It has been frustrating over the last few years to try to persuade the Government to understand the pressures of growth in Mid Sussex and the lack of infrastructure to cope with it at present, as well as the threat of a very substantial influx of new homes in the area.

Now the influential House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee have published a report on water management which confirms what I have long been advocating on behalf of local people, that the water companies must be consulted over major house planning applications since there are currently not enough water resources to go around. We must hope that the Government will listen to powerful local voices about the potential damage to the environment from over development and unsustainable projects.

Economic growth needs to be managed in an orderly way and whilst of course we need more houses and particularly affordable homes, we must see to it that we are not bullied into defeating good sound environmental objectives.

Local meetings seem to have dominated my agenda including a detailed discussion with MSDC and Thornfields over the draft town centre masterplans. This is a really exciting project and we have a long way to go yet, but I am impressed by the way in which the developers and the Council are taking every effort to accommodate the views and wishes of local people.

I chaired an excellent meeting at the Martlets at Burgess Hill about the Best Care, Best Place consultation. Despite being widely advertised few people turned up, but it was a good moment to take stock of where we are with the local health service and the terrific challenges for the future. I followed this up with a visit to the Vale Primary Care Centre to meet with local GPs to hear of their ambitious plans for serving the community at Primary Care level.

I was impressed by what I saw and heard and this is clearly the way that Primary Care will develop for the future and I think local people will be pleased with what is proposed.

Finally, together with Cllr Patrick Shanahan, the new Leader of MSDC and John Jory, Chief Executive of MSDC, and with other West Sussex MPs and Leaders and Chief Executives of other District Councils, I met with Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing and Planning in London.

This was a pretty tense meeting and it is discouraging to hear at first hand the lack of understanding about the great difficulties that we face now in Mid Sussex with the endless demands being made for development. Already our roads, railways and health service are under the most profound pressure and we lobbied very hard to try to secure more funds for our area.

The quality of life is a wonderful thing for all of us in Mid Sussex and I am very aware of the duty that I have to try to defend it and to balance growth with sustainable development.

Anyway, as I write it is a beautiful day and I hope to have seen many of you at the South of England Agricultural Show.