Burnham-On-Sea MP Ashley Fox gives an update on his latest activities in the Burnham and Highbridge area in this regular column.
“As always, I’ve been out and about across the constituency meeting with residents, businesses, and community groups. Here’s some of what I’ve been up to recently.”
“I began one of my constituency days at Bakkavor in Highbridge, where I met some of the hardworking staff and saw first-hand the work they do. I also discovered that decorating cheesecakes is harder than it looks.”
“Afterwards, I went to Highbridge railway station, where I met local campaigners supporting the Town Council’s push for accessibility improvements. With no step-free access between platforms, passengers are currently forced to leave the station and travel along poorly maintained pavements instead. I experienced this myself by using a mobility scooter to travel between the two platforms, following the same route that wheelchair and scooter users must take. If we are serious about being inclusive, there should be step-free access on both sides of the line.”
“I then headed to Apex Park to meet with local Councillor Alistair Hendry. We discussed how well used the park is and the importance of keeping parking on site free, particularly as Somerset Council is considering introducing new parking charges across the county.”
“I then held one of my regular constituency surgeries at Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Town Hall before heading to Woolavington for another visit.”
“I finished the day in Berrow, where I was joined by Councillor Peter Clayton. We spent a couple of hours knocking on doors and hearing directly from residents about the issues affecting them. One concern that came up repeatedly was access to GP services and the experience people are having with Symphony.”
“In Parliament recently I challenged the Government over delays in publishing its defence investment plans. At a time when long-term welfare spending has been set out to 2031, there is still no clear plan for defence investment beyond the short term.”
“Referencing comments from former Defence Secretary Lord Robertson, I made the point that Britain cannot be defended with an ever-expanding welfare budget. My constituents deserve clarity on how the Government plans to maintain our national security and support our armed forces in the years ahead.”
“With increasing global instability, it is vital that the Government provides certainty for both the defence industry and those who serve. Without a clear long-term plan, there are real concerns about how the UK will maintain its military capability and meet growing challenges.”
