Email
Intouch January 2024
| From | Vicky Ford MP <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Intouch January 2024 |
| Date | January 26, 2024 1:59 PM |
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Intouch January 2024
====================
Dear Resident,
It's been a busy start to the year both in Parliament and in Chelmsford, I want to thank you for your continued support. Here is what i have been up to in January.
**Police Crime and Safety**
In Parliament, I have been working with a small group of colleagues on the new Criminal Justice Bill. Amongst many other things, this takes new legal measures to criminalise the manufacture, distribution and possession of the signal jammers that are used to steal cars.
Crime has dropped by over 50% since 2010 and continues to drop across Essex. However, in recent months in Chelmsford there has been a spike in vehicle crimes and in thefts from sheds. Essex Police have been running a detailed operation to track down and prevent car thefts. This includes plain clothes as well as uniformed activity. They made a very important breakthrough over the New Year when they arrested and charged an individual for persistent vehicle thefts in our area, they have also made a number of other significant arrests.
Police numbers across Essex are now at record levels. There is one inspector, four sergeants, and thirty-four constables in the Chelmsford community policing team, double the number five years ago. I have asked the police to make sure that all burglaries are properly investigated.
In Chelmsford, I met up with our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to check the new CCTV camera that has now gone live covering the areas between the Bunny Walks and the pathway at the bottom of the Avenues. This is the latest in a series of over half a million pounds of investment in Chelmsford from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP with Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst visiting the new CCTV Camera which has been installed in Chelmsford's 'Bunny Walks'.
** Infrastructure Update**
The planning applications for the new Army and Navy Junction and related transport measures have now been submitted. The project took a huge step forward when we secured £68.75 million in funding from the Government in November. To reduce pressure on the junction during construction the plan is to expand Park and Ride facilities first. People have a 21-day period to comment on the applications, please do feed in your comments [**here**]([link removed])**.**
Photo Below: Artist Impression of the new Army & Navy Junction.
A huge amount of work was completed on the brand new Beaulieu Park Station over the holiday period. Work on the signal power supply point in central Chelmsford has been completed, key elements of the roof structure have been installed and the new passing loop is now connected into the mainline. This the first new station on the Great Eastern MainLine for over a century and the station is firmly on track to open next year.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP with local resident at the new Beaulieu Park Station.
** Education and Childcare**
It is brilliant news that Anglia Ruskin University won the prestigious national award to become The Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year for 2024. Congratulations to all the students and staff at Anglia Ruskin. Our medical school training in doctors in Chelmsford at ARU continues to be a huge success. They are rolling out a new “apprenticeship” course next autumn which will enable more people to train as doctors. I am supporting plans to expand the medical school even further.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP, Pictured outside Anglia Ruskin University's Medical School.
I have been busy behind the scenes working on the issue of school attendance as I am leading a private members bill in Parliament on school attendance. We have great schools in Chelmsford. I believe we should be very proud of our nation’s young people. Children in England now rank 11th in the world for Maths and 13th for Reading. Back in 2010, when today’s school-leavers were just starting out in reception, the same league tables placed our children at 27th for Maths and 25th for Reading. There has been phenomenal progress; we must not let this slip.
However, across the country, there has been a steep increase in non-attendance since the pandemic. More than one in five children have been missing more than ten percent of their class time.
The reasons for non-attendance can be complex and can include barriers for children with special educational needs, mental health and anxiety. My Bill will require all schools and local authorities to work together, support families, remove barriers to attendance and follow best practice guidelines. The Bill has the support of the Children’s Commissioner and many other experts on the subject. I hope it will pass swiftly through parliament and help make a real difference to getting children back into school.
Free childcare is being expanded to 15 hours of free childcare per week for two year olds from 1 April 2024. This will increase later to 9 month olds and for up to 30 hours. This is the largest investment by any UK government in history, saving working parents up to £6,500 a year. Families with an eligible two year old should apply online now for their code.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP's new School Attendance Bill.
**Environment**
When out and about in Chelmsford, I notice that many residents have now switched to driving electric vehicles. These tend to be owned by those who have driveways and can easily charge their car from their home. At the moment, those who charge cars from their domestic supply pay just 5% VAT on the electricity, but those who live in terraced houses and need to use commercial chargers pay 20% VAT. I am campaigning to end this pavement tax and was able to raise the issue in the House of Commons this week.
