Summer seems a distant memory as my children are now well into the school term here in North Lancashire and the darker nights are with us again. Looking out the window, it is hard to believe the threat of a hosepipe ban loomed over us only a few weeks ago but that is the British weather.
We are already in October and I start thinking about this year’s Remembrance celebrations and the fact that it has been 100 years since the end of the First World War. It is great to see so many churches, schools, local authorities, businesses, etc throughout the constituency putting on displays and remembering the sacrifice of a generation.
Having served in the Army myself, (Scots Guards) I am always keen to champion our outstanding Armed Forces which I believe are second to none. I also see the need to support veterans when they leave the services. This is done through the Armed Forces Covenant which all local authorities in Lancashire have signed. The Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. With this in mind I was delighted to see recently, the launch of the Lancashire Armed Forces Hub. The hub aims to bring together councils, charities and other organisations who serve the armed forces community in order for them to share best practice and serve the community as effectively as possible. The Hub has been possible thanks to £150,000 of Government funding and is a joint project between Lancashire County Council, UCLAN, Lancashire Care Foundation Trust and Army HQ NW. The new service will be based at the College for Military Veterans and Emergency Services at UCLAN.
As you will know I am a keen supporter of a direct Poulton to London rail service. I have recently received a reply from Alliance Rail Holdings detailing their intentions for Great North Western Railway to operate a Blackpool to London Euston service. I am delighted to say that Poulton is a key element in the company’s plans. I am continuing to urge Network Rail to reinstate the longer platform lengths to enable longer trains to stop at Poulton.
My mailbag continues to cover a great number of issues from transport to health and planning to the environment both on a national and local level. I am always keen to hear the views of constituents. With this in mind please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact details at the end of this article. I believe meeting as many residents as possible is extremely important. This gives me the opportunity to discover the issues which affect them on a daily basis so please get in touch if you would like me to visit your business or local group.
If I can be of any assistance to you please ring my Office at the House of Commons on 0207 219 5804 or my Constituency Office on 01995 672976, email me at [email protected] or write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.