Pangbourne food outlets get plug in the Commons

Two Pangbourne food outlets got an unexpected plug in the House of Commons last week.

Reading West and Mid Berks MP Olivia Bailey mentioned Nino’s Trattoria in Pangbourne in a question to the secretary of state for business Jonathan Reynolds.

"Over the past year, I have met with dozens of local businesses across Reading West and Mid Berkshire and I am always delighted to hear about their successes,” she said. “But I also know that there are sometimes challenges in running a business, so I am always happy to feed comments to ministers and colleagues in Parliament.”

"One of the issues Nino raised with me was the regulatory controls on his business," she told the House, asking the government how its small business strategy will help companies like Nino's.

She said she was delighted when he namechecked another local business, Cheese Etc, in his reply.

"We had a wonderful visit to the area a year or so ago and I hope the Pangbourne cheese shop is still doing well," he said, adding that the regulatory burden on small businesses was a key focus for his department.

Ms Bailey has also had chalk streams like the Pang mentioned, saying they are in desperate need of protection against pollution, “particularly from the disgraceful volume of sewage being discharged by Thames Water”.

"Earlier last week, as part of my campaign to protect the Pang, I spoke in the House of Commons to call for enhanced legal protections for chalk streams including the Pang, to go alongside Labour's Water (Special Measures) Act that gets tough on polluting water companies,” Ms Bailey said.

"I was delighted with the Minister's promise that he is keen to consider this issue further and I will continue to engage with government ministers to secure the protections our chalk streams need.

"In my speech, I was also pleased to be able to mention the Sulham Woodmeadows project, which is transforming marginal arable farmland in Pangbourne, Sulham, and Tilehurst into a thriving mosaic of habitats.

“Once complete, the plan will have reinstated kilometres of historic hedgerows, created wetlands managed by ARK - Action for the River Kennet, and established species-rich grasslands that will be sustainably grazed.

"I was proud to champion this fantastic project in the House of Commons along with all the amazing organisations and campaigners involved in restoring the River Pang, as key examples of what large scale environmental projects can achieve. I welcome the Government’s plans in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will allow more of these nature recovery sites across Reading West and Mid Berkshire."