Photo: Vicky Ford MP visiting one of Chelmsford's electric car charging points.
**Health**
I visited the Sutherland Lodge GP surgery in the Baddow Road to see their extensive building work. There will be more consulting rooms for GPs, a bigger waiting area and improved disability access. I have written to Beacon Health Group to ask for more GP appointments at the Moulsham Lodge Surgery. We now have funding from the Government to expand A&E and ward capacity at Broomfield Hospital.
A few local residents have contacted me about NHS dentistry in Chelmsford. The NHS has provided me with a significant list of the local dentists that are currently providing NHS treatments. There is also a new pilot scheme that also offers out of hours treatments in the Mid Essex area. If you need assistance on this matter, please do email me.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP visiting Sutherland Lodge GP Surgery earlier this month.
**Supporting Local Businesses**
Locally, I have been catching up with many Chelmsford based businesses. I met with representatives from the Federation of Small Business to discuss the current economic situation. In the autumn statement a number of measures were introduced to help support small businesses, including help with business rates and speeding up payments for work undertaken. We talked about further measures that could be taken in the spring budget.
Chelmsford is home to the largest cluster of insurance companies outside of London. At a recent local meeting with insurance companies, we discussed cyber security. Its one of the biggest risk that many small and medium sized businesses face but many of them are not currently insured for cyber risk. I am supporting the insurance companies suggesting for a quality kite mark for cyber insurance policies, so that businesses and other organisations can get better protection.
**And Finally,**
I had a beautiful early start to a Saturday morning joining Chelmsford volunteers from the South Essex Bird Ringing Group at the Wilderness Foundation. Bird Ringers are extremely highly trained. Their work monitoring the health of different species has been vital to the conservation of wild birds for many decades. It was truly magical to be so close to nature. Thank you to all those who volunteer in our community.
Below Photo: Vicky Ford MP with the South Essex Ringing Group at The Wildnerness Foundation.
As ever please do email me if you have issues or feedback.
With best wishes,
Vicky.
**The Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP**
Promoted by Christine Garrett on behalf of Vicky Ford MP both of 88 Rectory Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1RF.
This email was sent to [email protected]
You've received it because you've subscribed to our newsletter.
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====================
Dear Resident,
It's been a busy start to the year both in Parliament and in Chelmsford, I want to thank you for your continued support. Here is what i have been up to in January.
**Police Crime and Safety**
In Parliament, I have been working with a small group of colleagues on the new Criminal Justice Bill. Amongst many other things, this takes new legal measures to criminalise the manufacture, distribution and possession of the signal jammers that are used to steal cars.
Crime has dropped by over 50% since 2010 and continues to drop across Essex. However, in recent months in Chelmsford there has been a spike in vehicle crimes and in thefts from sheds. Essex Police have been running a detailed operation to track down and prevent car thefts. This includes plain clothes as well as uniformed activity. They made a very important breakthrough over the New Year when they arrested and charged an individual for persistent vehicle thefts in our area, they have also made a number of other significant arrests.
Police numbers across Essex are now at record levels. There is one inspector, four sergeants, and thirty-four constables in the Chelmsford community policing team, double the number five years ago. I have asked the police to make sure that all burglaries are properly investigated.
In Chelmsford, I met up with our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to check the new CCTV camera that has now gone live covering the areas between the Bunny Walks and the pathway at the bottom of the Avenues. This is the latest in a series of over half a million pounds of investment in Chelmsford from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP with Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst visiting the new CCTV Camera which has been installed in Chelmsford's 'Bunny Walks'.
** Infrastructure Update**
The planning applications for the new Army and Navy Junction and related transport measures have now been submitted. The project took a huge step forward when we secured £68.75 million in funding from the Government in November. To reduce pressure on the junction during construction the plan is to expand Park and Ride facilities first. People have a 21-day period to comment on the applications, please do feed in your comments [**here**]([link removed])**.**
Photo Below: Artist Impression of the new Army & Navy Junction.
A huge amount of work was completed on the brand new Beaulieu Park Station over the holiday period. Work on the signal power supply point in central Chelmsford has been completed, key elements of the roof structure have been installed and the new passing loop is now connected into the mainline. This the first new station on the Great Eastern MainLine for over a century and the station is firmly on track to open next year.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP with local resident at the new Beaulieu Park Station.
