that question of who will take on the long term ownership remains (and rest assured that I continue to push very hard on that and have challenged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to develop a proper strategic plan and solution for the issue), I welcome the collective recognition that something needs to be done as soon as possible, with agreement that the inadequate and unsafe trash screen that caused many of the recent problemsneeds to be replaced.

On a without prejudice basis (of who will assume long term responsibility for the culvert and watercourse) and as a gesture of goodwill, Anglian Water have agreed to have their contractors assess the trash screen and culvert and work up the design for a much safer, more effective replacement. All stakeholders will then jointly fund the improved screen and Anglian Water will install it.

In the meantime (and again on a without prejudice basis and as a gesture of goodwill), Anglian Water will endeavour to send staff every couple of weeks to keep the existing trash screen clear. (Breckland, NCC and Anglian Water are also discussing a longer term plan for removing any debris collected from the culvert and watercourse)

I would like to reiterate however that I will keep on the critical question of who will assume the long term responsibility and ownership of the culvert and watercourse – and am already liaising with the key stakeholders on the date for a follow-up meeting to discuss that matter further.

NCC have also confirmed that the gulleys around Mill Lane have been cleared (with additional review taking place of gulleys on surrounding streets) and I understand that an assessment is taking place as to whether the trash screen at the Briar Gardens culvert should be removed. 

A full flood investigation is now being led by NCC in line with their statutory processes. Although their Flood and Water Management team had already been working on proposals to better mitigate flooding in this area (as a result of the December 23rd-24th 2020 flooding event), there is recognition that their Flood Plan for the area, and its associated work, now needs accelerating and upscaling. I have committed to supporting NCC as they seek to secure the additional funding required to implement any recommended measures, as well as to engage with key local landowners.

I am also in the process of reconvening the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership I previously established – and will ensure Attleborough is represented in those vital conversations.

Rest assured, I am determined to do everything I can to speak up for those affected in Attleborough, as well as those across Mid Norfolk.

UPDATE 25 October 2023

Storm Babet has reminded us again why we must continue to take flooding seriously.

Attleborough was one of several Mid Norfolk communities badly impacted, with severe flooding on Mill Lane, Norwich Road, Ferguson Way and other nearby streets. For some, it was the fourth time they had been flooded in 30 years – and the second time in just under three years. I appreciate, and share, the immense anger and frustration felt by those that have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the damage suffered this past weekend.

That’s why I held an emergency meeting today with Norfolk County Council and their Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Anglian Water and Breckland District Council to get to the bottom of what is causing the flooding at the watercourse and culvert on Mill Lane, as well as ensure that those with statutory flooding responsibilities come together and develop an urgent action plan.

While NCC began working on proposals to address flooding at this location in light of the December 2020 flooding, Storm Babet has brought into sharper focus the need to upscale and accelerate those proposals, and address other issues such as questions around which authority is responsible for the culvert and watercourse and therefore who should be maintaining them.

I had made clear that there needs to be:

1. A proper plan for ensuring affected residents (and the wider community) are protected from further flooding this winter.
2. An acceleration and upscaling of efforts to put in place a long term solution.
3. A proper plan for who is going to be responsible for this culvert and watercourse in due course.
4. Agreement on who is going to keep the culvert and watercourse clear NOW – while the longer term plan is being developed and implemented.

I am in close contact with local district councillors and a number of those worst affected by the flooding and am determined to help them work with key stakeholders to develop a solution.

We must see action. This must not be allowed to happen again. And residents should not be risking their own safety to try and keep this culvert clear during storms and heavy rainfall.

More widely, I will be reconvening the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership I established as a result of the Winter 2020/21 flooding to help support those affected by Storm Babet and ensure our communities have the strongest possible voice heading into this autumn/winter.

Rest assured, I will continue to support councillors and residents in the days, weeks and months ahead.

To see my Flooding Update earlier this week, please click here

To find out more about my historic campaign work on flooding, please visit my campaign page here

Having extensively raised the flooding problems that have affected the A47 between Honingham and Easton eight times since October, I am pleased that National Highways are going further and undertaking serious works this coming Friday aimed at preventing this flooding once and for all.

See the EDP article here

The installation of new underground water tanks designed to capture, store and then gradually release excess rainwater in a controlled manner is a very positive step. We cannot have the A47 flooded every time it rains.

However, longer term, the real solution is dualling this stretch of road — so that it will then run higher, with a modern and fit for purpose drainage system.

While I welcome this latest progress, rest assured, I will continue to monitor developments closely and push National Highways for the solutions we urgently need to see.

To see more on my recent work on this issue, please click here and here

To learn more about my wider work ‘Making Our Roads Fit for the 21st Century’, please visit my campaign page here  

An MP’s first duty is to their constituency. I believe it’s so important for me, as YOUR elected representative, to be out and about and accessible, to listen to and represent YOU! And not just at election times!

That’s why, in addition to the 1000+ casework and correspondence emails, letters and telephone calls I receive each week, as well as my various campaign work, I run a regular programme of Supermarket and Community Surgeries here in Mid Norfolk – moving them around the constituency to make it as easy as possible for people to come and see me.

Thank you Swanton Morley for hosting my latest Community Surgery at the Village Hall on Friday.

Joined by Cllr Bill Borrett, Cllr Roger Atterwill and Police and Crime Commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie, I met with over 50 constituents for an excellent and very productive Q+A on all the key issues I’m working on as a backbench constituency MP locally – including flooding, NHS Dentistry, Mental Health, GP appointments, A47 dualling and rat-running, housing shortages, roads and planning.

We also discussed key Swanton Morley specific issues such as the state and future of Robertson Barracks (including the key infrastructure and service requirements that will be needed if new housing is built on the Barracks site longer term), as well as the serious flood issues in Woodgate and pressures at the local GP surgery. I picked up important casework issues with individual constituents too.

Engagement with my constituents is such a vital part of my job and I relish the chance to have YOU come along and ‘bend my ear’.

If YOU would like to come along and informally bend my ear at one of my upcoming surgeries, please do contact me at george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk

Or if YOU would just like some help with an issue, or to make me aware of a policy concern, please do send over your comments via email for me to pick up too.