In recent weeks I have been struck by just how lucky we are to have so many parks, green spaces and beauty spots here in Dudley South. Our green spaces make the area particularly special, along with our position so close to the countryside.

The local environment makes a massive difference to people’s quality of life and wellbeing, which is why it is more important than ever that we all do our bit to ensure we can continue to maintain a community to be proud of.

It was this sentiment that inspired me to organise a petition last year calling on Dudley Council to establish a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to give the police increased powers to tackle the problem of illegal bikers on our local nature reserves.

I received nearly 2,000 signatures on my petition, which I presented in the House of Commons twelve months ago.

I am always very encouraged to see the many community, volunteer and friends groups we have in Dudley South out litter-picking, taking care of and enhancing our parks in their spare time.

I joined in with a few of them last year and I’m currently working to set-up a number of litter-picks this spring as part of the Great British Spring Clean. I will be releasing more information about this over the coming weeks so please do get in touch with me if you wish to join in.

Here in the Black Country we are rightly proud of our industrial heritage that has driven the local economy for centuries, however, the modern world requires us to face up to the serious environmental challenges we face if changes are not made.

This requires everyone, especially MPs, to be brave and make difficult decisions to safeguard everything we hold dear about our local environment so that future generations can share in the enjoyment we often take for granted.

The countryside and green spaces should be there for people to enjoy, but the illegal traveller incursions we have seen over the last few summers have been a real blight on our landscape and have caused much nuisance for local people, not to mention costing tax payers hundreds of thousands of pounds in clean-up and legal costs.

Local people have been let down by the new leadership at Dudley Council and their decision to block plans to build a new transit site at Coseley.

I have been campaigning locally to urge the Council to address this hugely important issue before the summer arrives and peak-traveller season commences.

I don’t want us to be left as the only local authority in the Black Country without an operating transit site this summer, which would clearly be a disaster. My constituents remember the great disruption caused by travellers setting up camps on Cot Lane Park, Netherton Park, Woodside Park, Hawbush open space, Brockmoor Community Centre and King George V Park in Wordsley to name just a few. Residents simply do not want a repeat of it again this year.

I have been pushing the Government to strengthen the law on traveller incursions and I have raised this issue in the House of Commons and directly with the Home Secretary.

I was pleased when last week the Home Secretary announced that, following a lengthy consultation, the police are being given greater powers to tackle unauthorised encampments more effectively.

This is clearly a very positive step in the right direction, however, the Council need to follow-up on this and get a transit site sorted without delay. I will not rest until this is resolved so that my constituents feel secure in the knowledge that their local green spaces and parks are protected by a lawful transit site in the Dudley Borough.