'We need stronger action' - Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers on impact of long closure of Fleetwood high street

Since the fire in the old M&S building on Lord Street, Fleetwood’s high street has been closed.

The impact of this on local businesses had been profound and I have been keeping up to date with Wyre Council on their handling of the situation.

Legally Wyre Council have to allow the owners 28 days but this clock has now been restarted three times and we need stronger action to hold the owners accountable.

Last week, Wyre began the process again but now intend to shorten the time allowed to 14 days, after which Wyre Council can step in to make the building safe and bill the owners. While the focus has to be on reopening Lord Street, Wyre Council also must ensure that we, as taxpayers, are not left paying for repairs.

I’m really pleased that £1.2 million is coming to Wyre and Blackpool to help tackle homelessness, because everyone deserves a safe place to sleep at night.

There will be an Autumn summit bringing together organisations and leaders from across government, charities, community groups and healthcare services. By getting everyone around the same table, we can make sure support is properly joined up and focused on long-term solutions.

I also had a fantastic visit to Better Start Blackpool to learn more about the brilliant work they do supporting families from birth through to school age.

They provide a huge range of help, including baby and toddler groups, support for dads, breastfeeding guidance, help with toileting and free training for people working with pregnant women and children aged up to four.

We spoke about the pressures facing organisations like Better Start and just how important their work is. As Parliament continues to tackle major challenges around SEND, health and social care, hearing directly from people delivering services locally helps me understand what is really happening on the ground.

I also welcome the Government’s announcement that, from next April, disabled people across England will be able to use their bus passes for free at any time of day.

Too many people currently face unfair restrictions that can make getting to work, education, healthcare or appointments harder. Removing these limits will give disabled people greater independence, reduce costs and end the postcode lottery in the support available across the country.

Finally, congratulations to everyone who received GCSE or technical qualification results last week.

Whatever your results, they do not define your future. With more technical qualifications, apprenticeships and fantastic local colleges, there are plenty of routes available. The important thing is finding the next step that is right for you.