It is always good to welcome Ministers to the area, to show them the incredible potential and opportunities and the fantastic work taking place in our local communities. For the Prime Minister to choose the Fylde coast for one of his first official visits since taking office shows just how high Fylde and neighbouring constituencies are in his priorities and how central they are to the Government’s levelling up vision.
It is important not to view constituencies in isolation but to work together with friends and neighbours recognising that investment in one community has much wider benefits. That is why I was pleased not only to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss our local plans and priorities but to join Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove and my colleagues from Blackpool, visiting the site of a £300m leisure development, one which will provide a boost for Fylde’s own tourism economy as well as providing jobs for local people and revenue for suppliers based here in Fylde.
There is no doubt that Government-backed developments also strengthen the argument for investments here in Fylde, most importantly in the improved transport links I am fighting so hard to deliver. While my focus in pushing for a passing loop on the South Fylde rail line has always been on delivering a more frequent and reliable service for our local communities and improved connections to destinations across the country, I am equally aware that the line also serves Blackpool. The proposals, which are currently with Ministers for consideration, not only help drive investment and regeneration here in Fylde, they benefit our neighbours to the north. Working together we can put a much stronger case.
The same is true when it comes to reviving passenger services at Blackpool Airport. It was good to catch up with the team this week and to welcome Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to the airport. He sees real potential in restoring connections between Blackpool and Belfast as well as in new links to Londonderry, a great starting point for the return of commercial passenger operations.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State both share my passion to support our towns, to create new opportunities for business and job creation. In Kirkham we are seeing the start of that process, with work beginning on a £13m Government funded transformation of the town centre, something I fought hard to deliver. In St Annes we have a masterplan for regeneration, building on the unique heritage of the town. In Fylde we have not one but three major roads schemes moving towards completion, representing nearly £400m of investment in local infrastructure, unlocking the potential of employment sites at Warton and Springfields.
But I know there is still much more we can do, whether that be doubling the frequency of our local train services or improving rural broadband links. I am keen to show Ministers the huge potential in our local communities and the huge difference a modest investment could make.
Finally for this week, it was an honour to be in St Annes and Kirkham on Remembrance Sunday to lay wreaths and to stand with the people of Fylde to reflect on all those who have given their lives for our freedom. It was fantastic to see so many young people, from a variety of local clubs and organisations, taking part. I am grateful to each and every one of them and to the volunteers who give their time to support them, for taking the time to join in the commemorations and to ensure the memory of the fallen will live on into a new generation.