I hope that all of my constituents had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying a restful period with friends and family before the New Year.
Last week, in my Christmas column, I made some reflections on the progress the Government has made in the past 12 months to deliver on the Prime Minister’s five priorities, but I thought that for my last column of the year, I would talk about some of the other things I have been getting up to locally in 2023.
This year, as ever, I have attended many enjoyable events and visited many impressive organisations across the constituency. Some highlights have included taking part in an International Women’s Day panel discussion in March to talk about whether companies are doing enough to promote opportunity in the workplace, a visit to the Severn Area Rescue Association in July to mark World Drowning Prevention Day and welcoming the then Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, to Lydney to observe the work being done by Mabey Bridge to help Ukraine repair its war-damaged infrastructure.
I have additionally been privileged to visit many local employers across the Forest this year such as NewSpace Containers on the Lydney Harbour Industrial Estate, the adult social care provider Flexicare, based in Maisemore, and Lucozade Ribena Suntory in Coleford.
Throughout the year, I have also been pleased to witness the Forest’s £20 million Levelling Up Programme progress, having personally lobbied for the funding back in 2021. The regeneration of Cinderford Town Centre continues at pace, with the Music Works currently completing their installation of equipment at 6 Market Street and improvements continuing to be made at The Wesley.
Five Acres is set to get a brand new leisure & community hub, with a planning application for the site currently pending consideration, and the development of the new Innovation, Careers and Enterprise Learning Centre at Hartpury University will be completed in the near future.
2024 is set to be an equally busy year for our area, with the opening of the new Community Hospital in Cinderford set to be one of its highlights. I would like to send my constituents my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.
This column was first published in The Forester newspaper.