Firstly, I would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year and all the very best for 2023!
Before Christmas, it was great to visit some of the schools who took part in the design a Christmas Card Competition and have the opportunity to meet a few of the very talented young designers. I also enjoyed an enchanting carol service at St George’s Academy at Middleton St George where the children not only sang beautifully but used Makaton to enhance the experience for everyone and made it completely magical. For those not aware, Makaton is a communication tool together with speech and symbols, to enable people with disabilities or learning disabilities to communicate.
My wife and I also joined the crib service at St Alban’s Church, Trimdon Grange followed by the wonderfully timed opportunity to see Puffing Billy at Trimdon Grange Village Hall. It is great to see such warm community spirit on full display.
Parliamentary recess began on Wednesday 21st December, and I was back in the constituency on Thursday. In the morning I visited the Crafter’s Companion team at Aycliffe Business Park and then drove up to the north of the Sedgefield constituency to visit a business in Thornley
On Thursday afternoon, I had the privilege of being included in the Rotarians Santa Tours and later in the week helped Santa in Tesco, Newton Aycliffe. I would also like to say a huge thanks to Community Spirit, Newton Aycliffe for helping Santa and Mrs Claus to get out and about in the town in the days leading up to Christmas. The weather at times was particularly poor but I am sure they put smiles on many children’s faces, so well done to you and your helpers Santa!
Many of you will have had the chance to visit the Big Club to see Santa’s Grotto, created with huge help from the marvellous Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team and, again, the tireless Community Spirit team. Palram provided wonderful and practical support by building the grotto and many other amazing businesses, organisations and individuals from across our inspiring town provided gifts and gave their time and enthusiasm to make Christmas a magical experience for everyone who visited.
Thursday tea-time, I met up with the working group and local councillors regarding the recent planning application at Middridge Quarry. I want to get a better understanding about the concerns of the residents in the area. I then had a follow up visit to the site between Christmas and New Year and will be looking to join further discussions with residents. I will do all I can to make information on the proposed reclamation of Middridge Quarry available to constituents but stress that, as a Member of Parliament, I do not have any formal role in the planning process and will not be involved in the decision of this or any other planning application. I do, however, have serious concerns about the appropriateness of this application. Ever since I was elected as a County Councillor for Middridge the biggest concern of residents has been traffic through the village, and this will make things substantially worse. If you have concerns over the application, please remember that if you register an objection it needs to refer to material planning considerations for it to have weight.
It was great to meet up with many of you over the Christmas and New Year break and I hope to get to meet many more of you over the coming year. Parliament starts again on Monday 9th January 2023 and there is a busy schedule for my role as PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) in the Treasury and as a member of the Transport Select Committee. Amongst others, I will also be meeting up with members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce on their Awareness Day. The aims of the team are to raise awareness of the symptoms of these cancers, to enable people to get diagnosed earlier.
I will also be visiting RAF Cranwell as part of the AFPS (Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme) before hopefully returning to the constituency in time to visit the Newton Aycliffe Youth Football Club and watch one of their training sessions. On the Friday I will be visiting a number of businesses and organisations in the constituency but will tell you more about those visits soon.
As always, if you want to get in touch just call the constituency office on 01325 790580 or email at Paul.Howell.MP@Parliament.uk