THE New Year is always a time to reflect on the year that has past and look forward to the next 12 months ahead.

This year has been a momentous year for Basingstoke. We saw the confirmation of £900m for our new hospital which is the culmination of many years of work.

Basingstoke Gazette: Maria Miller in parliament and outside Basingstoke hospital

Alongside our dedicated team at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, we have long sought to secure this crucial health investment and May 25 – the day that the funding was confirmed - was one of the highlights of my year.

This is a huge step forward and whilst the NHS plans for a new hospital to open in 2032, I will be pushing every step of the way for the hospital to be delivered sooner.

READ MORE: Why Basingstoke needs a new hospital and what it means for you

Looking at the year ahead, there is work to be done to make sure our community continues to be a great place to live. In the new year, the borough council’s Local Plan consultation will be launched and it is my view that for far too long, Basingstoke has done more than its fair share of housebuilding.

Over the past 50 years, we have built homes for 150,000 people, double the rate of the rest of the country. I have called for a change in planning rules to take high levels of historic housebuilding into account.

The minister responsible, Michael Gove, has already confirmed that councillors should plan house building levels taking local residents views into account. In the coming few weeks of the new year I hope you take the opportunity to make sure your local councillors and Basingstoke council know your views.

One of the reasons that Basingstoke is such a great place to live is our strong sense of community. Many new residents have remarked to me that this is one of the first thing they notice.

SEE ALSO: Hampshire health boss 'confident' on new hospital plans

Whilst this community spirit proliferates throughout the year, it comes to the fore at Christmas. From carol services to Christmas markets, the Peace and Unity Dialogue Christmas dinner to the BDDF Christmas party, every year it is a pleasure to celebrate the festive season with so many community groups from across our town.

These events were only possible thanks to the most dedication and altruism of volunteers, who invest their time and energies into bringing people together. These volunteers weave the social fabric of our community, and they are truly one of the main reasons that Basingstoke is so special.

Wishing for peace and good will at Christmas time has never been more important or poignant as the horrors continue to unfold in Israel and Gaza. Humanitarian aid from the UK and around the world will help ease some of the appalling suffering but a lasting peace remains what the children and families living in this long contested land need.

Can I wish everyone across our borough a very happy Christmas and let us all pray for more peace across the world in 2024. We should never lose sight of the fact that Basingstoke is a wonderful place to live nor should we forget how precious our strong local community really is.