This week has been a big week for Thanet in Parliament. We are raising our profile with Government Ministers and ensuring that East Kent gets the deal that it so richly deserves.
Pfizer has been called in front of the Science and Technology Select Committee to give an explanation for their withdrawal from the Sandwich site. It is incredibly encouraging to see that we in Thanet have attracted national attention and that so many within Parliament are keen to find a solution for the future of our state of the art site. Their comments have outlined the impetus that is being put behind the re-birth of the site with more new companies being encouraged to come to Sandwich and employ our world class expertise.
The Taskforce is also making headway with the appointment of national experts in the Pharmaceutical sector working together with the best in regeneration. We are starting to approach companies that might want to take on parts of the site that are not currently being used by Pfizer.
I have also secured an adjournment debate on the regeneration of East Kent. This will ensure that the Government is very focused on the wider needs that we have – transport, skills, new jobs and small businesses.
But there are also positive things to celebrate and I have been working with Roger Gale MP to ensure that the opening of the Turner Contemporary is recognised as a national asset. Roger and I hosted a reception in Parliament on Monday to mark the forthcoming opening of the Gallery. The Minister Ed Vaizey – whose aunt lived in Ramsgate and who spent many happy holidays in Thanet – addressed the event and showed support for the opening of the most prestigious gallery in the country for years.
We are used to ups and downs in Thanet. Yet if we can make the difficulties that we face at Pfizer’s into an opportunity, make sure that we build on the impressive tourism figures from last year, with the opening of the Turner and the many other attractions that we have, we will be doing better than many would have expected.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please note comments that may be libellous, comments that may be construed as offensive and anonymous derogatory comments about real people will be deleted. Also note the facility to leave anonymous comment will be turned of during periods when I am unable to monitor comment, this will not affect people commenting who are signed on to their blogger accounts.
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.