My Week

This week I met the Chief Executive of Gatwick Airport in order to discuss the flight path trials that caused so much concern in parts of my constituency over the summer.

I was pleased that the Airport agreed that the concentration of flights in a new route over Wisborough Green and neighbouring areas was unfair.  The trial has ended and they are now discussing the next steps with the regulatory authorities.

I will continue to make the case strongly that the trial route was unacceptable and that it must not be implemented.

On Friday I will be attending a meeting of the A27 Action Campaign in Chichester, then holding surgeries, then meeting with Angmering GPs and the Parish Council, and after that will meet with fellow patrons of the wonderful Mary How Trust.

On Friday and Saturday evenings I will be attending Christmas events in Barnham and Henfield.  In fact I enjoyed the first seasonal lunch in Pulborough last Saturday.  This time of the year is not good for healthy eating.

On Saturday I will be holding signing events in Hassocks and Storrington for my new book, 'Why Vote Conservative 2015'. These are open to local people and will I hope provide an opportunity to come along and raise any issue of concern.

Next Saturday's events will be in Henfield and Steyning.  Details can be found on my website.

This week I have published an eight page constituency report to update people on the work I have been doing in Parliament and locally.

This is being delivered with Sussex Local magazine to many towns and villages in my constituency, and it will be delivered to others in due course.  The report can also be viewed on my website and Facebook page.

I hope that it will be a useful source of information about issues of local concern like planning, fracking, broadband and our public services.

Rural communities must be treated fairly, and this week I met with the Local Government Minister to put the case for fair funding of rural areas like the South Downs, where council grants do not reflect higher costs, for instance of fuel.

Next week the Chancellor will deliver his Autumn Statement and we expect to hear plans for road investment.  I hope that the strong case we have been making for upgrading the A27 in West Sussex, including an Arundel bypass, will be heard.