YESTERDAY, Parliament broke up for the summer recess. I was able speak in the summer adjournment debate, held in memory of Sir David Amess, and highlight the work I have been doing for Darlington – reporting back is important.  

While 2025 might seem some way off, I am determined our celebrations here in Darlington are a success. In the past couple of weeks I’ve met with ministers and Network Rail to discuss the bicentenary celebrations and I am looking forward to meeting Sir Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail and a Science Museum trustee, to discuss how we make these celebrations a success.

With more than 2,000 people having signed my petition to save the two-hour free car parking in Darlington, I had the opportunity to present my first petition to Parliament, which calls on the now Labour and Liberal Democrat controlled council to reverse its dreadful decision and to back our town centre traders.

Bus services from Arriva remain a concern to people in Darlington and I continue to work hard to ensure services are maintained. The £2 single fare has been a real boost to usage, and I would encourage everyone who can to simply take the bus.

Transport more generally sees the on-going £139m investment in our Bank Top Station, and I continue to work with multiple bodies for improvements to North Road. I remain committed to securing a Northern Link Road to alleviate the congestion faced by people in Harrowgate Hill and Whinfield.

And I urge LNER not to close our ticket office in Darlington.

It was great to be at the opening of the Ingenium centre with the Education Secretary, at Darlington College. Delivered with £2.96m from the Towns Fund, this centre will house the college’s T-level students. A new special school for Darlington will be hugely beneficial, increasing provision for children with special educational needs. This additional provision of 48 places is much needed in Darlington.

Elsewhere, the £23.3m from the Towns Fund is improving our historic yards, Victoria Road and Northgate, and the recently announced plans for Coniscliffe Road.

I have brought together all the Tees Valley MPs, from all parties, to stand up for our hospices and call on the local Integrated Care Board to properly fund and support them. I will continue to push for further support and recognition of these important organisations, like St Teresa’s Hospice, which do so much good work.

I am sadly only too aware of ongoing situation on the provision of mental health services via Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, with the recent rapid review into its services. We have recently seen more alarming news about the Trust. I continue to press ministers to continue working with me and others to do all they can to improve our mental health services so that the people of Darlington can get the care they need.

By my calculations, including funds to help people through Covid and the current cost of living crisis, Darlington has received around £673m in investment from the Government since I was elected in 2019.

As Parliament breaks up, I look forward to spending my weeks ahead in Darlington, listening to the people who it is my pleasure to serve. I look forward to meeting many of you over the summer.