The Government has announced the results of its rapid review and has announced some additional Mental Health resources in our region.
Extra funding of £150m was announced, with £7m being specifically used to fund 100 specialised mental health ambulances. The funding also includes £300,000 for a Crisis Café based in Northumberland.
Once I have further details on the number of these specialists ambulances in our area and the site of the new Crisis Café - I will update you further.
I am delighted with the news that the Government has announced £14.7 million of funding for cycling infrastructure in Northumberland as part of the Levelling Up Fund.
Part of this money will go towards improving cycling and walking infrastructure between Corbridge and Hexham.
My huge thanks to Northumberland County Council, Cllr Nick Oliver and Cllr Trevor Cessford for putting together the bid and making this happen.
Read more about the original bid HERE
Full courant report HERE
It was great to be at the Hexham Auction Mart yesterday morning for meetings with NFU North East, local farmers and a drop in surgery working with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials.
If you are a farmer in Tynedale and Ponteland and we missed you, please get in touch: guy.opperman@parliament to raise any local issues with us.
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| With Anna from the NFU |
Last night, we held a meeting with over 100 of our Ukrainian guests, many of their sponsors and supporters in Hexham.
Massive thanks to Wendy and the many other organisers and helpers, and Phil from Northumberland County Council who came along to help answer key questions.
Many answers on issues as varied as work, skills, language training, kids education, references, housing, Ukrainian qualifications, cars, the rise in sponsor support and visas were able to be given on the night, even if only in part.
Our key project is to create an FAQ website on the Northumberland County Council website in English and Ukrainian. This will have all the key updated links and information and will also be linked on my website and for use across Northumberland to the many hundreds of guests, sponsors and supporters.
Our hope is that this is resolved and publicly available in the next 2 weeks. As explained at the meeting, my office continues to provide assistance on a whole host of issues: email in and we will help: guy.opperman@parliament.uk.
Representing our rural communities and making their voice heard is my central priority.
Storm Arwen affected so many across Northumberland. Thousands were without power for days, and some were without power for 13 days. Northern Powergrid’s response was totally unacceptable. Their communications completely failed – leaving everyone with no information of when their power would be restored.
I held six public meetings across the constituency, including two in the North Tyne at Bellingham. The meetings were a chance for local people to have their voices heard by the companies responsible for the response to Storm Arwen.
The Department for Business, Ofgem and I each released
a report setting out clear recommendations as to how to improve the technical
resilience of the grid for future storm events.
As a result, Northern Powergrid has recently launched their
£7.5 million foundation, which provides up to £20,000 grants to Parish
councils, village halls and community groups. So far, I have sponsored 17
applications, of which, X have been approved. The scheme will be formally
launching in the new year and I will provide further details of how you apply
when the information is available.
Rochester Village Hall Committee were awarded an £18,000 grant as part of their application to fund key pieces of equipment, such as a generator.
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| With Susan and David from Rochester Parish Council |
I recently had the opportunity to meet with David, Susan and local residents at Rochester Village Hall. ITV Tyne Tees also came along to cover the new generator they have bought with the money they have received from Northern Powergrid. You can see the ITV report here: https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2022-11-26/arwen-aftermath-generators-installed-to-keep-village-running-during-blackouts
I also popped into Rochester Relish –
The last café in England, where I presented my Small Business Award. Rochester
Relish is a fantastic local business. Please do support them is you are going
past!
I have also knocked
on doors and surveyed local people in Rochester and Byrness to ensure residents have had their local concerns heard.
Visiting the local school in Otterburn recently
