A year of fighting for North Devon says MP Ian Roome

This Christmas, when the diary temporarily eased off (a bit), was a good chance to look back on what’s been a pretty full-on year in North Devon and to look ahead to what still needs fighting for.

First off, wherever you’re spending the end of the year, I hope you get a bit of rest and I’m wishing you a very happy New Year.

This year, we’ve had some real moments where North Devon has spoken with one loud voice and has actually shifted things. 

The hospital campaign is probably the biggest example. More than 6,000 people signed my petition to back and speed up the “Our Future Hospital” programme, which gave real weight when I challenged the Prime Minister about it numerous times in Parliament.

We were then able to secure a ministerial visit and have now seen the old residences demolished, freeing up the land needed for the next phases. It’s not the finish line, but it is proper progress, and it will remain top of my priority list for next year. 

Similarly, on health access, I’m proud of what the North Devon Dental Steering Group I set up last year has achieved - dental packs in schools, more oral health visits, key decision-makers, including a Minister’s adviser, brought into the conversation. But it shouldn’t be on local people to plug the national gaps ignored by the government, the government must step up and address this crisis.

Transport has been another huge theme; school pupils seeing their bus tickets nearly double in price, students travelling on the Barnstaple-Exeter Line facing regular disruption and overcrowded carriages.

Nearly 3,500 people supported the bus fares campaign, and we’ve seen big reductions through the widened North Devon zone, which is good news. But again, it’s not job done.

For many, it’s still too expensive and prices still up. Next year, I’ll be taking this fight back to central government and Stagecoach until it’s genuinely fair.

Alongside all of that, my team and I have dealt with over 1,800 casework issues this year, everything from housing problems, SEND support, cost-of-living pressures, and access to health services.

We’ve helped families through the EHCP process, chased up mistakes on things like water bills, delayed passports, supported people sorting out pension issues, and got on to the council about potholes.

My hopes for next year are pretty simple: I want to see work on North Devon District Hospital sped up, better NHS dentistry and pharmacy provision, more affordable and reliable public transport, and, another thing I’ve also spoken a lot about this year, a stronger rural economy.

I will keep fighting against policies that hit rural areas hardest like the family farm tax and the rise in employers’ National Insurance for small businesses - and will continue the work of this year as we head into next.

Finally, from me and my team: Happy New Year, North Devon.