I hope you are all well. The summer provided a welcome respite for our retail, tourism, and hospitality sector, and led to a much-needed boost for our local economy. But the increasing likelihood of a second wave of Covid infection this winter means we must all continue to be on our guard.
Since the Covid crisis began, my constituency team and I have now helped over 5,000 North Norfolk constituents with a wide range of issues, such as advice on Covid restrictions, repatriating citizens stranded abroad; help with access to healthcare; fallen trees and highways issues after the recent storms; helping residents and businesses access government Covid funding; and supporting the amazing work being undertaken by our many voluntary community support groups. Not a day goes by where it is a pleasure to support someone.
But it’s also important to keep a focus on the ‘bigger picture’ issues too: those longer-term needs where I can be an effective voice campaigning for North Norfolk at Westminster. In the past few weeks, I’ve visited the Cromer foodbank to find out how Covid is affecting the demand on their services; talked to councillors about coastal protection; met with our Ambulance Trust to think about how we can recruit more First Responders; learned about the devastating effects of Covid on the National Trust’s income and visitor numbers, and much more.
I also work closely with my colleagues. Norfolk MPs have successfully campaigned for a complete rethink of offshore wind farm connectivity – reducing the need to dig trenches across large swathes of Norfolk; and have played a vital part in the launch of a new Green Homes Grant Scheme which provides grants for homeowners to improve their homes to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions.
I am here to help, and I continue to work hard to represent North Norfolk and the interests of you, its residents. Please do contact me on 01692 557140 or duncan@duncanbaker.org.uk if I can help you.
Duncan Baker MP
Member of Parliament for North Norfolk