May news from Freddie van Mierlo
April saw the sad passing of Pope Francis. May I extend my condolences to our Catholic community. Pope Francis taught of tolerance, understanding and internationalism - values we can all strive to live by.
Campaigns
I joined Mayor of Henley, Rory Hunt on a boat ride on the Thames to inspect the Marsh Lock Horsebridge. The Environment Agency revealed that as a direct result of the campaign to reopen the bridge, they have identified £0.5m to progress detailed design work. The closed Temple Bridge at Hurley will also benefit from this fund. This is a major step forward, but I will continue to hold the Environment Agency’s feet to the fire. I was also proud to join nine year old Claudia Fennell this month presenting her petition on the bridge at Downing Street.
I have continued to keep up pressure on the Thame-Haddenham Greenway; taking the opportunity to speak to ministers in April at a debate on Active Travel called by my Lib Dem colleague and neighbour, Olly Glover MP for Didcot and Wantage. I’m pleased also to share that I have secured a date for an all stakeholder meeting on the Greenway, including Oxfordshire County Council, Buckinghamshire Council and my counterpart in Buckinghamshire, Greg Smith MP.
In April I also held meetings with Thame Town Council to discuss progress on securing a banking hub, and submitted a letter of support for the Council’s official complaint to LINK, the body responsible for processing bank hub applications.
I also held update meetings with Oxfordshire County Council on the Watlington Relief Road - seeking reassurances for the construction timeline and pledging my support for the project again.
In parliament
I was delighted to be elected as a vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). I then chaired the first oral evidence session for the group on improving diagnosis. Across a range of conditions and issues I continue to make health and the state of the NHS my top priority. I therefore also spoke in the chamber and voted on motions to introduce a task force to speed up the delayed new hospital programme. Sadly Labour and Tories failed to back the Lib Dem proposal.
Lib Dem’s also forced a vote at our ‘opposition day’ on river sewage and introducing a new ‘blue flag’ status. Readers with keen memories will remember Daisy Cooper launching this policy in Henley in 2024 - the same day as the famous boat based photobombing of Sunak! I was pleased therefore to highlight in the debate the need to get a grip of sewage for the sake of the Regatta, as well as raise issues of poor ground and surface water management by Thames Water in places like Berrick Salome, Cuxham and Eye and Dunsden
Around the constituency
A real highlight this month were visits to Barley Hill Primary School in Thame and Wheatley Park secondary school. It is always inspiring and energising to visit a school, but especially so in Barley Hill where the pupil leadership team led my tour of the school and Wheatley park where I was treated to a rare all school assembly led again by students and including music from two incredibly talented bands.
Residents of Eye and Dunsden shared with me their recent experiences of flooding caused by poorly managed surface water - which any commuter to Reading from Henley will be aware of as it can close the Sonning link across the Thames. I’ve committed to take up a range of issues with Thames Wafer off the back of the meeting.
If your parish is experiencing flooding or water issues, get in touch with us.
With thanks also to Phyllis Court Rowing Club for welcoming me to the adaptive rowing time trials, as well as Wheatley Farm, Hobbs of Henley, and Benson Evergreen Club for informative and enjoyable visits. Thanks also to Benson House Care Home for kindly hosting my in person surgery again this month.