This week, tax cuts for 50,000 people across Esher and Walton constituency have been introduced - saving the average employee in our area £589 a year. More on this, and my recent visits across the constituency below.
Following the closure of community centres across Elmbridge almost two months ago, Elmbridge Borough Council are still yet to reply to my letter asking for clearer details on why the centres closed, and when residents can expect the centres to reopen. I am calling for the council to respond to this letter and give vulnerable residents the clarity they deserve.
I understand many residents are concerned to hear about GP redundancies at Glenlyn Medical Centre in Molesey. I will be meeting with the surgery to raise these concerns.
In Westminster, I asked the Health Secretary if new financial incentives for NHS dentists will take high operating costs into account - particularly in areas like Esher and Walton constituency where both demand for NHS dentistry and the cost of living are high.
Wishing you and your family every best wish for 2024.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic
Welcoming tax cuts for 50,000 people across Esher and Walton constituency
From this week, National Insurance contributions will be reduced from 12% to 10% - a tax cut for 27 million people across the UK.
Locally, this means 50,000 people in Esher and Walton constituency will benefit from this tax cut, saving the average employee in the constituency £589 a year.
My letter to Elmbridge Borough Council following the sudden closure of our community centres
Claygate Centre for the Community, like many others across Elmbridge, has been closed since November 2023.
Having written to Elmbridge Borough Council about the sudden closure of community centres across Elmbridge on 5 December 2023, I am still yet to receive a response from the portfolio holder answering the questions many residents are asking.
Claygate, Hersham, Molesey and Weybridge Centres for the Community have been closed for almost two months, leaving elderly and vulnerable residents without a key service over the festive period when many had signed up to Christmas activities.
The Lib Dem run council has issued little to no information as to why the centres suddenly closed, only citing health and safety concerns which pose more questions than answers.
I am calling for Elmbridge Borough Council to communicate properly with residents about why the centres closed, and when we can expect them to reopen. I look forward to a reply to my letter in due course.
I recently met with two of our local BIDs - the newly formed Cobham BID, One Cobham, and Walton BID, Love Walton - to hear more about their work supporting our local high streets.
One Cobham will be investing a total of £870,000 into the village over the next 5 years, including:
🚗 £130,000 for parking solutions to alleviate the bottleneck in Hollyhedge Car Park and offer new lower cost options for local staff
👮£120,000 to deter crime and make it easier to share information when crime is happening
🛍️£51,530 for business support and networking, including central procurement opportunities to help local businesses save money
🎄£365,000 to promote local businesses and drive footfall, including events like the annual Christmas lights switch on!
It was great to join Tracey Blandford and the team at Walton BID for the latest board meeting to discuss how we can further support local businesses and increase footfall in Walton town centre by:
👮Tackling anti-social behaviour following £333,000 of Safer Streets funding from the government. This will be used to increase CCTV across Walton and make safety improvements to Drewitts Court Car Park
🚗Extending free parking across Walton
🛍️Welcoming new businesses, including House of Tweed, Pizzeria No 1 and Rock Up
🌸Developing a new greening strategy, Walton in Bloom, to help make Walton greener and brighter as a town centre
Speaking in NHS Dentistry Debate in House of Commons.
The government will shortly be publishing a dentistry recovery plan which will focus on improving access for new patients and ensure that NHS dentists are better incentivised to deliver NHS care.
This week in the House of Commons, I asked the Health Secretary if these financial incentives will take high operating costs into account – particularly in areas like Esher and Walton constituency where both demand for NHS dentistry and the cost of living are high.
