I have been urging Cornwall Council to get the A39 at Fore Street in Camelford re-opened as quickly as possible. At the same time I have invited the new Transport Secretary to visit to discuss proposals for a bypass and this week I am meeting with National Highways to discuss Camelford and the dangerous Plusha junction on the A30.

For the first few weeks of my tenure as North Cornwall MP I have been urging Cornwall Council bosses to do everything they can to prioritise re-opening the A39 through Camelford and to do more to encourage people to keep using local businesses in the town in the meantime. Having visited the town several times since the closure businesses have told me they cannot deal with continued uncertainty and it is unacceptable how Cornwall Council have failed to keep residents updated on timescales and developments. I am due to meet with National Highways this week to discuss the A39 closure as well as the dangerous Plusha junction on the A30.

At the time of writing we also wait to hear from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves what infrastructure projects she will be cancelling following the dire financial situation inherited from the Conservatives. It is not right that successive governments have neglected infrastructure projects in North Cornwall while other regions and even other parts of Cornwall receive funding. I will be working extremely hard in the coming months to make sure we get our fair share.

I have also taken the campaign for a bypass or alternative scheme to through traffic passing through the narrow Camelford town centre to Parliament, where one of my first acts as the new MP was to submit a House of Commons motion urging the Government to act.

The latest closure shows how inappropriate the current route is. In the meantime, I have invited the new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh to visit Camelford and see the situation for herself.

I am due to meet the chief executive of South West Water to address the appalling sewage scandal on our North Cornwall beaches and rivers. Some residents in St Eval and surrounding areas have complained about a lack of clean water supply so I have raised this with South West Water urgently and I will ensure there is a prompt response.

Meanwhile, I was delighted to join celebrations for the 100th birthday of World War Two veteran and St Tudy resident John Westlake. John shared with me some of his experiences during his distinguished military career and was interested to hear I am also from a Royal Air Force family. I also had the pleasure of attending the Lanson show where I met lots of local charities and businesses including Trethorne Leisure Farm and the wonderful Air Ambulance. I am busy setting up my office and recruiting staff so please do bear with me while I get this set up and established during Parliament’s summer recess in August.

Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall