I cannot start my newsletter without reflecting on the international developments in Ukraine. The decision by Russia to invade is devastating, and I am appalled by Putin’s unprovoked attack. I welcome the Prime Ministers strong package of sanctions on Russia and my thoughts and prayers are with all those in Ukraine. Over the last few days, I have been supporting constituents who have immediate family still in Ukraine, as well as speaking with local businesses whose supply chains have been impacted by the conflict. If either of these also apply to you, or someone you know, please do encourage them to email me at [email protected]. My team and I will do all we can to support at this difficult time.
I am also trying to raise the issue of sexual violence in conflict. Last year the UK issued a statement that made clear that the use of sexual violence in conflict was a red line, akin to the use of chemical weapons. Last week I asked the Prime Minister in the House of Commons to reaffirm this commitment and to send a strong message to Russia that the international community will not tolerate sexual violence as a weapon in this conflict.
I have also been working very closely with communities across the constituency following the arrival of Storm Eunice. I would like to start by thanking our emergency services and the many volunteers who following Storm Eunice were out supporting our community in the clean-up effort. Following the red weather warning issued, conditions across the constituency left many homes without power – including my own. I worked closely with UK Power Networks to ensure families and the most vulnerable were supported whilst they waited to be reconnected, and I thank the team at UK Power Networks for their round the clock support and hard work – which included a door to door visit in Swanley to check those who remained without power were supported and safe. Last week I also asked the Business Secretary in the House of Commons for reassurance that areas such as Knockholt, and Swanley Village, who have faced difficulty being reconnected after the storm, and have had repeated power cuts over the years due to out of date infrastructure, will be prioritised for an upgrade. I will continue to campaign for this in Parliament.
Finally, I am delighted that February saw local Conservatives succeed in delivering three local campaigns: protecting the Green Belt at Broke Hill, improved school provisions locally by opening the Sevenoaks annex of Tunbridge Wells School for Boys and securing additional funding for the continuation of the Kent Nightingale Court. I have shared below more details on each. I want to make Sevenoaks and Swanley an ever-better place to live and work for all residents, so if you wish to raise any local concerns with me, do get in touch.
Laura Trott
MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley
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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.
- I was delighted to hear that our campaign to protect the Green Belt land on the former Broke Hill golf course in Halstead has been successful. A developer had sought to use the land to build up to 800 houses. They were refused planning permission by the Conservative led Sevenoaks District Council and thankfully the Planning Inspector has also now refused their appeal. This is a superb result and I know the news will come as a huge relief to the local community. The Green Belt must be protected, and it was absolutely imperative that this land was not given over to housing.
- It was a pleasure to help formally open the Sevenoaks campus of the Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys. This is a huge milestone for our area and one that has only come about due to years of campaigning by parents, local councillors and my predecessor Sir Michael Fallon. I am proud to have supported it since my election campaign. In 2010, Sevenoaks only had one local choice of secondary schools for girls and one for boys. We now have three schools for each to choose from. This means more boys and girls are getting their top choice of school, with no need to travel out of area for grammar provision, and less time spent on the school run.
- Following my meeting last month with the Minister, and my question in the House of Commons at the end of last year, I was pleased to hear that Kent’s Nightingale Court has been granted funding by the Ministry of Justice to remain open for another 18 months. This is fantastic news and will help to reduce delays to cases and deliver speedier justice for victims in Sevenoaks and Swanley. A huge thank you to our brilliant Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, and my fellow Kent MPs for all their hard work on this, and to Minister Cartlidge for listening to our concerns.
- After many, many setbacks, I welcomed the news that this month we started to see some progress on securing better rail services on the Maidstone East line. Southeastern – now under different ownership – have started additional direct off-peak services between the City of London and both Otford and Swanley stations. This absolutely isn’t the full-service improvement that we need, but it is – finally – some small progress. I am pleased that consistent campaigning has started to work, and the next stage is to get the frequency of service extended into peak times and, hopefully, the service to London Bridge we were promised many years ago.
