FIVE years ago, I was determined to improve rail links with London, promote manufacturing and engineering, support our rural services and enhance healthcare.
Today, with the £45 million investment to redouble the Stroud-Swindon line now completed, third Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering taking place next month, post offices still protected and increased investment in our local NHS, I want to build on my record of delivering for the Valleys and Vale.
I established the Carmichael Commission in order to explore options for more investment in transport infrastructure.
As a result, several projects are now on the agenda including additional train destinations from Stonehouse, improved links to the M5 motorway, a new Severn crossing from Sharpness, action to deal with the A417 bottleneck and improvements to our existing road network.
I am conducting an opinion survey on these ideas and, already, there is considerable interest and support being expressed in them.
As the Coalition Government considers options for public sector investment, I want to be sure the Valleys and Vale is well placed to secure funding for such projects.
Building on the work of the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering, I successfully fought for £5 million investment at the old Berkeley power station to establish a training centre specialising in energy (renewable and nuclear) and engineering.
Next, I am campaigning for a University Technical College on the same site.
This will mean a massive boost for local employment opportunities.
Turning to healthcare, my commitment to the NHS is already second to none, so now I want to expand local community services in diagnostic services, care for the elderly and support for mental health problems.
My work in vascular disease will be a basis for delivering these objectives and I will be setting out my vision for the future when I address radiologists next month.
Also, I want to make the Valleys and Vale an even better place to live and to visit by attracting more investment in local art, music, sport and festivals.
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