While this week sees the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, last week was a really busy week in Mid- Cornwall, and I was really pleased to visit St Austell Town Council, get my flu jab in St Dennis Pharmacy, hold a great Meet your MP event in Newquay, attend and speak at a public meeting in Grampound about the possibility of a by-pass, as well as meet residents and local businesses about a wide variety of issues.
Also last week, I welcomed two Government Ministers to Mid-Cornwall, Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Minister for Exiting the European Union, Steve Baker MP.
As part of the Government I am always keen to get those who run the Government down to Mid-Cornwall so they can for themselves the unique challenges and issues that we face.
Sajid Javid MP visited the Eden Project. As well as being one of the top international tourist destinations in the UK, the Eden Project also has plans to produce deep-geothermal energy.
Geothermal power is cost-effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, and recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating.
During his visit we discussed the exciting potential of the deep geothermal energy plans at the Eden Project and sought his support for this project. If the project proceeds it will be another new and exciting innovation in Mid-Cornwall that will provide renewable energy for the local area, as well as the highly skilled, well paid jobs that would go with operating the site.
Steve Baker MP, who was actually born in St Austell and is a fellow old boy of Poltair School, visited Newquay Aerohub and Cornwall Airport Newquay, both key areas of economic growth potential for Cornwall. This was part of a tour throughout Cornwall to allow him to understand the concerns and opportunities around Brexit.
Clearly leaving the EU will have a major impact on business in Cornwall and will present both challenges and opportunities. I am pleased that I was able to bring the minister to our constituency so that he could hear first-hand the views of local businesses. I will continue to do all I can to ensure the voice of Cornwall is heard in the negotiations and that we make the most of the opportunities ahead.
I felt both visits were very productive and both Sajid and Steve went away with a good idea and perspective of what we face in Cornwall. I will continue to be your strong voice in Westminster and as part of that will ensure that those at the very top of the Government come here and see why Mid-Cornwall is such a great place to live, work and grow up in.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
