I would like to begin my last newsletter of 2017 by thanking you all for your support over the year. 2017 has been a year of real success for the Cotswolds and I am proud to have helped my constituents over the last 12 months in resolving many serious and important issues. Here are just a few good news stories from the constituency over the last year:

School Funding

Many of you will have followed my national campaign to protect schools’ budgets throughout the Cotswolds. Under previous proposals, the national funding formula would have resulted in ALL large primary and secondary schools receiving cash cuts to their budgets. This, at a time when schools are already having to economise and reduce staff numbers, is absolutely unacceptable.

Through my work and a number of meeting with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education, I am pleased that every single school in the Cotswolds will now have their budgets protected in real terms, per pupil. This will mean every primary and secondary pupil will receive a minimum of £3,500 and £4,800, respectively.

The Cotswolds’ has a number of truly excellent schools and I fully intend to continue to protect and support our childrens’ education in the constituency.

Broadband

Having obtained figures from Gloucestershire County Council, I was delighted to discover that 97.9% of the Cotswolds’ premises have access to fast broadband. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of Fastershire in achieving such an impressive level of coverage. The Government has pledged nationally to rollout superfast broadband to 95% by the end of this year. I am pleased we have exceeded this target.

For the 1,302 hard to reach and remote premises which remain unconnected, I will of course continue to work hard to press for a solution as soon as is practically possible.

A417

The Air Balloon Roundabout on the A417 has been one of the most congested and difficult spots on the Cotswolds’ road network for over two decades.

More than 34,000 vehicles use this road every day and it is a vital artery for HGVs transporting goods to and from the Cotswolds.

2017 has finally been the year where material progress has started with a solution to the notorious A417 ‘missing link’. The public consultation for this project will begin early next year, following which a preferred route will be announced. After the DCO process, a possible enquiry, detailed design and tendering exercise, the Secretary of State will then make a decision to fund the road through the Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) in late 2020.

The Future of Cirencester

Residents of Cirencester will, I am sure, have received a copy of my town-wide survey, sent to 12,000 homes, in the last month. The aim of this survey, is to find out what residents think and what they would like to see for Cirencester to evolve properly in the future. This survey will be one of the largest pieces of research ever carried out into residents’ views on infrastructure, housing and public services are needed for the town’s increasing population.

I want to encourage as many people as possible to respond to this really important survey. Every submission will help decision-makers in the town to better understand what needs exist and what can be done to properly prepare for the possible construction of 2,350 homes over 10 years in the Chesterton development.

Prime Minister’s Questions

Earlier today I asked the Prime Minister an important question in the House of Commons. Now that we have moved onto phase 2 of our Brexit negotiations with the EU, I wholly support Mrs May’s strong and principled negotiating stance with the Europe. I want to ensure that UK citizens’ rights in the EU are protected and also to ensure that businesses, both locally and nationally, thrive and prosper following our departure after March 2019. Please click here to view my question.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and positive New Year and I look forward to continue working hard for the Cotswolds in 2018.