Mid Norfolk has a strong history of military service:

• The incredible sacrifices of the 492nd Bomb Group based at RAF North Pickenham

• RAF Swanton Morley hosting the first US Air Force bombing raid against Nazi Germany

• Robertson Barracks in Swanton Morely – from which The Light Dragoons served many tours in Afghanistan, and which is now home to 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards.

That’s why it was great to visit local volunteers from the Watton branch of the Royal British Legion – as they raised money for this year’s Poppy Appeal in the town’s Tesco and Lidl branches this past Friday. Special mention must go toJim, who had some incredible stories to tell (and an incredible commitment to fundraising).

This Remembrance Day, at a time of conflict around the world, it is important to remember not only those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom, but those who serve and have served, and those who continue to live with the tragic health challenges that sadly so often plague our veterans. 

In particular, I would urge anyone who may be struggling this remembrance weekend to reach out for support. I have seen first-hand the tragic effects of untreated mental health issuesand cannot stress enough the importance of seeking support. The Royal British Legion have a crisis support line, open 8AM-8PM every day — the number is 0808 802 8080. 

I look forward to supporting further Remembrance Weekend events in Mid Norfolk across the coming days and would urge all of my constituents to take the time to buy a poppy if they haven’t already. Every poppy bought from the Royal British Legion provides invaluable support to veterans and serving personnel alike.

GP Surgeries and Pharmacies are under immense pressure – especially those in rural areas such as Mid Norfolk.

Staff at these vital local facilities work incredibly hard, as I saw on Friday when I visited Mattishall Surgery and Pharmacy. They are currently dealing with the knock-on effects of the pandemic backlog, meaning that people require GP care for longer whilst they wait for surgery, as well as national trends such as a growing and ageing population.

We must ensure that these dedicated staff, who work incredibly hard to ensure that we are all safe and well, receive the support they need – including ensuring that surgeries are properly compensated for the costs that come with serving a rural area, making sure that they are able to recruit staff (which is why I am pleased that the Government continues to offer bonuses of £20,000 to trainee GP’s who choose practices in areas struggling with recruitment), and seeing that they have proper facilities which enable them to care for their patients.

That is why, in conjunction with the practice leadership at Mattishall, I am exploring what action can be taken to try and bring about progress towards a new premises for the surgery and pharmacy – one that would better enable staff to provide the first-class services that patients need and deserve.

The team at the surgery continue to offer innovative solutions – whether that be a dispensing robot, or a 24 hour self-serve prescription collection point. That being said, it is clear from my visit that their building has reached the end of its useful life. A new, larger building would enable the practice to make sure that the team can get ahead of the curve on the health needs and population growth of the area for years to come – rather than trying to play catch-up as they have too often been made to do.

You can see more on my visit in the video below.

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.

Power cuts can be a nuisance at the best of times, but repeated power cuts bring an unacceptable level of disruption and distress to households and businesses (especially those in our most rural communities).

In Beetley and some of the surrounding villages, I am aware that there have been at least seven power cuts over recent months – with some lasting multiple days. I absolutely share the anger and frustration of those affected.

That’s why I am supporting the Parish Council and local district and county councillors as they pick this matter up with UK Power Networks and push for a permanent resolution.

Such disruption is completely unacceptable and I am determined to do what I can to support the affected communities.

The A47 is a key transport artery through our county and I share frustration that it has been closed multiple times over recent days due to flooding.

National Highways need to grip the issue. Commuters and local communities should not have to face this constant disruption.

Rest assured, I am following up with National Highways as part of my ongoing flooding campaign work on behalf of Mid Norfolk. 

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

To see yesterday’s EDP article, please click here  

Farming is one of our region’s most vital sectors and, having grown up on my stepfather’s farm and represented a largely rural constituency for over thirteen years, I have always placed great importance on supporting our local agricultural industries.

That’s why I was delighted to visit Peels Farm in Rocklands again this past week to meet with members of the local Mid Norfolk NFU and discuss a range of issues from:

• Farm Diversification and Renewable Energy Production
• Farming skills training for local people
• Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)
• Biological Controls and Protections
• The impact of road closures on agricultural businesses

Our farmers not only produce the food we eat, they also play a key role in protecting and enhancing the landscapes and habitats that make our area such a nice place to live. I am determined to do all I can to ensure our local farmers, who know their land best and have a wealth of farming expertise, are heard at the very highest levels.

Rest assured, I will continue to fight for East Anglian farming here in Norfolk, and in Westminster.

To find out more about my previous campaign work on these issues, please visit my ‘Food, Farming and the Environment’ campaign page here