GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my weekly update no.317

Last Thursday marked one year since the people of Godalming and Ash chose me as their MP. I have never fought a harder battle and never felt more humbled by the confidence you placed in me. Thank you.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER As I knew would happen, you have kept me busy! I get about 50 emails a day. With support from my brilliant team I try to give prompt and personal replies (but apologies when that has not happened). In case you were wondering, I generally see and help draft replies myself before they go out. The only exception is organised campaign emails where I try to send the same reply to everyone. This year hot topics have been tax rises on local businesses, assisted dying, loss of the winter fuel allowance, VAT on school fees, mobile phone reception, potholes, SEN provision, the Waverley CIL scandal, rural crime and government proposals for local government reorganisation. 

Thames Water's performance across Godalming and Ash remains a big concern. Two weeks ago I met the CEO Chris Weston for a detailed discussion about delivering infrastructure. I told him that many residents have experienced not just outages (Bramley) but some truly awful spills (Alfold and Elstead). I share residents’ frustration at the frequent and poorly coordinated roadworks by utility companies.

On a more positive note, I’m thrilled that the long-awaited expansion of the Surrey Hills National Landscape (formerly AONB) looks like it is very close. If it gets sign-off later this year, the protected area will increase by 30%! And we are making excellent progress in another area of great concern locally, namely local health services. Last spring, the Milford Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened offering an additional 11,000 MRI and 9,500 CT scans annually. Two weeks ago, I visited the new Royal Surrey Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre which is now under construction. It’s a breath taking facility that will serve an extra 7,000 patients each year once complete.

We’ve also made tangible progress on road safety. In Bramley, the installation of speed cameras has reduced average speeds by 5 mph. Two more cameras are now being installed in Witley and Chiddingfold, and a decision on traffic-calming measures in Compton is expected shortly.

But there is still much more to do. As ever I am going to continue to need your help! I am pushing for a big expansion of Cranleigh Village Hospital facilities. I am about to begin a third round of meetings with all the major mobile network operators to sort out  poor reception across the patch. I am still fighting for a long-overdue and vital decision on step-free access at Ash Vale Station. Thank you for working with me to make our area even more lovely.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS

RACHEL REMAINS Whatever our political differences you would have had to have a heart of stone not to feel for Rachel Reeves in PMQs last week. I am perhaps one of the few who really know how tough that job can be as I told Sophy Ridge on Sky. But please no more tax rises!
 

YEAR OF THE U-TURN Last Friday another one year anniversary, that of Keir Starmer’s government. I wished them well when I was elected a year because there are things Labour governments find easier than Conservative ones (such as NHS reform which I welcomed in parliament last week). But I don’t think - looking at the polls - it’s just me who feels disappointed. Where are the big, radical reforms in any area that will sort out the big challenges we face? Certainly not the welfare reform fiasco. That said I do think the PM has done well on the international stage - not least getting a trade deal with the US. This editorial from Friday’s Times probably sums up the worries many of us have that we could end up rudderless for the next four years. 
 

LOCAL LIFE

LOXLEY WELL LICENCE SURRENDERED Brilliant news for Dunsfold residents; drilling is not now going to happen. Well done in particular to the Protect Dunsfold team who marshalled a truly cross-party effort. 
 

CIL SCANDAL There were protests outside Waverley last week and calls for a public inquiry as the Executive pushed through a review of cases without the support of many Councillors or the public. Steve Dally got his £70k refunded (after a 4 year fight!) - but the chances of others receiving justice looks slim right now given the narrow scope of review agreed. Councillor Jane Austin continues to lead the fight for residents - read her update here - and she and I are both meeting the Housing Minister this week to ask why on earth Waverley is being allowed to get away with this. 

MOBILE PHONE ROUND TABLE I met with Minister Chris Bryant last week to discuss mobile phone issues - take a look at this vid for an update - one of my first Tik Toks of the parliament!
 

THANK YOU ALICE! Alice Phillips stepped down as head of St Catherine’s Bramley this weekend after 25 years of remarkable leadership in which she has turned it into one of the best schools in the country. Thank you from generations of local families - and good luck for the future!

JOIN ME Want to get more involved with my brilliant election-winning team locally? Email me at [email protected] to help support our work in our community. If you would like more regular updates of my work locally and nationally, do follow me on Facebook, X (Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram (although email me rather than comment for a guaranteed reply.) 

AND FINALLY what a shambles! Guildford shoppers were left confused as to which town they were in last week - erroneous sign, now hastily removed!