Dear Reader,
The first month in Parliament has been a whirlwind. First was the State Opening of Parliament where the King delivered a speech setting out the new government’s agenda. While I welcome the decision to prioritise growth, little was said about how government will address the needs of rural communities like ours in South Shropshire. So, I called on the government to be more ambitious by giving us the investment we need to improve infrastructure and public services. On which note, I was delighted to receive confirmation that the £312 million secured for the Shropshire hospital transformation programme will be delivered in full - with enabling works having begun in July.
The Chancellor then made her first economic statement, which delivered more challenging news. This included the decision to remove winter fuel payments from those not entitled to means-tested benefits like Pension Credit. This was very disappointing. 24,824 people in South Shropshire benefitted from the payment last year, which helped with the cost of energy bills during the colder months. I have now launched a campaign to increase the uptake of Pension Credit.
Closer to home, I have enjoyed getting out and about with events such as Atcham Duck Race, Burwarton Agricultural Show, Chelmarsh Fete, and Church Stretton Fun Day. I am also grateful to the hundreds of residents who have already written to me about local issues. In July, I received a concerning notification from the Post Office that more services were being stepped down affecting areas such as Clunton and Clunbury. Having raised my concerns with the Chief Executive of the Post Office, I am delighted that the decision has been reconsidered and that mobile services will remain available.
Meanwhile, I have successfully persuaded Forestry England to extend the deadline on their consultation to turn farmland at Picklescott into a new woodlands. I know many residents near Church Stretton and beyond have reservations and concerns about this proposal, so I have encouraged them to take part in the consultation. I am also eager to address speeding problems at key hotspots like the A458 between Morfe and Six Ashes where residents want the nationally set speed limit replaced with a locally set speed limit, which recognises how the neighbourhood has developed in recent years and now requires a lower speed limit to protect pedestrians. I have asked Shropshire Council to review the situation to see how these safety concerns can be addressed.
Although rural roads carry 44% of road traffic, they account for 59% of road fatalities. So, I want more action to be taken to tackle these issues. At the same time, I want it to be as easy as possible for residents to get around South Shropshire. That’s why I have called on the government to keep fuel duty frozen when it delivers its first budget in October. The decade-long freeze has saved drivers an average of £1,900. With over two thirds of residents relying on a car or van to get to work in Shropshire, it is vital that consumers get a fair deal on fuel prices. I have also called on government to continue the ‘Get Around for £2’ Bus Fare Cap, introduced by the last government to help people facing cost of living pressures save on everyday travel costs. In rural areas, bus fares dropped by almost 11% between September 2022 and September 2023. In the build up to the Budget, I will continue to campaign so that the government invests in rural areas like ours. That way we can build a better Shropshire for all.
