This week, Karen has been meeting with a number of representatives from local services to find solutions to various problems which have been raised by constituents.
Karen said:
"I know that a number of you are concerned about the healthcare situation in the Moorlands, and I would like to assure you that I am doing all I can to find the right solution. On Friday, I met a number of concerned people on Friday who, like me, are determined to ensure that we have the healthcare we need in Staffordshire Moorlands. I will continue working with them and update you on all developments.
Tourism is another key area for us. We have lots of visitors to the Moorlands and I want to build on that base to promote all that we have to offer. If we want people to visit and spend their money here, we need to offer exciting and different attractions that appeal to everyone. We also need to look at how we can attract people to stay for longer to enjoy all that we have to offer. Having met the representatives from the County and District Councils on Friday, I can see that there is so much enthusiasm and some great ideas. I look forward to seeing them put into action.
To attract visitors and to be able to manage a business effectively, one thing that local hotels and bed and breakfasts really do need is fast and reliable broadband. A topic raised at half my surgery appointments too. Almost nine out of ten homes and businesses in the Moorlands actually do have access to superfast broadband today - although many maybe do not realise it. If you do want to access fibre broadband, you should look at the Staffordshire County Council website where you can find out if it is provided in your area – you may be pleasantly surprised!
But there are also many of us who cannot yet access fibre because we are too far from a cabinet or maybe the cabinet hasn't yet been upgraded. I really do share your frustrations. I am working hard to get as much access as possible, via a number of different providers. Soon everyone will have the right to demand a minimum broadband of 10mbps, but in the meantime, there are other options, and I am of course happy to help you to understand what is available to you today."