Lorely Listens - Happy New Year!

Written by Lorely Burt MP and published in Solihull Times, 3rd January 2006 on Tue 3rd Jan 2006

Hello everyone. Happy New Year. Hope you had a good Christmas and Santa was kind.

The New Year is a time when we resolve to make things better: either in our personal lives or for others.

My personal resolve is to shift the 10 pounds weight I've put on since being elected. Since I can resist everything but temptation this will be quite a challenge!

In Parliament the first thing I want to see is progress on my Bill to give local people more say in planning decisions which effect their lives. Fortunately the demand for 'apartments' seems to be petering out, so in the New Year I think we'll see less obtrusive planning applications coming forward from developers.

Nevertheless, the sale of parkland and the nature of developments which shape our landscape must be subject to genuine consultation of the people whose lives are going to be affected. I'll be fighting hard for that in the coming year.

As your local MP I want to develop and improve the service you get. Since last May we have dealt with over 2,000 communications from constituents. I'll be asking for feedback from people who have used the service so we can serve you better in 2006 and beyond.

I hope one of YOUR New Year resolutions will be to talk to me: either personally at my weekly surgery, by letter to House of Commons, London SW1A 1AA or by emailing burtl@parliament.uk. I can also come and talk to your organisation when Parliamentary time permits. Tell me what you think this year: I'll be listening.