Thursday saw local elections held across the country and while this included many headline grabbing mayoral races, the elections here to select Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) were of similar importance.
My heartfelt thanks and commiserations to Andrew Snowden, the incumbent PCC, with whom I have worked with closely since his election in 2021 and who has been tireless in serving as a link between the police, elected officials as well as local and national Government to deliver for Lancashire.
Andrew was passionate about the role and showed fantastic leadership in driving Operation Centurion, securing £2 million from the Government for increased resources targeted at tackling anti-social behaviour. Across our county the Operation has already delivered tens of thousands of additional hours’ policing, making officers a more visible presence, particularly in town centres, with Kirkham and St Annes the focus in Fylde.
My very best wishes to Andrew as he ends his time in office and I look forward to working with the newly elected Clive Grunshaw, who returns to the position he previously held from 2012-2021.
The Morgan and Morecambe Windfarm proposals continue to cause problems for across Fylde. Businesses, homeowners, and farmers are rightly up in arms at the way in which BP and Dalcour MacLaren have communicated with them regarding their intention to carry out land surveys across the spring and early summer.
I am particularly concerned about the short notice with which the intention to come on site has been shared with landowners. Giving just a few weeks’ notice is simply not good enough, particularly for farmers who need many months more notice to enable them to plan for the sowing and harvesting of crops. Questions also remain unanswered about how compensation will be provided and how it will be calculated. These are issues that I want resolved at the earliest opportunity and I am raising them directly with BP, in Parliament and with Minsiters and the Prime Minister.
Lastly, I want to thank those who have contacted me regarding the ‘Don’t Screen Us Out’ campaign which seeks to equalise abortion laws for babies with Down’s Syndrome to those without disabilities. I believe firmly that every life is precious and although aware of the challenges that living Down’s Syndrome brings, having been close personally with a number of people with Down’s Syndrome, I know that this is no obstacle living a full, rewarding life and to being a valued friend or family member. Society has made huge strides in ensuring equality on a whole range of issues in recent decades and I hope that this can be another step towards that goal.