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** WELCOME TO MY APRIL NEWSLETTER!
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Hello,

My newsletter is designed to give an overview of what I've been doing as Member of Parliament for Surrey Heath, so please feel free to forward this on to your friends, family and neighbours. They can sign up to receive it directly by clicking here ([link removed]) .

With every good wish,

Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Member of Parliament for Surrey Heath
SURREY HEATH NEWS

CONGESTION AT THE A322/M3 JUNCTION

I have been receiving reports from constituents that the traffic congestion at the A322/M3 junction has been particularly bad recently and on 6 April, I wrote once again to National Highways to underline the misery caused by the delays at this junction and have asked for the phasing of the traffic lights to be re-checked to ensure they are working as they should.

Then on 12 April, I have a virtual meeting with National Highways’ Regional Director for the South East and emphasised my belief that this is the most congested junction on the highways network. I posted a video update on my Facebook page, which you can watch here ([link removed]) .

On 18 April, I followed up again by writing to the Regional Director for the South East, and you can read the latest response here ([link removed]) on my website.

POTHOLE REPAIRS


I know only too well just how exasperating potholes and poor-quality roads can be, so I am pleased to report that Surrey County Council has responded to the Government’s request to set out their plans for £5,264,000 to be used to repair and resurface roads in Surrey over the next two years as part of £82,436,000 allocated to Surrey County Council as part of a long-term 11-year plan to improve local roads. You can read more here ([link removed]) .

NEW DEBRA UK CHARITY SHOP IN LIGHTWATER

I was delighted to drop by the grand opening of the brand-new DEBRA UK ([link removed][0]=AZWl6pINjB3TBAvA7JufpQJVigSzjSGM2YlOTiTZQIfCPhUtuaymqHBio2GnHln0NlReGylplRKt_Hkcjuk8NMXxtxpmNdZd6R58SjjtFH9ehBn-9z5JAhzEwMH9MSiWvvPYrv4zVhb2HVG_zRIDh2mf4tF5aMq7IxHnzTAVPNa3iGsEub85u24ktwAUQgr9xjkyk3rhQVMLThIUSGZ1cJdHtFlRmbn4r6pWVGExe5SL7d66eGP8cYrZAqY-GzxrMac&__tn__=-]K-R) charity shop on Guildford Road in Lightwater on 12 April.

DEBRA is a fantastic national charity, which provides vital support for people living with ‘Butterfly Skin’ (Epidermolysis Bullosa), which is an extremely painful genetic skin condition that makes the sufferer blister.

The new shop looks absolutely fantastic, run by a brilliant team, and will help generate much-needed revenue for the charity, which will support continued research into securing effective drug treatments. So, if you can, please do pop into the new Lightwater shop and help make a real difference to people living with EB.

DEEPCUT CAMPAIGNING


On 13 April, it was a pleasure to join local Conservative colleagues and friends for campaigning in the new Mindenhurst development in Deepcut. As ever, it was great to be out and about chatting to residents, and to hear from them with their thoughts on a wide range of issues.

EXPANSION OF CHILDCARE
This month, I welcomed the roll-out of the largest ever expansion of childcare in England’s history with eligible working parents of two-year-olds now able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week.

This is great news for many hard-working families across Surrey Heath, and you can find out more here ([link removed]) .
NEW SPECIAL FREE SCHOOL APPROVED

I am delighted to report that London South East Academies Trust has now been successful in their application to run a new school called Frimley Oak Academy.

Working closely with Surrey County Council, Frimley Oak Academy will offer specialist education for 170 pupils aged 11 to 19 with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

The Trust can now begin the task of converting its vision into reality, working with Department for Education (DfE) officials throughout the pre-opening phase on key milestones that need to be met before a funding agreement can be signed.

DfE officials will also continue to work with the local authority to finalise the site for the school, ensuring that it is both affordable and deliverable in a way that maximises the speed that the new school will be open and meeting the need for additional, specialist, high quality places in Surrey.

CATCH UP WITH THE BOROUGH COMMANDER


Earlier this month, I had a catch up with Surrey Heath's Borough Commander in Camberley. We discussed the important issue of road safety outside schools, including problems during drop-off and pick-up times. You can watch my video update here ([link removed]) .

STARSPEED LTD

This month, it was a pleasure to meet the team at Starspeed Ltd, a fantastic helicopter management and charter business, which is based at Fairoaks Airport outside Chobham. It was fascinating to learn about this business, which was established in 1978 and is a leading company that delivers helicopter management services to a global market, providing high skill, high value employment.

