MP’s UPDATE FOR B&I RESIDENTS
SEPTEMBER 2024
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You can find previous reports of my work on my web site; www.ruthcadbury.co.uk I also report regularly on my Facebook page and via Twitter and Instagram @RuthCadbury.
If you would like to raise issues with me please email on ruth@ruthcadbury.org.uk with your address, a quick summary of the issue (and relevant reference numbers).
See my Web page for information on local and national services
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On July 5th Keir Starmer, the Labour Prime Minister, stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street and said the work of change would begin immediately and he meant. it He got off to a flying start, announcing mandatory housing targets, ending the onshore wind ban – to “Get Britain building again” , resetting our relationship with Europe and establishing Great British Railways. However our time in Government will not be easy to start with, as Rachel Reeves has exposed a £22bn hole in the public finances left by the last Government. It will take more time than we would have liked to turn around our damaged public services and our weak economy.
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MY PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY IN JULY
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For full details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, get regular updates about my Parliamentary activities TheyWorkForYou (votes) or see Hansard (speeches) & on YouTube
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- In the Kings Speech debate I focused on the importance of effective Transport policies and welcomed the Government’s commitment to municipal bus companies, on rail, and on the role of transport to communities, to the economy and its role in cutting carbon emissions.
- I contributed to the first bill brought by the Labour Government - on the Public Ownership of our Railways, hoping that it will mean SW Railway will be improved by being brought into public ownership before too long and challenged the Shadow Transport Secretary on her ideological attack on British Rail.
- As former co-chair of the All Party Group on Road Safety, I supported Alicia Kearns at her Adjournment Debate on Safety on the A1 that runs through her constituency.
- With the risk of polio spreading among children in Gaza, at Foreign Office questions I asked Anneliese Dodds if the Government will support a mass polio vaccination programme there.
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The annual Brentford Canal Festival was packed. The Market Square, the canal and the various spaces in the Ballymore development provided a wonderful backdrop for the many stalls and gigs.
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Disability Network Hounslow held its annual community day at the Gurdwara in Alice Way. I had a chance to see the work of DNH and a number of other services providing health and income advice to local residents.
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The £80m Ambulatory Diagnostice Centre at the back of West Middlesex Hopsital will improve diagnostice and treament times for local patients as well as doubling the capacity for dialysis and chemotherapy services when it opens in about two years. I attended the ground breaking ceremony, which included a tree planting by one of the patient’s representatives, a local woman who has had many years of dialysis treatment. She said how important it is that treatment needed regularly is local.
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One early bit of caswork in Whitton to get my teeth into – the lack of functioning lights on the footbridge over the railway line in the west of the ward; serving the Whitton Triangle estate.
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Meanwhile, good news for Isleworth residents with the opening of the lifts at Isleworth station, long campaigned for by me and Hounslow Council. I was also pleased to learn just before the election that Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury Stations were awarded funding for feasibility studies for step-free access to their platforms which we’ve long campaigned for. I have written to the Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy to clarify whether the new Government will honour that pledge.
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On Heston Farm estate with Heston East Councillors, we met residents’ association members who have created a delightful garden from a disused drying area; a wonderful way to bring residents together and produce delicious fruit and veg.
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The annual West London Turkish Festival brings the community together each year. It was so good to meet community members who have set up businesses, including a group of young women bringing a steel frame construction method to the UK.
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The Hounslow Polish Klan Society celebrated the work of its volunteers who do so much to support a range of cultural and welfare work. I was delighted to present certificates to the children who performed several Polish dances, all part of learning and enjoying their cultural roots.
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Residents of south Isleworth at last have a Post Office counter again, housed in KD News on the Twickenham Road. I had the honour of cutting the ribbon at the official “opening”, and met several delighted residents and the family whose business it is. Some years ago when the Post Office closed in Brentford, it was about three years before any business would take on a PO counter because the terms and conditions were so unattractive. With other MPs we lobbied Government to force the PO to address this failure, so it’s great news to again see new Post Office counters opening in shops like KD News.
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When local Councillors and I were door-knocking in Isleworth we met members of the Four Roads Residents Association watering the beautiful hanging baskets in the area, that they have fundraised for.
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In Old Isleworth I caught up with Rowan and Tom, who own the South Street café (the best ice-cream!). Rowan raised her concerns with me about rising costs to her business, especially an imminent rent increase from the Council, her landlord.
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I joined members of the Deen Islamic Centre at an interesting workshop on the Environment, where we learned about the actions everyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint and protect our natural environment.
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I joined worshippers, the Indian High Commissioner and other MPs and Councillors at the Shree Ram Mandir in Southall for the annual Shobha Yatra (procession). This was a joyous event, along closed streets, that went from the Mandir (Hindu temple) to the Sikh Gurdwara – in a wonderful demonstration of the importance of sharing the celebrations of our diverse cultures. I know that people from these faith communities did so much locally and across the country to assist in calming community tensions when riots were taking place this summer.
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The Indian Gymkhana club at Osterley hosted a celebrity charity hockey match which included former International stars from Pakistan, England, Germany and Spain. Funds raised went to charities in India and Pakistan, which use sport to give children from deprived backgrounds a positive future.
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Hoping you had a great summer, whether by going away or enjoying the best that London had to offer; Taylor Swift, or Carnival; or more locally on our Parks or at local events such as Brentford’s Creative Mile. In my case I managed to buy a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen at Wembley – a wonderful evening with the Boss!
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