HearFromYourMP

Previous message | Messages for this constituency | Next message

News from Michael Wills MP

Posted by Michael Wills, MP for North Swindon, at 08:58, Wed 9 July 2008:

Dear Resident

I am writing to update you on some of the action I’ve been taking on your behalf over the last few weeks.

Thames Water Progress on Swindon Flooding

I am very pleased that Thames Water has announced constructive and positive solutions to the problems with flooding experienced by residents in Haydon Wick. I have been working with Thames Water for over two years to try to find the best way to help people whose lives have been made miserable by repeated flooding of their homes. The announcement last week of a new £8m engineering scheme for Haydon Wick will, I hope, bring desperately needed relief to those residents in that area whose lives have been so badly affected. I am also very pleased by the way in which Thames Water are working constructively with me to find other ways of addressing the problems suffered by my constituents throughout North Swindon and I hope we will see real progress on this, on a case by case basis, in the weeks ahead.

International Workers’ Memorial Day

In Swindon, I commemorated International Workers’ Memorial Day by holding a meeting with members of Swindon TUC. At the meeting I discussed with union members their workplace experiences and their concerns about enforcement and inspection of Health and Safety regulations. One of their main concerns was that last year in the UK deaths of workers at their place of work increased by 11% from 2006.

All workers have the right to a safe, healthy and supportive workplace and I felt the discussion with union members was constructive and highlighted serious issues about workplace safety that need to be addressed. I am grateful to them for sharing their concerns with me and I encourage any employee in Swindon who feels their heath and safety is being compromised at their workplace to get in touch with their unions, if they are a member, or my office to make sure their concerns are addressed properly.

New Website

I have also redesigned my website and added new information about campaigns I have been running in Swindon. I hope you will take a look at www.michaeldwills.co.uk and let me know what you think could be improved, or anything else you feel should be included.

Post Office Campaign

I have been working with local councillors Jim Grant and Des Moffatt following the closure of Cheney Manor Post Office to make sure that those who cannot easily get to Rodbourne Road Post Office or Rodbourne Cheney Post Office can still get access to the services they need. I conducted a survey for local residents to assess the need for essential services and it received nearly 100 responses. Around half of the respondents said they would find it difficult to get to a nearby post office, mainly for reasons of age or disability.

This demonstrates that there will be a continuing need for post office services in the neighbourhood, mainly to cash pensions or benefits. I have therefore been talking to the Post Office to see if there is a way to keep these services going. They have told me they are keen to try out new and sustainable ways of providing such services, possibly through a mobile service or a local partner. I have sent them the results of the survey for analysis and I will be talking further with them in the next few weeks to see what progress can be made. Although there is some way still to go, this is an encouraging first step.

Less encouraging has been the response - or lack of one - from Swindon Borough Council. You will recall that I wrote to them three months ago asking them to work with me to keep these services going in the area. Sadly, they haven't found the time to reply. However, I shall keep going trying to keep these services for Cheney Manor, however uninterested the Council might be.

If you are affected by the closure of Cheney Manor Post Office and have not previously responded to my residents’ survey, please download one from my website by clicking here and return it to my office using the address on the form.

Abbey Meads Police Meeting

I organised a public meeting in Abbey Meads with Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police to allow residents to discuss their concerns about policing in Swindon and how anti-social behaviour is being tackled. Although crime is falling, unfortunately, Swindon is still blighted by anti-social behaviour and effectively targeting this problem will depend on a coordinated approach and action from, the council, Police and residents. The meeting was intended to start a dialogue with residents about their concerns and to hear residents’ views about how problems in Swindon can best be addressed. The feedback from residents at the meeting reflected the results the Police are already achieving in Swindon. I hope that residents found the meeting useful.

Youth Facilities

I have continued my campaign for better youth facilities in Swindon by meeting more young people over the past few weeks to discuss with them the types of facilities they would like to see in the town. I recently met students from Swindon College and Highworth Warneford School who had constructive and imaginative ideas such as a custom built music venue that would allow bigger bands to visit Swindon, more facilities in northern Swindon such as a swimming pool with diving facilities, and a cycle track.

Over the coming months, I will continue to meet young people and I will use their ideas to work with Swindon Borough Council to use the new money that is available from the Government to provide facilities that young people want and need. It’s important that the ideas come directly from young people and I am grateful to them for sharing them with me.

Hanover Court Visit

I also recently met residents at Hanover Court Residential home in Covingham to discuss their concerns about local and national issues. Several of the residents will visit the House of Commons next month for a tour of the Palace of Westminster and to sit in the public Gallery. I’m looking forward to welcoming them to the House of Commons and I was glad to be invited to visit them and to hear their concerns.

FBP Award

I was thrilled to have been awarded the Forum of Private Business’ Business-friendly MP 2008 Award last month. I am grateful to Rupert Burr of Roves Farm for nominating me, but I am even more pleased that I was able to be of some assistance to him over the past few years. He is a model entrepreneur and he has made Roves Farm something all Swindonians can be proud of.

Prospect Hospice

Last week, I met a representative of Prospect Hospice, one of Swindon’s most remarkable and best-loved institutions to see what I can do to help it this year. For over a quarter of a century, the Prospect Hospice has been providing palliative care so that people in Swindon and Wiltshire can end their days in dignity, with respect and surrounded by love and compassion. Its work has been rightly cherished by the people of Swindon. As many residents know, the Prospect Hospice, we are so fortunate to have in the town, depends heavily not just on the contributions of highly trained professional staff, but also on teams of dedicated, selfless volunteers and charitable contributions of individuals. I will continue to support the hospice’s work in Swindon to help keep this remarkable institution going. Even if we don’t need it ourselves one day, we will all know someone whose last days will be made better for it’s existence.

Constituency Work

Since my last newsletter, in addition to the visits and campaigns described above, I have met constituents to discuss their individual problems or concerns and corresponded with almost 900 constituents about their concerns about national policy or individual problems. If I have corresponded with you over the last few months, I’d like to hear from you. Did you receive a prompt and constructive reply to your concerns? Do you feel my reply was helpful? I’d be grateful if you could let me know how I might be able to provide a more effective service for constituents.

Caring for Carers

Carers are Britain’s unsung heroes and dedicated carers in Swindon play a vital role in supporting elderly and disabled relatives and friends – but, as carers will know, they need support themselves.

The government’s Carers Strategy puts carers at the centre of family policy and gives them the recognition and status they deserve. The Carers Strategy includes provisions for more information and advice services for carers, expands the skills training opportunities available, and sets out plans for the NHS to trial annual health checks for carers.

The government also announced an expansion of short break services for families with disabled children. Now short breaks for carers of adults are being expanded. They will be tailored to individual carers’ needs to help them get time away from caring in the way that will make the most difference to their lives.

I hope these new measures will help make a real difference to carers’ lives in Swindon and I will support them but I’d like to hear from you. If you care for someone in Swindon, I should be grateful if you could let me know if you welcome these measures and if you think they will be useful to you and what else you’d like to see to support carers in Swindon. I can be contacted on michaelwillsmp@parliament.ukk, or on 480 016.

Action on knife crime

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have announced new measures to send a clear message that carrying knives is not acceptable and will result in tough consequences.

Anyone over the age of 16 caught in possession of a knife can now expect to be prosecuted on the first offence. Those under 16 who commit offences without aggravating factors can still expect to receive a caution coupled with referral to a knife education scheme.

These measures are part of the government’s plan to reduce knife crime, which also includes a national £3m advertising campaign designed by young people to challenge the fear, glamour and peer pressure that can drive young people to knife crime and £5 million of direct support for police in areas that are particularly affected by knife crime to support: increase use of searches to complement 100 new portable knife arches and 350 search wants, and home visits and letters to parents of young people who may be carrying weapons.

Knife crime is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences for young people, families and their communities and so I welcome these tougher measures to help stop it.

Protection for agency workers

There are currently as many as 1.25million agency workers in the UK. However, I am concerned that some people are exploited by unscrupulous agencies. I am therefore pleased that the government recently agreed a deal between employers and unions that will see all agency workers in the UK receive equal treatment after 12 weeks employment.

The agreement reached will give increased protection to agency workers and guard against unfair wage undercutting. By working with employers we have made sure that we do not put jobs at risk or cut off a valuable route into employment.

Happy 60th Birthday NHS

The National Health Service, a service that is available to all based on need and not ability to pay, is one of our country’s greatest achievements. This year marks its sixtieth anniversary – something we can all celebrate. Thanks to extra investment, the NHS is performing one million extra operations a year than in the 1990’s and now, virtually no-one waits for more than 6 months for their operation.

The Government’s mission is to make the NHS a more personal health service, fitted to the needs of families and focused on preventing ill health as well as curing it.

A lot of change has occurred over the last sixty years. And this means that there are new challenges for our NHS. New drugs, medical technologies and better clinical practices provide us with huge opportunities, whilst diseases like obesity and diabetes as well as an ageing population present big challenges.

We need an NHS which is fit for modern life. We as patients should be given greater control, greater choice and a strong voice in our local services in Swindon.

After a long debate with GPs, the government has persuaded them that, as part of the return for all the extra investment in the NHS, they need to keep their surgeries open longer and at times that are more convenient for hard pressed families and pensioners.

By 2009 the majority of GP surgeries will be open for at least one evening or weekend session every week, and we're continuing to build local health centres and walk-in clinics to fit around your busy life.

So sixty years on, we still have free access to high-quality healthcare and people feel safe in the knowledge that if they or their family need the NHS, it is there for them. We should also take time to say thank you to the wonderful staff who look after us when we need care and attention.

I will always fight to improve the NHS in Swindon and work to ensure that it is fit for modern life.

I hope you have found this update useful. More information can be found on my website.

Best wishes

Michael