Many in Fylde will have woken up earlier this week to a blanket of white frost and snow, a spell of winter weather which will once again have focused minds on the cost of energy. It is vital the Government continues to provide support to those who need it most, to both households and businesses and I am pleased to see revised packages already in place for later this year
Ministers have been clear that support cannot continue at the current levels, but the announcements we have seen in recent weeks, releasing billions of pounds to provide help with bills through 2023, will help families and businesses plan. It is equally important, however, to ensure that help is made available to those who have not, so far, been able to access schemes. In the next few weeks we should see the application process opened up for those who do not pay their bills directly to suppliers, including park home residents. It is vital payments are made as soon as possible.
In the longer term, there is growing hope that greater stability in the energy markets will help bring down the cost of energy. While the situation in Ukraine remains challenging a huge amount of work has taken place around the world on both gas supply and storage and the situation, for now, is a great deal less volatile than it was 12 months ago.
I continue to be concerned by the poor performance of our local rail operators. At a time when I am trying to encourage investment in the South Fylde line and the delivery of a passing loop that would double frequency along the line, short notice cancellations continue to impact passenger numbers and drive people away from the railway.
This week I had an open and honest discussion with bosses at Northern who acknowledged the impact not only strikes but high levels of staff absence have had on reliability and, in turn, passenger confidence. I made clear the need to deliver the advertised timetable and my frustration at the ongoing industrial action. A good rail service is vital to support investment across Fylde and Northern, alongside Avanti West Coast and Transpennine Express must do better for passengers in our region.
I am pleased to hear that plans are being made to replace the older trains, dating from the 1980s, which operate through Kirkham, Lytham and St Annes. The process is only just beginning but I made clear my backing and the need to bring the quality of trains on our local services in line with those elsewhere in Lancashire.
I have also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from some of our local EFL clubs, including the owner of Blackpool, to talk about some of the challenges they face, their vision for the future of the game and the fantastic work they do in our towns and villages. I am grateful for the incredible contribution all of our professional clubs make across the community and know their reach goes well beyond the game of football. Whatever your allegiance, you can be proud of the club you support.