Dear Constituent,

The heatwave of a few weeks ago is beginning to seem like a dim and distant memory. Whilst it’s not time to don your scarfs and jumpers quite yet, there’s certainly a bit of a nip in the air. For many of us, that means turning thermostats back up and radiators back on. Unfortunately, for far too many people in this country, the added expense that heating a home brings in the colder months pushes them into poverty.

 

Over 2.5 million households across England are in this position and the Government’s figures show that the North West has the highest levels of fuel poverty – 13.1% of households in our region are fuel poor. Here in Tameside, the Government estimates that there are 11,757 households living in fuel poverty.

 

That means thousands of people in our borough are having to choose between keeping warm or feeding their families. Nobody should have to make that kind of decision in the UK – one of the richest countries in the world – in the twenty first century.

 

Poor insulation is a major factor in fuel poverty. Many of the poorest people in our communities live in houses and flats that are draughty and damp, so this is not just an issue of financial strain – it’s an issue of public health. Not only do people living in these properties face higher fuel bills, they are more likely to get ill. This not only puts people at risk but also puts greater pressure on our NHS, which is already overstretched.

 

It’s clear that many energy companies have been ripping off customers for a long time. After years of campaigning from the Labour Party, a price cap has finally been introduced but unfortunately it isn’t the level it needs to be to adequately protect households. That’s why the next Labour Government will introduce a proper cap, as well as insulating four million homes and reforming the energy market.

 

Until then though, we shouldn’t forget that for some people living in Denton the cold weather isn’t just an inconvenience but means poverty and illness.

 

Denton Carnival is always one of the highlights of my year. If you’ve never been then you are really missing out – it’s the biggest and best free day in the town. And I’m not just saying that because I’m Carnival President!

 

It’s not just about all the fun and games, the music and the dressing up, the Carnival is also a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and hear more about the fantastic things that Dentonians are getting up to.

 

This year it was a particular pleasure to meet up with pupils from Russell Scott Primary School (of which I’m a proud former pupil) and their excellent headteacher Steve Marsland. They were launching Walk Ride Denton, the first Walk Ride group in Tameside.

 

This is all part of the wider Walk Ride GM campaign to get more people walking and cycling (and scooting if that’s your thing!) for their everyday journeys across Greater Manchester.

 

At Russell Scott, they’re focussing on the school run – as anyone who has ever had the “pleasure” of doing the school run will know, it can all be a bit of a chaotic nightmare, with roads clogged up with parking cars and children darting in between traffic on their way in. Pupils and teachers at the school want parents to consider better alternatives – that are both safer and healthier.

 

One thing that Russell Scott has pioneered is the Junior PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) scheme, where pupils issue tickets to people who drive to school or park outside dangerously. This is simple but effective and is already having a positive impact on behaviour around the school gates.

 

Of course, changing how you do the school run is not necessarily an easy thing to do – early mornings are a busy time for families with young children and cars are very convenient. However, as convenient as it may be, it’s certainly not pleasant so why not follow the lead of the Russell Scott pupils and have a think if there might be a better way?

 

Oh – and one more thing – if you didn’t make it to the Denton Carnival this year, then I hope you’ll join us in 2020!