By Isle of Wight Observer
Parliament is in recess until September 2, which has given me the opportunity to attend lots of local events and meet with resident groups and businesses. I am also working through 2,000 emails received in the last six weeks.
I am continuing to try and persuade the Government to include ferry regulation in new legislation due later this year regarding rail, buses and integrated UK transport. Labour wants to bring key transport infrastructure under greater democratic control and ensure better integration for travellers. It would make no sense to leave ferries out and include only rail and buses. I am hopeful that the Government will listen.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has written to the Isle of Wight Council to say that she is considering imposing a mandatory housing target of 1,104 houses per year on the Isle of Wight. This is a huge increase on the average 347 houses per year actually being built, and well above the 453 houses provided for in the Island Planning Strategy, which passed a democratic vote of councillors earlier this year. I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister in support of the council’s position that the figure of 1,104 is much too high.
Ryde Town Board and the other town boards across England have been told that they do not need to submit their strategic investment plans to government this month. I am seriously concerned that this is the first step to cancelling the previous government’s town board funding, and taking back £20 million planned for Ryde. I have written to the Secretary of State to seek a cast iron guarantee that the £20 million already allocated will be coming to Ryde as planned.
A working relationship with the council and West Wight MP, Richard Quigley, continue to be important for making progress on some of the bigger issues affecting the whole Island. I met with the council leader and chief executive last week to talk about ferries, health and social care, planning and local devolution. We have agreed to meet regularly going forwards.