There is nowhere else to start but the terrorist atrocity in Southern Israel this weekend. The footage that has emerged has been nothing short of chilling and my thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones or seen them caught up in the violence, and I know that the emotional impact of these events is still being felt by many, including communities here in Fylde.
During my time as a Member of Parliament I have visited Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, seeing first-hand the UN’s humanitarian work there, and it is heart-breaking that violence has once again broken out in the region.
However, there can be no equivocation around these acts. Such a deliberate and orchestrated attack on civilians is barbaric. The Government has been resolute in its condemnation, standing firmly with Israel and its right to defend itself.
Closer to home, it was shocking to see the vandalism of a Kosher restaurant in London. This behaviour has no place in the United Kingdom and the Home Secretary is working with police forces to prevent further violence on our streets and protect the Jewish community. I have similarly contacted Lancashire Constabulary regarding this.
Great British Nuclear have announced the shortlist of 6 companies who will progress to the next round in the bidding to be the builders and operators of the UK’s first Small Modular Reactors (SMR). The creation of GB Nuclear has injected a welcome sense of urgency into the process and I was delighted that Westinghouse’s AP300 design was among the six taken forward ahead of a final decision in Spring next year.
The design uses the same fuel as the AP1000 fuel already produced by Westinghouse at Springfields, offering a fantastic opportunity for the future of jobs and investment in Fylde, with the chance to quickly upscale production should the bid be successful. SMRs have the potential to revolutionise the energy sector, being quicker, cheaper, and more easily replicated than large scale nuclear projects. With the United Kingdom taking a leading role in the development of these technologies there is real potential to export our skills and manufactured fuel to partners across Europe.
Thursday sees the start of the Morgan & Morecambe Windfarm consultation. I share many of residents’ concerns regarding the Transmission Asset proposals, particularly around their potential impact on local infrastructure and people’s homes, and I am resolutely opposed to the idea of a new electricity substation being built in rural Fylde.
The project’s communication with residents has to date fallen far short of what I would expect, and it is key that we take this opportunity to make our voices heard and shape the future of the project. Consultation meetings will take place across Fylde over the coming weeks, in addition to a series of pop-up events and an online session, with the consultation closing on 23rd November. Further information on the proposals and how can get involved can be found via https://morecambeandmorgan.com/transmission/news/13-september-2023/