New Year is always a time for hope and after the year we have just endured, we need hope now more than ever before.
1st January 2021 marks the beginning of a new chapter in our nation’s history. With our departure from the European Union, we have an opportunity turn the page. Make a fresh start. Heal divisions and deliver on our promises for a global Britain.
The vaccines being rolled out across Telford by GPs are giving many constituents and their families a much needed dose of optimism and hope. We are expecting a mass vaccination site to be up and running in Telford by the end of January, alongside GPs, which will speed up the rate of delivery and allow some normality to return by Spring 2021.
Telford has been through tough times before and we have always come through. It is a town built on a vision for a better life, on hard work, and enterprise. Our businesses, workers, our entrepreneurs have played a vital part in fuelling an economic success in the West Midlands and I am determined that this continues with strong support from Government schemes.
I am proud of the work of the Telford Towns Board, comprised of local partners, which has submitted an outstanding bid to Government for a £25m to boost Telford’s skills and economy. We expect this project to get underway in 2021, giving our area jobs and growth and an exciting future. These are shovel-ready projects that have the potential to revolutionise manufacturing, technology. I am determined to make this happen.
As we lay the foundations for economic recovery after coronavirus, it is important that we equip the next generation with the skills and training to succeed. We have seen a shift towards apprenticeships and skills-based training as many young people look to establish themselves in new economy jobs. This is an important pathway to skilled employment, and I want every young person in Telford to have the choice between higher education and an apprenticeship.
This is already being achieved in part by the Kickstart Scheme, which offers employers £1500 per placement to take on young apprentices aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit or are at risk of long-term unemployment. Employers in Telford have embraced this with real enthusiasm.
The fight for the future of hospital care in Telford goes on. The world has changed since the Future Fit project was conceived. After years of uncertainty and delay, the time has come for hospital bosses to get to work on delivering for local people in a way that meets their needs. The Government has committed significant funding to our Hospital Trust and it needs to be used wisely. The post-Corona environment will change healthcare delivery forever as will the recommendations of the Ockenden report. This must be factored into any plans that the Board has to spend Government money on our healthcare. I want the Council to work with me to take on the Trust to get them to change their plans and instead ensure smart investment into local healthcare.
The dedication and tireless efforts of our local NHS services have made all the difference and saved countless lives throughout the coronavirus outbreak. We have seen the important role of the NHS in keeping our communities safe and providing essential care to those who need it most. We cannot allow the closure of our vital Women and Children’s Centre and 24-hour A&E department which supported us through the most serious public health crisis in a generation.
The road to recovery will not be straightforward for any of us and there is much work to be done. However, I have great faith in the people of Telford and in this Government. I am proud of the people of Telford and I have seen so many giving their all to get back on their feet and helping others to do the same.
I will make it my mission to be there every step of the way in 2021 to ensure we succeed.
I wish everyone a peaceful New Year with hope for 2021.
