I’m very sorry about the situation in Greece. So-called Grexit, Greece leaving the Eurozone, now seems likely after the election by a landslide of an anti-austerity government made up of parties from the political extremes. Although the Greek economy is very small, its further decline has the potential to impact here and will definitely be felt in Cyprus with which the UK has strong links.

Thank goodness the UK isn’t in the Eurozone where, let us remind ourselves, the Lib Dems so fervently wanted us to be. Can you imagine the trauma that would have caused?

It seems the new Greek government wants half its debt written off. Well, I suspect that most of my constituents would rather like half their overdraft disregarded too, but life isn’t like that. Industrious German taxpayers will be reluctant to tighten their belts to bail out a country in which engagement with personal taxation has traditionally been seen as eccentric by a sizeable chunk of the population.

It was a pleasure to have one of my regular round table meetings with Warminster town councillors on Friday to discuss local issues. The big one is the urban extension proposed for the west of the town. Similar concerns exist in Trowbridge and Westbury.

I support house building providing it deals with the existing, substantial, local housing need and doesn’t simply provide commuting opportunities for folk whose employment will be many miles away. That would hardly be sustainable and my strong suspicion is that most employment growth is going to be along the M4 corridor which would mean more A350 and A36 misery.

I’m also clear that rapacious house builders need to be forced to table convincing plans for minimising the disruption to my constituents during construction and for supporting infrastructure, especially schools and clinics.

Finally, we should keep in mind that once open countryside is concreted over it is lost and gone forever and that there are still plenty of opportunities for construction on previously used sites.