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An update from Victoria Atkins MP: Louth & Horncastle.
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Victoria Atkins MP 
Newsletter: March 2017

Victoria Atkins MP Virgin Media Louth

Digging for better broadband!

Campaigning continues on issues ranging from better rural broadband to maintaining Britain's food standards in international trade deals.  

It has been a busy time in the constituency and in the House of Commons, making sure Louth & Horncastle is heard in these important matters.

PM Backs British Farmers

I was drawn in the ballot this week to ask the Prime Minister a question in PMQs on Wednesday.

I asked the Prime Minister to ensure that the Government will continue to back British farming. She confirmed that the Government will maintain the UK’s high standards of food safety and of animal welfare in any trade deals.

She also remembered her visit to Woodhall Spa during the General Election campaign when she sampled R J Hirst's award-winning Lincolnshire sausages!

To watch my question to the Prime Minister, please click the link below.

PMQ British Farming
Better Broadband
Victoria Atkins MP Broadband Summit
I have continued the campaign for better broadband, holding my inaugural Broadband Summit in Maltby-le-Marsh.

More than 140 constituents came to express their frustration at the slow pace of broadband. I invited BT, OnLincolnshire, Virgin Media, Quickline and councillors to put their case, explain the problems and offer solutions.

At the Broadband Summit, OnLincolnshire announced that nearly a quarter of its next investment programme will be spent in the constituency. This means 540 postcodes within the constituency will get superfast broadband within a year, representing nearly a quarter of the next phase of investment for Lincolnshire as a whole.

Please look online (if you can!) to see if your postcode is one of the 540.

Following a meeting I called with Virgin Media last year, I was delighted to hear that Louth has now been selected to receive ultrafast broadband as part of Virgin Media’s Project Lightening.

On the day of the Broadband Summit, I joined the Regional Director of Virgin Media and local councillors to launch the work to upgrade 4,500 premises. I hope that this scheme can be rolled-out in other parts of the constituency.
Better Safe Than Sorry
Victoria Atkins MP & Yorkshire Regiment
Flooding is always a risk along our coastline.

When the tidal surge was predicted in January, I went to Louth Police & Fire Stations to thank the Police, Fire and Army personnel who were keeping us safe.

I also visited the Emergency Rescue Centre at the Meridian Centre to thank the LIVES responders, the Red Cross volunteers and the Leisure Centre staff helping those local residents forced to leave their homes.


At the Gold Command centre in Lincoln more than 30 organisations worked together to ensure that, if the worst happened, local people would be safe.

It was a real privilege to see the professionalism and expertise of our emergency teams in action, showing the country that Lincolnshire is ready to protect those living along the coast.
Action on Flooding!
Following on from the success of my Inland Flood Forum, I held a Coastal Flood Forum in Sandilands in February to look at ways we can improve the protection of our low-lying areas.

Many local residents attended and the Environment Agency confirmed the Government's further investment of £39 million over the next few years.
Victoria Atkins MP Flood Forum
We will remember them
Our county has a proud military history. It is therefore particularly important that we remember those who served our country with courage and often enormous sacrifice.

Alford Manor House is commemorating the centenary of the First World War. I was honoured to be invited to plant an oak tree in memory of the Battle of the Somme. It was a fittingly wet and windy day as it was so often in the trenches. It is a very moving exhibition and I do encourage you to go if you have not already had the chance.
Victoria Atkins MP Alford Manor House
Farm Diversification
Our farms not only produce an excellent standard of food, but many have also diversified to attract tourists to the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds and coast.

I went to see Paul and Flora Bennett at Brackenborough Hall Farm to hear about the challenges of running a busy farm along with self-catering holiday apartments.

It was a pleasure to see the newborn calves and the site of the medieval village at the farm.
Victoria Atkins MP Broadband Summit
School Prizes!
It is always a joy to visit local schools. I was delighted to visit Horncastle Community Primary School recently to choose a winner for their anti-litter poster competition.

Well done to Katie Hodgson who designed the winning poster, which will be displayed on litter bins around Horncastle!
Holy Trinity Tattershall Victoria Atkins MP
I also visited Barnes Wallis Academy to commend staff and pupils on their hard work in making it the most improved secondary school in Lincolnshire as part of the Department for Education’s School Performance Tables.

I was pleased to learn that this makes it the 3rd most improved state school in England by percent of students who gained an A*-C grade in English and Maths.
Holy Trinity Tattershall Victoria Atkins MP
Visits to Parliament
I have continued to welcome constituents and school groups to the House of Commons for tours and to watch debates in the Chamber.

It’s always a pleasure to meet constituents when they make the journey to Westminster. If you are interested in visiting Parliament do please get in touch with my office at victoria@victoriaatkins.org.uk.
Video Diary
I've started a Video Diary to keep you updated on what I've been doing in Louth & Horncastle and in Parliament.

For my latest Video Diary, please follow the link below.
Video Diary 5 - March Update
You can contact me via email, phone call or letter, details below:

Email: Victoria@victoriaatkins.org.uk

Tel: 01507 527017

Address:

Victoria Atkins MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
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victoria@victoriaatkins.org.uk






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Office of Victoria Atkins MP · House of Commons · London, Greater London SW1A 0AA · United Kingdom

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