My campaign to clean up our waterways and coastline has been central

DAVID REED IS THE CONSERVATIVE MP FOR EXMOUTH AND EXETER EAST

Although it was over a month ago, it feels like only yesterday that I wrote my last Express & Echo article. Over the past four weeks the days have been long, and the weeks have seemingly merged into one.

However, it’s always satisfying to look back after a long shift and to take stock of the journey and any achievements. I’m glad now to have recruited and onboarded my new local team, and we have a new constituency office which will soon be ready to move into.

My new team and I have come together to get on top of the many thousands of emails and letters that we have received since being elected, and we have been able to help many families across the constituency. This part of the job is most satisfying, and it gives my team and I much contentment to help local people in their times of need.

It’s also been great to visit many businesses and organisations across Exmouth & Exeter East to hear about their successes and troubles, and crucially to listen to how I can be of assistance.

My campaign to clean up our waterways and coastline has also been central to my efforts over the past month. Last week I held a meeting with South West Water (SWW) and the Environment Agency, which was designed to brief local councillors, and a limited number of interested parties, on the current sewage situation. And most importantly, to let SWW tell us how they plan to upgrade our sewerage network for the long-term.

The meeting was informative and set the scene so that local councillors and I can assess and monitor SWW’s infrastructure delivery. In addition, I have also successfully requested for the Water Minister to meet with me and the CEO for SWW. This meeting will apply Governmental pressure and will ensure that both local and national government are kept informed about SWW’s delivery.

I was also pleased last week to bring the Trophy Hunting Bill back to the table in Parliament.

Many of us will remember reading the news about Cecil the Lion nearly 10 years ago. Cecil was an African Lion who was lured from Hwange Park and subsequently killed by trophy hunters. This caused an international outcry and outrage amongst animal conservationists and the public alike.

By putting through the Trophy Hunting Bill, we are taking a moral stand and saying that we won’t be supporting the unnecessary killing of endangered species for sport. Our great country is a leading international voice, and the EU are watching us closely to see if they follow suit with an EU-wide ban. I look forward to progressing this bill and pulling together support from both Parliament and the public.