The conversation, laced with amusing parliamentary anecdotes from Richard, was varied, lively and stimulating. Topics of national importance included the crisis in Ukraine, the leadership of Boris Johnson, the forthcoming budget, net carbon zero targets and the recovery and lessons learned from the pandemic.
Local issues included East West Rail, the lack of infrastructure to support the thousands of new houses that are being built throughout North East Bedfordshire with a particular focus on our overstretched GP services, the dismay at the degeneration of Bedford Town Centre and the questionable leadership of the Mayor.
The initial feedback was that it was a very enjoyable and useful evening. It certainly goes a long way with the local community, whatever their political views, that Richard took the time to come to Renhold, listen to our residents and answer their concerns in a clear, unbiased and sympathetic way.
And it certainly is a first for our village to have our sitting MP come along and listen, engage and drink tea in an open forum with our residents (not taking into account the route marches that we undertook last year!).
Renhold Parish Council would like to say a big thank you to Richard and Laura for taking the time to come meet us. And we are delighted that Richard undertook to come back to see us in the future. We very much look forward to it.
We hope you all have a lovely sunny weekend.
