Supporting Walton and Hersham Foodbank

On Friday, I joined local councillor Mary Sheldon at the Walton and Hersham foodbank. We visited the warehouse on Faulkner’s Road, where donations are received, to catch up with the manager Nina and meet Diana, one of the foodbank’s volunteers.

As I saw with the East Elmbridge foodbank during lockdown, everyone at Walton and Hersham has been doing a great job to respond to increased local demand during the pandemic. It has been a very challenging time, so I know the whole community is grateful for the hard work Nina and the volunteers have been putting in.

After visiting the warehouse, we walked over to the additional premises that the foodbank has recently acquired in Snellings Road, to meet some more volunteers preparing food parcels. It was good to be able to thank them personally for everything they are doing.

I know that this is still a difficult time for some people. If you need support of any kind, there is a useful tool on the government’s Coronavirus website, here, which can point you in the right direction. Residents can also always contact me at dominic.raab.mp@parliament.uk. I would be happy to help.

Visiting local businesses in Stoke D’Abernon

It was good to be out in Stoke D’Abernon on Friday, meeting local businesses with councillors David and Mary Lewis. Almost two weeks after Elmbridge entered the “high” COVID alert level, I wanted to see how businesses have been finding the restrictions and raise awareness of the new government support available.

The businesses I’ve visited across Elmbridge have been doing a great job in supporting their communities in recent months, and Stoke D’Abernon was no exception. Bruce’s Doggy Day Care, for example, ensured that key workers with pets could carry on doing their jobs. The Mace convenience store, Zara’s Patisserie and ‘Good Elf’ delicatessen all stayed open during lockdown to support the community, with the latter expanding their product range to make sure residents could access what they needed. I saw another great example of this community spirit when I met the volunteers running Chatterbus, a not for profit bus service which now takes children to Cobham Free School.

It was very welcome to find out how government support has kept businesses going. I heard from Corinne, at Baloolah hairdressers, that both the furlough scheme and one of the small business grants had made a real difference. At Bruce’s Doggy Day Care, the furlough scheme saved over 50 jobs and everyone is now back at work.

It’s clear that, while businesses owners and staff are putting in a huge amount of effort, this is still a challenging time. The government has made more help available, and I encourage residents to support local businesses (as much as possible in line with current restrictions) through this period.

47 more police officers in Surrey

Yesterday, new Home Office statistics showed Surrey Police has recruited 47 additional police officers since the government began its major drive one year ago. This brings the total number of police officers in Surrey Police to 2,041, and contributes to the government’s target of recruiting 20,000 more officers by April 2023.

It is very welcome news for residents in Elmbridge and across Surrey. New crime figures this week showed a 3% fall in crime in Surrey and a 2.2% fall in Elmbridge, so these extra officers will help to ensure that this trend continues.

Beyond increasing numbers, the government is backing the police in other ways, for example by doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker to two years. We’re also giving them the tools they need to do the job – allowing more officers to authorise enhanced stop and search powers, and introducing new powers to target known knife criminals. I’m looking forward to being out and about with the local police in Elmbridge soon, to see first-hand how all of these changes are making a difference in our community.

Catching up with Elmbridge Friends of the Earth

On Friday, I caught up with Heather Fraser and Christine Manly from Elmbridge Friends of the Earth. It was good to hear their views, and we had a good discussion about the action the government is taking to tackle climate change.

The UK has a strong record in this area, having decarbonised our economy faster than any other G20 country since the start of this century. In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass a net zero emissions law, requiring us to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

This international leadership, and our commitment to Build Back Greener by becoming the world leader in clean wind energy, puts us in a good place as we prepare to host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow next year.

While climate change and environmental protection are global challenges, they also have real importance in local communities. In Elmbridge, we can see this in the strong attachment to our Green Belt. With this in mind, it was good to re-affirm to Heather and Christine the local Conservatives’ clear commitment to protecting it for future generations.

Visiting a local ‘edtech’ business in Thames Ditton

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting sQuidcard in Thames Ditton. This is a great local ‘edtech’ (educational technology) business, which operates across the UK and overseas.

In the UK, sQuidcard’s technology facilitates digital payments between parents and schools, for example for school trips and school meals. Overseas, the company provides an online learning programme in Kenya, helping children to learn at home.

When I visited, I had a tour of sQuidcard’s studio and offices, talking to the staff about their innovative work, and had the chance try their technology myself. It was impressive to see how much this local SME has achieved recently – a real Elmbridge success story.

My thanks to everyone at sQuidcard for their warm welcome and the innovative work they are doing.

Supporting Walton High Street

On Friday, I joined local councillor Christine Richardson and Conservative candidate Kris Januszajtis-Neale for a tour of Walton High Street. With Elmbridge now under the “high” COVID alert level, I wanted to check in with local businesses and make sure they have the support they need.

First up, we dropped into some shops on the High Street and New Zealand Avenue, including Hope’s Barber, the tech shop Click Save and Print and the window furnishers Pleats and Folds. We also spoke to staff at the Surrey Coffee Company. Like many of the businesses I’ve visited in recent weeks, many explained how they are keeping their businesses going by switching to a takeaway service.

