With summer around the corner and the weather improving, I am delighted to continue to have the opportunity to travel around the constituency. I always take on board the views and concerns of local residents when I meet or correspond with them and this is reflected in my work at the House of Commons.
I also travel around the county of Lancashire to visit groups, charities and organisations which provide a service to our constituency.
Recently I visited Derian House in Chorley, which is a children’s hospice. I would like to thank all staff for making me welcome and for giving me a tour of this amazing facility. I have taken away issues from the visit which I will highlight with the relevant organisations.
My overall memory I will take away from the visit is how outstanding the staff and the facility are and the amazing service it provides to the families, children and young people it cares for. The staff undertake such important and difficult work, with great professionalism and compassion. The visit was a truly humbling experience, which I will always remember.
My mailbag continues to highlight many local issues to me. I am pleased that re-surfacing work and major patching has been carried out and is continuing on the A588. Often with better roads come more traffic and the fact that safety has to keep up, so with that in mind I am dealing with many requests for crossings and traffic calming measures. While additional highway safety is a matter for the local highways authority, I do highlight concerns to Lancashire County Council and work closely with the local Councillors.
One of my most enjoyable duties as the Member of Parliament for the area is to welcome Gala Queens and their families to Parliament, to thank them for the role they play in our local communities. I have met with Nell Moxham, the Catterall Gala Queen, and Elsie Grubb, the Nateby Gala Queen, recently. As the summer approaches I would like to wish all those involved with the Galas and fetes the best of luck and I hope they have enjoyable community celebrations. Being an ex-soldier myself, please remember it is Armed Forces Day on Sat 29th June.
Recently I have met with constituents who are extremely concerned about Lyme disease, which has been hitting the headlines recently in a bid to educate people of the affects of this awful, debilitating disease. Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease and can be caught in urban parks and back gardens, as well as in the countryside. It is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. To find out more please go to: www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
I continue to meet residents at my advice surgeries to discuss a wide range of issues. Please remember if you would like to attend one of my surgeries, the most effective way to contact me is by email, with a brief description of the issues you wish to raise and your contact details. It is worth bearing in mind that I can often offer assistance without the need for a meeting. As in previous months, national issues continue to fill my mailbag, please remember I am here to represent you and your views are important to me so please keep them coming.
If I can be of any assistance to you please ring my Office at the House of Commons on 02072 195 804 or my Constituency Office on (01995) 672977, email me at [email protected] or write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.