Update from Jack Lopresti, MP (Jul/Aug 23 edition)

This month I have been very busy in our area focusing on transport, law and order and our area’s heritage and role in the aerospace industry. I had a very interesting meeting with representatives from Great Western Rail, South Gloucestershire Council and Network Rail  (photo right) to discuss the exciting Bristol Parkway Redevelopment Masterplan. Given the importance of Parkway, I believed it was necessary to get more information about this future infrastructure investment in our area.

It was great to see the public engagement that had been conducted and the great response received from consultation, showing a high level of local support for the project, especially with the Masterplan looking to put community at the centre of the development. This will see more investment and jobs come to the area, as well as a business park and new green spaces which will see Parkway become much more integrated into the local community. This will have the result of Parkway not only being a transport hub, but also a centre for the wider community and an even more important asset to the area.

I also had a very productive roundtable meeting (photo below) with Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford, and local councillors Ben Randles, Terri Cullen and Liz Brennan where we discussed tackling local anti-social behaviour, speeding and other issues relating to our area, we were also joined by Inspector Stuart King.

Mark updated us on the ongoing developments at Avon and Somerset Police, including their significant emphasis on action against cyber fraud, working with the South West Cyber Resilience Centre.

We also discussed the expansion of Avon and Somerset Police force with 520 additional officers for the year (which was above the recruitment target set by government), and the youth engagement programs operated by Avon and Somerset Police, such as the Mini Police based in Patchway which gets young people involved in fighting crime and enables them to work on policing operations.

I always try to emphasise the great contribution the aerospace industry makes to our region and this month I visited Rolls Royce to meet with Jim Hardy, the Head of Manufacturing at Rolls Royce’s lift works. We discussed their role in providing apprenticeships to young people in our area and I met with one of their degree apprentices. I also visited Aerospace Bristol to meet with CEO Sally Cordwell, we discussed their STEM learning programme and engagement with businesses and schools.  I will continue to promote the importance of STEM learning and engagement with young people for our crucial aerospace industry in our area and the opportunities which Aerospace Bristol can offer for them to achieve this.

I also had the opportunity to meet the new leadership team of the Conservative group on South Gloucestershire Council, Councillors Sam Bromiley and Liz Brennan. We discussed building more homes and improving local bus services, making sure that we hold the West of England Mayor to account on delivering this. I also had a great time at the Stoke Gifford Fete on the 29th of May, such a fantastic community event and a great day for the celebration with great weather and lots of community support.

Lastly, I should like to quash certain rumours that have been circulated during the recent local elections that I am not local.  I was born in Southmead Hospital, and have lived and worked in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area all my life. I have resided in this constituency since 2006, having lived in Filton, Frenchay and Bradley Stoke.  I currently live near Almondsbury.

As always, should you need my help with anything, my office is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. Please telephone me on 01454 617783 or email me at: [email protected] if I can be of assistance or to book a surgery. 

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