Kate writes a bi-weekly column for the Burton Mail. This column was originally featured in the 31st December print edition.
2023 has been an incredibly busy year and I thought for my final column of this year I would run through some of the highlights for our area and the progress we have made.
In January, we had the A38 funding announcement which will deliver major junction improvements to the Branston Interchange of the A38. In February, I met our new Borough Policing Commander to discuss crime and I urged Uttoxeter residents to take part in the consultation on the future of the Maltings Centre.
In March, we had the Budget with a freeze in Beer Duty and a new ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee’ to ensure the duty on a pub draught beer will always be less than duty in supermarkets. I also welcomed the £265K funding for Burton’s library building.
In April, the Government fulfilled its pledge to recruit 20 thousand more police officers and Rolleston was awarded £100K for flood mitigation measures to protect the village. In May, it was revealed that Burton and Uttoxeter would receive an extra £2.8million for its primary and secondary schools as part of the Government’s highest real terms spending per pupil in history.
In June, I welcomed the Farming Minister to our area where he met with local agriculture leaders and businesses to discuss Government support to this critical sector of our local economy. I also met with NHS Dental chiefs to press for additional services, particularly in Uttoxeter.
In July, following meetings with the Home Office, I welcomed the reversal of plans to use a third hotel in Burton for temporary accommodation for asylum seeker applicants. In August, again following a meeting I had with East Midlands Railway, additional train services were announced for Uttoxeter.
In September, I held another instalment of my popular Jobs Fair with over a thousand employment opportunities on offer for local people. In October, we had the brilliant news that the Government will commit to the A50/A500 corridor upgrades following the campaign I have led since my election. It was also announced that the Ivanhoe Line would reopen, providing Burton with more rail services.
In November, the Government announced Staffordshire would receive an extra £186million over the next decade to tackle the blight of potholes and the Home Office said that it would stand down a further hotel for temporary accommodation in Burton. In December, I was pleased to announced Alice Berzan from River View Primary and Nursery School as the winner of my 2023 Christmas card competition.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and can I take this opportunity to wish everyone in Burton and Uttoxeter the very best for 2024!
