Letter to Constituents

Dear constituent,

This month we have taken a massive step along the roadmap out of lockdown and I have been pleased to see the progress being made right across the constituency as many shops and businesses have successfully reopened for the first time in months. Many of us will have already taken advantage of hairdressers and barbers reopening, but one of the most significant steps is the reopening of outdoor hospitality and the rule of six for outdoors, allowing us to meet with our family and friends and enjoy the incredible weather we are having.
 
I know several residents have thoroughly enjoyed frequenting their local beer garden and I can only hope the sunshine continues and our vaccine rollout maintains its success in time for the full reopening of pubs and restaurants next month. Our brilliant local health services have vaccinated over 50,000 people in the constituency, and nationwide almost half the population has had the jab, promising a real return to normality in the weeks and months to come.
 
My focus at the moment is on supporting local businesses with their reopening as I know just how important it is to have a successful bounce back this spring and summer. Having made the case to the Treasury, I was pleased to announce a new round of “Restart Grants” of up to £6,000 for non-essential retail businesses and up to £18,000 for those in hospitality, but I have also written to Wiltshire Council to make sure the distribution of these grants is their priority. The earlier businesses have these grants, the sooner they can make preparations for fully reopening and the sooner they can begin to recover from the impact of Covid-19.
 
Finally, with the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh earlier this month, I know constituents will want to share in sending our thoughts and prayers to the Queen and members of the Royal Family at this time. Here in Wiltshire, as around the entire country, so many people made a personal connection with Prince Philip and actively enjoyed working towards one of his lasting legacies - the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, building a sense of accomplishment and achievement through charity and through the outdoors. With more and more of our loved hobbies, recreations and activities restarting, I think we can all draw lessons from the example he gave in living life to the fullest and giving back to the place we call home.