By Victoria Prentis

You might think that I spend my time discussing Brexit and the NHS.

In fact, locals mentions their concerns about potholes to me nearly as often as their concerns about the future of the Horton General.

Steeple Aston villagers even staged a rubber duck protest, floating 100 yellow ducks in the puddles in the holes in the road. Rural roads in particular are suffering from the effects of heavy construction traffic, for which they were not built.

I often raise these concerns with leader of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), Ian Hudspeth, who assured me that the Council are working to improve the state of our roads and supporting infrastructure and development across the county.

In 2016, over £1 million of Government funding was given to OCC to fix our roads and we will be applying for more. You can report issues using the ‘Fix my Street’ tool on the Council’s website, www.fixmystreet.com/, which I have just done myself for a road I use often where the grass is growing over the top of the potholes!

Road surface degradation is just one aspect of growth that I am bringing to the attention of the Ministers in charge of housing.

I’m also talking to Ministers about how to help the new residents feel part of the community. On 19 October, I will be launching the first event of my ‘New Residents’ Roadshow’ at the Community House on the Elmsbrook Estate, Bicester between 6.30 and 8pm.

I’m looking forward to hearing residents’ views. I am expecting to discuss snagging issues, school places, post-boxes, road adoption, mapping for delivery companies and much more.

With North Oxfordshire experiencing five times the national average of house building, we need to have a clear plan for managing this growth.

It has been great to be here full time over the summer, and to catch up with the constituency, and take part in the village produce show and scarecrow competition.

There is no doubt that the next few months in Parliament will be busier than ever, so during the working week I will largely be in London. As always, please do get in touch via email (Victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk) if you would like to raise any concerns or issues.