So what can actually be done in this constituency? Afterall one MP does not have the unilateral power to make policy or legislation. What I'd like to offer is a practical option to try and ensure a better allocation of community funding, and in doing so, make the case for fairness at the local level.

This constituency has seen some big industrial developments. Some examples include wind and solar farms on Frodsham Marshes, the Runcorn Spur and HyNet gas main pipelines, and the incinerator carbon capture scheme. The whole country wants renewable power, emerging technologies and new industrial solutions but it is our constituency that gets the turbines, the pipelines and the incinerators. Other parts of the country get to say 'no' to such projects but still share in the benefits. I don't think that's fair.

As an MP I cannot promise to prevent such development, but I can initiate the legislative process to see local communities benefit from them in a more appropriate and fair way. The above named projects either include, or plan to include, funding for community benefit. This is part of the planning stage, and while, each scheme is different, they usually involve a pseudo-independent panel allocating money to local applicants. My concern is that this money is offered to the community, but ultimately this is a PR exercise on behalf of the developers.

I intend to put forward a private members bill aimed at seeing the community truly benefit for the costs that these developments create. At the planning stage I would like a much more rigorous assessment of the costs that new development imposes on the local community.  This would enable planning committees to have a better understanding of how to balance the whole costs and benefits of such development. Then I would like to see any money earmarked for community benefit paid into a central fund separate from the influence of the developers. This fund would allow for local communities to have a greater say in how that money is spent. Finally I would like to see the legal framework put in place so that money could be ringfenced for any public service.

It's possible that such a scheme would result in community funding ending up in the same place it currently goes to, but the important thing is that that would be the choice of the public, not developers.