What's new in Ashford
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** Welcome to my March 2024 newsletter
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As we approach Easter and (hopefully) Spring, I have been busy following up a number of concerns people expressed in my recent survey. I have fixed to talk to Primark about any prospects of them coming to Ashford, I have asked the Rail Minister about international services to and from Ashford, and as you see below I have been seeking reassurance from Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner about the safety of the Town Centre. I have also visited four of our primary schools in the past few weeks. In Parliament the main focus has been on the Budget when we heard some encouraging news. More on that below as well.
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** Town Centre Update
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Thank you to everyone who filled in my Ashford Town Survey. If you are yet to see the results of the survey you can see them in full here ([link removed]) . It is clear what improvements people really want to see. So far I have shared the findings with Ashford Borough Council and have met with Matthew Scott, the Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss anti-social behaviour. You can see me questioning Matthew Scott here ([link removed]) .
** Repton Connect
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It was good to hear from Louise and Charlie how well Repton Connect is doing - it’s lots more than a community centre.
** Cancer Research UK
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I have been discussing cancer waiting times in Ashford and learning about Cancer Research's plan for longer, better lives.
** Axe the Tax
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I have signed an open letter, calling on the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure that rural households off the gas grid can convert to renewable liquid heating fuels.
** National Lottery
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It’s great to hear about all the fantastic work of the National Lottery Community Fund. In the last five years, Ashford has benefitted from 127 grants worth a total of £4.1 million.
** What’s happening in Parliament?
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There has been a lot of activity in Parliament this month with the main event being the Spring Budget. It has been confirmed that inflation has halved, the economy has performed better than forecast, and debt is on track to fall. The headline tax reform was a 2p cut in National Insurance contributions which, combined with the 2p cut announced at the Autumn Statement last year, will reduce the tax paid by an average worker by over £900 per year. Additional funding of £2.5 billion for the NHS was announced to support further progress towards improving performance and reducing waiting times. I also welcomed support for the creative industries, which I hope will benefit Ashford when the new studio complex, currently in early development at Newtown Works, opens. You can watch my contribution to the Budget debate below.
** Select Committee Update:
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In the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee we currently have five inquiries: Grassroots music venues, British film and high-end television, Minority languages, Gambling regulation, and Women’s sports. Our most recent publication is our report on safety at major sporting events. We looked at how sporting events can be made inclusive, ensuring they are well policed and welcoming environments.
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Stay up to date with local news and information on my website
DAMIANGREEN.CO.UK
New Funding for Farmers ([link removed])
Good news! The Government will introduce a £15 million fund to help farmers redistribute surplus food, preventing millions of meals worth of edible food from going to waste.
DAMIANGREEN.CO.UK
Our Man in Westminster - Spending in Ashford ([link removed])
Following my Town Centre Survey, which showed some of the reasons people may not be using the town centre as much as before, there is now some interesting information which shows that there is more spending power than there has been in recent years, so there is hope for our shops.
Promoted by Damian Green of Hardy House, The Street, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3AG
|Copyright (C) 2024| Damian Green MP |All rights reserved|
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