I was pleased to be able to present the awards for the 5th year
for the Partnership for South Hampshire Quality Place awards. This year the focus was on Placemaking. Iconic buildings may be of interest to many, but delivering a project such as the Hotwalls in Portsmouth which both brings an at risk historic building into sustainable use and transforms an area making a real difference to people and businesses in the vicinity is more than just being of interest. It is essential to the coherence and development of our communities . I would therefore like to congratulate all those involved in delivering the Hotwalls.

It was an honour to be invited to speak along with Rev Mark Madavan at the Thanksgiving and Dedication Service for Waypoint Church marking the culmination of 10 years hard work to bring the new £5m building into being to serve the community. I am pleased that Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council were each able to support to the tune of £40,000 with 96% of the cash being raised by the congregation.

The investment by the councils gains wider community use of this amazing building which provides facilities and outreach for younger and older residents and all those in between. I congratulate the church team for their great achievement.

I am so pleased to have started this important project including many improvements to access for Fareham and Gosport in 2013 as Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment. I worked for the next few years to take it through the public consultation to the grant of planning permission. Then on to obtaining £34m of funding via government and Solent LEP