It’s been another busy month, however most pressing on my mind at the time of writing is the disgraceful decision taken by the Labour London Mayor to extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) from August 2023.
It will mean a daily charge of £12.50 for those who wish to drive into London to travel to and from work, visit their loved ones and go about day-to-day life. For instance, residents living in Halstead could be faced with a charge to visit their doctor’s surgery in Chelsfield, as could people in Swanley when travelling to St Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.
Vehicles impacted will include diesel cars registered before September 2015, and most vans registered before September 2016. Cars with petrol engines will not be liable for the charge if registered in 2006 or later (nor in some instances if registered between 2001 – 2005, depending on the model).
For drivers who use their car every day, this will mean they face a bill of up to £4,500 a year. It is simply unacceptable.
The ULEZ proposal was initially consulted on over the summer, and I responded - as I know many of you did it – in strong opposition. However, it seems this process was simply a publicity stunt. Despite TfL themselves acknowledging the “overwhelming opposition” to the extension of the scheme, with 70% of outer Londoners saying no to the ULEZ extension, as well as 80% of businesses, the Mayor has ignored the voice of local people.
I want to be clear; of course, I want to see improved air quality. It is important both for both public health, and the environment. But the expansion of the ULEZ zone is the wrong way to achieve that, especially as TfL's own estimates have already said it would have little to no impact on air quality in outer London.
Many residents across Sevenoaks and Swanley are rightly angry and worried. But I will continue to fight Khan's disastrous proposal every step of the way, alongside our Conservative councillors and neighbouring Conservative MPs – just as we did with our successful campaign against his planned boundary tax floated earlier this year.
I am meeting next week with the Roads Minister to discuss how to stop such plans being enforced and will be posting updates on my Facebook page. Sadiq Khan has no right to impose a charge on non-London residents. The plan must be scrapped.
You should have all also received this month my latest Reporting Back leaflet, which recaps both the work I have been doing, as well as my plan for next year. On the reverse of the leaflet was a chance to feedback to me your local priorities. A huge thank you to the many of you who have already replied, if you are yet to respond, please do drop me an email at [email protected]. I want to work on the issues that matter most to you so 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.
- After our long-fought campaign to stop the illegal development at Wheatsheaf Hill, (close to Knockholt Station) a permanent injunction was this month granted. While the land falls within the London Borough of Bromley, I have been in close liaison with Orpington MP Gareth Bacon MP, as well as Sevenoaks District Council given the impact on my constituents. By working together, I am pleased this injunction will permanently prevent any further development, including the placement of additional mobile homes. I know there are other examples of Green Belt planning infringement which are of concern to residents, and I will continue to work with all concerned to protect the Green Belt from unauthorised development – no matter how long it takes.
- This month saw the planning application for Brittains Lane rejected by Sevenoaks District Council. My views on the green belt are well known; green belt land is rightly protected, and if a speculative planning application for housing is put in for the green belt, the answer should be no. Having met with Sevenoaks District councillors Avril Hunter and Andrew Eyre, I was pleased our concerns were heard. We are now facing a similar application on Green Belt land adjacent to Ashgrove Road, where 50 homes have been proposed. Following many letters from worried residents I met again with Cllr Hunter and Cllr Eyre to visit the site for myself. While planning decisions are made by Sevenoaks District Council, I will be making sure the views of residents who have written to me are heard.
- Further to the work I have been leading locally to restore banking services in Swanley, earlier this month I was in touch with OneBanx in Parliament to discuss how their services may be able to benefit local people. To see if we think the arrangement might work in Swanley, I have set up for OneBanx to visit Swanley this week to meet Swanley Town Council Clerk Ryan Hayman - who along with Town Council leader Michael Horwood has been incredibly supportive. As ever I will keep you updated with developments and remain committed to bringing back banking facilities to Swanley.
- I visited Shoreham Village Primary School to surprise Eliana, the Sevenoaks and Swanley winner of the Litter Angels poster competition, to present her prizes - which included a mug with her poster on it, a Litter Angels Book and £50. I also presented the school with £100. Litter Angels, a charity set up in 2008 by my fellow Kent MP Gordon Henderson MP and does fantastic work in encouraging young people to understand about the antisocial nature of litter.
- I was delighted to hear that Sevenoaks District Council has been awarded £1,215,000 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund. The funding from Government helps councils release brownfield land they own for housing, by transforming redundant industrial sites, disused car parks and derelict buildings into new places for people to live – and therefore protecting the Green Belt from being developed. I was particularly pleased to hear that of the sum awarded to Sevenoaks District Council, £840,000 was awarded for Swanley White Oaks Residential, where much needed housing will be build. A huge congratulations and thank you to council leader Peter Fleming and also to the Economic Development Team at Sevenoaks District Council who put together this successful bid.
- I met the chairman of Halstead Parish Council Jean Peel, along with other parish councillors and volunteers to help launch their Survey of the Ancient Woodlands within the Halstead Parish. The report is fascinating and so detailed. In one wood, 24 species of birds were identified, 7 types of butterfly, 5 different mammals and over 100 different species of trees and plants. It was an insightful morning, and my special thanks goes to the volunteers who surveyed the woods in such very great detail. This is an important document providing a great source of information, not only for today – but also for future generations.
- I visited St Katherine’s Knockholt CoE Primary School, along with local district councillors John Grint and Gary Williamson. We were met by the Head of Sarah-Jane Tormey. Sarah-Jane has been the Head for 20 years and it was fascinating and to hear more about her experiences. I very much enjoyed visiting every class and hearing from the children. The ethos at the school was so impressive, and the children were clearly very engaged with their subjects and teachers. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to speak with me. I really did appreciate it.
- Like many of you, I am extremely unhappy about the number of disruptive roadworks taking place at the moment, often with no one apparently carrying out any work on them. At my meeting this month with Cllr Perry Cole, Kent County Council for Swanley, I was briefed by Kent County Council officers on the problems being experienced throughout the constituency by utility companies not complying with the terms of their work permits. They confirmed there has been a sharp increase in utility companies failing to comply with the terms of their work permits and leaving repairs unresolved until they become an emergency. They also explained there is too often a disconnect between sub-contracted traffic management teams and the actual work teams which has resulted in multiple situations where the road is closed but no work actually being done. This is completely unacceptable. I have asked KCC to supply me with all the information on the utility companies which regularly breach work permits in our area so I can challenge the companies directly, and this week I will be raising my concerns with the Road Minister to see what stronger measures can be put in place to deal with breaches of work permits. I will keep you all updated.
- I joined the communities of both Sevenoaks and Swanley on Remembrance Sunday to pay my respects to those who lost their lives fighting for this country. It was a privilege to be able to lay a wreath and take a moment to appreciate the immense sacrifices they made for our freedoms today. We will remember them.
- I opened the eight new electric vehicle chargers which have been installed at Swanley Town Council’s Venue, The Olympic in Swanley. I was joined by Swanley Mayor Cllr Lesley Dyball, Swanley Town Council’s Chief Executive Ryan Hayman, Swanley Town Council Leader Michael Horwood and Connections Manager at UK Power Networks Adam Lakey, to cut the ribbon. I am so pleased Swanley has benefited from UK Power Networks’ £66 million Green Recovery scheme, which is supporting Government plans for a green industrial revolution. By fast-tracking low carbon energy projects, we are supporting the important drive to Net Zero carbon emissions and improving local air quality in the town for its residents.
- And finally, it was an honour to join volunteers in Parliament to celebrate 15 extraordinary years of Help for Heroes. Thank you Help for Heroes for everything you do to support our brave veterans and their families. Sevenoaks and Swanley are behind you.
