Mail Weekly Column: 14 August 2023
Thankfully the weather in Furness has at least moved from sheet rain to occasional bursts of glorious sun between downpours. So I hope that, like me, you have been able to venture out a bit more.
This week I have been attending a number of virtual and in-person meetings in my role as the Government’s Rural Connectivity Champion. It’s a very interesting – and encouraging – business, learning about the plans to increase connectivity in our rural communities, whether by laying fibre cable or wirelessly. I have almost come to the end of the first round of engagement now, and will present my report to the two Secretaries of State at the end of the summer. Clearly there is a lot for us to do here, and I very much hope that we will be able to improve rural connectivity not only in Furness, but across the UK as a whole.
I’ve also been meeting businesses like MARL International to discuss the role of SMEs in helping to deliver the opportunities that will flow from the SSN-AUKUS programme in the shipyard. They emphasised the need to recruit and retain the right staff in what is a really tight jobs market in our area. I understand their concerns and will be taking that message back and raising it with Ministers.
Wednesday was young Master Fell’s fourth birthday, so we had a wonderful time at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton. He had the best day, his highlight definitely being able to spot a red panda – as for me, I was very taken with the rhinos. It’s a lovely spot right at the heart of Furness, and we are lucky to have it in our midst.
On Thursday I visited the Old People’s Welfare Centre, based just below the Leisure Centre in Dalton, and met Dot and Wendy and their amazing staff. It's one of those spots that is hidden in plain sight but which offers such an important service to those who need it. I'm looking forward to do a bit of work with them to improve the building and make it more visible to the community.
The other major task for me and my team this week has been preparing for our Summer Surgery Tour which starts on Monday. We pack up the office for a week to travel round and hold open surgeries in every ward in the constituency. No appointment is needed so please do pop along. My fantastic team of caseworkers and I will be there to say hello, answer your questions, and offer support.
We begin on Monday 14 August at 10 am in the Parish Room in Seathwaite, and finish on Friday at the Bandstand in Barrow Park. For full details, please see my website at: www.simonfell.org/summer-surgery-tour
I am really looking forward to coming to a venue near you and meeting as many of you as possible. See you soon!
