As we begin a new year, full of fresh challenges I have taken some time to reflect on the high points of the last year.
To say that 2023 was filled with many funding successes is an understatement. We’ve seen the £25 million Town Fund Deal in action – enabling the establishment of the Seymore Civil Engineering Skills Academy, redevelopment of waterfront connectivity, and a Health Skills Academy too. Not only this, but Hartlepool has been selected as part of the Prime Minister’s ‘New Plan for Towns’ and will receive a further £20 million over the coming years to make vital improvements to infrastructure, transport, and to tackle the issues that matter to residents. Furthermore, I was delighted to help secure the £16.6 million Levelling Up Funding which will grow our economy through the creation of a Production Village – building on the existing film and tv offerings and boosting secondary industries such as hospitality and retail.
Hartlepool schools have received record levels of funding this year (£80.8 million), with an additional £2.7 million meaning the average secondary will have received £200,000 extra. Hartlepool’s young people have been prioritised, with a share of £450 million investment to upgrade facilities at Catcote Academy, £200,000 in grant funding to provide access to the arts in our local libraries, and grass roots Levelling Up funding for Hornby Park’s Seaton Carew Juniors FC, Hornby Park’s Seaton Carew Football Club, and Rossmere Playing Fields’ Hartlepool St Francis.
Hartlepool’s Health Care offering has also been prioritised, and I am proud that we have seen increased capacity at Hartlepool Hospital, with more services being offered, improved rates of discharge and the delivery of funding – for example through the £13 million government scheme to improve the structure and fabric of the site in line with carbon emissions goals. This was followed by support for patients with mental health, with an additional £7 million towards funding 100 new specialist ambulances and £3 million for a Crisis Hub in the Tees Valley.
Throughout the year, I have been working hard on your priorities, one of which being to increase the provision of NHS Dentistry. I have listened to the needs of residents, as well as to some of our providers of NHS care, taking the issues to the heart of government by meeting with both the Health Secretary and Minister for Dentistry to push for vital reform. Through lobbying the ICB myself and colleagues have ensured an extra £3 million was directed towards funding NHS Dentistry across our area. This issue is still prevalent, but I will continue to work with our fabulous NHS dentists to ensure patients get the care they need while urgently seeking reform to the system.
I have also been supporting Hospices across Tees Valley, welcoming Nicki and Sandra from Alice House to Parliament, and meeting with the Integrated Care Board to ensure Tees Valley Hospices get the support they need. Not to mention, it was great fun joining Alice House for their Colour Run Fundraiser a few months back!
I continue to speak up for Steelworks in Teesside and lobby for new Nuclear. I was able to meet with the Chancellor on multiple occasions to discuss Hartlepool's role in the future of nuclear energy. Welcoming the Minister for Nuclear to Hartlepool and bringing representatives from EDF and X-Energy to Parliament were both huge steps forwards, with discussions ongoing. I also celebrated Great British Nuclear launching in Hartlepool, which now supports 756 jobs in the town. With the recent announcement of the government’s nuclear roadmap, I look forward to much more good news regarding nuclear throughout 2024.
This year Hartlepool has also become involved in the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank. The project sees around 400 skilled jobs and apprenticeships based at the Hartlepool site.
My visits to much loved local businesses left me impressed, notably with the second opening of Hartlepool and Billingham Self-Storage and Hartlepool Radio’s move to a new site.
Developments continued to take place across the patch, and I visited new eco-friendly, affordable builds being developed in Hartlepool. Our rural development will also be supported by the extra £100 million going towards improving roads across Tees Valley.
Over the past months I have continued to stand up against crime, both locally and nationally. I have spoken up about illegal migration both in the House and through meetings with the Home Secretary to put forward your views on small boats. Additionally, I have questioned the chamber about the dangers of off-road bikes, underage criminals and anti-social behaviour. Our Cleveland Police force has made much progress on these issues, namely through the introduction of the COPA app for incident reporting, and their tough stance on seizing illegal vehicles. Hartlepool Borough Council also received Government funding which has allowed for four new Neighbourhood Patrol Officers and improved reporting methods, enhancing community safety. I look forward to further progress and collaborative working this year.
As always, the personal highlights lie with meeting and engaging with constituents, through surgeries but also through this year’s numerous awards nights and No. 10’s ‘Champions Receptions’. A big congratulations to all of those residents and businesses who have been recognised for their hard work and dedication.
Those of you who follow my activity will know this is only the tip of the iceberg – I’ve championed local charities and businesses – our much-loved Hospice, Hogg Global Logistics, Orangebox Training, JDR Cables and Hartlepool’s Royal British Legion Branch to mention just a few. We’ve seen great progress when it comes to our transport infrastructure, most notably though investment in our train station, as well as cycle and walkways. Finally, Hartlepool had the opportunity to champion its rich maritime history through the Tall Ships Festival and Celebrations this year – something I know none of us will forget in a hurry!
What a year for Hartlepool and the Tees Valley.
Bring on 2024!