On Wednesday 4th February, I chaired a Westminster Hall Debate in Parliament on the state of postal services in rural areas. I was delighted to secure this debate, because I have seen over the last few months just how severely my constituents have been impacted by utterly unacceptable delays. I made clear in Parliament that residents in rural areas like South Shropshire deserve access to reliable postal services which keep family and friends connected, businesses alive, and people informed. I told the Minister that physical letters do still matter and stated loud and clear that my constituents are rightly angry, in fact they are livid, about Royal Mail’s prioritisation of parcels over letters. Concluding the debate, I addressed Royal Mail directly, making it known without any doubt that ‘I am an exceptionally tenacious person that will not accept no as an answer… I will not stop until every letter is delivered on time.’
My team and I help constituents every day who are struggling to access the local health and social care services they need. The rurality of Shropshire makes the delivery of health and social care complex, bringing with it a number of unique challenges. In spite of this, I am committed to ensuring that we have access to the highest quality of care, not only matching the standard of other parts of the country but exceeding it wherever possible. I have launched a major review into local healthcare provision to find out more about what can be done to improve it. Residents can share their views on my website or on the paper survey which will be making its way around South Shropshire in the coming months. I look forward to learning what residents think is going well and what I can do to improve services.
Churches play a central role in my life and in the lives of many of my constituents. Back in December, I spoke of my disappointment at the Government’s decision to halve the budget for church conservation projects and impose a cap on how much could be claimed. Combined with an earlier decision to extend the scheme for only twelve months, this stalled progress on a number of important projects. So, I am glad to see that the Government have now confirmed a new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund. This comes as part of a £230 million investment to preserve heritage buildings across the country. Full details, including specific requirements and application guidance, are not yet clear, but I will be paying close attention to this to ensure that our churches have access to the ongoing financial support they need to underpin their long-term sustainability.
Finally, I have been campaigning against the scourge of potholes across the constituency since I was first elected as the Member of Parliament for South Shropshire in 2024, and I have no intention of stopping until some meaningful progress is made. I was shocked to see recent data on this issue which revealed that a quarter more drivers fell victim to potholes last summer compared to the summer before; this is hardly surprising considering the Government have held back a quarter of the funding designated for highways maintenance. So, in a renewed bid for resources, I have challenged Ministers to unlock the frozen funding which should have been going towards fixing potholes this whole time. I have also told Ministers to get with the times and start pushing forward with a preventative approach that stops potholes forming in the first place. Since Christmas, the number of potholes on South Shropshire’s roads seems to have increased astronomically. I share the anger that my constituents have told me they are feeling, and I assure you that I will not stop until this situation is turned around.
