Storm Ciara has caused chaos across the country – it is the biggest storm we have seen for years.
There have been pockets of flooding in Fylde – I hope there has not been too much damage. If you have been affected, please contact my office and I will help in whatever way I can. Most important – while the high winds continue – is to stay safe.
I met with tourism minister Helen Whately this week to discuss the importance of infrastructure for our seaside towns.
The minister asked me for the meeting after I spoke in a debate on tourism and funding for the regions.
I told her it was vital the Government invests in the South Fylde rail line, to help us double services on the line which serves all of Fylde and Blackpool South.
It is not good enough that we still only have an hourly service – and none on a Sunday in winter.
The minister fully understood the situation, and I will continue campaigning for improvements to our rail line.
We also touched on the M55 link road, and I also attended another meeting with Lancashire County and Fylde Councils this week. We meet again in a few weeks when we hope to see the legal agreements finally all signed.
In Parliament, I got to see the new £20 notes when I met the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier, Sarah John. She told me it was the Bank’s most secure note yet. Bank of England staff were on hand to talk through the new security features incorporated in the note which make it very difficult to counterfeit.
These notes enter circulation next week, so expect to see them soon.
I also met with the RNIB who talked me through the different eye conditions people live with. They created an app which allowed us to see the effects of these conditions, understand the difficulties people face in day-today situations, and also how we can help make life better for them.