2023 September Newsletter

Keeping you up to date with my work in Bournemouth East and Westminster.

Now that September is over, I would like to update you all on what I have been doing as your Member of Parliament. For more regular updates, please do follow my social media pages, all of which are linked above. 

NEWS FROM BOURNEMOUTH

Saving Bournemouth Air Festival

Bournemouth Air Festival has been going for 15 successful years. It brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to our town each year who collectively spend tens of millions, thus enforcing our important Tourism Industry and contributing to our local economy. 

Cancelling Bournemouth Air Festival would severely damage our reputation, our economy, and our hospitality sector. As well as having a long and damaging effect on our tourism industry. 

BCP Council believes the net cost, does not justify the event taking place.

Please watch my video and sign my petition which is linked below, so that we can make sure the Air Festival returns next year. 

Blue Flags: Campaign

Bournemouth has retained the international Blue Flag award status since it was first introduced in 1996. As of 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have secured 12 Blue Flag awards. 

Fantastic awards like this recognise the highest standards for water quality, environmental management, safety, services and environmental education. They are widely acknowledged by the tourism industry and act as a big determiner of whether people choose to visit Bournemouth. 

In a bid to reduce costs BCP Council is wrongly turning its attention away from tourism and our beautiful beaches, which are loved by locals and visitors alike.  

Pokesdown Station Accessibility

I have been campaigning for full accessibility at Pokesdown Station since 2015. It's been a long and frustrating journey but funding from South Western Railway, Network Rail and BCP Council has been committed to improve the platforms, upgrade the station entrance and install passenger lifts. 

I recently met with South Western Railway & Network Rail to ensure the primary focus of the project remains accessibility and to move that forward as a matter of urgency. During the meeting I sought reassurances that ticket office closures will not further discriminate those with disabilities and that staff will be manning the station throughout the day for passenger assistance.

I have also written to the Chief Executive of BCP Council to ask when the approved funds will be transferred to the project.

BCP Council's Car Parking Strategy:  Southbourne Crossroads Car Park 

If Bournemouth is to thrive as an attractive place to live, work and visit we need adequate off street parking. We should not be building on our car parks.

I am petitioning BCP Council to review the loss of car parking at Southbourne Crossroad car park and support greater provision of off street parking across Southbourne and Parliament.

BCP's Car Park Strategy needs an urgent review using current data and Parliament must strengthen the planning process to support residents.

Please watch my video and sign my petition both linked below. 

LOCAL VISITS

As always I spend the latter part of my week out and about in Bournemouth, holding surgeries, meeting constituents and visiting local establishments to see how I can assist. 

Bournemouth Churches Housing Association was founded in Bournemouth back in 1968 and they continue to do great work helping individuals and families find suitable housing in Bournemouth. 

This month I was fortunate enough to be taken on a tour around a number of BCHA sites: St Paul's Hostel, the Liberty Project and BCHA Learn. I look forward to visiting again in the near future and working together to tackle homelessness in Bournemouth. 

I was invited to visit the Joy Cafe in Churchill Gardens, Boscombe. 

I will be meeting the Council to ask about a longer term strategic plan for this community, beginning with better lighting for the garden's pathways. I have already secured another meeting with the team at Joy Café in October which I hope will be just as productive. 

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of participating at Seetec's Disability Confident event in Bournemouth. It was a great morning, I enjoyed hearing from all those involved. 

There are jobs for everyone in Bournemouth, let's not allow employers to leave anyone behind. 

It was also great to join David Sidwick, Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner and local officers at the re-opening of Boscombe Police Station. 

This is fantastic news for Boscombe and the East of Bournemouth, as it will improve the response time for incidents and increase local policing. 

Bournemouth Police were nice enough to allow me to join them on their Friday night evening patrol. It was really helpful to understand and see first hand the work they do and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

 It was also great to hear their ideas about how community policing can be improved, the predominant focus being to tackle knife crime.

Dorset police held an open day at their headquarters in Winfrith this month. I was given a tour of their operations room and multiple briefings on a number of important local issues. 

It is welcome to see Dorset's police numbers climbing again, meaning an increase in frontline policing. 

I look forward to continue working with the police to ensure Bournemouth is a safe place for both visitors and residents. 

