February was a continuation of my previous schedule – meeting people and visiting organisations within the constituency.
I visited The Mix in Stowmarket (http://www.themixstowmarket.com/) and was shown around the impressive facilities there and found out more about the type of events they host. They have a great Youth Engagement Agency to help young people develop their skills and ideas. Alongside this they run community open days and other events for people within the community.
The Museum of East Anglian Life gave me even more information on the history of the area. The Museum not only showcases rural life in a bygone age but also holds many events and tours for people of all ages, from school trips and community visits to being open to the general public from March to November – they even host birthday parties and functions! Do check out their website for lots more information http://www.eastanglianlife.org.uk/home.html. When they heard I had four daughters I left with one of their wedding brochures in hand – I hope it might be a while though! I was really delighted this week to hear that along with 3 other museums MEAL had been awarded a ‘chunk’ of funding to allow their work to continue.
Peter Thompson, the Local Election Candidate for Moreton Hall, and I spent an afternoon canvassing the area. We met with many local residents and found out about their concerns and issues in that area, one of which is the new Moreton Hall High School which will serve local students and looks as if it will be an impressive facility. Later on in February I, along with Local Election candidates, Patrick Chung, Sarah Stamp and residents and school children from the area, joined in with one of their regular litter picks in the Southgate area. A really good community initiative to keep the area tidy. Mark Murphy has been having a go on Suffolk radio this week trying to get us to do a bit more to keep things looking nice – David Barker chair of Suffolk is the Greenest county urged people not to throw things down in the first place! Couldn’t agree more. I also got out and about with our candidate for Needham Market – Kay Oakes, she has been Mayor twice and does no end in the local community and you certainly can’t miss Kay big smile and a blue fringe! Westgate was the next destination with two young new council candidates Richard Rout and Wayne Hailstone – bags of enthusiasm and certainly picked up issues such as the trees and pavements in and around this area.
I met with Mark Cordell of Bid for Bury (http://www.ourburystedmunds.com/index.php) who works tirelessly to promote business and tourism within the town which of course is of huge benefit to the residents of this beautiful town. I look forward to continuing to support Bid for Bury in the future. I also attended the Bury Breakfast Club which allowed me to find out about topics that affect both small and larger businesses within the town. Broadband and mobile connectivity are one of the areas that most people have issues with and this is something I am working on currently and would continue to work on should I be successful in May. In March I am attending the same in Stowmarket so I get to hear from everyone. Another event I was fortunate enough to be invited to was a meeting of Bury In Bloom (http://www.buryinbloom.org.uk/) at Moyses Hall (https://www.weststow.org/) both of which are a huge asset to the town. There I met with tourist based businesses – who are helping to shape the Destination Management Plan. National Trust, the Theatre Royal, Greene King and the Angel to name but a few
All householders in the constituency, from Wortham to Horringer to Creeting St Peter and everywhere in-between should have now received the excellent and informative In Touch leaflets. If you haven’t received your copy please do contact me and let me know.
The Council offices in Needham and Bury St Edmunds have made me very welcome and it has been interesting meeting with the hardworking staff within the organisation. I have also visited Endeavour House in Ipswich to network with members of staff there.
A meeting with the National Farming Union in Bury St Edmunds gave me the opportunity to find out about specific issues affecting the agricultural industry in this constituency as did attending the Suffolk Agricultural Association meeting during February.
The month was not without its cultural side – I was privileged to be invited to attend a celebration of the start of the Chinese New Year which was in aid of the broader Suffolk Chinese Family Welfare Association and I also attended a performance by the Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra. Both very different but equally enjoyable events. I also attended a very exciting match between Bury Rugby Club and Guernsey and was very pleased to see Bury win convincingly.
During February I met with the Defence Minister, Mark Francois, who was in the area on a visit and towards the end of February I attended an event at 10 Downing Street with David Cameron. Both these events allowed me to discuss issues affecting this constituency.
One of my interests is to protect and improve rail services throughout the constituency to ensure that we are properly served with effective, efficient and up to date networked rail services and to this end I have been meeting with personnel from Network Rail and other interested organisations – if successful in May I will be using the rail services from this area more and more frequently.
I was invited to meet with staff and students at Mellis CEVC Primary School and Gislingham Primary School – it’s a while since my children were primary school age and it’s always lovely to see the enthusiasm and energy of students of this age. Fantastic Q & A sessions with some very searching questions! I was also invited to attend a Brownie Pack meeting to help the girls with their ‘Girls Matter’ Challenge Badge and talk to them about women in politics.
A great morning campaigning with MEP Vicky Ford and Lesley Mayes and Nick Gowrley in Stowmarket got us out and about and we ended up at the Community café @theRec in the park enjoying a warming coffee and bacon roll.
I am looking forward to continuing to support the residents, organisations’ and businesses of the constituency over the next two months and hopefully beyond should I be successful at the General Election in May.