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MP’S UPDATE FOR BRENTFORD AND ISLEWORTH RESIDENTS JUNE 2023

 

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YOU CAN FIND PREVIOUS REPORTS OF MY WORK ON MY WEB
SITE; WWW.RUTHCADBURY.CO.UK [1]  I ALSO REPORT REGULARLY ON MY FACEBOOK
PAGE [2] AND VIA TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM @RUTHCADBURY. 

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE ISSUES WITH ME AS YOUR MP PLEASE EMAIL
ON [email protected] WITH YOUR ADDRESS, A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE
ISSUE (AND RELEVANT REFERENCE NUMBERS).   

 

SEE MY WEB PAGE  [3]FOR INFORMATION ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES.

 

IT HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS since I had the honour of being elected to serve as
the MP for Brentford & Isleworth.  

 

Since then we’ve seen the Conservative Government push the limits of our
unwritten constitution, ignore the decisions of the highest court, and they
are now refusing to comply with requests for records of conversations by
the inquiry set up by …. the Government.  

 

Currently the Commons is relatively quiet, as so much bad and badly drafted
legislation is stuck in the Lords while they amend key elements of the
Retained EU Law Bill, The Strikes (Minimum Service levels) Bill and the
Illegal Migration Bill. Defeats of the Government in the Lords, led by
Labour and cross-bench peers, are helped by Tory peers who disagree with
their Government, but cannot be “whipped” to follow a party line.
 When these amendments come back to us in the Commons the Tory majority
here defeats them, and back to the Lords they go.  This process of
“ping-ponging” carries on until either the Lords or the Government
“blinks”. These delays mean the Government is introducing no further
significant legislation, yet much is urgently needed and overdue, such as
the Transport Bill to reform the railways and improve road safety, and the
now shelved Animal Welfare bill.

HOSPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMME – GOING NOWHERE

 

At the end of May the Health Secretary announced that local hospital
building programmes will no longer get the funding they so desperately
need.  Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary’s hospitals are all in
need of extensive work and in St Mary’s case - rebuilding - to make them
safe and fit for purpose. They were expecting to benefit from
the Government’s promise to “rebuild 40 hospitals” – which
actually meant extensions or refurbishment of existing hospitals [4] in
many cases.  But just £20bn has been allocated nationally of the £35bn
needed for the “new hospital programme” nationally, and our three
hospitals will continue to crumble.

 

MY PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY IN MAY

FOR FULL DETAILS OF MY QUESTIONS AND SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT, GET REGULAR
UPDATES ABOUT MY PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITIES THEYWORKFORYOU [5] (VOTES) OR
SEE HANSARD [6] (SPEECHES) & ON YOUTUBE [7]

IN THE CHAMBER I;

* Raised the concerns of Armenian constituents of the blockade of the
Lachin corridor cutting off the Artsakh enclave within Azerbaijan.
* Demanded better EV charging infrastructure on our road system to
encourage more residents and businesses to buy EVs.
* Challenged the Government on its proposal to water down housing
standards for Asylum Seekers, so the worst private landlords could be
putting vulnerable families at serious risk.
* Raised the impact that fixed-term energy contracts are having on pubs
and other businesses - and asked how the Government will protect small
businesses trapped in these contracts.
* Spoke about the impact of leasehold law on constituents with high
service charges, rising building insurance costs, management issues, lack
of action on repairs and building safety faults. I voted in support of
Labour’s motion calling for leasehold reform.
* Spoke in a debate with several West London MPs on Heathrow Expansion. I
pointed out that increasing flights on the existing two runways is a more
imminent and likely threat than a third runway.  I raised constituents’
concerns around air pollution, congestion and noise.
* Criticised the Government for the non-appearance of the Animal Welfare
Bill, over two years since the consultation ended, and which would ban
trade in furs and more. 
* Asked why the number of charges for domestic abuse and violence has not
just failed to keep pace with the rise in reported offences but has gone so
dramatically backwards

 

COMMUNITY UPDATE

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THE STRAND ON THE GREEN/BROOKS ROAD FOOTBRIDGE was NOT closed for
replacement (see my May update) as announced at short notice by Network
Rail.  It is used by so many of the area’s residents for the school run
and daily commute, and I was alerted by parents at the school about its
imminent closure.  I told Hounslow Council who had not been informed and
wrote to Network Rail expressing my concern about the lack of communication
and asked about the design, to see if there could be a more accessible
replacement. Network Rail let me know they have paused the works, but not
for how long nor what they are going to replace this bridge with.    

I HAD A BUSY WEEKEND CELEBRATING THE KING’S CORONATION attending
community parties in Isleworth, Brentford, Chiswick, with the Ahmadiyya
community in Hounslow and a week later with the Polish Community at Lampton
Park.

