Belton Surgery update       

This week, I have had discussions with both the local Primary Care Trust and the County Council about public transport for patients affected by the closure of the Belton Surgery. With funding from both organisations, it looks likely that we can arrange for those without access to a car, to get to an alternative surgery.

It is an important step in ensuring patients can still see a GP, but it can only be a temporary solution. When you feel ill, or suffer health problems, then the last thing you want to face is a frequent bus journey to see your doctor. I will continue to push the health authorities to set up alternative GP provision in Belton, if GPs are unwilling to maintain a practice in the village we must convince them that an outreach service is the bare minimum needed.

End the petrol pain    

The biggest complaint I hear on the doorstep, is the high price of petrol. It is not a new phenomenon - I was campaigning and highlighting the need for cheaper fuel prices before the last General Election.

Hard-pressed families, who already have tightened household finances, find increases at the petrol pump impossible to avoid. Owning a car in today's society is no longer a luxury but an economic and social necessity. We cannot allow price rise after price rise to continue, so that many families are paying more to fill up their tank than to fill up their shopping trolley. Whether tax increases or the oil markets cause prices rises does not make any difference to a normal car driver.

Last autumn, along with MPs of all political persuasions, I called on the Chancellor to cancel the planned 3p hike in tax that had been announced by the previous government. On that occasion the Government listened - I hope that they will listen again and find a way of avoiding the next planned increase in August.

Last month, I participated in another debate about fuel duty, highlighting the impact it has on the domestic holiday market. We try to encourage people to stay at home for their holiday and come to places like Great Yarmouth for either a day trip or their whole break. With crippling petrol prices staying at home is no longer a cheaper option.

However, I was angry that the last petrol duty freeze was wiped out within a week, when oil companies increased their prices anyway. It is akin to profiteering by the oil companies and it is damaging our economy and hurting the British taxpayer. That is why I want the Government not only to find a way of avoiding any more tax increases but a way of tackling the oil companies as well.

Encouraging start for A47 campaign      

Norfolk MPs came together in force this week to meet with Transport Minister, Mike Penning, to discuss improvements to the A47 as a vital transport link in the region.

I arranged the meeting to highlight the strategic importance of this road both on a commercial and social level; it follows the joint letter from all the Norfolk MPs calling for the upgrading of the A47 to a priority road.

The Minister was impressed with the joint approach of MPs and provided some positive feedback. He highlighted the importance of various groups, including the County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), to come together and provide the business case for the project. We left the meeting with a clear view of discussions that needed to be carried out with stakeholders.

This is the starting point for Norfolk to start talking about improvements to the A47. The previous Government let this stretch of road slip off several priority lists and it is our job to highlight the economic case for dualling this road. Improvements to the A47 would open up the region for further investment and growth from the renewable energy industry in Great Yarmouth right through to Cambridge in the south and Peterborough in the North. This isn't going to be a quick process, but if we work closely with our local authorities and LEPs we have a much greater chance of moving this project forward.

Norwich North MP, Chloe Smith, also highlighted her support for the campaign, stating: "The A47 is an important road for Norwich businesses and households. It can be extremely slow to travel on the single carriageway sections, and even the dualled sections can be subject to disruption as we've seen recently through some tragic accidents. I totally support the emerging campaign to get this road back on the agenda for improvement.

Highlighting the safety aspect on the improvements, Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman said: "As well as the important economic benefits to the Norfolk economy, the upgrade of the A47 is essential for road safety. Hardly a month goes by without a serious accident on the A47. For too long Norfolk has had to put up with a seemingly endless stream of serious crashes, casualties and fatalities on this dangerous arterial road. Enough is enough."

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