WITH recess still in full swing, time in the constituency has passed in a flurry of meetings, events and advice surgeries.

One highlight was the barbecue at the Red Lion held by Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, where I put forward my thoughts on topical local business issues.

Feedback from that encounter will be used to inform my ongoing conversations with Wiltshire Council.

Clearly it is early days and we have a long way to go, but there are positive signs of recovery emerging. The number of new homes being built is now at its highest rate since 2008 and the number of first-time buyers getting on the ladder is also at its highest level since 2007.

I met with the directors of Salisbury Playhouse, which continues to go from strength to strength with another exciting season on the horizon. I also caught up with the Environment Agency and Natural England to discuss issues around river maintenance in Britford.

I attended meetings in Amesbury to discuss the ongoing development of the town under the capable leadership of the excellent regeneration team. The recent news that dualling the A303 is again being explored is promising – but I want to ensure that benefits for south Wiltshire are firmly at the forefront and a permanent solution is found to the ever-worsening congestion on that road.

Lastly, I attended the opening of Amala TC at Churchfields, an exciting new training consultancy firm founded by the young entrepreneurial energies of former service and emergency services personnel. Amala TC will be a welcome and beneficial addition to Salisbury’s thriving business community.

I have received a number of letters and emails from concerned parents of students who were planning to undertake A-level studies at Wiltshire College next term. I have received a briefing from the college principal on her decision to end A-level provision in Salisbury and, while the short notice is very regrettable, I have received assurances that all those affected will be given one-to-one support to find alternative provision that is best suited to help them achieve their ambitions. Clearly class sizes of one or two students per subject would not be sufficient to sustain a productive learning environment. The insufficient uptake at Wiltshire College and the large numbers travelling out of area to secure a post-16 education only serve to further emphasise the unfulfilled need that will be met by the new Salisbury sixth form. I look forward to catching up on developments on that front tomorrow.