Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock (including Eynsham) was invited to speak at the April meeting of The Eynsham Society, and to answer questions from members. This summary provides the headlines of an informative and interesting discussion; more detailed notes are available here.
If you are interested in joining the Society or finding out more about its activities, please contact our Chairman Eleanor Chance on 01865 881 095, or email Hon. Secretary Jolyon Cox.
Calum started by explaining the rationale for the boundary changes that led to the new constituency for Eynsham (including its name). He described his background and reasons for wanting to become an MP, and his experience of becoming a new MP. He encouraged constituents to contact his office if they had any issues they want to raise with him.
Introducing a wide-ranging discussion about the challenges and issues in the local area, Calum said that in his view many of these related to the increase in the local population and whether infrastructure and public services could improve to keep pace with this. He hoped to draw on his experience as a civil servant and a local councillor to get government (local/ national) and others to work better together to address this.
The issues discussed included:
-
Water and sewerage – in particular the financial position of Thames Water and the government’s approach to tackling this.
-
Congestion on the A40 – recognising the short- and longer-term challenges and opportunities for improvement.
-
Swinford Toll Bridge – although the Bridge is in the neighbouring constituency, the meeting briefed Calum about the issues it caused the village and neighbouring areas.
-
Condition of roads – the record amount budgeted for improvements set against ten years of underfunding.
-
Botley West Solar Farm – Calum supported the development of renewable energy and working towards energy self-sufficiency in the country; he did not support the scale of the current proposal; and he described the evidence-led approach he was taking to representing the views of his constituents.
-
Local government reorganisation – an overview of the options being explored for new unitary and regional authorities.
-
Salt Cross Garden Village – the tension between economic development and growth, and the development of new housing (often reinforcing the need for commuting). Calum described his work to move Salt Cross forward through the Housing Minister and ensuring homes are built to the right environmental standards.
The meeting ended with Calum, as the LibDem spokesperson for international affairs, providing his views on the new American presidency particularly relating to defence, trade, and changes to political freedoms.