South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon brings Diss Express readers up to date with some of his recent work in the community.
South Norfolk is in good hands with our local police team, whom I met last week.
Chief Inspector Tracey Prowting is overseeing the South Norfolk area as a whole while Inspector Gavin Money is working in the Diss, Harleston and Long Stratton neighbourhoods.
Most crime is committed by the same people committing one offence after another, so it makes sense for the police to make a big effort on steering people away from re-offending. For example, if someone is stealing to fund a drug habit it will only stop if you sort out the drug problem.
Chief Inspector Prowting tells me this approach has already had some notable successes in getting people away from a life of crime.
Green flag for park
Diss Town Council’s plan to regenerate the park by the Mere and apply for Green Flag status is excellent. It will help to attract more tourists to the town, which has to be good for the local economy. I was pleased to note that on the “to do” list is new play and fitness equipment for older children to use, which will help combat anti-social behaviour in Diss.
I am up for being a Friend of Diss Park and it’s good news that celebrity gardener Bob Flowerdew has agreed to be patron. I have written to Project Manager Sue Reeve to offer my support especially in getting further funding for the project. I look forward to watching the project blossom!
Long Stratton bypass
The section of the A140 that runs through Long Stratton is an appalling bottleneck. Because no public money is available for road improvements, the only hope for a bypass is for a by-pass to be funded by new homes. Housing developments are often controversial but this would be delivering a bypass which Long Stratton badly needs.
However, developers in the Wymondham area want Long Stratton to lose its only realistic chance for a bypass so that they can build thousands more unwanted houses along the A11. A bypass would bring significant improvements to the quality of life of South Norfolk residents, not just those in Long Stratton itself.
The housing plans for South Norfolk, including the bypass, are currently being examined and I wrote to the planning inspector in charge and to make sure he understands how badly the Long Stratton bypass is needed.
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