WELCOME
Welcome to my latest newsletter. Please forward it to anyone else who you think would like to receive it, and they can sign up at my website. If you would prefer not to receive it, please use the unsubscribe button below. And please get in touch if there are any issues you would like to discuss.
Farming Minister Visits North Devon
One of my priorities is to bring the decision makers here and to bang the drum for North Devon, so I was delighted that the Farming Minister George Eustice visited today (pictured with me & Neil Parish MP at Exmoor Mires).
We first went to Quince Honey Farm in South Molton, one of the country's biggest honey producers and an important local business. We discussed the latest EU directives affecting the industry and some of the challenges it faces. Quince is a local success story and I made sure the Minister was made aware of its importance.
I then arranged for George Eustice to meet the new County Chair of the NFU and other local industry representatives at a farm near Bishops Nympton. It's vital that North Devon's farmers get their voice heard at the highest levels of government. We had a very open and constructive discussion, ranging from bovine TB and the badger cull through to EU regulations and care of hedgerows. I know the Minister has taken a lot of ideas and thoughts back to Whitehall with him.
We then moved on to Exmoor to see the Mires Project, which is a scheme to restore and manage the moor's traditional peat bogs with a particular focus on water control. This has numerous benefits including more efficient use of water resources and better water quality, as well as the obvious environmental advantages. With about one third of the National Park in North Devon, including one of the sites of the Mires Project at Brendon Common, it was important for the Minister to see the excellent work being done here. We're all consumers of water, so it will have an impact on us all.
Overall it was a very successful visit. I will continue to make sure that government ministers come to North Devon so we can get our point of view across and tell them what we think and what we want.
North Devon Link Road
You may have read in the local papers that there's been a great deal of discussion in the last week about the A361. The Link Road is North Devon's economic lifeline, as well as having a huge impact on our everyday lives. The biggest question seems to be 'to dual or not to dual'? My position is clear: as I said many months ago, the current road is not fit for purpose. I think our ambition should be to upgrade it to a dual carriageway for as much of its length as possible.
Of course, financing such a project is a huge challenge and there are environmental concerns which must be addressed. But I think we should aim high and shout loudly for what we want, which doesn't seem to be happening enough at the moment. I am going to argue strongly for this project; we may not get everything we ask for, but it's vital that the decision-makers know where we stand and how important the Link Road is for North Devon.
What do you think?
I really want to know your views about a number of issues . What matters most to you and your family and to the country as a whole? Please spare a couple of minutes to tell me here www.conservatives.com/survey
Many thanks.
Until next week......
Peter
Peter Heaton-Jones
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
email:[email protected]
Welcome to my latest newsletter. Please forward it to anyone else who you think would like to receive it, and they can sign up at my website. If you would prefer not to receive it, please use the unsubscribe button below. And please get in touch if there are any issues you would like to discuss.
Farming Minister Visits North Devon
One of my priorities is to bring the decision makers here and to bang the drum for North Devon, so I was delighted that the Farming Minister George Eustice visited today (pictured with me & Neil Parish MP at Exmoor Mires).
We first went to Quince Honey Farm in South Molton, one of the country's biggest honey producers and an important local business. We discussed the latest EU directives affecting the industry and some of the challenges it faces. Quince is a local success story and I made sure the Minister was made aware of its importance.
I then arranged for George Eustice to meet the new County Chair of the NFU and other local industry representatives at a farm near Bishops Nympton. It's vital that North Devon's farmers get their voice heard at the highest levels of government. We had a very open and constructive discussion, ranging from bovine TB and the badger cull through to EU regulations and care of hedgerows. I know the Minister has taken a lot of ideas and thoughts back to Whitehall with him.
We then moved on to Exmoor to see the Mires Project, which is a scheme to restore and manage the moor's traditional peat bogs with a particular focus on water control. This has numerous benefits including more efficient use of water resources and better water quality, as well as the obvious environmental advantages. With about one third of the National Park in North Devon, including one of the sites of the Mires Project at Brendon Common, it was important for the Minister to see the excellent work being done here. We're all consumers of water, so it will have an impact on us all.
Overall it was a very successful visit. I will continue to make sure that government ministers come to North Devon so we can get our point of view across and tell them what we think and what we want.
North Devon Link Road
You may have read in the local papers that there's been a great deal of discussion in the last week about the A361. The Link Road is North Devon's economic lifeline, as well as having a huge impact on our everyday lives. The biggest question seems to be 'to dual or not to dual'? My position is clear: as I said many months ago, the current road is not fit for purpose. I think our ambition should be to upgrade it to a dual carriageway for as much of its length as possible.
Of course, financing such a project is a huge challenge and there are environmental concerns which must be addressed. But I think we should aim high and shout loudly for what we want, which doesn't seem to be happening enough at the moment. I am going to argue strongly for this project; we may not get everything we ask for, but it's vital that the decision-makers know where we stand and how important the Link Road is for North Devon.
What do you think?
I really want to know your views about a number of issues . What matters most to you and your family and to the country as a whole? Please spare a couple of minutes to tell me here www.conservatives.com/survey
Many thanks.
Until next week......
Peter
Peter Heaton-Jones
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
email:[email protected]