A comment on Mims' activities through the week, and the latest news from Parliament.
In my recent column, I wrote about my delight in hosting the #drawaline campaign in Parliament, which was focused on ending violence against women, and organised by The National Committee of UN Women UK.
The Prime Minister has a strong record when it comes to tackling human trafficking and slavery, including introducing the Modern Slavery Act 2015 as Home Secretary, and I was pleased to be able to raise this important campaign with her during PMQ’s recently. I warmly welcome the response that she gave, laying out her vision for a world in which women and girls have the confidence to be able to be what they want to be, and to know that they will not be subject to exploitation, violence, trafficking or slavery. Of course, slavery applies to men as well. The Prime Minister ending by confirming the Government’s commitment to ending violence against and the exploitation of women and girls is absolute.
Moving from one inspirational woman to another, recently promoted Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg recently visited Southampton Airport, and I was thrilled to be able to join her for a tour of the airport. This visit looked to highlight the important role that regional airports are playing within both our national, regional and local economies, supporting growth and promoting links both across the UK, as well as with our many partners abroad. I was particularly pleased, as was the airport, that the Minister had chosen a visit to Southampton Airport as her first regional airport visit. This shows the regard the Department for Transport has for Southampton Airport.
Southampton Airport is an important local employer and continues to go from strength to strength. Like me, the team at the airport recognise the need for infrastructure improvements if this growth is to continue, and we were thrilled to have this opportunity to bring this to the Minister’s attention during her visit, particularly ahead of the launch of the first Easyjet flight from the airport.
And looking ahead to the future of our area, last week I wrote about the many inspiring businesses and local people that we have across our patch, and the huge potential to boost productivity and create jobs that could be realised if provided with the right support locally. It was therefore with regret that Eastleigh Borough Council chose to approve its Local Plan recently, including delegated final decision making to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council.
This followed dozens of representations from local residents, organisations including the CPRE, ADD, the Woodland Trust, Eastleigh and adjacent Parish & City Councils, as well as sports and youth groups, who like me, raised their grave concerns over the content of the Plan, which fails local people, and moves to threaten our already depleting local environment.
While I have campaigned long and hard on the real need for a Local Plan to bring an end to speculative development across the Eastleigh constituency, it is just as important that our Local Plan is representative of the views of residents. Unfortunately, this muddled and rushed Local Plan does little to support that vision. This Council could and should do better. Its duty to the community is to listen, learn and recognise this is a very poor Plan and a terrible outcome for this area and the people that live and work within it.
I will continue to be a strong voice for residents on these and all issues, and as always, I’ll be sure to keep everybody updated both via this column, as well as via this website and social media outlets.