- As many of you will know, the London Mayor has put forward a damaging and misguided plan to charge car drivers to enter London – a plan which is bad for London and bad for Sevenoaks and Swanley. Locally, there are a vast numbers of residents who travel in and out of London for work and leisure. However, under this new proposal every time someone crosses the border into Bromley or Bexley they face the prospect of a £3.50 daily charge, rising to £5.50 for older vehicles. I have been campaigning against the tax since the idea was first suggested last year, and I was pleased to see such a strong stance taken by the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps this month in the chamber. I will continue to work with local councillors and my MP colleagues in ensuring this proposal is rejected and hope to update you soon on progress.
- In collaboration with Sevenoaks’ Social Prescribing Link Coordinator, Matthew Bromley, Sevenoaks Town FC have this month launched a new Sevenoaks Town Wellbeing Football session at Greatness Park. These mixed gender, 5-a-side sessions will take place from 7pm every Friday on the 3G pitch. They tailored for those experiencing mental health challenges – and free to attend. This is a brilliant initiative, so if you, or anyone you know is over the age of 18 and struggling with their mental health, please do pop along. No questions will be asked, but instead the provision aims to provide a space where players can disconnect from their thoughts and enjoy the benefits of football. To sign up find out more, please visit: www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk/wellbeing.
- I was notified this month of the decision by NatWest to close their branch in Swanley from May 2022. Whilst they advised that the nearest branches will be in Sidcup and Orpington, I do not believe these are convenient for residents – especially the elderly, the vulnerable or those without a car. I held an urgent meeting with NatWest following the news and sought assurances on how they would help customers – particularly the vulnerable – after closure. They have an agreement in place with the Post Office for NatWest customers to use the post office to pay in and withdraw cash – and have now promised me that after the closure, they will have a representative in the post office twice for first week, and then every Monday for the subsequent seven weeks to answer any customer questions. A Customer Support team is also contacting every customer who they have registered as vulnerable in advance of the closure to provide help and support. If you believe you are in a vulnerable situation, you can call their dedicated helpline (0800 051 4176) to register for this additional help and advice.
- Apprenticeships and T-Levels are a brilliant way to invest in future talent, and help more people access high skilled, high wage jobs. To mark National Apprenticeship Week, I wanted to celebrate those who are doing fantastic work across the constituency in this space. Last year I visited the wonderful team at UK Power Networks in Sundridge, where apprentices are helping to deliver Net Zero carbon emissions, and I have seen many more examples across the constituency of fantastic schemes and apprentices. If you know one, do please tag them below so this week we can celebrate their achievements and inspire the apprentices of the future.
- Following my work on the Health and Social Care Select Committee, I am delighted at the decision taken by the NHS to no longer encourage and promote ‘natural births’ over C-sections under plans to improve care for mothers and babies. The news means the NHS will now abandon targets aimed at limiting caesarean rates, as recommended by my Health and Social Care Committee which concluded these targets led to women pursuing natural births when a C-section would have been more appropriate, jeopardising their safety. I have been campaigning for this for years and am delighted it has now come into force.
- Alongside the Internet Watch Foundation, I chaired an event to mark #SaferInternetDay. We were joined by four inspiring young people, who shared with parliamentarians across the House, and representatives from industry, their experience of being safe online. Improving children’s experience on the internet is so important, and it’s great to see parties coming together.
- I spoke in a debate in the House of Commons on children’s mental health. I discussed the pressures caused by social media, the need to improve training for social care workers so there is the necessary support in the Care system, and improved support for NHS staff who having been under immense pressure over the last year and are having to deal with such tragic cases day in day out. I welcome the Minister Will Quince pledge to do more and I will keep up the pressure.
- Finally, earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the new White Oak Leisure Centre, in Swanley, and saw for myself the fantastic new facilities that will be available to residents, which include: a new swimming pool, a huge gym, great play facilities for children, two court sports hall along with multi-purpose rooms and a group cycling studio This brilliant new site is down to the vision of Sevenoaks District Council, and in particular its leader Cllr Peter Fleming; the £20 million investment is the biggest single council investment within Sevenoaks District since the nineties, and one I believe really will make a huge difference to the local community.
