THERE’S no doubt that our weather is changing. This summer has been hot and dry leaving Cornwall in drought. After months without enough rain, farmers are facing difficult harvests, and our communities are feeling the impact of prolonged heat and shortages of water.

Decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure have left our area vulnerable during periods of drought. We must act now to protect our natural environment and all of us who depend on it. Strengthening our resilience through better planning and improved water security will be essential in the years ahead.

Back in November, I watched the National Emergency Briefing up in Westminster. It demonstrated just how serious the climate crisis is, not just for our environment, but for everything from the economy to defence. That’s why I’m glad that there’s been opportunities to watch the People’s Emergency Briefing across South East Cornwall, and I was able to watch the one in Millbrook recently. In Parliament, I have continued to raise these concerns and press for action that reflects the challenges facing communities like ours.

I have also met some of the people working tirelessly to protect our local environment. The team at Tamar Valley National Landscape are a great example. Their commitment to conserving one of Cornwall's most treasured landscapes is inspiring. Their work reminds us that protecting nature also supports our rural economy and the tourism industry that depends upon the beauty of our area.

Part of protecting our natural environment is looking after our waterways. Plastic biobeads have been washing up across our coastline in South East Cornwall. Cornish Plastic Pollution Coalition recently contacted me about these beads, which can be used in sewage treatment processes. As we don’t have a site in Cornwall, I travelled over to Ivybridge to meet South West Water and discuss their plans to phase these out of systems. This is good news, but I’m calling on them to take more immediate measures to reduce the impacts we are seeing today.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has made it clear he will implement sweeping changes in underperforming water companies. From pumping sewage into our waterways to leaky pipes, these issues need to be addressed. I'll be working with the Government to help design a system that puts people and planet before profit.

That being said, South West Water is investing £130-million into 130 projects across South East Cornwall. This is a welcome step, and I’ll be monitoring these closely to ensure that they address the needs of our area.

So, in this time of drought, it’s important to reflect on our natural environment, the amazing people who work to protect it, and what we need to do to ensure that future generations can also benefit from it. Our infrastructure and economy must be resilient, and that means stopping our dependence on fossil fuels. I am proud to support a Labour government that takes this issue seriously, and I will continue to work to improve the nature that we cherish.