The amenity of Brentwood High Street has been all-changing in the last month. There’s no traffic or traffic noise, as the road has been closed off for gas works and road resurfacing to take place. But it’s been far from quiet. High impact tools have been used to dig up and remove the cobbles, while shoppers have had to dodge around the barriers to make their way from one side of the High Street to the other.
I have no doubt this has been disruptive for many of the shops and businesses, and I am grateful to Brentwood Connected for supporting our High Street traders throughout, but making it clear the town centre is closed to traffic but open for trade.
I’ve been away in Manchester for much of the last week, at the Conservatives’ annual party conference. Since Kemi Badenoch became the leader of the Conservative Party last year, I have been part of a small team working with her on a review of all our party’s policies, which we will develop and hone ready to take on the challenge of the next General Election. Many of these policies were laid out at Conference, and will tackle some of the key issues which are troubling the people of Brentwood and Ongar.
The most radical policy is to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) so that we can end illegal immigration, deport foreign criminals, protect our veterans from vexatious legal claims and keep local services for local people.
But on a more local level, a Conservative Government would save our high streets by abolishing business rates and for pubs and shops, double the number of apprenticeships, and hire 10,000 more police officers. We will also create a new generation of entrepreneurs by expanding entrepreneurship coaching, making it easier to open a bank account and improving the service provided by HMRC.
I’m very proud to be part of the team which has formulated these credible policies, which you know we can deliver on. Together, these excellent measures will protect our borders, grow our economy and keep our streets safe.