OUT & ABOUT

At the beginning of the month Dorset held their very own environmental Conference of the Parties (COP). It was welcome to see Dorset lead in being the first county-level COP. It was a great event and all those involved in organising it should be proud. 

As many of you will know, the environment is something I have always been passionate about protecting and I was fortunate enough to say a few words. 

I travelled to Salisbury to visit the React Disaster Response HQ. 

This is one of the UK's leading disaster response organisations, on standby to help anywhere in the world. 

If you would like to support them and donate to their Morocco Earthquake Appeal you can do so by clicking on the link below. 

I met with Mark Dowie the CEO of the Royal National Lifeguard Association (RNLI) at their premises in Poole. 

2022 was their busiest year on record with aid provided to more than 16,400 people.

A massive congratulations to everyone involved with this incredible Charity that watches over beach goers around our coastline as well as rescuing those in peril at sea. 

I look forward to working with both the RNLI and the RLSS to ensure that Bournemouth's beaches are safe for everyone. 

IN PARLIAMENT

I was busy in Westminster at the beginning of the month, with a large number of meetings, events and interviews to fit in between summer and conference recess. I do my best to share these across my social media platforms, so please do follow them if you would like to know what I get up to within the week

As I touched on in my campaign updates, I had a constructive meeting with representatives from both Southwestern Railway and National Rail. We discussed a number of topics including:

• Pokesdown Station upgrades
• Ticket office closures
• Rail Strikes
• Improving the line between Bournemouth and London
• Working with AFC Bournemouth

I was delighted to support Alzheimer's Research UK as they marked World Alzheimer's Month and the launch of their new report 'Tipping point: the future of Dementia.'

A very close friend of mine was recently diagnosed, so this has been a huge education for me in appreciated research efforts to find a cure. 

Throughout September as a Dementia Research Champion we worked together to raise awareness of the changes needed if those affected by Dementia are to benefit from research breakthroughs. I will continue to support this important cause.

I addressed the International Risk and Resilience Conference in London last week. 

The UK is developing into a high-tech global leader. But artificial information, like the use of atomic energy, is a double edged sword. Therefore we must agree, as a matter of urgency, on an enforceable set of international standards countries can be held accountable to.  

SURGERY APPOINTMENTS

As many of you will know, I hold regular surgeries for my constituents in Bournemouth East and I am currently in the process of organising further dates. If you are interested in arranging an appointment please do email me with the details of how I can assist you. 

Email: [email protected] 

Please do remember to include your name and full UK address. 

HAVE YOUR SAY

I want to know what you think are the biggest issues facing Bournemouth East.

I've created a short form to anonymously collect the opinions of my constituents. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. The form can be found by clicking the button below. 

CONSTITUENTS VISITING WESTMINSTER 

Every week I arrange for constituents to visit the Houses of Parliament. I will always try and book tickets for you for the Gallery of the House of Commons, as well as getting you a tour of the Palace of Westminster, and doing my best to personally come by and say hello.

If you happen to be in London please send me an email and I will be pleased to arrange this for you. Tours and Gallery tickets are completely free. Tickets for the Gallery on Wednesdays during a parliamentary session, when Prime Minister's Questions takes place, get booked up months in advance, so please let me know as early as you can if you plan to visit.
 

The refurbishment of the Elizabeth Tower and it's famous bell is now complete. 

 Tours of the Tower and Big Ben will resume this month. Please do bear in mind that MP's have a limited allocation of free tickets that can be used by constituents. Tickets will be bookable three months in advance. If you are interested in a tour, please contact my office who can help to organise this. 

URGENT QUESTIONS

This is a way that Members of Parliament can press the Government on urgent and topical issues. Members must petition the Speaker before the start of Business every day and if granted, UQs are heard after Ministerial Question Time and before Ministerial Statements and other Business.

I regularly ask Urgent Questions on matters relating to our armed forces and the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Follow me on Twitter where I regularly post clips of these exchanges.

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

I regularly submit written questions to the Government on a range of topics, to ensure that issues which my constituents are concerned about are addressed outside of organised parliamentary business. 

To see my latest questions, please click the link below:

Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP

Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East

Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP

Moordown Conservative Club, Balfour Road, Bournemouth, BH9 2AZ

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