CAROLINE ANSELL MP: Hope for drive to safeguard Eastbourne’s fishing

August has just flown by and I have been busy getting out and about or zooming across Eastbourne to support businesses, help constituents and even open the odd enterprise or two.
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It was a delight to play my part in a virtual stone laying ceremony at the Fisherman’s Quay building at Sovereign Harbour which has received £1 million of county council and LEP funding to be the hub for Eastbourne’s under 10-metre fishing fleet for many years to come.

It is estimated the initiative will safeguard 72 local jobs and generate 3,200 visitors to the harbour. The project includes constructing seafood processing, plus a visitor and heritage centre. However, most importantly it will enable the survival of the local fishing fleet. I have been an ardent supporter of this project for many years, working with ministers and local organisations to safeguard sustainable fishing for local communities.

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More good news for our town came in the shape of the new Langney Post Office in the shopping centre.

I was on hand to cut the ribbon to officially open it for business and it will be run by postmistress Sholeh Williams.

Covid delayed the opening of what is a much-needed local facility, particularly after the recent closure of Barclays Bank in the area. Bill payment, banking, benefits and travel money and car tax renewal are all available.

I have also thrown my support behind Eastbourne Borough FC and its campaign to allow fans to be allowed to watch its matches post lockdown. I have signed a joint MP letter and personally written to sport minister Nigel Huddleston to ask him to look at the Let Our Fans In campaign affecting scores of non-league clubs, like Eastbourne, up and down the country.

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Eastbourne FC is one of the many institutions that makes our town so special. It needs to have fans allowed back in so it can make money and I believe spectators can watch the games in a safe and socially distanced manner without any problem. I will continue to lobby the government on its behalf.

I was also very pleased to see the government unveil plans this week to tackle illegal deforestation via new legislation forcing UK businesses to clean up their supply chains. There will be a consultation on the proposals to prohibit larger businesses from using products grown on land that was deforested illegally with the fines for those who do not undertake due diligence on their supply chains. Illegal deforestation takes place to grow products like cocoa, rubber, soy and palm oil and our use here in the UK in part fuels it.

Parliament may not have been sitting in August but I have been working with MPs and ministers throughout. Next week will see the return to Westminster and with it, the return to the Fisheries Bill. Closer to home, my local team office is now based back at the Town Hall. The new normal continues.

Stay safe and keep in touch.