August news from Freddie van Mierlo MP

There was a real a sense of hope and excitement in Westminster ahead of the Summer Recess as Burnham took the reins. No matter what your political stripes, as a country we all desperately need him to do well. Let’s hope he doesn’t let us down.

Campaigns
In July I held a promising ‘next steps’ meeting with the Environment Agency on the campaign to reopen Marsh Lock Bridge. I was pleased to learn that the ecological surveys required to submit a planning application (in the New Year) are under way, and that the agency had met on site with South Oxfordshire and Wokingham Councils. The next clear milestone will be a second public engagement exercise in the Autumn to present the planning application documents.

I’m delighted that the campaign to improve cash access and banking in Henley has born fruit, with a banking hub now confirmed for the town. I’ve written to LINK (who decides these things) to ask why Thame is still without one, given that the two towns of my constituency are in an almost identical situation.

I also raised Thames Water’s dismal record again in the House. This time asking for the privately owned water companies in England and Wales to be included within the scope of the Public Accountability Bill (Hillsborough law) so they too are bound by the code of conduct and duty of candour - just like the publicly owned companies of Scotland and Northern Ireland are.

In Westminster
July saw a flurry of legislative activity as the government rushed to finish before the long Summer Recess. I’ve been working closely on the Health Bill - as it aligns closely with my background prior to entering the house. I’ve tabled not 1, but 5 amendments to the Bill at committee stage. One of these calls for reforms of early access to medicines, given how boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy were denied a new medicine in Oxfordshire while the rest of the country got access.

Still on health, I raised a point of order in the House to request a response to my letter of 2nd June requesting the Secretary of State for Health to step in and reverse the decision to close three Oxfordshire dedicated mental health programmes providing support for vulnerable children, young people and families at critical points of need. I got a holding response the next day. By the time I get a substantive response - the service will be long gone. Useless!

It was lovely to be able to personally congratulate Britwell Salome Farm Shopin Westminster on reaching the finals of the Countryside Alliance Award for 'Best of Local Food and Drink' category - a super achievement!

I was bowled over by the maturity and aptitude of four wonderful children from Aston Rowant Primary School who came London to hand in their class petition on education in Gaza. They’ve been learning to speak up with ‘courageous advocacy’ and boy did they do that as they lifted the heavy knocker of number 10 (see top photo). Well done them!

With the hot weather affecting the South East in particular, I was motivated (partly I must admit by self interest!) to lay down a new bill in Parliament calling for zero rating on VAT for home cooling measures, and the inclusion of home cooling in the warm homes grants.

Around the constituency
A day spent in Chinnor is always a day well spent. It was great to meet up again with Red Kite Children’s Centre at their stay and play in the village and hear more about the positive difference they have made to local families through their work.

I was also impressed to visit the newly refurbished Chinnor library and hear about the great work the team are doing to encourage reading for pleasure for all ages.

Whilst in Chinnor I was pleased to be able to attend the inaugural meeting of Chinnor’s Traffic Advisory Committee, and am very grateful to the local residents who met me on Lower Icknield Way for their time highlighting the traffic issues on the road. Chinnor is one of those parts of the county that tell me they have felt left behind and forgotten for far too long. That’s why I’m keen to keep talking to residents and pushing forward projects.

Down the road in Thame, I visited local business What’s Cooking? to discuss the impact of national insurance rises, national living wage, and business rates on hospitality. 'What’s Cooking?' is a wonderful and truly independent local gem of a business. Well worth all of our support.

I spent a sunny afternoon in Wheatley this month visiting Wheatley C of E Primary - many thanks to Mrs Standing and everyone at the school for their warm welcome, I enjoyed joining their assembly on internet safety. Whilst in Wheatley, I met up with local Councillors Tim Bearder and Peter Ramsdale to visit the newly refurbished Church Road Rec playground - huge congratulations and thanks to all involved in the project, they have delivered a superb resource for local families.

It was brilliant to be joined by so many local groups and organisations at the Summer Climate Lobby in Sonning Common last month. I was particularly inspired and touched by the eloquence of local school pupils talking about their future, which at present is very much in our hands. Many thanks to all for their time and contributions, I'm looking forward to getting stuck into my action points on my return to Westminster.

It was fantastic to visit Benson Weir and see the completed works first hand. This investment in our local area will benefit residents and all who enjoy the River Thames. The Environment Agency has delivered a complex engineering project whilst ensuring the infrastructure continues to do it's job of managing river flow and building in environmental improvements like the new fish and eel pass.

Many thanks also to See-Saw Grief Support for taking time to explain the hugely important work they do supporting bereaved families, Chinnor branch of Christian Aid for their useful explanation of their ongoing Restore campaign, Henley Regatta for another hugely enjoyable and successful year, local residents in Tetsworth for inviting me to see a heat battery in action in their home and finally, Ewelme Almshouse for their kind invitation to their Charity Founders Service - it was fascinating to hear about their nearly 600 year history. 

I'm looking forward to touring the constituency this August - I'll be visiting villages across the constituency including Stanton St John, Forrest Hill, Sydenham, Kingston Blount, Whitchurch, South Stoke, Stoke Row, Checkendon, Warborough and Little Milton. Please don't hesitate to get in touch by emailing me at freddie.vanmierlo.mp@parliament.uk if you live locally and have an issue or concern you would like to discuss at a surgery appointment.