Page 15 - Town & Around - February 2025

Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net Town & Around February 2025 15

Wild in Westminster and West Norfolk

t has been a busy start to the Labour say QEH and other Mobile phone coverage also
year in Westminster and I RAAC hospitals are a priority needs to improve and I’m
Icontinue to be optimistic they’ve failed to back that up with meeting mobile network
about my campaigns for West action. I’ll keep pressing them to operators to highlight gaps in
Norfolk despite the worrying get on with it. coverage in Hunstanton and
economic picture. Anyone who’s been to the new elsewhere and push them to
Recent surveys show business Community Diagnostic Centre, invest.
confidence has plummeted Endoscopy Unit, or West Norfolk This year will also see further
following the huge tax rises Eye Centre will know how new progress in the £25 million Town
announced in the Budget. Talking facilities that harness technology Deal projects which while
to local businesses, the focus for can deliver better care for centred in Lynn are about
many is on trying to survive in the patients. boosting wider West Norfolk.
face of the higher costs of Better access to the fastest For me this is the perfect time Whether better infrastructure,
employing people. For pubs, gigabit speeds is essential to to enjoy walking on our amazing supporting local schools,
shops, and hospitality firms, support growth and access to coastline with the promise of a investing in our police force,
higher business rates kick in in services particularly in rural pint and warming fire at a local reducing waiting lists and more
April. areas. Since the initial Project pub afterwards. And hardy souls NHS dental appointments, or
With over a fifth of all jobs Gigabit contract was awarded continue to take a dip although other issues, I’ll be championing
locally in these sectors, it is I’ve been campaigning to extend the official bathing season our area in the months ahead.
worrying the government is it to more of North West Norfolk doesn’t start for a couple of Please get in touch if you have
loading on extra costs but even – it only included premises in months. Continuing to improve an issue or cause that you think I
now there is still time for them to Castle Acre, Little Massingham, our coastal waters and rivers can help with.
change course. Great Massingham, and Harpley. remains a priority for me.
On a different but important CityFibre who won the It is encouraging the latest James Wild MP
issue, 2025 must be the year that contract which ministers have water quality results show the Member of Parliament
we see spades in the ground and agreed to extend are shortly due improvements recorded at for North West Norfolk
the start of the rebuilding journey to set out their plans to cover Heacham last year have been House of Commons, London,
to a new by QEH. That starts with more homes and premises locally. maintained. I will continue SW1A 0AA
the new multi-storey car park and And I look forward to the detailed working with the Environment james.wild.mp@parliament.uk
QEH’s plans are ready to go. It plans and maps becoming Agency, Anglian Water and www.jameswild.org.uk
has been frustrating that while available for my constituents. others on this. @jamesowild