| | | | Last week brought extremely good news for Chelmsford. It is great to see the massive new bridge between Beaulieu and the Boreham Interchange open. This will make a big difference to traffic in northeast Chelmsford and to the residents of Springfield and Beaulieu who often face long traffic jams, especially in the morning. The Outline Business Case for the new Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package has now been approved, with £68.7 million of Government funding. Having done much campaigning and lobbying to secure this decision I am over the moon. The package includes expansions of park and rides, improved bus, cycle and pedestrian links and the new junction at the Army and Navy. Essex County Council will now lead work through further planning and procurement phases. It will take time to deliver but this news is a big step forward. Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP with BBC Journalist at the opening of Beaulieu Parkway Bridge. |
| | | We also got the news that funding to improve and enlarge hospitals across Mid and South Essex has also been approved. This will lead to increased capacity at A&E and wards at Broomfield Hospital, as well as improvements at both Southend and Basildon Hospital. |
| We also heard that the hospitals have been removed from special measures following further inspections from the independent Care Quality Commission. While further improvements are needed, this is a very positive announcement and I would like to thank all the staff who have worked so hard to introduce and imbed new changes since last winter. At Broomfield, I met with the new Chief Executive of the Mid and South Essex Hospitals, Matthew Hopkins. We had a lengthy discussion. I know that he is working hard to make more improvements to the hospital and to continue to reduce waiting times. The Lampard Inquiry, investigating mental health deaths in Essex, has been launched. Baroness Lampard who is chairing the inquiry, brings a huge amount of experience having previously led the investigations into Jimmy Savile's abuse in the NHS. You can find the details here. I visited the Lindon Centre which is one of the inpatient facilities for mental health patients in Essex. |
| The Police continue to be very active with a number of surge operations around the City Centre. In the first five weeks of operations this resulted in one hundred and seventeen arrests in central Chelmsford. These have been for a variety of offences including theft, shoplifting and burglary, assault and robbery as well as sexual offences, fraud and weapons. Nine people were arrested for drug dealing. A number of these crimes did not happen in the city centre itself, but the perpetrators were apprehended when spotted in central Chelmsford. Arrests have included car and bike thefts as well as other thefts. Please keep your bikes firmly locked up, even if they are in your shed or garage. The police operations are possible due to the record numbers of officers in Essex Police and have been supported by additional funding from the Government to tackle hotspots and anti-social behaviour. Chelmsford has a strong reputation for being a safe place, we all want to keep it that way. Photo below: (Vicky Ford MP out on patrol with officers from Essex Police). |
| | | The King came to parliament to give his first King's Speech, setting out objectives for the year ahead. A major thread of the Speech was, security including health and security; financial security; energy security; security for leaseholders; national security; and security across the world. There remains huge focus on the situation in the Middle East. The loss of civilian lives since October 7th in Israel and Palestine has been beyond horror and everyone, including myself, wants the killing to stop. However, a ceasefire would require both sides to commit to stop. The statement by Hamas that they will not stop until the population of Israel is annihilated is deeply chilling, and rules out any commitment to ceasefire from them. Israel has also said that they will not agree to a ceasefire until hostages are returned. The UK continually called for pauses in the fighting so that aid can get in and people can get out. The UK is one of the major donors of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has doubled this aid. The UK has also continually called on Israel to act within international law and said Israel must take precautions to minimise civilian casualties. In the House of Commons on Wednesday 8th of November, I said that Israel must also be seen to be taking such precautions for civilians and re-iterated the need for pauses in fighting in order to protect innocent lives. |
| In Chelmsford, I visited the Cathedral School where pupils from year three were painting poppies. At Great Baddow High School, I met with year 12 students who were looking forward to mock elections. Last year the school won a national award for the activities they held during UK Parliament Week. Photo below: (Right) Political candidates for the Great Baddow High School Mock Elections. Photo below: (Left) Cathedral School Children learning about UK Parliament Week and Remembrance Day. |
| | | Sir Winston Churchill once said “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all these other forms that have been tried from time to time”. We are lucky to live in a country where we have the freedom to pick those who set the laws that govern us, people in many other countries do not have that basic freedom. We should never forget those who fought and laid down their lives to defend our freedoms. I first helped volunteers selling poppies when I was 10 years old and was honoured to join poppy sellers in Chelmsford. On this weekend of Remembrance, my thoughts are with our veterans and all those who serve in our armed forces, as we pray for peace and freedom around the world. Photo below: Vicky MP with volunteers from the Royal British Legion and High Chelmer. |
| | | Thank you to all of those who have taken the time to complete my Local Survey. If you haven’t yet filled in my local survey, please do! Your feedback helps me to get action on important local issues. Please click the link below to fill it in, it takes just 60 seconds! |
| | | As ever please do email me if you have issues or feedback. With best wishes, Vicky. |
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| | Promoted by Christine Garrett on behalf of Vicky Ford MP both of 88 Rectory Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1RF. |
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