Welcome to this week's newsletter.
I have been out on the door steps as part of the local elections campaign this week, with voting taking place on the 4th May! It gives me a chance to check in on local issues local councillors and candidates are campaigning on.
Vicky Higham and John Statham in Nantwich North have been speaking to residents about the plans from Labour/Independents to charge for green waste bins. The feedback they are getting is this is a core service that people don't expect to see cut when their bills are going up! I am interested if you support it? The local Conservatives are running a survey asking people what they think:
Vicky and John have also been campaigning on the new A51 “spine road” around Reaseheath in Nantwich that appears to be at a standstill! It was supposed to open 12 months ago. They are collecting residents names for a letter asking for an update tomorrow 10-11am (Sat 8th), outside the Conservative office. Pop by if you want to add your name or check in with them on other issues in Nantwich North! You can also follow them on Facebook for the latest:
The UK has joined CPTPP - a trading group of 11 countries from around the world - the biggest trade deal since we have left the EU. This is fantastic news that will grow the economy and create jobs, only now possible since leaving the EU and able to make trade deals that work for us.
The Government has announced its plan for water, detailing how we are going to secure a clean water supply for the future. I know many people have been concerned about companies polluting our rivers - this plan introduces unlimited fines for those that do and funds ways for any damages to be cleared up. There has been a lot of misleading campaigning going on about this issue. No government has done more to try and tackle this issue in a way that is realistic about the cost-the reality is a complete overhaul of our Victoria sewage system isn't affordable in the short term.
Finally, the Government has also announced a crackdown on Grooming Gangs. We all heard the horrific stories of young girls, in towns and cities across the UK, who were abused by these gangs but were ignored for years. Political correctness and cultural sensitivity will no longer get in the way of doing the right thing.
Have a nice Easter weekend!
Household Support Fund - Extended
UK Joins CPTPP - Biggest Trade Deal Since Brexit
Plan for Water
Grooming Gangs Crackdown
Traffic Report
Household Support Fund - Extended
The Government has announced an extension of the Household Support Fund, providing £842 Million to vulnerable households - including £4.4 Million here in Cheshire East.
Since October 2022, the fund has provided the following support to families in Cheshire East:
- Over 65,000 vouchers in total have been provided to support the most vulnerable households across the county
- Over 55,000 food vouchers have been provided
- Over 9,200 utilities vouchers have been provided
- Over 300 people were supported through wider cost of living support
- Over 2,700 people were supported through the enquiry form
Click below to find out more:
UK Joins CPTPP - Biggest Trade Deal Since Brexit!
The UK has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – the biggest post-Brexit trade deal we have signed so far.
This opens up British businesses to a market of 11 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, Canada and Mexico – growing the economy and creating more better paid jobs.
We are the first European country to do so, showing just what we can achieve now that we are out of the EU and able to make our own trade agreements.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-strikes-biggest-trade-deal-since-brexit-to-join-major-free-trade-bloc-in-indo-pacific?deliveryName=DM20918
Plan for Water
This week, the Government published its plan for water – setting out how we ensure we have a clean water supply for the future. There has been a lot of misleading campaigning going on about this issue. No government has done more to try and tackle this issue in a way that is realistic about the cost-the reality is a complete overhaul of our Victoria sewage system isn't affordable in the short term.
The plan includes:
- Tackling sources of water pollution – such as through storm overflows and plastics – and introducing unlimited fines for companies are responsible and banning plastic in wet wipes.
- Investing £1.6 Billion to speed up upgrades to our infrastructure
- Setting up a Water Restoration Fund, funded through company fines, to help clear up damages caused by pollution
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-plan-for-cleaner-and-more-plentiful-water?deliveryName=DM21059
Grooming Gangs Crackdown
We all heard the horrific stories of young girls, in towns and cities across the UK, who were abused by grooming gangs. Despite the seriousness of the offences, victims were too often ignored for reasons of political correctness and cultural sensitivity. These failures have been a major injustice to victims.
The Government is taking action by:
- Launching a police-led Grooming Gangs Taskforce of specialist police and National Crime Agency experts to disrupt grooming gangs and bring perpetrators to justice.
- Introducing mandatory reporting for professionals in safeguarding roles, such as teachers and social workers, so they are legally obliged to report concerns about child grooming.
- Making sure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes receive the toughest sentences by making grooming gang behaviour a statutory aggravating factor at sentencing.
- Monitoring the ethnicity of grooming gang suspects, because political correctness should never get in the way of keeping girls safe.
Relaunching a national hotline for whistleblowers and victims, so people have confidence there is an avenue to report grooming gangs and their concerns will be properly followed up on.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-to-clamp-down-on-grooming-gangs?deliveryName=DM21012
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Mill Lane, Oakhanger - Until 14th April
Flag Lane, Crewe - Until 10th April
Delamere Street (Between Flag Lane and Saint Mary’s Street) - Until 10th April