** Education and Childcare**
It is brilliant news that Anglia Ruskin University won the prestigious national award to become The Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year for 2024. Congratulations to all the students and staff at Anglia Ruskin. Our medical school training in doctors in Chelmsford at ARU continues to be a huge success. They are rolling out a new “apprenticeship” course next autumn which will enable more people to train as doctors. I am supporting plans to expand the medical school even further.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP, Pictured outside Anglia Ruskin University's Medical School.
I have been busy behind the scenes working on the issue of school attendance as I am leading a private members bill in Parliament on school attendance. We have great schools in Chelmsford. I believe we should be very proud of our nation’s young people. Children in England now rank 11th in the world for Maths and 13th for Reading. Back in 2010, when today’s school-leavers were just starting out in reception, the same league tables placed our children at 27th for Maths and 25th for Reading. There has been phenomenal progress; we must not let this slip.
However, across the country, there has been a steep increase in non-attendance since the pandemic. More than one in five children have been missing more than ten percent of their class time.
The reasons for non-attendance can be complex and can include barriers for children with special educational needs, mental health and anxiety. My Bill will require all schools and local authorities to work together, support families, remove barriers to attendance and follow best practice guidelines. The Bill has the support of the Children’s Commissioner and many other experts on the subject. I hope it will pass swiftly through parliament and help make a real difference to getting children back into school.
Free childcare is being expanded to 15 hours of free childcare per week for two year olds from 1 April 2024. This will increase later to 9 month olds and for up to 30 hours. This is the largest investment by any UK government in history, saving working parents up to £6,500 a year. Families with an eligible two year old should apply online now for their code.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP's new School Attendance Bill.
**Environment**
When out and about in Chelmsford, I notice that many residents have now switched to driving electric vehicles. These tend to be owned by those who have driveways and can easily charge their car from their home. At the moment, those who charge cars from their domestic supply pay just 5% VAT on the electricity, but those who live in terraced houses and need to use commercial chargers pay 20% VAT. I am campaigning to end this pavement tax and was able to raise the issue in the House of Commons this week.
Photo: Vicky Ford MP visiting one of Chelmsford's electric car charging points.
**Health**
I visited the Sutherland Lodge GP surgery in the Baddow Road to see their extensive building work. There will be more consulting rooms for GPs, a bigger waiting area and improved disability access. I have written to Beacon Health Group to ask for more GP appointments at the Moulsham Lodge Surgery. We now have funding from the Government to expand A&E and ward capacity at Broomfield Hospital.
A few local residents have contacted me about NHS dentistry in Chelmsford. The NHS has provided me with a significant list of the local dentists that are currently providing NHS treatments. There is also a new pilot scheme that also offers out of hours treatments in the Mid Essex area. If you need assistance on this matter, please do email me.
Photo Below: Vicky Ford MP visiting Sutherland Lodge GP Surgery earlier this month.
**Supporting Local Businesses**
Locally, I have been catching up with many Chelmsford based businesses. I met with representatives from the Federation of Small Business to discuss the current economic situation. In the autumn statement a number of measures were introduced to help support small businesses, including help with business rates and speeding up payments for work undertaken. We talked about further measures that could be taken in the spring budget.
Chelmsford is home to the largest cluster of insurance companies outside of London. At a recent local meeting with insurance companies, we discussed cyber security. Its one of the biggest risk that many small and medium sized businesses face but many of them are not currently insured for cyber risk. I am supporting the insurance companies suggesting for a quality kite mark for cyber insurance policies, so that businesses and other organisations can get better protection.
**And Finally,**
I had a beautiful early start to a Saturday morning joining Chelmsford volunteers from the South Essex Bird Ringing Group at the Wilderness Foundation. Bird Ringers are extremely highly trained. Their work monitoring the health of different species has been vital to the conservation of wild birds for many decades. It was truly magical to be so close to nature. Thank you to all those who volunteer in our community.
Below Photo: Vicky Ford MP with the South Essex Ringing Group at The Wildnerness Foundation.
As ever please do email me if you have issues or feedback.
With best wishes,
Vicky.
**The Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP**
Promoted by Christine Garrett on behalf of Vicky Ford MP both of 88 Rectory Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1RF.
This email was sent to [email protected]
You've received it because you've subscribed to our newsletter.
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