Good morning John,

I hope that despite the record temperatures you were able to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine over July. Hot temperatures are expected again in Harrow this August, and I hope everyone enjoys what’s left of the summer with family and friends while keeping safe. Parliament is now in recess and so, alongside my weekly surgery, I have been organising more road visits across Harrow. Working with local Councillors and stakeholders; we are helping to address ongoing concerns that Residents Associations might have with managing groups, raising crime issues with Safer Neighbourhood Teams, and even issues of sewage and flooding, that we have taken up with water companies and the council.

There may sometimes be issues impacting your neighbourhood collectively and I am always happy to join and help facilitate wider discussions on these matters in person. If you feel I could be of help with an issue, ping me an e-mail on [email protected]

As we get into Summer in Harrow, I’m looking forward to more road visits. it has been a pleasure to join a few of the big summer fetes across town, as well as the always fun, ‘ Made in Harrow: Summerfest'. Below is my newsletter covering some of my work in Parliament and locally in Harrow too – through out the month, you can find regular updates from me on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Finally, best of luck to the Lionesses tonight in the Euro Final against Germany! Harrow and the rest of the country will be cheering on loudly. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

PARLIAMENT ROUND-UP

Above, students from Nower Hill joined me for a week of work experience – this included debates in the House of Commons, resident Safer Neighbourhood Team meetings, as well as some time volunteering in London’s Community Kitchen.

Over the last month I have taken the opportunity to speak in Parliament on a variety of issues related to local, national and international issues.

I have questioned Education Ministers on the pressures experienced by many schools across Harrow for whom the cost-of-living crisis is forcing families to regularly move. This movement of students is having a knock-on effect on school staff and budgets. I have called on the Department for Education to look at whether there needs to be more focus on mobility as part of the funding formula. I have also pushed education Ministers to look at the problem of teacher retention and called for Harrow Schools to receive the same funding as inner London schools. You can watch here: https://fb.watch/eyM_QHanJs/

On the cost-of-living issue more widely I have asked Ministers to look at the impact of profit gouging by businesses in key parts of our economy and at how that profiteering is could be curbed to reduce the inflationary pressures seen across the UK.

Following the concerning scenes of food shortages, human rights abuses and corruption under Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa Government I have asked that the UK government do not in any way aid Mr Rajapaksa if he seeks evade justice and to do all they can to ensure Mr Rajapaksa faces trial for any part he has played in the abuse, corruption and poor governance. You can watch here: https://fb.watch/eyN21kh3TR/

Other issues on which I have quizzed Ministers include the considerable disruption faced by many passengers at Heathrow; the historic injustice of the 37 Cammell Laird shipworkers who, in 1984, were unjustly imprisoned at a maximum-security prison; and their handling inept handling of the Horizon scandal. You can watch here: https://twitter.com/gareththomasmp/status/1542786642880118785?s=21&t=dZczBpC29ZwC6WlDIo7XoQ

I have delivered a speech to the House highlighting the Government’s appalling record and its short-sighted approach to International Development. As one of the richest nations in the world, I believe it is not only our moral responsibility to help the very poorest in the world, but also that there are strong domestic reasons for rethinking this government’s approach to international development. The soft power of development aid has the positive side effect of enhancing our security, business links and trade. You can watch here: https://twitter.com/gareththomasmp/status/1546499953245257728?s=21&t=dZczBpC29ZwC6WlDIo7XoQ

In my role as Shadow Trade Minister, I have pushed the government on measures to improve their poor deal with the EU which is reducing exports to our closest neighbours. The unnecessary barriers inherent to their dismal deal are causing businesses across the UK added costs, bureaucracy and delays and are only further holding back the, much needed, growth our economy now needs after 12 years of incompetent Tory governance. 

The implementation of Veterinary Agreement, part of the Labour Party’s 5-point plan to fix the Brexit, would help UK food producers compete again with E.U. producers and would improve our declining balance of trade.

PLANS FOR 265 THE RIDGEWAY DISMISSED

Early this month, I was delighted to hear that we won the inquiry on 265, The Ridgeway and that the Planning Inspector has rejected the plans for a huge development. A huge thank you to everyone locally who has campaigned against these plans.

The Plymouth Brethren’s proposals for the site at 265 The Ridgeway were rejected last year by the council after a tireless two-year campaign from local campaigners; from groups such as West Harrow Allotment and Gardens Association, to Harrow in LEAF and the Harrow Beekeepers. As I mentioned last month, I joined local residents again to make our arguments to the Planning Inspectorate following the Brethren’s expensive appeal. 

I understand that the inquiry agreed with many of my points, that this controversial planning application (to put 178 flats and 900 square metres of so called D1 use on the 265 The Ridgeway site) would have had a significant negative impact on the character and appearance of a fundamental part of our community; and would too have had a sustained and negative ecological impact.

Over 20 years ago, when I was a young Councillor, I remember opposing the sale of this land to the Plymouth Brethren. I understand the strong feeling of betrayal felt by many residents, as the Trust have continued to let us down over the past few years. In good faith, residents supported the Harrow Gospel Hall Trust to build on the land with no expectation that they would sell it and leave only some years later. I and I’m sure many other residents locally will be watching the Brethren’s next moves closely.

