Spending Review Impact on Great Yarmouth
Posted by Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, at 14:15, Mon 1 November 2010:
For weeks now the media and many political commentators have been trailing the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review as though today would mark the end of the world. Throughout this storm of media driven, doom-laden speculation, I have been frustrated that there has been little mention of why the Coalition is having to make the tough choices in public spending that were confirmed today.
The last Labour Government left the largest budget deficit in peacetime history. This is the outcome of a decade of debt fuelled by Gordon Brown’s irresponsible economic policies. We are now spending more in interest on this debt then we spend on defence or law and order. If we didn’t take action now it would result in higher interest rates, more business failures, rising unemployment and a possible end to the recovery. I’m supporting this plan so that those four risks don’t become a reality in Great Yarmouth.
With the mass of information that has come out of this spending review, many important aspects that will affect us in Great Yarmouth risk being lost. I have waded through the detail revealed in speeches, press notices and official reports to identify the following seven items that will make a big positive difference to residents in Great Yarmouth.
NHS and our hospitals
During the General Election, David Cameron made it clear that the NHS was the top priority. We’ve underlined that commitment by protecting health spending, so that the quality of services to patients is maintained. A new £200 million a year Cancer Drugs Fund will mean patients have access to the best treatments available.
Schools
We will spend more on education. This means Great Yarmouth schools will receive extra funding as well as greater freedom and flexibility for teachers to decide how they should be run. Sure Start centres will be protected so that they can continue their excellent work with young families. They will be boosted with extra investment for new health visitors.
A11 Upgrade
After years of unfulfilled promises by Labour politicians, the A11 upgrade has finally been given the go ahead. The final section will now be dualled opening a vital business gateway to Norfolk. Without the hard work and lobbying of all the 9 coalition Norfolk MPs, working together to argue the case for Norfolk, we would not have had this fantastic result for our county.
Green Technology Investment
A massive £1 billion has been set aside to provide funding for green infrastructure through a new Green Investment Bank. Alongside extra funding for offshore wind technology and manufacturing at port sites, Great Yarmouth looks set to receive a big boost to local businesses and jobs.
Broadband
Many of our rural areas around Great Yarmouth do not benefit from decent broadband connections. Extra funding has been found so that our broadband network can be improved in these rural areas.
Council Tax
Over the last decade council tax bills have more than doubled. A council tax freeze for 2011-12 has been fully funded and will go ahead. This is welcome news for hard-pressed households throughout Great Yarmouth who have seen their everyday bills increase during the recession.
Cold Weather Payments
With temperatures beginning to fall, pensioners and vulnerable families will see the £25 cold weather payment made permanent. Labour had only agreed a temporary increase to this payment during the last winter, with the amount set to fall to £8.50.
By making tough choices and deciding priorities like those above, the Government has started to rebuild our public services and welfare state on a sustainable footing – for the long term.
Comments
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Posted by Kim Hastings, 14:51, Mon 1 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I will put up with whatever is required so long as the scroungers and bone idle get hit the hardest. The working people have had enough of supporting layabouts with living standards on benefits being higher than those who work. Bring it on. The strong will survive and will look after the genuine weak and vulnerable while the waste goes down the sewer where it belongs
Posted by Steve Taylor, 15:05, Mon 1 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Where do you stand as my elected representative on the issue of the Non-delivery of the Eastport Project, the funding from the public purse and the non-accoutability of elected officals now taking to publically attacking those that ask, in the free press.
Posted by sarah welsh, 15:40, Mon 1 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I find it amazing that the government is not heeding the advice of key economists. Cuts in public spending will hit the poorest the hardest. We already have one of the highest numbers of families and children living in poverty in Europe and these measures will make it worse and place an even heavier burden on those services that remain. People can't work if there are no jobs or they cannot afford the training and education to apply for those that are there.
So glad I didn't vote for this government and hope it changes before too much damage is done to the economy and our society.
