WITH a renewed mandate to represent the residents of West Worcestershire, I’ve been getting on with the job of delivering on election pledges.

I’m pleased that the organisers of the Birmingham Velo bike race have changed their proposed route, and residents of the Teme Valley won’t be trapped in their homes for hours on September 24. There are still some access issues to resolve though.

I have spoken up for local schools to get a fairer funding deal for as long as I’ve been an MP and the Department for Education has been consulting on how to move to an improved formula.

Ahead of this deal, the Government allocated £1.3 billion of extra funding, meaning local schools will see their budgets boosted by a minimum of one half of a per cent with some getting up to three per cent extra money. Importantly, there will be no reductions in per pupil funding in real terms.

I’ve also strongly supported a bid for extra money to help improve our local hospitals including meeting with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Hospitals Minister Philip Dunne. The Department has confirmed £29 million to support changes to the way health services are delivered across the county and this is great news for patients and staff who work so hard within the NHS.

The money will help to expand capacity at Worcester, while allowing us to make the most of community hospitals like Tenbury, Malvern and Pershore.

I’ve also been pressing for improvements to the local road network connecting Upton-upon-Severn to the motorway, keeping the vital road open past the town’s marina during periods of bad weather.

There is still much to do to protect areas like Severn Stoke and Tenbury but this will definitely improve Worcestershire’s flood resilience.

Over the course of the coming weeks, while Parliament is in recess, I have a busy schedule planned in Worcestershire meeting local people, visiting local businesses and holding advice surgeries.

I hope all readers get the chance to enjoy some of our great local tourist attractions, pubs, restaurants and shops as well as some sunshine.