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** Vicky Ford InTouch July 2021
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Dear Reader,

We have almost reached the end of the Parliamentary term before we ‘break up’ for summer recess. After a very busy past 18 months, I will be taking some annual leave but I will also be catching up with various organisations around Chelmsford as well as helping to deliver my Reporting Back Leaflet, so if you see me around, do stop to say hello!

I thought it would be a good idea to update you on some of what has been happening both in Chelmsford and in Westminster.
You will have seen that the Prime Minister announced that our final roadmap step which is hopefully on 19 July will mean an end to legal restrictions, with social distancing and mask-wearing requirements in law ending, large events restarting, restrictions on care home visits being lifted and all businesses being allowed to fully reopen as everyone can return to work. But we know the pandemic is not over and cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks, so as we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from covid and exercise judgement when going about our lives.
NHS

Our NHS staff in hospitals and GPs as well as our carers have worked so very hard to support the people of Chelmsford throughout the pandemic.

I recently visited the Chelmsford Ambulance depot where I was able to hear from those on duty. They told me what it was like for them during the most difficult months of the pandemic and how helpful it had been to work with members of the Fire Service so that they could maximise the number of ambulances available. They have some wonderful new vehicles which are making a huge difference to how they care for patients and coordination with the local hospitals has also greatly improved turn around times.
There is a lot of extra pressure on our GPs and Ambulance service, with more demand on services than pre pandemic. This may be due to some residents deferring visits to GPs during the past eighteen months. Hospital waiting lists remain high and it will take time to recover but I know that staff are working hard to resolve this. Do email me if you have any specific issues regarding accessing medical services.
Vaccination and infection rates

The figures for the number of adults vaccinated are truly extraordinary. In Essex, 83% of adults have received the first dose of their vaccination, and 62% have received their second dose. This is above average for the rest of the country. Cases have continued to rise, and in Chelmsford, the case rate is 241/100,000.

As we celebrate the 73rd birthday of our amazing NHS, we are determined to support it more than ever - and back the incredible staff who work in it - through the pandemic and for years to come. That is why we are committed to supporting our NHS as it rebuilds from the virus from the recovery of services to delivering more doctors and nurses; and in giving it the biggest cash boost in its history – investing an extra £33.9 billion a year by 2023-24, building 40 more hospitals and delivering more doctors and nurses, we will strengthen our NHS for years to come.
LOCAL ECONOMY

It is so important that we continue to shop local as our local businesses reopen and build back from the pandemic. I have enjoyed listening to local restaurants, bar and club owners and hearing about the measures that they took or will take to welcome customers in a covid-secure way.
I recently visited local restaurant Back Inn Time. It is brilliant news that Back Inn Time has been saved from demolition again after a planning application to build flats in its place was refused. Thank you to everyone who contacted me about this.

Chelmsford’s markets are a particular treasure, but traders are still facing lower customers than usual partly because many office workers have not yet returned to the city centre. I was concerned to hear that the Lib Dem led Chelmsford City Council has put the rent back up to pre-pandemic levels, which I do think is short-sighted given that we are so close to taking the final steps to reverse lockdown. The market is stuffed full of exciting stalls, from foodie delights to an Aladdin’s cave for those who love stitching and sewing. Please do pop down and support our market traders.

POLICE

This month the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill passed its second reading. The Bill backs the police in recognition of the unique and enormous sacrifices they make. The Bill will introduce tougher sentences to protect us all from violent criminals. It will modernise the criminal justice system, with an overhaul of court and tribunal processes as well as taking action on illegal trespass, stronger sentences, protecting children and animal theft. It was hugely disappointing that the Labour Party voted against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill again.

Here in Essex, 37 new police officers joined Essex Police in the most recent passing out parade. These are the latest officers to join Essex Police as part of the 184 officers being recruited this year. By April, Essex Police will have 3,553 officers, an increase of 703 since Roger Hirst was originally elected as PCCF in 2016. Roger has committed to a further 116 after this in the next four years, this is roughly a 30% increase in officer numbers.
In Chelmsford, over the 12 months to March 2021, there has been a 13.8% decrease in all crime. This is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also reflects the impact of positive proactive operations, including using the period to target county lines. Essex Police are doing an incredible job, and we can see that we have more officers being more proactive, who are going out and targeting criminals and criminal gangs. Thank you to Essex Police for all they do to keep us safe.
EDUCATION

I have really enjoyed recently catching up with students in online assemblies from Boswells and Barnes Farm Junior School as well as a face to face question and answer class with the politics students at KEGS. It is so good to hear from our younger residents in Chelmsford, and I have several more school visits planned. I am bowled over by the resilience of our young people and what they have done to help keep others safe. The Education Secretary announced plans to remove bubbles and contact isolation for pupils in England when we enter Step Four. Other key protections will be maintained, so that children are able to safely remain in school and will be able to enjoy a more normal school life, as well as more out of school and extra curricular activities.
ENVIRONMENT

Readers may be aware that I am a long standing environment campaigner and helped found the Conservative Environment Network which is a powerful force in lobbying for environmental action. I was also one of the original sponsors for the Net Zero Carbon Emissions Bill.

Later this year, in November, the UK, together with our partner Italy, will host COP26, an event many believe to be the world’s last best chance to get runaway climate change under control. The UK is responsible for less than 1% of all global emissions. But by demonstrating a path to net zero, and using our influence on the world stage we hope to set an example that others can follow.

The decade out to 2030 will be crucial. Under the Paris Agreement, countries committed to bring forward national plans setting out how much they would reduce their emissions, however, the commitments laid out in Paris did not come close to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and the window for achieving this is closing. As momentous as Paris was, countries must go much further to keep the hope of holding temperature rises to 1.5 degrees alive.
The Environment Bill requires that environmental targets be laid before parliament by 31 October 2022. Work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure Ministers meet this deadline. Ministers have also committed that their proposed objectives for biodiversity targets include restoring species populations and priority habitats set targets of at least 15 years, Ministers will ensure that Governments look beyond the short term, but this does not mean we should not make progress until 2030. The Bill has completed its journey through the House of Commons and will now be debated in the Lords, with Royal Assent expected in the Autumn. I know that key work on implementing the Bill’s measures continues at pace.

I am confident that the process put in place to develop targets will contribute to meeting new global goals set under the convention on biological diversity.
DATES FOR THE DIARY

This Autumn, Chelmsford hosts the British Science Festival and the Knife Angel comes to Chelmsford. I will be hosting the Apprenticeship Fair at Anglia Ruskin University in September. This has been very successful in previous years and I look forward to seeing many of you there. Do look out for details on my Facebook page in the coming weeks.

STAYING IN TOUCH

As ever please do stay in touch if you need help or advice. The easiest way to do this is by email, my email address is [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . I have been holding virtual surgeries, and have resumed face to face surgeries with social distancing measures in place. If you do need to speak to me urgently, please do call my office on 01245 352872.

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