Helen Grant MP joined business leaders from across the Maidstone area at the Maidstone Economic and Business Partnership last week to discuss the need for improvements to the town's infrastructure.
The meeting, hosted by Mid Kent College, provided an excellent opportunity for Helen, along with her colleague and neighbour Helen Whatley MP, to listen to the concerns of local employers. Front and centre of the discussions were concerns about Maidstone's infrastructure, particularly the town's road congestion and rail services.
The business leaders shared with the MPs their concerns about the delay to the Thameslink rail service, but also made clear the positive impact on jobs that improvements to road and rail could create across the Borough of Maidstone. The MPs agreed to work with the Government to deliver the Thameslink programme in the most efficient way possible by the end of 2019. They also committed to keeping up the pressure to ensure that the new rail franchise due for the end of this year brings the maximum possible benefit to Maidstone's business community.
Helen said, "I very much share the desire of our local business leaders to bring about improvements in Maidstone's infrastructure. This was a very welcome opportunity to speak directly with a large group of employers about the positive impact that improvements to our roads and rail services would bring about.
I will be continuing to keep the pressure on the Government to deliver the new Thameslink service by the end of 2019. I am also working closely with Helen Whatley to bring together Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to agree a long term solution to Maidstone's congestion.
It is vitally important, particularly as we negotiate our departure from the European Union, that politicians listen closely to our business community. Helen and I will both be working with our local employers in the months ahead to ensure that their views are heard loud and clear at the heart of Government."