Orwell Quay
Just met 12 residents at Orwell Quay, where two buildings will follow St Francis Tower in receiving Building Safety Fund support for remediations.
As well as pressing for improvements to the conditions residents are enduring in St Francis Tower, I have been following the progress of Orwell Quay. It’s important that leaseholders are engaged in the process and that a collaborative approach is taken.
I think the proposed cover for Orwell Quay is better than the thick plastic shrinkwrap used on St Francis Tower, though the new material is still not ideal. It’s called “netting”, hardly. Residents are still understandably frustrated by delays, as well as the complexity of the issue.
I’m aware that there are further buildings within Orwell Quay which also require work on cladding but do not qualify for the Building Safety Fund due to the height restrictions, which is an issue I’m watching keenly.
The Suffolk New College technology campus
The Suffolk New College technology campus funding skills and further education to kickstart Levelling Up Ipswich.
Today I visited the Suffolk New College technology campus, which is one of 11 projects receiving a total of £25 million in funding from the government’s town regeneration fund.
Skills are an essential component of levelling up our region, and funding for state-of-the-art resources is designed to ensure local students have access to high quality technical routes – that’s why Suffolk New College is receiving almost £1 million of funding, to support provision of apprenticeships and technical further education.
As well as new equipment, funding is being dedicated to the Suffolk New College Ipswich site, which will house a net zero campus, a tribute to our prioritisation of sustainable development, opening in the new year and admitting students from September 2022. Hydrogen power will fuel learning at the Suffolk New College campus, with potential links to the first hydrogen powered freeport. Fostering the connection between further education and exciting technical opportunities, as will be created by Freeport East, is essential: I’m excited to see local people benefit from the host of skilled technical roles injected into the local economy.
This tech camp is the first of its kind locally, with a revolutionary digital focus which enables students to pursue relevant skills and higher education which links to exciting, technically skilled careers. It’s important that children have access to high quality technical education, and an awareness of such valuable routes, from a young age.
Suffolk New College is at the heart of creating pathways for local people – the involvement with Spirit Yachts to teach hands-on courses for 16-18 year olds and beyond provides scope to train the next generation of boat builders, who will be able to take full advantage of new job opportunities in the maritime industry. I’m proud to see the potential to increase upskilling for local people, which is an essential part of levelling up the entire community.
Cliff Lane Primary School
Pleased to see Cliff Lane Primary School, which has been awarded a Woodland Trust Gold award. It’s great to see educators encouraging environmental awareness and inspiring outdoors activity, getting involved in planting and even considering maintaining a beehive.
The school is engaging in some great methods to ensure SEND provision, with teachers offering support in afternoon intervention work to prioritise student progress. It’s heartening to see a school putting so much emphasis on positive impact.
There have been issues with speeding outside the school, which I’m sure many of the parents will share my concerns about – I am looking to make sure road security measures are established to remedy this.
Also met the school council and the student librarians, who are doing a great job!
Roundtable discussion with Head Teachers
This morning I went to a roundtable discussion with head teachers from across Ipswich, Partnership Board representatives and local practitioners. Was great to have a ministerial visit from Will Quince, Minister for Children and Families, who emphasised the importance of schools incorporating enrichment activities alongside academic focuses to improve all-round progress. I am particularly impressed with the success of ‘Thrive’, a SEND initiative which sees specialised well-being support provided to students – and am glad to hear this is being extended.
Ipswich is one of 12 areas nationally to receive extra funding as a targeted “opportunity area”, designed to unlock the potential of England’s young people – demonstrating the government’s commitment to levelling up our region and putting education at the heart of the agenda. While this dedicated funding was initially a 3 year commitment, I’m delighted at the recent news to extend the provision.
There is a collective responsibility for children in Ipswich, and I was reassured to see the commitment from around the table to prioritising education and ensuring the best outcomes in Ipswich schools.
Minister for Children and Families Visit
Delighted to show the Minister for Children and Families – which covers special needs – the fantastic new facilities at Copleston High School to support pupils in years 7-11 with learning disabilities. I’m pleased with the rapid progress on this new unit, a facility which has been made a reality by government investment. In our conversation today, Minister Will Quince articulated the government’s commitment to ensuring every child is able to fulfil their potential.