THE BIG PLASTIC COUNT

I met three amazing students from West End’s Holy Trinity School in Parliament for The Big Plastic Count’s Youth Empowerment Day on 17 April. It was wonderful to hear how enthusiastic they are about reducing plastic waste and we spoke about a Global Plastics Treaty.

I too am passionate about protecting and enhancing our environment, and I am proud of the action I took during my time as Environment Secretary to deliver a 25-Year Environment Plan and to ban plastic straws, drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds.

I am also delighted that restrictions on a range of single-use plastics, including plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers have now come into force. This new ban is the next step in cracking down on harmful plastic waste.

Global action is needed, and I welcome that the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution has set an ambitious timetable for the agreement of a new international, legally binding plastics treaty by end of 2024. I know that my colleagues in Government are committed to securing an agreement on the text by the end of the year and are working closely with other parties and stakeholders to facilitate progress.
BISLEY ACTION
On 19 April, I joined local County Councillor, Rebecca Jennings-Evans, on a visit to Bisley C of E School to learn more about the important work she is doing to improve road safety outside the school and to help ease the parking issues. We spoke with the Headteacher regarding the brilliant initiatives the school has implemented, such as ‘Park and Stride’, and we also had the opportunity to discuss funding and special educational needs provision.

Afterwards, Rebecca took me to the traffic lights on the A322, between Wilcot Gardens and Wilcot Close in Bisley, and explained that there have been a number of near misses due to red light jumping. I was pleased to hear that the police are carrying out a red light survey and are currently compiling the data.

Rebecca also informed me that residents are concerned about speeding along this stretch of road, and Surrey County Council has recently concluded a consultation on reducing the speed limit along the A322 through Bisley and West End to 30mph. I have asked the Highways Team at Surrey County Council to update me in due course.
NHS PARLIAMENTARY AWARDS 2024

I am delighted to report I have submitted nominations of local NHS heroes from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and from Surrey and Border Partnership NHS Trust for the following awards:
* The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award
* The Excellence in Healthcare Award
* The Future NHS Award
* The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award
* The Volunteer Award

I wish the nominees the very best of luck!
GREENVIEW HALL CARE HOME
It was great to drop by Greenview Hall Care Home in West End earlier this month. I had a wonderful tour of the home, and it was a pleasure chatting to lots of the residents.

LEASEHOLD REFORM


During my constituency surgery on Friday, I met Lorraine Collis, Chief Executive of ELM Group, a Frimley-based Housing Association that created leasehold living for the elderly in 1971. It was very interesting to talk to Lorraine, and it was great to hear her thoughts on leasehold reform.

SURREY HEATH HEADTEACHERS

I met Surrey Heath Headteachers at Lakeside Primary School in Deepcut for a catch up. We discussed concerns relating to Ofsted and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision in Surrey. I am hugely grateful to all the headteachers who attended, and it was incredibly helpful to hear from them about the challenges they experience and their thoughts on improving support.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST CLUB
I had a brilliant Business Breakfast at Windlesham Golf Club last week, with over 50 guests.

My Business Breakfast Club meets four times a year to help strengthen ties with the local business community and Conservative Councillors, so if you would like to join or find out more information, please do email [email protected]

EVERGREEN GARDEN CARE

Last Friday, it was a pleasure to meet the team at Evergreen Garden Care at the head office in Frimley to hear all about their campaign for a peat-ban.

Reducing peat usage and restoring our peatlands to health is hugely important, and Evergreen Garden Care has been doing brilliant work promoting peat-free gardening.

I know my colleagues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are working towards a peat-ban, and I will be in touch with Robbie Moore MP, Minister for Water and Rural Growth, to report back on my visit.


** DLUHC NEWS
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NEW POWERS TO STRENGTHEN COUNCIL PLANNING: On 25 April, new planning powers come into effect giving local councils greater tools to hold rogue developers to account as part of the Government’s landmark Levelling-up and Regeneration Act. For more details, please click here ([link removed]) .

NEW REGIME TO DELIVER DECENT HOMES FOR SOCIAL HOUSING RESIDENTS: Routine inspections and gradings will hold large social housing providers to account and ensure landlords are delivering for residents. You can read further details here ([link removed]) .

CONTACT ME

The best way to reach me is by email or post, and please include your full address, including postcode, in all communications.

Post: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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