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 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 the 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 round-table meeting 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.
Mark updated us on the ongoing developments at Avon and Somerset Police, including their significant emphasis on action against cyber fraud.
We also discussed the expansion of Avon and Somerset Police force, with 520 additional officers for the year, above the recruitment target set by government, and youth engagement such as the Mini Police in Patchway, which gets young people involved in fighting crime and enables them to work on policing operations.
I visited Rolls-Royce to meet with Jim Hardy, head of manufacturing at the 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, and the opportunities Aerospace Bristol can offer to achieve this.
I also had the opportunity to meet the new leadership team of the Conservative group on South Gloucestershire Council, Sam Bromiley and Liz Brennan. We discussed building more homes and improving local bus services.
I also had a great time at the Stoke Gifford Fete on May 29: it was a fantastic community event, and a great day for the celebration with great weather and lots of community support.
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 jack.lopresti.mp@parliament.uk if I can be of assistance, or to book a surgery.