Graham Jones

TWO really positive things have happened in the last month for this constituency.

Firstly, after around 15 years of campaigning and trying to sell a dream, it has finally happened.

A powerful group, Active Hyndburn, has been formed to increase sports and leisure participation dramatically.

The reasons are obvious, healthy people live longer and are happier.

Not just healthier physically, but such activities also tackle mental health and combat isolation. Hyndburn is one of the least active boroughs in the country and costs the NHS a fortune.

I say campaigned because this group has been set up correctly. I have GPs and the CCG as well as obvious third sector groups but also include established organisations that are too often overlooked. Cricket clubs and golf clubs being two examples. The latter keeps a lot of 50-70-year-olds active.

The goal has to be to go from around 25% participation to 75% in 10 years and at the same time bring all activities to one easily accessible place or portal, to have a plan, to draw in grants and provide admin support to make sure this all happens and that leagues, teams and groups are supported too.

Active Hyndburn is a very exciting project but it’s down to those involved now to make it happen.

On the subject of making such groups happen, Hyndburn Green spaces, a group I set up with a few others, is approaching its 10th anniversary and what a success story it has been!

Thanks go to all the volunteers who’ve put such hard work in but notably Cath Holmes.

Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum is an example for other areas and it received the Queen’s Award this year for its outstanding efforts.

Over £8m in grant funding for open spaces in Hyndburn and going from zero Green Flag parks to an incredible nine at present.

The second big news story is I and, by that, I mean Haslingden and Hyndburn’s MP, have been made the chair of a powerful Parliamentary group, Transport Across the North.

ITransport for/across the North are campaigning for a devolved budget including £39billion for rail improvements which I launched in Parliament two weeks ago.

I make no apologies for mentioning in my speech the M65 extension to Scotch corner and Leeds and SELRAP, the Colne to Skipton missing rail link, that will give East Lancashire vastly improved freight (and passenger) rail connections.

On the back of being the chair I was asked to chair a conference in London on the UK’s strategic road network where, you guessed it, I did not fail to mention the M65 extension.

I have also had updates on a rail freight terminal at Huncoat, a much-needed container terminal (nearest is Salford) for East Lancashire manufacturers.

Hyndburn Council needs to step up to the plate now, campaign and deliver in their local plans.

It’s common sense that jobs come before the 5,000 houses they want to build.

I have a very clear picture of what we need to enable our trade with the rest of the UK, the EU and the world.

Transport is one thing, education is another. I continue to support schools and education as well as skills.

So in November, I have organised an education summit. This came out of the Amazing Accrington business meetings where leading businesses talked of problems getting access into schools, talking about the world of work and careers as well as recruiting local apprentices.

It also came from schools saying it was challenging to get children into places of work so I am attempting, through the #AmazingAccrington business leaders, to join the two up.

Finally Brexit. As people know, this is not an important issue for me as it won’t change people’s lives other than making Britain poorer.

Not something any Labour MP wants to see.

Whilst I have voted for Brexit in Parliament in line with Labour’s manifesto pledge, I do not want to see a chaotic crashing out from the EU which would put huge barriers in front of British businesses, bankrupting tariffs and Amazonian felling levels of red tape giving German companies the opportunity to step up and take up more British businesses in the 80 worldwide countries, where we would lose preferential trading position.

Nein!