Following the disappointing Suffolk SEND review, making sure we turn around the local provision for children with special educational needs is a priority for me. Better provision in mainstream settings, alongside improved special schools, presents an essential combined approach to give every child with special educational needs the route which is best suited to them.
Meeting the new leadership team at Portman Road
Pleased to be able to meet with the new leadership team at Portman Road this afternoon. Chair Mike O’Leary and Chief Executive Mark Ashton.
A lot of ambition for the club and a determination to make sure it climbs the leagues. Clearly the Premier League needs to be the end goal.
I will be back at the ground tomorrow for the Shrewsbury game and hope Town can find the sort of form necessary to propel them up the table.
Was also pleased to hear about their ambitions to be top custodians of the club and to continue the great work of the Ipswich Town Community Trust across the Town.
COVID winter plan
I was in the House of Commons Chamber this afternoon for the Health Secretary’s statement on the COVID winter plan. I’m pleased that the Government is determined to avoid any more lockdowns and associated restrictions.
Future COVID variants remain a threat, and today I asked a question about the work that is ongoing to enhance/tweak existing vaccines to make better combat the threat posed by different variants which may partially evade the existing vaccines. I was pleased that the Health Secretary confirmed that work is progressing and there is a chance that by the new year there could actually be new bi or multi vaccines. This would be a big step forward regarding our fight against COVID-19.
The vaccine booster programme will commence from next week. The JCVI have recommended that people who were vaccinated in phase 1 (priority groups 1-9) should be offered the booster vaccine. The Government has accepted this advice. The vaccine should not be offered to anyone earlier than 6 months after the completion of the primary vaccine course.
The latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that 99% of COVID-19 deaths in the first half of the year were people who had not received both doses of the vaccine. More evidence that the vaccine works and is the reason why we appear to have successfully escaped the endless cycle of lockdowns.
Pleased also that there aren’t currently any plans to introduce COVID-Passports.
Ipswich BMX track
Was great to be at Ipswich BMX track yesterday on Landseer Park. It’s grand reopening after months of work to redevelop the track. It’s been transformed making the track an even greater asset to the local community and Town as a whole.
Tracey Reeve and others have done a great job leading the fundraising efforts. British Cycling made the major contribution here and it was clear when I met with them how much importance they place on supporting grass roots clubs such as Ipswich BMX Club. Ipswich Borough Council also made a contribution and the hope is that the £25 million we got as part of the Town Deal can also make a small contribution to further enhance the facilities.
Clearly excellent resources such as Ipswich BMX track are great from the perspective of encouraging physical exercise but it also gives young people in the area something very positive to get involved in and aspire towards. Potentially even keeping them out of trouble.
As you will know, the track sits at the heart of the Gainsborough community where there are pockets of significant deprivation.
Meeting Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh
Haven’t really had any opportunities to meet significant political figures from around the world since I got elected. However today I was pleased to be able to meet with the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh along with the Bangladeshi High Commissioner here in the UK.
The Foreign Secretary from Bangladesh has been in the UK for a series of meetings with members of the Government and I was invited to meet with him as the Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh.
As you all know we have a significant Bangladeshi community here in Ipswich so I’ve shown an interest. I was very pleased to be able to talk to them both about the brilliant contributions made by the Bangladeshi community here in Ipswich and my role as an Ambassador for BSC Multicultural Services. The High Commissioner is planning to make a visit to Ipswich in the not too distant future.
Bangladesh is also an increasingly dynamic country economically and there are many benefits for the UK linked to increased trade and cooperation.
St Francis Tower raised at PMQs
Today, at Prime Minister’s Questions I raised the issue of St Francis Tower with the Prime Minister. I highlighted to him the condition of St Francis Tower, with shrink wrap being placed along the entirety of it leaving many in darkness. I also raised the issue of bars across resident’s windows preventing them from being properly opened and added that this could be the case for up to 12 months.
I understand the need for the work to take place but it must be balanced with the mental health and well-being of the residents. I am glad the Prime Minister shared my concerns and I will be providing him with further details to study. I also look forward to urgently meeting with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to discuss how we can address this awful situation.
I am also meeting with both Block Management and Oander Ltd next Tuesday with an expectation that many of our actions from our last meeting have been carried out.