Posted by John L Cooper, 20:10, Mon 1 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Brandon Why are you so picky on the subjects that you talk about how about these points · Spending £1.5 million on plans for the outer Harbour, only not to use them. · Taking on the expense of Haven Bridge £300,000.00 per year for eternity · Taking on the expense of West Bank £1 million now £millions for eternity · Giving away the Freehold of Gorleston Pier a conservation area · Allowing one Private Ltd Company (Eastport) to benefit in entirety at the cost of already established local business and infrastructure. How about telling us how this was allowed to happen
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 09:05, Tue 2 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you all for taking the time to comment here. Sarah, the widest range of economists has backed the government plans, including independent groups like the IMF and the leading business people across the UK. More importantly our growth figures in the last quarter were the highest in that quarter for about 15 years so enforce the government has taken the right action.
With regard to the comments in the press, it would be unfair for me to answer on behalf of other people so will leave you to approach councillors direct. I am not a councillor and so cannot really respond on their behalf. In response to the comments regarding the Outer Harbour more generally, I have had continual correspondence with Mr Cooper and Mr Durrant over the last few years and as I have said publicly and privately previously I do think the Outer Harbour is a good thing for our town. The deal that was done was before my time but it does seem to have been the only deal that was available and without it we would still have no outer harbour. I am sure we would all like to see it creating more jobs and opportunities but as Eastport only took control in January 2010 I suggest we give them some time to get the business fully working. They have taken over the port in very different economic c times to those in which the deal was agreed and container work seems to be very different to what is was 5/6years ago. Fortunately the port is designed in such a way as to be flexible enough for them to alter to suit the type of ships and work that is now seeking to use the Harbour, which long term is good for the area as it will allow the port to be more successful and also let’s not forget the success they have made of the inner harbour which many had felt was failing. I recall many days with hardly anything in the inner harbour where that is now well stocked on an almost daily basis.
Posted by Kim Hastings, 11:14, Tue 2 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
The outer harbour seems to be a point of conversation which will not go away, rightly so. The outer harbour is 30 years too late. Now I know several will be thinking "o not this again" however there are a few points you may not be aware of. In 1977 / 78 Brown and Root offered to build an outer harbour and contribute to what is now the breydon bridge and dualing the Acle straight. What they asked for in return was facilities for their supply vessels (we all remember the Moon boats run by Jackson Marine which was a part of B&R)and their pipelaying vessels. This was turned down as it would have meant the destruction of the worlds scruffiest caravan site on South Denes, the majority of which were owned and rented out by councillors. Thanks for that. Had the outer harbour been constructed at the time we actually had a major offshore gas industry it would have been far more use and generated significant income. Instead 30 years too late we have a useless construction intended for container freight with only two contaner cranes in a port you can't get too because the road system is rubbish. Does the word Felixtowe mean anything too you? If you take a look at Rotterdam which is where B&R moved over too once the outer harbour idea was rejected in favour of the caravan pit, you will see what we could have had a slice of. A sucessful commercial operation feeding money to local business. Instead we have to live with the stigma of Great Yarmouth being a major holiday destination!! I think not. Have you seen the state of "The Golden Mile" What is left of the holiday season contributes income to a few and results in the entire seafront area stinking of horses, candy floss and stale hotdogs. This is 2010 not 1960.Wake up!!
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 15:53, Tue 2 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you Kim for taking the time to post here. I agree that an Outer Harbour many years ago would have been a huge asset. Just for the record the tourism industry in Great Yarmouth makes us the number 2 seaside resort in the country and is worth close to £500million a year to our local economy. So it is still a major industry for our area and indeed Norfolk in general.
Posted by Kim Hastings, 21:23, Tue 2 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
£500 Million pounds (if that is correct) is a drop in the ocean to what the offshore industry could have generated to this area. Stick with your caravan sites if that what makes you happy. The real money will be somewhere else. I run a succesful business in the offshore pipeline welding industry and I am fully aware of just how much business is done in other countries and in the UK. Give me a call if you would like your facts brought up to date.
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 09:13, Wed 3 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I agree re the value to our area and indeed region from off shore, but also Decommissioning. It is potentially a huge opportunity and we need to make sure we capitalise on it for the benfit of all. I have been working on this with fellow MP's for the region and EEEgr too. Always happy to learn more, 01493 334004 or 0207 219 7231.