Since my last update, I have I met dozens of constituents at pop-up surgery, visited Walton Charity in support of their Cost of Living Appeal, and joined local businesses at the Esher Chamber of Commerce.
All secondary schools in Esher and Walton constituency are rated 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. As our Member of Parliament, I fully backed the creation of two of these schools: Cobham Free School and Heathside Walton, which is being delivered on its permanent site later this year.
This month, I visited both schools as part of my ongoing campaign to ensure good and outstanding secondary school places for every family.
Also in June, I wrote articles for The Daily Telegraph and The Times, covering the UK’s relationship with India, and the risk/reward of new technology such as AI.
As ever, Esher and Walton constituents can get in touch with me at the contact details below.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic
In this week's newsletter:
Championing the environment with students at Cobham Free School.
Touring Heathside Walton's permanent site, set to open later this year.
Joining local businesses at the Esher Chamber of Commerce.
Supporting Walton and Hersham Youth Football Club which coaches around 600 local boys and girls.
Visiting Walton Charity's newest site, The Bridge, in support of their Cost of Living Appeal.
Meeting constituents at pop-up surgery in The Heart in Walton.
Westminster Watch - a roundup of my recent contributions in the House of Commons.
Going 'Green' with Cobham Free School
Today, I joined the fantastic team at Cobham Free School - led by Executive Head Michaela Khatib - to see how the school is working to protect and promote the natural environment.
Cobham Free School is currently in the process of applying for a 'Green Flag' award. The initiative has seen the school undertake a range of 'green' activities, from increasing recycling and reducing litter on school grounds, to building a 'Eco-greenhouse' and growing their own produce for food tech lessons.
I fully support the school in their bid to achieve Green Flag status and look forward to celebrating their green credentials again soon. Thank you to Michaela and the team for inviting me down today.
Touring Heathside Walton's new permanent site
I visited the almost-finished Heathside Walton permanent site this month.
The main school building is opening this September and it was great to see the fantastic facilities that will be on offer to students here.
Thank you to the BAM Construction and Heathside Walton team for taking the time to show us around.
Delivering the permanent site at Heathside Walton is part of Our Plan to build the high-quality school places families need across Elmbridge. Read more on that below:
I joined some of our excellent local businesses at the June meeting of Esher Chamber of Commerce.
Discussion centred around the new plans for Esher High Street, Esher Summer Fair, and the Lower Green Community Centre
Thank you to Kay Stewart from Audley Chaucer for chairing the meeting and Simon Lewis from Partridge Muir and Warren in Esher for hosting.
Meeting with Walton and Hersham Youth Football Club
At the beginning of June, I met with Nick Watts and Danny Kent from Walton and Hersham YFC at their ground in Whiteley Village.
Walton and Hersham YFC is a great local club providing football coaching to around 600 boys and girls in the Walton and Hersham area.
Walton and Hersham YFC moved to the site 3 years ago, but are now facing questions over the lease which is held by Whiteley Village. I will be supporting the club to see what we can do to protect this valuable community asset serving many families across Walton, Hersham and the surrounding areas.
If you are interested in getting involved with this local club, you can find out more below:
I dropped into Walton Charity's new premises in Walton, The Bridge. The Bridge opened in March 2023 and is a new community space in Walton offering practical support for families in Elmbridge who are struggling with the cost of living.
There are informal meeting spaces for local charities to run workshops and advice sessions. In partnership with Walton and Hersham Foodbank, there is also a community shop offering families who are referred to The Bridge a chance to pick up food and household supplies at no cost.
The stock for the community shop is donated by local retailers and through community collections. It is open three times a week, offering a range of fresh, frozen and cupboard items.
Walton Charity is currently running a Cost of Living Appeal whereby every £1 donated will be matched by Walton Charity and Elmbridge Borough Council. With Gift Aid, a donation of £10 will be worth £32.50. If you are able to do so, please consider donating to this important cause. You can find out more below:
This month also saw the arrival of the next tranche of Cost of Living Payments for 6,300 Esher and Walton Residents.
Cost of living payments will be paid to over 6 million recipients of disability benefits. Over 6,300 Esher and Walton constituents are set to receive this payment.
This forms part of wider support package worth up to £1,350 for the most vulnerable.
As Member of Parliament for Esher and Walton constituency, I am committed to helping my constituents with the cost of living. If you live in the constituency and require any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Pop-up surgery in The Heart, Walton
Earlier in June, I was down in The Heart Shopping Centre in Walton for one of my regular pop-up surgeries. Thank you to all the local residents who took the time to chat with me about both local and national issues.
Pop-up surgeries take place across Esher and Walton constituency to give residents the opportunity to raise any concerns they may have, and see what I can do to help assist them.
You can find out more about available surgery appointments below:
Speaking in the Holocaust Memorial Bill debate this week. My father and grandmother escaped the Holocaust, fleeing Czechoslovakia in 1938.
28 June: I raised the importance of shoring up the living testimony of the Holocaust with poignant, physical memorials - like the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre - so that our children and future generations never forget the horrors of anti-Semitic prejudice and genocide. (Video here)
28 June: In a Westminster Hall debate to mark the anniversary of the Hong Kong National Security Law, I argued in favour of stronger, international action against authoritarian nations who arbitrarily detain UK citizens abroad. (Video here)
