Friday saw us welcome a visitor to Blackpool North & Cleveleys.

Mark Simmonds is the MP for Boston & Skegness, as well as our Party’s spokesman on coastal communities. We’re the first party to appoint someone to this role – a sign that we are taking the needs of seaside towns seriously. And it’s important to remember that this is in addition to having a tourism minister. Because whilst every seaside resort might be a coastal community, not every coastal community is a seaside resort. And the needs of coastal communities go far beyond just issues relating to tourism.

Mark had a full day of visits organised by myself and my Blackpool South colleague Cllr Ron Bell. Ron took Mark to meet some of the traders on Talbot Road who are hoping that the Talbot Gateway will mark an upswing in the street’s fortunes. We then went on to Cleveleys with local campaigner Cllr Andrea Kay to meet with the Save Our Surgeries Campaign, and discuss the future of general practice in Thornton Cleveleys.

Mark Simmonds MP and I discussing with local GPs, patients, Councillors and practice staff the Government's plans to open polycinics.

Back to Blackpool Town Hall, and a meeting with local businesses and stakeholders from across Blackpool. There was lots of discussion about infrastructure issues which make travelling around the whole of the Fylde so difficult – and especially creates disincentives for investment. I also raised the issue of the story in The Times that day showing how Blackpool was now the fifth worst LEA in the country when it comes to GCSE performance – not a statistic to be happy with. Michael Gove’s school reforms, putting power in the hands of parents, are needed more than ever.

All in all, it gave Mark plenty to think about as he builds a Conservative approach to the needs of our coastal communities.