Rob Wilson's Westminster Diary

Rob Wilson MP • Published 8 Jan 2009 12:00 0 Comments

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I TRY hard to keep my Westminster Diary about Westminster, so that my column does what it says on the tin.

But even I am scratching around for something to write when we've had such a long recess. As the Government has a) nothing to do and b) no desire to debate anything remotely useful in Parliament, by keeping MPs as far from democratic accountability as possible. Hence we are sent back to our constituencies, something the Daily Mail in particular, and the media in general, like to term 'holidays'!

Having had some success with Reading Station, two further local infrastructure projects now need a bit of a push forward, namely CrossRail and a Reading-Heathrow Rail link.

I've written to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, to ensure it's in his in-tray for the New Year and that I can start the slow process of wearing him down through 2009. There's money in the budget for major capital projects, so no additional spending is required and the returns for the local, regional and national economy will be pretty good. This is partly because there has been such a lack of investment in the region's infrastructure over the past 40 years.

Typically, Labour has prioritised a lot of its spending in the least productive places.

I am also becoming increasingly worried that Reading is going to be buried under aircraft noise and pollution.

Not only do we have the Government recklessly pursuing a third runway, but it now seems (according to newspaper reports) the two existing runways are going into greater use. This will be very bad news for my constituents, some of whom already have a lot of noise to put up with at certain times of the year. If the reports are true, the landing and take-off patterns will expose an extended area to a heavier burden of noise and traffic, worsening the quality of life for all under the flightpath.

I have been in correspondence with Ministers for two years and recently spoke in a debate in the House, I also wrote to NATs as part of its consultation process (it didn't think Reading important enough to include us in its consultation tour!).

At no time did Ministers or NATs suggest these changes were likely to be foisted upon us. It would be very disappointing indeed for my constituents if Ministers' previous answers proved to be significantly inaccurate.

As for 2009, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict a very difficult year economically.

The country is entering a debt crisis, where unemployment will be high and house prices continue to fall dramatically.

Looking on the bright side, I predict promotion for Reading FC, Arsenal to win the Champions League, easy qualification for England's footballers to the Euro finals, England to be Five Nations rugby champions, Andy Murray to win a Grand Slam, and the Ashes coming home! That should lift some of the gloom!

Whatever happens nationally, I wish you and your families a healthy and happy 2009.

This blog appeared in Reading Chronicle 08 Jan 09

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