This month marks three years since you elected me as your MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley. And, I have been grateful every day that you did.
Over the last twelve months I have received and replied to over 23,000 emails – which range from discussions about policy, to helping you all with local issues. It is an honour to serve as the MP for such a wonderful community, and by working together we have this year:
- Secured the hourly service Monday-Saturday from Maidstone East to London Charing Cross, as well as a new direct service from Sevenoaks to Welwyn Garden City, via St Pancras
- Supported Sevenoaks District Council in opposing the appeal by a developer to build 800 new homes on the former Broke Hill golf course in Halstead and the legal action taken by the London Borough of Bromley to prevent further illegal development at Wheatsheaf Hill, (close to Knockholt Station
- Alongside Kent County Council Leader Roger Gough, officially opened the Sevenoaks annex site for the Tunbridge Wells Grammar School
- Secured additional funding so that both St. Edmund's Church of England Primary School, and Orchards Academy can improve their facilities
- By working with our brilliant Conservative Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott successfully secured additional funding for the Kent Nightingale Court which will now be open until 2023
- Restored the TW4 school bus service from Westerham to Tunbridge Wells, as well as restoring other services such as the TW1,3 and 6 and T3
- Overseen (finally!) the completion of work on Gracious Lane Bridge so that it is now much safer for the community
- Welcomed Ukraine refugees whose lives have been turned upside down by the horrifying violence inflicted by Russia, and supported with hundreds of visa applications
- Attended the opening of the of the new leisure Centre in Swanley built by Sevenoaks District Council
- And, helped open a new community centre in Hextable
But, there is of course more to be done and I look forward to ensuring our community continues to get the investment, recognition and opportunities it deserves.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2023. My team and I will be working throughout the festive period, so if we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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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.
- Since news broke of the Labour London Mayor’s plan to extend the ULEZ zone, I have received a huge volume of emails voicing your dismay. I have spoken previously about my strong opposition to the proposal, and this month I joined my Conservative MP colleagues to meet with Roads Minister Richard Holden MP to discuss the disastrous impacts on our community, as well as signed a joint open letter to the Mayor in the Daily Telegraph asking for him to reverse the decision. I know many of you are very worried, so please do sign this petition, share it with a friend - and together let's tell the Mayor to reverse his decision https://action.conservatives.com/stop-drivers-tax/
- This Christmas I am urging everyone across Sevenoaks and Swanley to check whether you or your loved ones could be eligible for Pension Credit - which is there to help pensioners on a low income with daily living costs. The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and can unlock further support – such as help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills. Around 1.4 million pensioners receive Pension Credit. However, many people who could claim it are not. As the new Pensions Minister, I want to change this. If you think you or a loved one could be eligible do check your eligibility on our online Pension Credit calculator on gov.uk or call 0800 99 1234.
- As part of my campaign, I visited Age UK in Sevenoaks, where I met local pensioners. I was able to hear first-hand about some of the practical problems that face older people trying to make applications and I have asked my officials at the Department for Work and Pensions to look into what more can be done – including making sure advice letters are written more clearly and forms are easier to complete.
- A huge congratulations to Olivia Green (Year 5, St Bartholomew’s RC Primary School) on becoming this year’s Christmas Card Competition winner! I presented Olivia’s design to the Prime Minister earlier this month, and it has now been printed on the front of all my Christmas cards, alongside the four fantastic runners up: Henry Dancy (Year 3, St Katherine’s Knockholt CE Primary School), Mia Sojo (Year 1, St Bartholomew’s RC Primary School), Eva Francis (Year 4, Kemsing Primary School), and Soraya Odeh Witney (Year 5, Chevening CE Primary School). Thank you to all the children who entered, as well as the local teachers and parents who helped the designs reach me in Westminster. I hope it helped get many of you into the festive spirit.
- Following our successful campaign, I am delighted that the Breast Screening unit has now opened in Swanley. Early detection is vital so if you receive an invite, please do book your appointment. A huge thank you to the brilliant County, Town and District Councils, alongside local councillors who worked with the Trust to find a location.
- I was so proud to support small businesses on the 10th year of Small Business Saturday. We are so lucky to have so many brilliant small business all across Sevenoaks and Swanley. They do so much for the community, as well as supporting vital employment.
- It was an honour to host a Parliamentary Reception with the National Trust to celebrate Sir Winston Churchill’s birthday – perhaps my most famous former constituent. Chartwell, his family home in Sevenoaks, has rightly become a place of pilgrimage with many people flocking to visit from across the country. A huge thank you to Hilary McGrady from the National Trust, and Chelsea Pettitt and Katherine Carter from Chartwell who all spoke so brilliantly about Sir Winston Churchill, his family and his legacy.
- And finally, it was a privilege to welcome King Charles to Parliament for the unveiling of the commemorative plaque marking where her late Majesty the Queen lay in state. During the visit of thanksgiving and remembrance the Platinum Jubilee gift from both Houses was also revealed in New Palace Yard.
