While the dualling of the A11, increasing broadband speeds and the first round of committed works for A47 improvements have all been positive steps forward, we all know that there is still much to do – after years of underinvestment in our infrastructure in Norfolk and the East by successive governments.
That’s why, building on my work campaigning for rail improvements to date, I was proud to sponsor a bid earlier this year alongside the New Anglia LEP – looking at a potential full reopening of the Wymondham to Dereham line (and hopefully one day even further to Fakenham, and beyond!).
The return of a regular commuter service in addition to the outstanding and much loved heritage Mid Norfolk Railway would be a massive boost to connectivity in our part of Norfolk – opening up so many opportunities for residents, commuters and especially our young people.
Last week, we were informed that, although our case for the Wymondham to Dereham line has potential, it does need strengthening – and we have therefore been encouraged to submit a revised bid in the next round of the Restoring Your Railway fund: taking note of the feedback that has been provided.
Rest assured, with our local partners, we will be looking to take this forward in 2021 – and, in the meantime, are very happy to hear the positive news in relation to the bid submitted to the same fund which hopes to reopen the King’s Lynn to Hunstanton line.
As we look to ensure Norfolk has the transport network required to thrive in the 21st century, and aim to reduce carbon emissions and encourage Green Public Transport, we need to champion such reopenings and do all we can to make sure EVERYONE has access to our rail network.
To read more on my work on this issue, please click here
As a former businessman and Business Minister myself, I know that small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of our UK, and Mid Norfolk, economy.
That’s why I always do everything I can to help promote Business in our part of the world – advocating that it have a stronger voice, and speaking up for Business at all levels of Government, and beyond.
I am delighted to be speaking alongside a number of my Norfolk parliamentary colleagues at THIS Friday (4th December)’s online Local Business Forum for Breckland, Broadland and South Norfolk.
If you are a local business interested in joining us, please do contact the team via the contact details below. A very limited number of FREE places are left.
Improving connectivity in our part of the world was one of my first pledges when I began campaigning to become the MP for Mid Norfolk back in 2007 – and we have seen hugely positive progress, with more to come.
However, the dualling of the North Tuddenham-Easton A47 stretch (which is part of the £300 million commitment for the first phase of A47 dualling/improvement works, as well as the Norwich Western Link, must be delivered correctly – so as to avoid shifting the awful rat-running problems affecting communities to the north-west of Norwich to those to the west and south-west of the city.
We must also do all we can to ensure that delivering these key pieces of infrastructure does not come at the cost of severing vital local access routes – upon which communities so often rely (whether that be to get to the nearby school or the community shop/pharmacy in the next village).
That’s why I was delighted to convene a meeting with Jerome Mayhew MP and Norfolk County Council officials today – with the local county councillors and Parish Chairs of some of the most concerned areas – to look at some of the outstanding rat-running and local access issues that still need to be addressed in the final proposals for these two huge pieces of vital Norfolk infrastructure.
This work builds on that which I have done already with the South of the A47 Taskforce that I support, and I remain firmly committed to working with other key parties to hold the authorities to account on these issues.
To learn more, please do look back over past webstories, as well as my Taskforce campaign page here
How quickly can we get the virus back under control – and get Norfolk back into Tier 1 for Christmas?
Crucial meeting this morning with Norfolk County Council and Head of Public Health in Norfolk to look at all the latest data and understand what we ALL have to do locally to stop the spread.
If we have to take tough decisions to freeze public sector pay to avoid a post-Covid economic crisis, that MUST apply to MPs as well.
That’s why I am delighted to join other Conservative MPs in the call to freeze this year’s 3% pay rise for MPs.
See the full letter below.
How we look after our elderly and vulnerable is a sign of the strength of our Norfolk community.
All of us as have some connection to our elderly senior citizens.
That’s why I am delighted to support the EDP and Norwich Evening News’ Christmas Cards to Care Homes project which aims to deliver every care home resident and staff member a handwritten Christmas card from a Norfolk primary school pupil – to bring some festive cheer in what has been a tough and often isolating year.
So far, over 1,500 Norfolk school children are signed up to the project.
Here in Mid Norfolk we have 47 Care Homes.
Thanks to the heroic work of our care home and community care staff and carers this summer our most vulnerable citizens were protected. Our carers are the unsung heroes of this crisis. Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.
Know any child damaged by alcoholism?
It’s surprising where we end up.
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) is doing brilliant work dedicated to helping out children of alcoholics.
Thank you to Nacoa for inviting me to kick off Alcohol Awareness Week with an interview as part of their #LunchtimeLives campaign.
To listen again, please do visit Nacao’s Instagram page here
George being interviewed by #LunchtimeLives host and Nacoa Ambassador Josh Connolly.
It was an honour to chair World Horse Welfare’s annual conference for the second year in a row today.
With an extensive list of incredible speakers, including a brilliant address from HRH The Princess Royal on the need to rethink our relationship with horses as part of a horse-human partnership, the conference (titled ‘The horse-human partnership – what’s in it for the horses?’) was not to be missed.
As an animal lover and someone who has grown up around horses (as well as being the son of a Grand National winning jockey), I am a huge advocate for the work that World Horse Welfare do to help rescue, rehabilitate and rehome equines that have been neglected, abandoned or abused.
That’s why I continue to do all I can for a sector that brings so much social and economic benefit to our great country, especially our lovely part of the world here in Mid Norfolk.
To learn more and/or watch the conference back, please click the link to the World Horse Welfare website here
“The argument for some form of offshore network system has been won.”
Success! Great to hear the Energy Minister, the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, formally confirm the Government’s support for the Offshore Ring Main campaign that Duncan Baker MP, Jerome Mayhew MP, James Cartlidge MP, the Rt Hon Thérѐse Coffey MP and I have been leading these past few years.
Speaking at the Adjournment Debate that our campaign group secured last Thursday, the Energy Minister’s comments represent a huge boost for our efforts – and the efforts of so many in our part of the world.
To learn more about the campaign, please read below.
To hear the Minister’s comments, please watch the clip below.
The coronavirus crisis has shown Norfolk’s traditional sense of community and neighbourliness is alive and well.
We will need that spirit again in these next few winter months.
That’s why I am delighted to be supporting the EDP and Norfolk County Council’s relaunch of their ‘Here to Help’ campaign.
Back in the spring, the campaign helped encourage dozens of people to help their community through the tough lockdown to come and I welcome the decision to re-energise it now as we enter the winter period.
To learn more about the campaign, please see the EDP article here
