Throughout my time as a local MP, I have consistently stated my belief that new developments in our rural towns and villages must be sustainable, accompanied by the necessary infrastructure and services required to support both it and the pre-existing community.

That’s why, through my not-for-profit organisation The Norfolk Way, I have worked with local community groups and councillors to promote a more local and organic model of development – one that gives local councils and communities much more local control and greater freedoms and incentives to plan and build better: reducing avoidable and wasteful commuting by car, while promoting better public transport links, more recreational facilities for children, increased use of local design codes, and supporting the vibrant villages and thriving towns that are the backbone of Norfolk.

Health provision is an important part of this discussion. Local communities, as well as those moving into new developments, need to know that they can access the local health services they need, when they need them.

Strangely however, unlike like education, health provision does not receive upfront investment as new developments are granted permission and begun. Instead, investment comes further down the line and, while smaller settlements may be able to cope with such growth, larger towns and villages (especially those experiencing rapid growth) may not.

That’s why local groups like ATTCARE are so vital. ATTCARE is a local organisation that was set up as part of the Attleborough Town Plan to shine a light on the town’s health and social care needs. Its volunteers speak up for local residents and, with the significant amount of growth coming the town, recently reached out and asked me to help convene a meeting of key local stakeholders, including local councillors, GP surgery representatives and local council officials.

This past Friday, we discussed the pressures already facing the local NHS in Attleborough and the need to unite and speak to senior NHS, local Council and Government officials with a strong voice about what the town needs if it is to be able to meet the health needs of its increasing population over the short, medium and long term. It was a very constructive discussion and, having previously made representations on behalf of our other Mid Norfolk towns with regards to the lack of logic involved when health provision does not get upfront investment in growing communities, I am delighted to now be working with the ATTCARE team to convene a larger roundtable in the not too distant future, where we will make the case for greater support, investment and action in Attleborough.

With the growth coming to the town, the local health services must be supported. I am determined to do what I can to support ATTCARE and their partners as they seek to ensure that happens. I look forward to providing further updates in the coming weeks and months.