Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen MP visited South Gloucestershire last week to see how the area is thriving under the Conservative-led council.
He visited the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) in Emersons Green on Friday (21 April) to understand how the Council’s support for the development of innovative new technologies is putting South Glos on the map.
He met Cllr Toby Savage, the Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, and two of the three Conservative candidates for Emersons Green – Rachael Hunt and Alka Mehta-Graham – in the upcoming local elections.
Rachael said: “We’re really lucky to have IAAPS on our doorstep in Emersons Green. The institute is leading the way in research and innovation and it was great to be able to show John the brilliant work that’s taking place locally.
“The Conservative-run Council has been at the forefront of creating the right environment to allow organisations such as IAAPS to succeed, and we will continue to do so if we retain control of the Council in May.”
John, who is also the MP for Salisbury, then went to Charlton & Cribbs to see how work on the Brabazon housing development is progressing.
Brabazon, located on the former Filton Airfield site, is a new neighbourhood that will consist of the largest new urban public park built in the South West for over 50 years.
There he met two of the three Conservative candidates for Charlton & Cribbs – Sanjay Shambhu and Brian Hopkinson – who were able to explain how the Brabazon development will benefit the area.
Sanjay said: “I was pleased to be able to welcome John to the area’s flagship Brabazon development where he can see first-hand the progress that’s being made.
“The local Conservatives are committed to building new homes in the right places, which means utilising sites such as the former Filton airfield while protecting our precious green belt.”
The Brabazon project will include plans for a 17,000-seater music and events area and could provide a £5bn boost to the local economy and support more than 30,000 jobs.
As part of the plans, a Grade II listed aircraft hangar, called Hangar 16U, is to be restored as a public library, café, gym and social centre, and will serve the Brabazon and Charlton Hayes communities.
John Glen MP, the Conservative Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “I am committed to getting out regularly across the country to see for myself the impact on the ground of decisions we are making in the Treasury and to listen to local businesses.
“It was great to visit South Gloucestershire to meet Conservative councillors and to tour the site of one of the UK’s most promising centres of innovation for hydrogen propulsion systems, IAAPS. I was also inspired by the creativity of the work I saw being done at YTL at Brabazon.
“If people want more accountable, more responsive and more responsible local government, they should vote Conservative on 4 May.”
