This last
week has shown the value of teamwork and acts as a reminder that MPs across
party can work together for the benefit of those we represent.
On the
Friday before last I, along with my immediate neighbour Andrew Percy from Brigg
& Goole along with colleagues from the North Bank and councillors from the
four authorities met at the Humber Bridge offices to receive an update from
Environment Agency officials on the work being done to draw up plans that will
lead to work that will strengthen flood defences along the estuary.
We were
fortunate that the tidal surge that occurred last December, which was larger
than that in the terrible events of February 1953, led to no loss of life
though, sadly, hundreds of homes were flooded.
As well as
keeping us up to date with the plans to further strengthen the defences the
intention was to ensure that we were fully briefed ahead of a debate held last
Tuesday about flood risk on the Humber and to again make the case for more
resources to carry out the work. It’s estimated at £888 million over the next
ten years.
At the
debate we were able to present a united front and, as agreed at Friday’s
meeting, each of us would focus on a particular aspect. As well as myself,
Andrew Percy, Greg Knight, Graham Stuart and David Davis from the Tory side and
Alan Johnson, Diana Johnson and Nic Dakin for Labour made speeches and we
received a good response from Dan Rogerson the Department of Environment
minister.
This week
we will be taking our case to 10 Downing Street and a meeting with the Prime
Minister; an opportunity to reiterate our case to the top man. Taxpayers are
faced with a massive bill to upgrade flood defences and we are ahead of the
game in pulling together plans and arguing our case to protect homes and the
massive industrial facilities along the Humber.
You can
read the text of the whole debate at
Another
example of this teamwork is the campaign to retain through trains on the
Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport line. There is no doubting that transport
connections are vital to any area seeking to expand its economy. Whilst it is
not the case, as it is sometimes portrayed that someone sits down looks at the
map and says ‘let’s be nasty to Lincolnshire and take away their trains’ it is
true to say too often the lines on the map don’t lead to our part of the world;
there’s too much of a focus on the major cities rather than the provincial towns.
If we are
to win this debate it’s no use just saying it’s unfair and inconvenient we have
to provide good evidence based arguments. The reality is that as more and more
of the rail network is electrified – which is good - the services out to
peripheral areas such as northern Lincolnshire become feeder services into the
core electric network and as railways throughout the world are electrified the
diesel units become scarce because it becomes less profitable to manufacture
them.
As the
minister has told me repeatedly – ‘this is a genuine consultation, no decisions
will be made until the results of the consultation have been analysed and
weighed against alternative proposals.
What we
don’t want is a return to British Rail days with a slow and irregular service.
Trans-Pennine have shown us that regular interval services with good rolling
stock will attract more passengers; they deserve to be allowed to
continue.
Finally a
quick mention for two constituents I’ve met in Westminster since my last
column. Sonia Allen from Ulceby is an Ambassador for Cancer Research and Rolf
Sperr from New Waltham whose work for Rotary particularly in bringing Dolly
Parton’s ‘Imagination Library’ to NE Lincolnshire was recognised when he
received an award from the Deputy Prime Minister. Two individuals working hard
for their communities who deserve our thanks.
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