Social care, cost of living & rural transport among Chippenham MP’s 2026 priorities
Sarah Gibson outlines key issues affecting Chippenham, Corsham and surrounding areas
Key issues affecting people living in North Wiltshire will remain the focus for MP Sarah Gibson throughout 2026, she has revealed.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Ms Gibson outlined several challenges in her constituency, which includes Corsham, Chippenham, Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett, as being particularly pressing ahead of the new year.
The Liberal Democrat identified social care as a national issue in need of addressing, while locally the cost of living crisis continues to bite, while rural areas are being held back by inadequate local transport links.
Government must tackle social care
Top of her list for government action, however, is tackling social care funding, which she said is directly tied to ambulance waiting times and hospital bed availability.
She said: "The lack of support for social care is the main blocker for beds in acute hospitals, which produces long ambulance waiting times—and that can be a matter of life and death.
"I would really like the government to focus on preventative medicine but also to support patients as they move back into home settings."
Tackling key issues across her constituency
Another widespread concern in North Wiltshire is the impact of the cost of living crisis on families, farmers and small business owners.
Ms Gibson said: “The rising cost of everything, increased National Insurance payments for employers, and other financial pressures are huge challenges for everyone.
"It doesn't matter whether you're a small business owner, looking for work or starting out in education—the effects are being felt across the board in our area.”
The Liberal Democrat also highlighted ongoing issues with public transport in the region.
In an effort to facilitate the local transport boost, she's supporting the project to reintroduce a railway station in Corsham by connecting project leads to railways minister, Lord Hendy.
She said there is a dire need for investment in local bus services in rural towns and villages.
“If you can’t rely on a bus to get to work, you're often left dealing with the huge costs of running a private car,” Ms Gibson said. “In order for our area to grow and support its people, we need funding for local bus services and infrastructure improvements like Corsham Station.”
Better support for NHS services in the region is also among MS Gibson's aims for the coming year.
She is campaigning for additional resources in healthcare provision, including increasing services for GP surgeries, addressing the availability of NHS dentists, and establishing a health centre in Calne.
Advocating for rural businesses
Ms Gibson emphasised the need for greater government focus on supporting small rural businesses, especially for high street businesses and farmers.
She noted that creating quality apprenticeships in collaboration with institutions like Wiltshire College and local small business owners could provide young people with better opportunities in the area.
Reflecting on a range of issues, Ms Gibson said she finds examples from her constituency helpful when lobbying ministers.
Sharing evidence from affected residents or organisations could also make a difference in bringing about change, using examples of speculative developments raised during planning law revisions as a recent success story.
As the MP continues to address these challenges, she's encouraging constituents to reach out and share their experiences with her.