The update from the M55 Working Party this week was excellent – more works have started and the tendering process is finally under way for the main construction of our much-needed road.
The scheme remains fully-funded and agreements are in place with landowners for work to start, with just a few of the legal details remaining.
Work is now out to tender and construction of the road is set to start in April.
This has been a difficult and frustrating project - but Lancashire county Council and Fylde Council have pulled out all the stops to get this road build finally under way.
I will continue to keep pressure on all of the parties involved until I see those workmen on site.
The Government this week announced full funding to build 48 new hospitals. One of the proposals is for a new Royal Preston Hospital and I look forward to seeing the plans from the health authorities. We could either have a super hospital and satellite hospital sites, or a new hospitals in Preston and Lancaster – quite rightly, it will be the health authorities who will lead on what is best.
The announcement of investment in our hospitals was made ahead of the Prime vision of post-Coronavirus Britain at this year’s party conference.
I was pleased to hear him talk of an increase in 14,000 nurses now employed in the NHS, with the Government on target to hit 50,000 by the end of the current Parliament – as well as doubling the funding for research into medical research. And it was doubly pleasing to hear him repeat his pledge to put into action a long-term solution for care home costs and provision.
It was also fantastic to hear the Prime Minister talk of us becoming the world leader in low-cost clean power generation. We are well-place in Fylde to benefit from an increase in offshore wind power generation. It’s not just clean energy – it is thousands of jobs in highly-skilled sectors.