After a couple of years without the Heritage and Classic Vehicle Show due to Covid, it was great to see so many people attend this year’s show organised by the Erewash Partnership. With cars and other vehicles from all eras being displayed, seeing some of them did bring back memories of journeys in our Morris 1000 with my Grandparents – pre-seatbelts, and holidays in a 1965 VW campervan. A huge amount of work goes into the organisation of the show in advance and on the day so I trust you will join with me in saying a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone involved, especially Ian Viles, Chief Executive, Erewash Partnership Ltd.
The recent hot weather has led to many people taking solace from the heat by finding somewhere to swim to cool off. Whilst there are many safe places to swim, sadly we have heard of too many instances over the last few weeks of people drowning, mainly in unsupervised water. Last week I visited a site where I fear this could happen and now I am doing my utmost to warn residents and to prevent such an occurrence. Some of the old gravel pits in Long Eaton have become a waterpark – well organised with lifeguards, many safety features, supervision, and restricted access. However, nearby some people have been illegally accessing a gravel pit which has not been developed, despite it being fenced off and having warning signs. Apart from inconsiderate parking, which is impacting law-abiding residents, this could cost lives.
I also visited another site in Erewash which I am now campaigning to be made safer. Lows Lane near the old Stanton ironworks is an unlit road and extremely difficult to navigate especially when its raining. However, there are lamp posts along it – but these are ‘Stanton lamp posts’ and therefore are no longer maintained. I am contacting Derbyshire County Council, which has responsibility for highways and street lighting, to get them to adopt the lamp posts, get them working and therefore make this stretch of road safer. There have been several accidents along this road recently, thankfully nonfatal, but without improved lighting, this may not always be the case. If Lows Lane was deemed to need lights previously, I am sure with the higher volume of traffic, the need will not have gone away.
Derbyshire County Council are using funding from the Government’s household Support Fund to provide a £100 voucher for 23,000 eligible Derbyshire residents to support them with the rise in the cost of living. For most people the voucher needs to be exchanged at a post office for cash and is to help alleviate the pressure on the finances of some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. Eligible residents include pensioners who are entitled to a discount on their council tax and people who receive home care support and are known to be on a low income because of their co-funding assessment. The vouchers will be sent out in phases over the coming weeks and all vouchers are due to be distributed by mid-September. Some people may be worried about opening what looks like an official letter, but residents are being urged to do so and claim what they are entitled to.
I am saddened that yet another Trade Union has called a strike which will impact many of us. The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) is planning four days of strike action on 26 August, 31 August, 8 September and 9 September which will affect the delivery of our post through Royal Mail. All letter deliveries will be suspended except Special Delivery, with as many Special Delivery and Tracked 24 parcels as possible being delivered. The delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions will be prioritised. Delivery Offices and Customer Service Points will be closed and will reopen the day after strike action has finished. You can visit royalmail.com/latest-news for the latest detailed information on services.
With best wishes for the week ahead, Maggie Throup MP
Member of Parliament for Erewash
P.S. My community office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, however we are operating an appointment system. Should you need to visit my office, please phone 0115 930 0521 to book an appointment. Should you have an issue I can help you with, please either phone my office or email me at [email protected].
P.P.S. Your friends and family can now sign-up to receive my Westminster Despatches, by visiting www.maggiethroup.com. In addition, should you know of anyone who does not have access to a computer and would like to receive paper copies of my e-news on a regular basis, then please do let me know their details (including their full name and address).
Promoted by Ian F. Gutteridge, on behalf of Maggie Throup MP, both of Unit 2 The Old Co-Op, South Street,
Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 5SG.
