I’m delighted, after supporting a bid to make the Morecambe Bay area more inclusive, that the project is to go ahead.

This is a really exciting scheme that will have a fantastic impact on the whole of the constituency. Morecambe Bay Partnership has been awarded the funding to extend the Bay Cycle Way for 24km from Glasson Dock to Fleetwood. The scheme will also create 5 new family friendly cycling routes as well as the installation of 3 electric bike hubs at Fleetwood, Grange and Morecambe.

This project will establish the Morecambe Bay area as a centre for walking and cycling whilst creating more inclusive access for disabled visitors and young children, and providing better access for everyone to the Bay’s inspiring natural landscape, heritage and cultural sites. The team will also create a new family-friendly signature cycling festival in 2020 to attract new visitors. Its forecast the project will generate a 5.8% uplift in the visitor economy, create 18 direct jobs, support more than 900 indirect jobs and safeguard over 11,172 jobs around the Bay.  0.35 ha of brownfield land will be redeveloped and 30,000 sq m of the public realm will be improved. Congratulations to Morecambe Bay Partnership and I look forward to enjoying the new facilities with my family when the project is completed.

I’m really pleased so many people have been engaging with the Canal Quarter Consultation. Events were held in the city last week but if you weren’t able to attend, there is an online questionnaire survey you can take part in – this closes a week tomorrow so please get involved to have your say – https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sites/canal-quarter/get-involved. Alternatively you can write to canalquarter@lancaster.gov.uk to let the team know what you think.

There’s just two days to go until Earth Hour when we can all make a difference by switching our lights off for an hour at 8.30pm on Saturday. I’m one of 100 MPs who backed the movement to protect the planet in Parliament. Some of the world’s biggest landmarks switch off lights as a visual display of their commitment to our planet. Earth Hour gives a voice to people everywhere who want to raise awareness of some of the biggest environmental challenges we are facing. I hope you’ll join me.