In my latest Personally Speaking column, which was published in the Sentinel on Thursday, I discussed the encouraging economic news and also the strides being taken to address waste crime in the Borough.
Read my full piece below:
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As we come to the end of the Easter recess, I’ve been very active in the constituency with plenty of school and business visits, a residents’ meeting in Clayton, and lots of door-to-door conversations out and about around the patch.
Over the past few years, Britain has faced economic challenges triggered by both the impact of the Covid pandemic and the inflationary surge stemming from Putin's invasion of Ukraine, particularly with the subsequent rise in oil and gas prices impacting broader inflation.
However, inflation is now down to 3.4% and heading back to our 2% target. And this week saw the start of the new financial year with lots of positive economic stories announced.
Thanks to the Triple Lock – which we have committed to keeping at the next election – the state pension has increased by 8.5% or £900 a year. This means the basic state pension has increased by £3,700 since 2010 - 20% more than inflation.
The national living wage has also increased, from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour. National Insurance has been cut by a further 2%, now saving a household with two earners on £25k each a total of £1,000 a year.
We can also look forward to lower bills: the energy price cap, which we brought in to protect people from the worst of the oil price spike, has dropped by 12.3%, saving a typical household nearly £250.
And there’s further good news for working parents! Government-funded childcare expansion means that now, parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time.
From September 1st, this will extend to cover children aged 9 months to 2 years. And by September 2025, this will increase to 30 hours a week, lasting until the child starts primary school.
On average, this results in a yearly saving of £6,900. To ensure smooth implementation, funding for nurseries per child will be increased, alongside boosting staff and childcare places, and enhancing the recruitment and retention of childminders.
Shifting gears to local matters, it's been very encouraging to note significant strides being taken in addressing waste crime and holding those responsible accountable for their actions through prosecutions.
The Environment Agency has successfully convicted five individuals and three companies for their involvement in an illegal landfill at Bonnie Braes Farm, near Bignall End. This significant prosecution is a crucial milestone in the battle against environmental degradation and underscores the importance of upholding our environmental laws, which this Conservative Government toughened in the Environment Act 2021.
The convictions stem from offences related to the historic dumping of waste at the farm in Staffordshire. Raymond Bowden, a key figure in the illicit waste operation, was handed a 30-month immediate custody sentence, while Joe Frizell, associated with T. W. Frizell Ltd, has been sentenced to two years behind bars.
Additionally, James Bowden of Jumbo Waste & Metals Ltd, Victoria Webb-Johnson of VWJ Earthmoving Ltd, and Stefan Paraszko have received suspended sentences, sending a clear message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated. Furthermore, fines have been imposed on the companies involved, including Jumbo Waste & Metals Limited, T. W. Frizell Ltd, and VWJ Earthmoving Limited.
This follows on from convictions the EA secured last year regarding illegal waste dumping at Doddlespool Farm, near Betley. Joe Frizell, RJC Regeneration Limited and Mark Oulton pleaded guilty to various offences, and Mark Oulton was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for 18 months, as well as 130 hours unpaid work, a £5,000 fine and costs of £27,000.
Mr Oulton was also made subject to an order requiring him to remove illegal waste at Doddlespool Farm by 8 September 2024. I am aware that there is still concern about operations at Doddlespool and I am actively working on this issue with the Environment Agency.
Since becoming your Member of Parliament in 2019, I have been steadfast in supporting local residents in addressing these issues. The resolution of the criminal case at Bonnie Braes marks a significant step forward, and also offers hope for progress in tackling the longstanding problem of the broken culvert, which has been a source of flooding affecting nearby farms and properties.
These convictions demonstrate that the Environment Agency can and do hold waste criminals accountable for their actions. I have repeatedly raised the issue of waste crime in Parliament and it is good to see that the EA are now responding and securing convictions in these egregious cases.
Moving forward, I have been encouraged by my recent dealings with the Environment Agency. It is imperative that the EA continue to hold waste criminals to account and ensure anyone responsible for breaking our environmental laws is prosecuted and sentenced accordingly.