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To celebrate the completion of the Chiswick to Hammersmith SECTION OF THE
C9 SEGREGATED CYCLE PATH Hounslow Council with Cycle Sisters and Hounslow
Cycling Campaign organised a community day in Chiswick with a cycle ride to
Hammersmith along C9.   I have also had a chance to meet up with officers
from Transport for London to discuss how it’s working. 

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Hounslow’s SECONDARY SCHOOL HEAD TEACHERS invited Seema Malhotra and I
to hear about the challenges they face. These include the recruitment and
retention of teachers due to the inadequate pay levels, and the higher
salaries available in alternative careers, not helped by the Government’s
negative comments about teachers. They also told us of the need for
adequate mental health and welfare support in schools, a shake-up of the
OFSTED grading system and that T-levels are not fit for purpose.

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With WEST LONDON WELCOME [8] I met asylum seekers living in hotels
locally and shared food and stories with them.  Many have been housed for
well over a year in overcrowded hotel rooms, and with small children who
have nowhere to play. In the chamber I asked the Government to address the
backlog, something their Illegal Migration Bill will only make worse.

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I MET MANAGERS AND OWNERS OF A NUMBER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES including; the
Whistling Oyster in Chiswick, Bertolucci’s coffee bar in Isleworth and
the Castle pub in Isleworth, now under new management.  I was able to
present Sam Christmas, a Fullers' apprentice at the Hare and Hounds in
Osterley, with his certificate of achievement.  Whilst Fullers have great
opportunities for staff apprenticeships, the Government need to do better
to address the shocking skills gap in the UK.

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I visited WEST MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL and saw the ambulatory emergency care
centre [9] – which enables many patients to be treated or assessed during
the day and go home at night – thus saving thousands of bed-spaces in the
hospital and the NHS £millions. I then met some of the gynaecology team
who showed me the early pregnancy screening unit and heard from West Mid
NHS staff impacted by the menopause.  The visit enabled me, on behalf of
my constituents, to thank all those who work at the hospital for their
tireless dedication to our health and welfare.

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ISLEWORTH RESIDENT EILEEN SHERIDAN [10] was an incredible record-breaking
cyclist in the 40s and 50s – five of her records are still to be beaten.
 She died in February aged 99 and at a service at All Saints church we
celebrated her varied life, not only her phenomenal sporting achievements,
but also her active involvement with the Isleworth Society

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A few months ago I met Ian Wardle, the new Chief Executive of housing
association A2DOMINION – one of several large HAs with a terrible record
of neglect of their local blocks of flats and poor treatment of the tenants
and leaseholders living in them.  Ian told us he is committed to turning
the organisation round – and I met some of his staff with Cllr Rhys
Williams, at Trico House on the Great West Quarter estate in Brentford.
 It is noticeable that councillors and my team have seen a noticeable drop
in the number of complaints about A2D particularly from those blocks, which
I hope is a sign the changes at A2D are having an effect – lessons for
the other large HAs operating locally?

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OWGRA [11] (OSTERLEY & WYKE GREEN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION) heard from our
area police commander Ch Supt Sean Wilson at their AGM.  He described the
changes taking place in the Metropolitan Police to improve their services
to the people of London. Residents expressed their concerns, that I share,
that the Met needs to improve their response to burglaries, address
anti-social behaviour, and have great community presence.  As I have said
in previous updates, we are watching this space.  

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WELLINGTON DAY CENTRE held their annual Vaisakhi celebration with songs and
poems in Punjabi and Hindi, including a number of very old Bollywood songs!

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I was delighted to present Torron-Lee Dewar with a Points of Light award
from the Prime Minister, “in recognition of your exceptional service
creating “ALLIANCE ARTS [12]”".  Torron, from Brentford founded
Alliance Arts 12 years ago, and his team have trained hundreds of local
young people, who have often had few alternative outlets.  Many of them
have gone on to work in the arts and sports worlds (including playing for
Brentford FC!).  We need more affordable opportunities such as this for
young people in West London, but sadly there is not enough funding
available since the Osborne era austerity cuts.

With best wishes to all readers  – and do let me know what you think of
these updates!

 

CONTACT  ME

If you need my support or help please email me: [email protected], or
phone: 020 8581 3646 or Write: Ruth Cadbury MP House of Commons, London
SW1A 0AA. Let us have a quick summary of the issue,  and include your
address as I am only able to directly assist my constituents.  Please also
include relevant reference numbers.

I hold regular surgeries, usually on Fridays, which can be in person,
on-line or by phone; please contact my office to make an appointment.
However many issues can be dealt with more quickly by email or a phone call
which saves waiting for the next available surgery.

For my Diary and Parliamentary Office email [email protected] 020
219 8590

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Printed from an email sent by Ruth Cadbury MP 367 Chiswick High Road
London, LON W4 4AG
United Kingdom




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