AFTER many hours of negotiations with ministers, I am delighted that the past week brought final confirmation from Michael Fallon MP, the Business Minister, of the £8m Regional Growth Fund investment to start building work on the new Porton Down Science Park.

I cannot overemphasise the importance of this project to Salisbury and south Wiltshire, and to the development of the area’s reputation as a hub for world-class, cuttingedge life sciences.

After all the planning, I look forward to seeing the first phase of the park taking shape over the coming months, and the establishment of an incubation unit that will attract high-quality new businesses to Porton.

Sadly, the shine was rather taken off a busy weekend of engagements by an unexpected bout of food poisoning.

However, I did manage to crawl out of bed to attend the annual mayor making ceremony.

It was an impressive affair as always: I wish our new mayor, Penny Brown, stamina and good humour for her mayoral year; and wholeheartedly support her choice of the hospital’s CT scanner appeal as a cause that will bring the broadest possible benefits to the people of Salisbury.

Penny is a fantastic champion for many charitable causes and I am sure that she and her deputy, the excellent Jo Broom, will make a dynamic double-act.

Sadly, I was in no fit state to take on Salisbury Hospice’s 10-mile midnight walk and, with great regret, had to bow out. I am grateful for the organisers’ understanding.

I owe them one and will look to take up the challenge next year.

I was recovered sufficiently by Sunday evening to attend the Salisbury Prayer Market – a truly remarkable combined effort by around 400 members of many different churches. It was a privilege to be a part of it and I offer my congratulations to Jim Findlay, Simon Redmill and other church leaders for coming together to organise such a worthwhile event.

As Parliament breaks for Whitsun recess, I look forward to surgeries, the opening of the Hillbrooke Hotel (previously Pembroke Arms, Wilton) and Salisbury’s nowrenowned international arts festival which begins this week.