I wrote this column on Tuesday, just before the Budget which I will comment on next week, but rest assured that in the run up to the Budget, I have continued to make representations to the Treasury to make sure that our community here in Dorset is prioritised.

I spoke with the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce on Zoom last week and I was glad to learn that there are many employment opportunities at the moment. If you are looking for a new job, do email: weymouth@frontlinerecruitment.co.uk.

Last week, I spoke with the West Dorset Environmental Alliance and, earlier this week, I met with a group of national charities that support my campaign against single use plastics. We must leave our environment in a better state than we found it – this was and is an election manifesto commitment I was proud to stand on and continue to do all I can.

This week, I joined online meetings about the Dorset Local Plan. I’m concerned that our market towns are being pressured into having a large housing quota that is compliant with the proposed Dorset National Park.

This only strengthens my view that we should not have a National Park in Dorset because of the threat of pushing most, if not all housing to the extremities of my constituency, particularly to Dorchester.

We need to oppose the North of Dorchester development and the Dorset National Park to make sure we protect our green-field sites. I will be on a STAND call again this evening (Thursday), chaired by Cllr Susie Hosford and I am very pleased that Cllr David Walsh is expected to join us.

This will be an important opportunity to share your views. To read more about my campaign against the National Park, visit www.chrisloder.co.uk/dorsetnationalpark and to receive my latest updates from Westminster and West Dorset, please sign up to my newsletter at www.chrisloder.co.uk.

CHRIS LODER MP

Member of Parliament for West Dorset