This week I spoke in Westminster about how constituents here are playing their part to follow coronavirus measures. I thanked people locally for their continued determination. I particularly paid tribute to people like Michelle Eagleton and Clare Cartmell who set up the Alkrington Spirit Awards to pay tribute to people who went the extra mile during lockdown. Likewise, Annie Cooney and Sue Coates from Heywood Market who have supported local self-employed people who are now trading from the market.
I was pleased to be the first co-signatory of Jonathan Gullis’ Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) Bill, which passed its First Reading in the House of Commons. The Bill, which would increase fines on property owners who failed to meet their obligations to comply with building regulations, would increase fines and introduce stiffer penalties to punish property owners who allow buildings of historical importance to dissolve into disrepair.
I also spoke in the House about how important it was that we support local businesses in the post-covid recovery. I specifically mentioned Heywood MAGIC Market and the brilliant efforts that they are making to ensure that they can continue to support their traders and the local community. Secretary of State, Alok Sharma agreed and gave me his commitment to delivering that support.
On Saturday I visited Hopwood Hall College’s Middleton Campus and saw some of the incredible efforts that staff have gone to to ensure that students can return to their education in a safe manner. I spoke to students in the Technology centre who are learning skills that will equip them for entry into the jobs market. I visited the animal and horticulture department where I met some of the endangered animals that make the college an important partner to many international conservation programmes.
Local people will also be benefitting from two new Government schemes this week with the introduction of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee and the launch of the Green Homes Grants. These two schemes will directly help people in Heywood and Middleton and I was pleas to support the Government in their introduction.
This week I also visited Baerlocher where I saw the thorough process that they have in place to check and manage people entering and working in the factory. Their covid-safe measures were excellent including a thermal temperature on arrival. Most importantly though it was good to meet this team who are industry leaders in high quality production of PVC stabilisers.
I have ended the week with a first-hand experience of how effective the Government’s new Track and Trace app is. I was contacted in the early hours of Saturday morning to inform me that I had been in contact with someone with coronavirus. I presently have no symptoms but in order to keep others safe and comply with the law, I will be respecting these instructions to their full extent and isolating in my home.
I will be using the proxy system to ensure that I can still cast my votes in Westminster so that people in Heywood and Middleton will remain represented during my isolation. Where possible I will use digital means to attend meetings, but some visits will have to be postponed.
My offices in Westminster and the constituency are unaffected. As always, I am in regular contact with my team and will continue to be available, via them, to the people of Heywood, Middleton, Bamford, Castleton and Norden. Anyone with any issues can contact my office on 01706 538 262 or by emailing me at [email protected].
