Now for the bypass!

Team,

I've been a bit quiet recently. Clearly there has been an election on and I was fearful this would distract our campaign. Furthermore it was at one point difficult to understand exactly who to lobby (one parliamentary seat along our route has indeed changed hands). On the positive side, during the lull, researchers from broadcast media tell me they are looking to do a piece on our plight once the traffic counts are out in the new year.

So we can now start to move forward.

The three MPs along the route are making positive noises:

• William Wragg appears to be sympathetic and is already engaging with SMBC.
• David Rutley took the time to phone me, and wanted a meeting (to be fair it was me who put it off). He's clearly keen to engage.
• Ruth George gave the weakest response, towing the HPBC line, but she has been replaced by Robert Largan who is very much pro bypass - so this is good news (for the bypass!).

Without getting too political (I'd say the same if it was Labour) I do see it as a major strength that all 3 MPs are from the same party, and that party is in power, holding the purse strings etc. 

I do also have some detailed responses as well from government departments, councils etc.

So what next?

I am of the view that moving this forward needs to be led by many more people. I cant move things along on my own.It would be nice to have a campaign team, website, and the type of engagement from the community that High Lane has had in its (superb) campaign against extra housing.I'm also not necessarily the right person to lead the progression of this issue.

So if you'd like to get involved in taking this forward, do let me know and I will either look to facilitate a meeting or introduce interested parties to one another. If interested, email me at simonbrownbill@hotmail.co.uk

In the meantime, the petition will stay live so please keep on sharing and promoting it!

Thanks all

Simon