I have long argued about the need to protect Green Belt land. It is a principle I stood for at my election in 2019, and one I continue to defend today.
And, I make no apology for putting forward the concerns of local residents as part of these discussion – whether it is on the Green Belt or any other subject. That is the role of an MP.
By working together as a community, we have opposed speculative Green Belt development applications in Brittains Lane and Ashgrove Road and prevented illegal development from taking hold on Wheatsheaf Hill in Halstead; and supported the creation of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) on the Vine, following recent incidents of antisocial behaviour.
It is if course imperative that we build homes for local people, but we must protect the Green Belt, and ensure new homes come with the right infrastructure for communities living here. That is why we have developed Brownfield Land and in Swanley we have seen new homes built by the new leisure centre and at Meeting Point. And, in the not too distant future, development will being at the Tarmac Quarry site in Sevenoaks, where eventually nearly 1,000 new homes will be built, with added leisure facilities for all residents to enjoy.
But with homes must come infrastructure to support them, and that is why in my time as MP I have fought for improved infrastructure to go with these homes. This includes my successful campaign to secure the fast line through Swanley to London, the rebuilding of Orchards Academy, and the proposed new SEN school in Swanley. For the Tarmac Quarry site I am calling for early delivery of the roundabout at Bat & Ball, and the opportunity for sewage enhancements for those in the immediate Greatness area.
We still need more GP facilities, to deal with the ever-increasing population. And, more grammar school places. But, we are lucky to live in an area that is 93% Green Belt. Green Belt land is rightly protected, and if a speculative planning application is put in for the Green Belt, without public support, the answer should be no.
As your MP I will always work with and for the community to defend our precious green spaces from unwanted development whilst ensuring responsible development to get the houses people need.
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Below is a snapshot of what we have been working on. If there is anything, I can do to support you, please get in touch.
- Following our most recent successful campaign, additional rush hour trains will commence from 3rd June on the fast line service from Charing Cross, through London Bridge, to Swanley and Otford. This will make a massive difference to commuters travelling home to those stations. However, you will know that I always jump straight to the next thing I want improved for our community, so I have been arguing for additional carriages for the service – and I am delighted to tell you the campaign has been successful. From June we will see at Otford additional carriages (from 6 to 8) on 0635 and 0925 trains to Victoria and 4 additional carriages on the 0937 to Charing Cross. The train from Victoria to Otford at 1725 will also have an additional 2 carriages. I still wish to see more carriages on more rush hour services and will continue to press for this to happen. However, this is a welcome start. If you board morning or evening rush hour trains that are constantly overcrowded, do please write to me at laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk as it is important to evidence my case.
- On the Sevenoaks rail service, I am also pleased that from June the off-peak service will be more evenly spread, there will be additional trains during midweek mornings, as well as additional trains on Saturday mornings, with more carriages Saturday afternoons and Sundays. As a community, for work and leisure, we rely so much on the train service, and I will always push for improvements.
- The current situation concerning roadworks show little signs of improvement, and in and around Sevenoaks in recent weeks the problem has been absolutely appalling. I have written to the Cabinet Member of Kent County Council asking that an urgent review takes place of both the current situation, and of planned works. I have also asked that an investigation takes place of the use of “emergency” repairs by utility companies. At present nearly one-third of all works take place as an ‘emergency’, which lessens by a great degree the oversight Kent County Council have over the planning of works. This must be stopped.
- There have been some improvements in Royal Mail deliveries recently, but in certain areas of the constituency the service remains dire, and recently I met with the Minister Kevin Hollinrake MP. I repeated that all constituents should receive deliveries 6 days per week, and asked what action was being taken to achieve this. Minister Hollinrake explained that he had recently met with Martin Seidenberg, CEO of Royal Mail PLC. They discussed performance since, as a private company, Royal Mail’s operation of its products and services, including measures to improve performance, is a matter for the company’s management. The Minister also agreed to write to Mr Seidenberg to bring his attention to the particular issues being experienced locally. I will now meet Royal Mail’s Regional Operational Director to follow-up on improvements he outlined Royal Mail were making locally in our meeting in February - and will share an update as soon as I have one.
- I know from the amount of emails I have received how worrying the proposed Pedham Place Development is for residents in the surrounding villages. During the Local Plan consultation I met with representatives of Crockenhill, Eynsford and Farningham Parish councils to discuss local concerns, and subsequently submitted a letter to the council setting out the fears of the parishes and residents about its inclusion within the Local Plan. Last week I took the opportunity to meet again at Pedham Place with the parish councils to listen further to their concerns and was reminded of the astonishing views from the top of the hill, which show how visible this development would be for miles around. I will be writing again to the council to raise several discussion points that came up at the site meeting.
- Since the devastating news last month that someone was able to get onto the lip of Gracious Lane bridge and jump (thankfully they survived, but not without serious injury) I have been working with the authorities and National Highways over the need for further safety improvements. They report that they now have initial sketches for a meshing system at the ends of the bridge, which would also extend part the way along the main barrier. They have also met with designers and contractors, who are now working on the feasibility and detail of the solution. Once a final workable practical design is in place, the solution can be fabricated and then installed. I continue to push for a solution to be installed as soon as possible (although realistically this may be some months I’d imagine – as bespoke manufacturing will be required) and keep you all updated.
Finally, I was delighted to meet with Squerryes Wine owner Henry Warde to discuss the wine industry and hear about Henry’s exciting plans for a wine tasting which will be opening soon. As well as producing fabulous wine, Squerryes has a superb shop and restaurant, with a magnificent outdoor seating area for the summer months and beautiful views of the countryside and the vineyard. If you are in the area – do pop by. You will not be disappointed.