On Thursday I visited Launceston for the Mayor Choosing Ceremony, which saw Cllr Helen Bailey unanimously elected as the new Mayor. I am sure Helen is going to be a fantastic Mayor and it was a real pleasure to be at the event. My other engagements this week included surgery meetings and visits with residents in Bude. It’s always great to meet constituents in person and I picked up several action points to take back to Westminster.
Whilst I was in Bude I also visited the fantastic Horsebox for lunch, which I highly recommend! My team and I then went on to visit the site of the new flood defences which should work to stop large waves propagating up the River Neet. This new scheme benefits from £2.1 million from the government’s flood defence management programme, and although the construction of the wall will require the removal of some of the roadside-facing existing bank and vegetation on the bank to facilitate the construction of the wall foundations when it is finished, the top of the bank will be replanted with a selection of native plant species to help improve habitat. The earth flood embankment to the rear of the tourist information centre will also be restored and maintenance access improved.
Continuing on the theme of water, I am pleased that Ofwat is seeking new powers to act against water and wastewater companies across England and Wales when customer service falls short. A consultation has opened on a new licence condition to ensure companies better reflect customer expectations, drive higher standards of customer service, and support the full diversity of customer needs. The new requirement will set out the principles that companies must follow in delivering their services to customers and dealing with problems when they arise. The changes will mean that each company must ensure that customers are well-informed when something does go wrong, and customers can rely on their company to put it right. Together with CCW, the independent voice for water consumers in England and Wales, Ofwat has commissioned research to ensure customer views and expectations are built into the proposal and the consultation is now open to the wider public and businesses. The consultation closes on Friday the 7th of July 2023 and Ofwat will publish the licence change in the autumn. I encourage North Cornwall constituents to take part by visiting www.ofwat.gov.uk/consultations.
As always, if I can be of assistance to you with any local issues, please do not hesitate to get in touch via [email protected]. Updates on my work both in the constituency and in Westminster can be found on my website www.scottmann.org.uk and on social media www.facebook.com/TheRightMannForNorthCornwall.
