HAPPY New Year to all G & H readers! I spent a rainy New Year’s Eve in Nottingham visiting family and friends where the clouds parted just long enough for us to see some magnificent fireworks and then return home to a series of conference calls to monitor the progress of the holiday rail engineering works.

All work was delivered on time despite the flooding and storms and the railway re-opened as planned for passengers heading back to work this week – a outcome that must be delivered every time as we get on with the job of investing record amounts in upgrading our rail (and road) network.

Also in the news over the holidays was another investment package, this time for much needed housing. The government announced the creation and £6 million of funding for Housing Zones based on brownfield sites around the country to kick-start work to build tens of thousands of new homes. It is part of this Government’s ambition to deliver a million homes by 2020 and open the door to aspiring homeowners right across the UK, and as the MP for an area where house price to income ratios are well above the national average, moves like this, which increase housing supply, particularly by using brownfield sites, are very welcome.

Locally, a major driver of new housing construction has been the Salisbury Plain Army re-basing plan and on Wednesday I hosted a visit of the Minister for Defence Personnel, Col. Mark Lancaster RE, to Ludgershall and Perham Down, where we discussed the re-basing plans and met family members to discuss their accommodation. I was also able to brief the Minister on the need for ongoing investment in schools and local children’s centre services to support army families.

The New Year also bought a welcome crop of honours for local people involved our communities and huge congratulations are due to June Pearson from East Grafton, Sheila Glass from Ramsbury and Derek Elliott from Littleton Panell. I know how much they do for the local area – and also how many other people there are who have not (yet!) been recognised for their work but who contribute so much of their time and energy for all of us.

My New Year advice surgery schedule is up and running so if you would like and appointment or I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to get in touch by phoning my local office on (01380) 729358 or emailing me at claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk