Following its decision to seek a new operator to take over from South West Trains in mid-2017, the government has launched a consultation questionnaire to give local people the chance to have their say on our rail services and make suggestions for improvements.
The questionnaire covers a wide range of issues, from the overall priorities people want to see the new operator address, such as overcrowding, value for money, and reliability of service, to matters such as ticketing, the layout of trains and improvements to specific stations and journeys.
The consultation document can be read here, and the consultation survey completed here (the deadline for responses is 9th February 2016). I would encourage everyone with concerns about overcrowding and the value-for-money of our local rail services to respond and have your say.
I will submit directly to the consultation, and continue to push for action to tackle overcrowding and a fairer financial deal, as I have since becoming the MP for Esher & Walton constituency in 2010. But, the more responses the Department of Transport receives from Elmbridge, the better.
Although train services are of particular importance to Elmbridge, given our proximity to London and the number of people who commute daily for work, the South West Trains network covers a wide area, stretching as far as Portsmouth, Dorset, Somerset and even as far as Exeter and Bristol. Each of these areas will have their own set of priorities for investment and improvement, so it is important that we take this opportunity to make Elmbridge’s voice heard loud and clear.
Today, I joined Sue Towner and a team from the Federation of Small Businesses in Claygate for Small Business Saturday. We started off at Trew Art, pictured below, and toured the parade. Small Busines Saturday is a great opportunity to hear from small businesses (from art galleries to the local butcher), see what’s going on along the high street, and promote local retailers. We discussed issues ranging from off-street parking to devolution of business rates, and it was terrific to see the parade going from strength to strength.
Last week, I visited Dan Dean (Principal) and Terry Price (Chair of Governors) at Esher College. After really feeling the pinch of the public financial pressures in recent years, it was good to be able to meet up after the Chancellor’s Spending Review, with news that the national base rate funding per student in colleges will be protected.
The Chancellor also opened up further opportunities for colleges like Esher College to gain more autonomy and gain extra money (from recovering the cost of VAT) through academy status.
Above all, it was a chance to celebrate the college’s amazing results compared to other colleges and schools – including private ones – nationally. In terms of A Level passes, Esher College scores in the top 10 of all Sixth Form Colleges, and has a higher proportion of students going onto secure first class or upper second class degrees than the average pupil from private schools. It also has 9% more students gaining firsts from the Russell Group of universities than private schools. These are fantastic achievements we should celebrate.
Today, I dopped by Esher Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to talk to their Manager Linda Wheatley, (new) Deputy Manager Sarah Waite, and meet some of the client advisers (as pictured, with Michelle and David, below).
I have huge admiration and respect for the role and dedication of our local CABs, as early warning radars for local social problems, and I know the period before and immediately after Christmas can lead to a spike in demand for their services.
The team briefed me on a few of their concerns, including social housing – and particularly the lack of available and affordable housing stock for elderly people looking to downsize. We discussed local court reforms, and access to justice. I pointed to the positives from this week’s Spending Review, including investment in housing, and very high local levels of employment. We also discussed debt and related financial issues. I was very grateful to Linda and her team for taking the time.
Today, I met up with Kate Scribbens (new Chief Executive of Healthwatch Surrey), and Matthew Parris (Evidence and Insights Manager). Healthwatch Surrey was set up to give patients a voice in local policy-making.
At our meeting, we discussed a recent Healthwatch Surrey survey on patients views around the sharing of records – and the balance of expectations between wanting efficient services, and concerns around safety and confidentiality.
We also discussed local GP practices, and the critical challenge of ensuring surgeries provide an effective appointment-making process whilst also conveying a reasonable sense of expectations to patients. Healthwatch Surrey will feed their findings in to the work Surrey County Council and the local Clinical Commissioning Groups are doing in both of these areas.
On Friday, I popped in on Venson Automotive Solutions, where employee Steve Wall had organised an in-house ‘bake-off’ competition to raise money for Children in Need. As pictured below, I joined MD Samantha Roff and Sharon Evans (from the Lime Tree Cafe) to judge the finalists – which, yes, did involve extensive sampling!
Christina (far left) was victorious with an amazing sponge cake decorated with fruit, and the overall standard was amazing. Hats off to Samantha, Steve and everyone at the company for taking the time and effort to put in such a competitive – but equally civic-minded! – effort to raise money for charity.
This week, I met up with Nigel Milton (Heathrow’s Director for External Affairs) and Cheryl Monk (Heathrow’s Head of Community Relations), along with Molesey Councillor Steve Bax (who sits on Heathrow’s local Noise Community Forum). The meeting was part of an ongoing dialogue since last year’s highly disruptive flight trial paths over Molesey (and Walton). I live under the path, so I hear the noise first hand. Two interesting points emerged from the meeting in that regard. First, no further flight path trials are (at least currently) planned across the same areas. Second, Heathrow have sought independent verification of the noise levels, using a Dutch firm, given the discrepancy between what some residents are reporting and Heathrow’s data. My strong sense is that noise levels have reduced significantly, but there have also been a lot of ‘Easterly Operations’ lately, which increase noise levels, dictated by weather conditions.
Of course, there is a much bigger issue looming, namely the decision on expansion of airport capacity, following the Davies Report. I have made clear that I am scrutinising the Davies Report carefully, including testing the economic and environmental assumptions – both pros and cons – with business groups, local authorities, and other groups.
As part of that process, I particularly want to test the assumption that a 3rd runway could be developed in a way that reduces noise levels (affecting Elmbridge and more generally). I want to check the facts and evidence very carefully before coming to a firm view, and I will feed my views, our community’s interests and concerns into government, before a decision is taken.