The New Year is a time for hope
and optimism. For some people, it represents a chance to turn over a new leaf
and make changes in their lifestyles, by stopping smoking, or doing more
exercise.
The year ahead represents a
fresh start for our politics. 2017 will be a defining moment in our country's
history as we start the process of leaving the EU and re-establishing the rule
of British law in many policy areas including agriculture and fisheries. I
fully support the triggering of Article 50 before the end of March 2017. Whilst
there are challenges ahead and there is a lot of work to do, the Government has
a mandate from the people to leave the EU and nothing should stand in the way
of the democratic decision voters took last June.
I was a supporter of leaving the EU because I have seen
first-hand the damage caused to our democracy by the European Court. Once
we re-establish control we will be able to get things done again and will be
able to tackle problems. But I also want us to put in place a very close
partnership with the EU based on friendship and cooperation and I want the UK
to be a generous and outward looking country that is a good global citizen.
Locally, 2017 also promises to be a year where we see
change take shape. Work continues at the Kresen Kernow archive centre in
Redruth, which is set to open in 2018. We have seen huge progress at Hayle, and
I am delighted that the marine energy park on North Quay is now starting to
attract new enterprise and industry to the area. The
next stage is to complete sensitive development at the end of South Quay, put
in place the footbridge to link the quay to Penpol Terrace and get things
moving on North Quay.
Finally, now that we have the
new link road, it is time to progress the regeneration of Tuckingmill. I
have recently been having discussions with the various land owners around the
site of South Crofty mine and hope we can start to see plans progress in the
coming year.