Variety is the spice of life and the role of an MP certainly lends itself to having the widest range of experiences.
Something that came out of the blue was a Green Party protest outside of my office. Obviously, politicians of all colours should find ways of getting their message across especially as concerns over climate are always in the news.
Their protest was on Saturday 12th August which was the day of my fiftieth birthday so it wasn’t quite the green party experience I was anticipating…
Their protest follows my previous newsletter in which I highlighted the importance of effective communications to get a message across. As the next General Election approaches, I’ll look forward to seeing how effective they are at getting their message out.
This protest actually focuses my mind on the importance of the environment as well as the public will to support issues around it. One of the aspects that politicians have to deal with is balancing actions with associated costs or other problems.
In Westhoughton, there is a proposal for a massive battery installation which will be used to store excess power generated by wind and solar sources to then give it back when the renewables do not work. Local residents, even those who are massively supportive of the environmental/global warming agenda do not want it in their backyard.
Politics is often about balancing competing interests but, having seen the problems with a similar installation creating a raging fire in Liverpool, I have written to Bolton Council to oppose this potentially hazardous development in a residential area.
Boxing is a great sport so I was delighted to join the team at Blackrod’s Amateur Boxing Club. Just doing a little pad work was tough so it certainly increased my appreciation of the sport and the community the club has created.
After years of anticipation, work on the new Horwich health centre has begun with the diggers working on site. The land has been a complete mess since the old leisure centre was knocked down and only part of the site was occupied by the new leisure centre.
It has been a disappointment that the community campaign for a speed camera on Smithills Dean Road has not succeeded. Problems with speeding are found right across the constituency but it is difficult to get cameras or other work to be done by the council.
August is always the quietest month for MPs but there is always plenty to do.
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