Welcome to my latest newsletter. I hope you find this a useful summary of my work on your behalf.


** HUW MERRIMAN MP NEWSLETTER
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Dear Resident,

Welcome to my latest newsletter.

Last week, I was pleased to welcome £20m new funding for Bexhill under the new Long-Term Plan for towns. This 10-year endowment fund will provide the resources and capital for community-led improvements to the town. As the local MP, I will be a member of a new Town Board which will identify and deliver projects to improve the town. The Board will include a wide variety of stakeholders from the public and private sector in Bexhill. I believe this long-term collaborative approach will deliver for the residents and businesses of Bexhill and I'm excited to get started.

As ever, please do get in touch if I can be of any assistance.

Best wishes,

Huw

£20m long-term plan for Bexhill

I was delighted to welcome a £20m boost for Bexhill. Bexhill is one of 55 left-behind towns which have been selected for new Long Term-Plan for Towns funding.

This brings £20m of resources and capital funding to Bexhill over the next 10 years which will be overseen by a new Town Board.

I’m looking forward to setting up the new Town Board of local stakeholder which will lead the investment and working with the community on ideas to ensure this funding leaves a lasting legacy for our town and area.

Read more here ([link removed]) .

Northeye Update

The leading concern brought to me by Bexhill residents was the proposal that 1200 asylum seekers would be free to come and go in circumstances where security is difficult to assess.

Following discussions I have held with my colleagues across Government over the last few months, it is now proposed that the centre, if it proceeds, will only hold those who have arrived illegally in the UK and are awaiting removal from the country. This means the centre will be a closed, detained and secure site and that those staying will not be expected to remain for longer than 45 days.

I have also been informed that the Home Office has completed purchase of the Northeye Site. Currently, surveys and testing continues to be carried out on the site by the Home Office.

You can read my full update
here ([link removed]) .

Bexhill Academy Students Visit Parliament

It was a pleasure to welcome students from Bexhill Academy to Parliament. I joined them after their tour for a Q&A session where I was asked some fantastic questions about what I do as an MP, both in Westminster and in the constituency, as well as some great questions on political issues of the day.

I’m glad that they were able to see where MPs carry out their work representing their constituents and I hope that it inspired some of the students to pursue politics at any level as their education continues.

NFU visit

I joined local farmers for an on-site farm meeting organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU) last Friday. We discussed issues including the new Sustainable Farming Incentive, rural crime and small abattoirs.

Read more
here ([link removed]) .

World Alzheimer's Month

I was pleased to meet up with Alzheimer's Research UK in Parliament to mark World Alzheimer's Month and discuss the vital work they are involved in.

Nearly 2,500 people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency suffer from dementia, and we have the second highest number of residents living with the disease of all Parliamentary constituencies.

You can find out more about the work I have been involved with in this area on my website
here ([link removed]) .

Heritage Rail APPG trip on Kent & East Sussex Railway

I was delighted to have joined members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail to travel on the Kent & East Sussex Railway recently. This railway, and the fantastic volunteers who operate it, plays a crucial role in preserving our rich rail history and boosting our local economy. You can read more about the visit here ([link removed]) .

Service of Thanksgiving for Volunteers in East Sussex

The work of volunteers in East Sussex was rightly recognised at a special thanksgiving church service and reception at Ashburnham last month. Thank you to the High Sheriff for inviting Sally-Ann Hart MP and I to join the praise and thanks.

Policing in Rother

I recently met with T/Chief Inspector Kara Tombling, Hastings and Rother District Commander. Our wide-ranging discussions included local challenges including shop-lifting, anti-social behaviour and rural crime.

A key message from our conversation is the importance of reporting all crime to the police either by ringing 999 in an emergency or via 101 phoneline or online forms. This information helps direct resources where they are needed and acts to build evidence to secure arrest and conviction.
Work Experience

During the summer recess, it was a pleasure to host university student, Freddie Palmer, who lives in the constituency, for two weeks' work experience. You can read about his time spent with the team at this link ([link removed]) .

Observer Article - Long-Term Plan for Towns

In this Observer article I expand on the Long-Term Plan for Towns and the HS2 rail project.

Read morehere ([link removed])

Local Bus Service Improvements

Last year, East Sussex County Council was awarded £41million by the Government to implement its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). This was one of the largest funding allocations in the country. The BSIP set out proposals to help the council and bus operators improve services and get more people back on the buses.

Of the improvements that have recently come into effect, I was particularly pleased to see additional services added between Sidley and Hastings on the 98 bus, including extra evening buses. This is something which I have worked on with others in the community for some time. This has the potential to boost Bexhill’s night-time economy, create more job opportunities and boost the number of people who can access the De La Warr and our other fantastic local businesses (these locations being the subject of our successful £19m levelling-up bid).

You can find out more about changes to local bus services on my website here ([link removed]) and in my recent Observer article here ([link removed]) .

South East Water Resilience Plans

I have continued to push OFWAT, UK Power Networks, and South East Water on their plans for resilience.

I am arranging a meeting with South East Water to discuss in more detail how they are improving their resilience to justify the extra charges which have been applied to customers’ bills for this purpose.

I am keeping my website up to date with all the work I have been doing on this, which you can access
here ([link removed]) .

Observer Article - Sewage Pollution

In my first Observer article after the summer recess, I wrote about the Environment Agency's Pollution Risk Forecasts, Southern Water's shadow testing scheme, illegal connections and what is being done to tackle them and my ongoing work to reduce discharges.

You can read my article in full here ([link removed]) and keep up to date with all of my work on sewage here ([link removed]) .

Observer Article - Strong and Resilient Utilities

Over the summer, I wrote in the Observer about my continued work in tackling sewage pollution and boosting local water resilience. You can read my article here ([link removed]) .

Rural and Farming Roundtables

I am organising two local roundtable this autumn on rural matters with my colleague and neighbour, Sally-Ann Hart MP

The first event is a Rural Payment Agency Roundtable for local farmers and land agents which will be held on Friday 27 October. The RPA is inviting local farmers to this event but please contact me if you would like to attend so I can pass on your details.

The second is a Rother Rural Roundtable which will take place on Friday 24 November. This meeting with be with Rother District councillors and officers and will discuss aspects of planning and supporting the rural economy. If you would like to attend, please contact my office to register your interest.

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Rural%20Roundtable%2FRPA%20Roundtable)

New Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) Launched

Launched in August, HLPAS offers free legal advice and representation to anyone facing possession proceedings which could result in the loss of their homes. The primary goal of HLPAS is to promote early resolution and prevent homelessness.

People who receive a written notice for possession will be eligible to receive free legal assistance. Your financial situation will not affect your right to access this support and you will not need to pay.

To find out more, please click here ([link removed]) .

Autumn Covid-19 and Flu Vaccination Programme

The autumn Covid-19 and flu vaccination programme is underway. You can find out more about the programme in Sussex and who is eligible for vaccination here ([link removed]) .

Rye Pool Reopens

I know that many people use and value Rye swimming pool, and were disappointed when it temporarily closed last year due to increasing energy costs.

I am pleased that Rother District Council and Freedom Leisure have been able to work together over recent months to find a solution that enabled the pool to reopen to the public earlier this month.
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