STOP THE PRIVATISATION OF HARROW TENNIS COURTS

Many residents have been in contact with me about Harrow Council’s plans to introduce charges on the borough’s council-run tennis courts. Video here: https://fb.watch/eyJ8iaqoXW/

I and my colleagues in Harrow Labour believe that access to council courts should remain free for everyone, much like access to our parks and playgrounds. The introduction of charges in the midst of a cost of living crisis will disproportionately affect the poorest in our borough, who are already more likely to have limited outdoor and play space of their own.

Before the local elections, the then Labour-run Harrow Council applied successfully to the LTA for funding to renovate all of the tennis courts in Harrow‘s parks. These changes follow earlier investment into Rayners Mead and West Harrow Park to repair tennis courts. It also followed an investment of over £1.1 million into Harrow’s parks to tackle flooding issues and to upgrade children’s play equipment in all the parks too.

The Tory Councillors in charge of Harrow Council want to take the money from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), and then hire a private company to charge local residents up to £8 an hour to use the tennis courts. We believe our parks and the facilities within them should be available free, shouldn’t be privatised and be available for local people to turn up and use whenever they want to.

Sign my open letter calling on Harrow Council to keep our tennis courts free for all: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/keep-tennis-courts-free-for-all/

OLD LYONIAN’S SITE

Local Headstone Councillors and I are doing all we can to oppose development on the Old Lyonian’s site. We have now attended engagement meetings with the developer, we have listened to ZEDHomes and local residents and have come to the conclusion that ZEDHomes plans for development on the Old Lyonian’s site are not acceptable.

Headstone Councillors, Simon Brown, Natasha Proctor and Sasi Suresh have placed a watching brief on the site and will be fighting this application if it is presented to the Planning Committee. The Land is designated open space, which means it shouldn’t be used for housing development. At this time, the developer has not involved Harrow Council’s Planning Department. It will be hugely important that residents raise concerns about this development once an application has been lodged. Fill in the form on my site to receive an update on when it is time to log your views about this intrusive and environmentally damaging proposal. https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/homepage/updates-on-development-of-old-lyonians-site/

HAWTHORN AVENUE FIRES

I am hugely grateful to the Council’s Emergency Planning & Response and Emergency Duty Teams, London Fire Brigade and the Met Police for their attendance to Hawthorn Avenue fires two weeks ago.

Four Emergency Response Officers (EROs) and a Structural Engineer and Housing Officer were deployed on the night of the fires.  There were 100 displaced residents from Hawthorn Ave. I understand residents were given immediate support at a temporary rest centre that was set up at the Beefeater on Kenton Road. Following meetings between the council, the Police and Fire Brigade residents were able to leave the rest centre.

The council’s Emergency Planning & Response Team with the Emergency Duty Team found alternate accommodation for residents that were either unable to return home or find accommodation.

COMMUNITY LANGUAGE GCSES

As I mentioned in the House of Commons last month, there has been a steep decline in the numbers taking GCSE Gujarati, in the last 10 years. To support trade with India and help young people’s wider learning, Ministers ought to offer support to the Saturday schools & teachers supporting the teaching of languages such as Gujarati.

Since 2015, there has been a 22% decline in students studying Gujarati at GCSE Level and a 30% decline in those studying Urdu. The figures also show even more dramatic reductions in students obtaining Punjabi and Bengali GCSES with an over 39% and 51% decline respectively. These four languages combined are spoken by approximately 480 million people worldwide.

Qualifications in Community languages are falling sharply. Minister’s failure to invest in these languages is leading to a marked decline in the number of students taking exams. The Government needs to provide proper financial support to help local communities and schools.

You can sign my sign my petition calling on the Government to put vital investment into Community Languages here.

TOWN CENTRE POLICE CAMPAIGN

Hundreds of residents have now signed my petition calling on the Met Commissioner for our own Town Centre Police Team. As many will know, I welcome the announcement of a dedicated team for Uxbridge and Wembley but given that Harrow is both a significant commercial district, has an increasing nightlife and is an important transport hub with Harrow Bus Station and Harrow on the Hill Station both within the town centre, I struggle to understand why it hasn’t been prioritised for its own dedicated team of police officers.

Please help apply pressure on the Met Commissioner and sign my petition calling for a dedicated town centre police team: https://www.gareththomas.org.uk/town-centre-police-team-campaign/

SURGERY AND PARLIAMENTARY TOURS

As I return to in-person surgeries, I plan to continue my roving surgeries across Harrow West. In recent months, this has been held at local churches, temples and community centres across the borough. As I return to in-person surgeries, I plan to continue my roving surgeries across Harrow West. In recent months, this has been held at local churches, temples and community centres across the borough. I’m always open to suggestions of location, so please do let me know if you have a local in mind.

I have now returned to my regular advice surgery, taking on casework at my constituency office at 132-134 Blenheim Road, the surgery is usually appointment-based and appointments can be made by calling my parliamentary office on 020 7219 4243.

After two long years - Following the restrictions put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, I am now resuming my own tours for residents of Harrow West, while paid tours can also be arranged through the Houses of Parliament. 

If you would like to join an upcoming tour of parliament please fill out the form using my website here.