Period of reflection to take stock of events of past 12 months — Sherwood MP Mark Spencer
As we come to the end of 2021, I would like to reflect and take stock of what we have seen over the past 12 months, writes Sherwood MP Mark Spencer.
In 2021, the government has set out to deliver on the people’s priorities — tackling crime, levelling up across the whole United Kingdom, and building back better from the coronavirus pandemic.
Our NHS has been working around the clock to ensure that every adult across the United Kingdom has had access to their coronavirus vaccinations, and now their booster vaccines. This was a herculean effort from the health service, and my thanks go out to everyone who has involved from NHS staff to volunteers.
Also this year, the government announced that it would be funding the improvements to the A614. This will be majorly beneficial to Newark Advertiser readers, with improvements at the Ollerton island headlining the bill of improvements. There is no doubt that once these improvements begin, we will see better connectivity, and more private sector investment.
Later in the year, we saw the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands. This is a major plan that sets out the government’s plan to level up our railways. The Department for Transport used this opportunity to announce that the government would be examining the Robin Hood Line Extension to Ollerton as the scheme continues to progress along the Railway Network Enhancement Pipeline.
The government has also spent this year tackling crime, recruiting more police officers and closing down dangerous drug gangs. Just this week, it announced a ten-year drug plan that is going to provide our police forces with the tools they need to clamp down on the county lines drug gangs, and in turn protect vulnerable people.
The government continues to work on passing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This is a vital piece of legislation focused on cutting crime and delivering safer streets. Violent criminals will spend longer behind bars, and there will be more support for the victims of crime as a result.
These are just four examples of how the government has been working for Newark and Sherwood. The government has been ploughing its way through the legislative agenda, ensuring that we are levelling up across the country. 2022 will bring with it more opportunities to continue this work, and more opportunities to deliver on the people’s priorities.
I would like to take the time to wish all my constituents a very merry Christmas, and all the best for the New Year.
My team and I will still be available over the Christmas period, so drop me an email on Mark.Spencer.MP@parliament.uk