Next, we moved on to Bridge Street, where we visited Artielli Jewellers, County Carpets, Walton Stitch and the Escape hair and beauty salon. Finally, we heard about how the Eat Out To Help Out scheme helped to keep business going at Morts Wine Bar.

Many of these businesses have already accessed government support this year, but I know that the new “high” alert level in Elmbridge may present challenges – particularly for the hospitality sector. With this in mind, it was good to have a chance to talk to retailers about the new support that the Chancellor announced last week. This includes grants for businesses under “high” alert restrictions, and a more generous Job Support Scheme to keep on staff who are working fewer hours.

I would encourage local businesses to take a close look at the new support available, and local residents to support them if you can.

Dom visiting Mezzet Lebanese Restaurant in Molesey in July

New government support to see Elmbridge through Coronavirus

Last week, the government announced significant new measures to support businesses, livelihoods and communities in Elmbridge during the Coronavirus restrictions.

First, on Thursday the Chancellor set out a new package of economic support for businesses and employees. This includes new cash grants, worth up to £2,100 per month, for businesses in “high” alert areas like Elmbridge. These grants are primarily for businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors, enabling Elmbridge Borough Council to determine which businesses are eligible. The council is providing updates on its website, here.

The Chancellor also announced changes to the Job Support Scheme, which begins in November. This will help businesses to keep on staff who are working fewer hours, with the government contributing to their wages for the hours they are not working. The scheme has been made more generous, with the government contributing more to employees’ wages than previously planned, and employers contributing less. More details are available here.

The self-employment scheme is also changing, with the two forthcoming grant payments now covering 40% of previous earnings, rather than 20%. More information is available here.

Second, on Thursday, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government allocated a further £100,000 of emergency grant funding to Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC). The council has now received £1.66 million of this ‘un-ringfenced’ funding, which means that it can be spent it as EBC sees fit. This is helping the council to respond to Coronavirus-related pressures.

EBC has also received government funding to spend on specific programmes, such as housing the vulnerable and safely re-opening high streets. Including this funding, EBC has benefitted from £2.32 million of government support during the pandemic.

I’m working hard to make sure we have the local support we need to see us through the challenging months ahead.

Update from South Western Railway

Earlier today, I had a useful update from Mark Hopwood, Interim Managing Director at South Western Railway (SWR), about their plans for local rail services post-Coronavirus.

We met up (outside) at Walton Station, where Mark briefed me on the new footbridge that will be built over the tracks next year. Importantly, the footbridge will have a lift, which will make moving between platforms a lot easier for disabled residents. It was also great to hear that SWR has reduced rent for the retailers around Walton Station, some of which I visited a few weeks ago. This is a welcome move, recognising the impact of reduced rail travel, and therefore customers, since March.

SWR are also looking at how residents can get better deals and a better overall experience on the railway after Coronavirus. First, they are working on new, flexible ticketing options, so that residents who might not commute every day can still get a good deal. SWR will also begin rolling out their new ‘Arterio’ trains in the new few months, which will have accessible toilets, free WiFi, air conditioning and live information screens.

Of course I appreciate that before Coronavirus, SWR’s performance had been causing significant frustration and disruption locally. Mark assured me that he will be building on the improvements in performance seen in the early part of this year. I will be keeping a close eye on this in the months ahead.

Update on unauthorised moorings on the River Thames

Last week, the Surrey Advertiser reported that the Environment Agency (EA) has appointed a contractor to help tackle the long-running issue of unauthorised moorings on the River Thames.

This contractor (District Enforcement) will work to apply penalty charges if restrictions on mooring times on EA-owned land, such as the Desborough Cut in Walton, are breached. This should help to prevent the abuse of their moorings, freeing up EA staff to take legal action against boats moored to their land without their consent. District Enforcement should begin their work on 2 November.

I have been pressing the EA to take action to address unauthorised moorings, so this is a welcome step forward. However, it will only help on EA-owned land, meaning that a wider solution is still needed.

In my view, the only such solution available is the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). This was the only proposal in Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC)’s consultation on unauthorised moorings last year that could tackle the problem across the whole riverbank, not just on land controlled by the council.

With this in mind, I will continue to press EBC to introduce a PSPO to tackle this problem once and for all.

Checking in on Oxshott businesses

Earlier today I went out on Oxshott High Street, checking in on local businesses with Councillors Mark Sugden and Andy Burley.

First up, we headed into Oxshott Village Store. It was good to hear how the new owners made sure the shop became a key community asset during the early stages of lockdown. We also spoke to the staff at Surrey Hills Butchers (pictured above), where the locally sourced produce looked great – and I bought some steaks for dinner.

Next, we dropped into The Hitt House fitness studio and Clay Hair Salon, whose owner organised a community delivery service to help the vulnerable earlier in the year.

Finally, it was great to meet everyone at the Oxshott Delicatessen and Munch and Wiggles café. All of these businesses were impacted by the lockdown, but have been bouncing back since, with innovative business practices, government support and loyal customers.

Of course, there were lots of questions today about Elmbridge moving into the “high” COVID alert level from tomorrow. As I said earlier, I understand that this will be disappointing for residents, but the additional restrictions are necessary to help curb the spread of the virus.

It’s important to remember that all of our local shops will still be open over the coming weeks. So, if you are able to support them while sticking to the new rules, I would encourage you to do so.