Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards writes her update for February 2024.
Ruth writes:
[With one of the wettest Februarys on record now behind us, perhaps it’s not a surprise that I’m starting with an update on flooding. As many of you know, I’ve been working with local councillors and residents to tackle flooding in villages across Rushcliffe.
‘One of these is Cropwell Butler, where flash flooding from water draining off the surrounding land has caused a number of properties to flood. This month we had good news, our bid for Natural Flood Management defences has been successful. We will get £115,000 from Government to install natural flood management measures like ponds and leaky bunds around Cropwell Butler.
‘The County Council as the lead flood authority has identified 24 locations where this work could be carried out in partnership with landowners. I’m very hopeful that this will make a difference as the new features will help to hold water on the land for longer. I want to say a huge thank you to Nottinghamshire County Council and also to the Chairman of Cropwell Butler Parish Council, Chris Davenport, for all their work to help secure this funding and to get a solution to flooding in Cropwell Butler.
‘I am working with local flooding agencies to tackle flooding on Brookside, Main Road and on Costock Road in East Leake. I have been to meet affected residents and businesses and I am in contact with Severn Trent Water, the County Council and the Internal Drainage Board who are investigating the situation to ensure that the required work is carried out.
‘In Normanton-on-Soar I have made sure that drain clearance has been carried out in the village and flood agencies are now working together to investigate the village drainage system and local water courses to identify the causes of flooding and carry out remedial work.
‘In Kingston-on-Soar, I have been asking the Internal Drainage Board to investigate Kingston Brook, which has been flooding residents gardens and stables with up to four feet of water on multiple occasions last year. They have found significant obstruction from tree roots and have now started work to clear that.
‘We have also heard that many villages across Rushcliffe are going to be getting gigabit-capable broadband through the Government’s project Gigabit programme. Project Gigabit is the Government’s programme to get gigabit-capable broadband to areas where commercial providers won’t install it due to high costs. It has taken coverage across the country from 6% to 80% since 2019. ‘
The villages that will be part of the programme are:
- Radcliffe-on-Trent
- Tithby
- Cropwell Bishop
- Cropwell Butler
- Kinoulton
- Sutton Bonington
- Widmerpool
- Bunny
- Gotham
- Barton-in-Fabis
- Colston Bassett
- Upper Broughton
- Barnstone
- Langar
‘I will be continuing to push providers to try and accelerate some of the later roll out timescales. If you have poor broadband in your village and can’t see it in the list above, please email me at ruth.edwards.mp@parliament to let me know.
‘In Westminster, as the whip for the Department for Health and Social Care, I’ve been working with the ministerial team to get the Government’s Plan for Dentistry launched. This will create 2.5 million more NHS dentist appointments, with payments for dentists taking on new NHS patients, ‘golden hellos’ for those setting up in areas that have low provision, dental vans for isolated rural areas and higher payments for dental activity on the NHS contract. I’m in the middle of sending a healthcare survey out in Rushcliffe. If you’d like to fill it in you can do so here. ‘
Finally, we are waiting for the Budget announcement today 6 March. Amongst all the rumour and speculation I’m conscious of how important it is for people and businesses in Rushcliffe. In January this year, the Government’s National Insurance cut came into effect, saving someone on the average salary £450 on their National Insurance Bill. This month, our freeze on beer duty came into effect, saving the average independent pub over £12,800 in 2024-25. I hope we will see more tax relief for people and businesses in the budget on Wednesday. Cheers, as they say, to that!
