Dear John
So we have an election on Thursday 12 December. We need to get Brexit done so that we can focus on improving the country for everyone. As I said in my local newspaper column, I still believe it is the national and democratic interest to deliver the outcome of the referendum, and that’s why I’ve consistently voted for a deal. A vote for any Party other than the Conservatives will carry the same risk: that Jeremy Corbyn enters Downing Street, which would be devastating for our country.
There was good news for West Sussex this week when Barclays Bank backtracked on a decision that would have prevented customers from making cash withdrawals at Post Office counters. I lobbied hard on this issue, holding crucial meetings with ministers, and was pleased with the outcome.
This follows other good news which I wrote about this week on improving mobile phone coverage and securing ultra fast broadband in rural areas, more investment in our local hospitals, the recruitment of 379 more frontline police officers in Sussex, and increased funding for our local schools. I'll be meeting the Schools Minister on Monday with a local Headteacher to discuss how to ensure that small rural schools gain from the changes. It was also a pleasure to welcome the children from Arundel C of E Primary School to Westminster during their visit to the Houses of Parliament and to hear what they had learned from their visit.
I gave interviews to Country Life and the Daily Telegraph about my appointment as the new Chairman of the Countryside Alliance. I'm passionate about standing up for the countryside and the rural way of life, and I’m honoured to be taking up this role at such a critical time.
The challenges were again highlighted this week when I attended a packed public meeting about a proposal to build 3,500 houses on countryside at West Grinstead. I recognise the need for more housing, but our local councils are already providing a large and increasing number, and we have have inadequate infrastructure to support development on this scale. Like the proposed Mayfield new town this would be an unsustainable development without rail access.
We must protect the South Downs, which is one of the reasons I strongly favour an Arundel bypass to take traffic away from the National Park and downland villages, as well as the historic town. As I said in my formal response to Highways England's public consultation, which has now closed, my judgement is that the vast majority of my constituents want an offline bypass and believe that it is long overdue. It should proceed without further delay.
Public concern about the environment is rightly growing, and I saw one innovative response when I visited Charlie’s Farm Shop in Bury last week to see a new self-service milk bottling station which is helping shoppers reduce their plastic waste.
Please see below a selection of recent articles, speeches and news releases from my website, nickherbert.com. I hope you will find this a useful source of information about my work representing you in Parliament.
If you have any issues you would like to raise with me, whether local or national, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
With kind regards.
Yours sincerely
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In Nick’s weekly article for the West Sussex County Times, Worthing Herald and Chichester Observer, he highlights good news for local services in West Sussex.
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Nick speaks to Country Life magazine about being the new Countryside Alliance chairman and defending a cherished way of life.
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Nick visited Charlie’s Farm Shop in Bury to see a new self-service milk bottling station which is helping shoppers reduce their plastic waste.
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Nick has welcomed the decision by Barclays Bank to reverse plans that would have prevented customers from making cash withdrawals at Post Office counters.
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Nick Herbert met children from Arundel C of E Primary School during their visit to the Houses of Parliament.
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Nick has submitted his formal response to the A27 Arundel Bypass further consultation.
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Nick was interviewed in the Daily Telegraph about his appointment as the new Chairman of the Countryside Alliance.
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Nick strongly criticised Barclays Bank for its “completely unacceptable" decision to prevent its customers from making cash withdrawals at Post Office counters.
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Nick urged West Sussex County Council to back the Magenta route for the Arundel Bypass.
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Nick discusses the importance of banking facilities in rural communities.
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In Nick’s weekly article for the West Sussex County Times, Worthing Herald and Chichester Observer, he makes the case that Parliament’s Brexit deadlock leaves only one option: a general election.
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