**
------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my South West Surrey update No.213
I hope you enjoyed your half-term break - your Chancellor was with his family, but working on the upcoming Spring Budget ([link removed]) and designing our racing strategy to become one of the most prosperous economies in Europe ([link removed]) . This week, I write from India where I’m at my first G20 ([link removed]) summit for finance ministers where we are unsurprisingly discussing issues like support for Ukraine and the global energy crisis. Locally, I have been helping constituents with environmental concerns in Bramley, crime concerns in Farnham & Haslemere and with a proposed nursery closure in Godalming (more below).

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

TREASURY NEWS - Good news from the ONS ([link removed]) over the last week -inflation has fallen for the third consecutive month ([link removed]) to 10.1%. But it is still way too high and creates a dangerous instability in the economy as well as being a real pressure for families. It won’t surprise you that I am sticking to the plan to halve it (and more) which is the best single thing I can do to relieve the situation. But I am also focusing on growth. On Tuesday, I met green industry leaders ([link removed]) to set out my priorities for boosting investment in the sector and growing our economy. It’s one of our great success stories - we have the biggest offshore wind farm in the world, the second biggest and the third biggest - and wind supplied 60% of our electricity on one windy December day last year as a result
(and 40% overall). We have also asked NatWest CEO Alison Rose to spearhead efforts to reduce the UK’s energy consumption by 15% over five years. I hope she will do for energy efficiency what Kate Bingham did for vaccines.

FAN-LED FOOTBALL REVIEW - Footie fans will be interested to know that there was an urgent question in the Commons on the fan-led review of football governance ([link removed]) , published by Tracey Crouch in 2021. As a former ref (with no great talent it must be said) I am glad that a football governance White Paper is due to be published this week.

CRACKDOWN ON DOMESTIC ABUSERS - The Government announced that domestic abusers will face tags and tougher management under new measures to protect women and girls ([link removed]) . This means that the most dangerous abusers will be monitored more closely, and controlling or coercive behaviour will be put on a par with physical violence, meaning much earlier police involvement. For local support, please do reach out to the South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach Service ([link removed]) .

SOCIAL SECURITY BILL - On Tuesday, the Commons completed the remaining stages of the second Social Security Bill ([link removed]) . This Bill authorises payments from the 23/24 financial year to help with increased costs of living - just a reminder the total support being offered this winter and next is around £3,500 per family (an eye-watering £99 bn).

COVID UPDATE - Unfortunately, the number of Covid cases in England is on the up, with the ONS reporting that1 in 55 now have the virus ([link removed]) compared to 1 in 65 the previous week. The government’s Coronavirus dashboard ([link removed]) confirms this, showing that cases are up 5%, hospitalisations up 10.8% although most importantly, deaths are down by 16.9%.

The key number is 0300 200 1008 for anyone with pandemic related difficulties. Also, check out my full list of local groups ([link removed]) working to support vulnerable residents.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

GREEN SPACES - Since the last update on my Green Spaces ([link removed]) campaign, I’ve received confirmation from Natural England that the public consultation for the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will begin on 7th of March. This will run for fourteen weeks and will involve local authorities, as well as the public. I have been promised another update with more information on how to access the proposals to extend the Surrey Hills AONB and how we can all engage with this consultation. You can read the letter from Natural England ([link removed]) , as well as a letter from Rebecca Pow MP, Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience, on my website ([link removed]) . A big moment for the campaign.

BRAMLEY ISSUES A worrying chemical odour was recently reported in Bramley ([link removed]) near to the Holy Trinity Church. I immediately raised this incident with Richard Homewood, Executive Head of Regulatory Services at Waverley, along with Julia Simpson, Area Director at the Environment Agency. Richard has reassured me that no visible leaks were found from the tanks or pipes at the Co-Op petrol station, and that there are no issues with the old landfill site. Petroleum Officers have confirmed that pressure testing took place at the service station on 11th Feb, and are currently chasing the Co-Op for a copy of the report, which is due imminently. However, in their view, leaks are unlikely at the station, as they think that the report would have come through immediately if it showed signs of leakages. I will report back as soon as I hear.

With regards to the broken pump near Gosden Common ([link removed].) , Thames Water haven’t been able to completely clear the pumped sewer downstream of the pumping station, so are still working on this (it’s a 1.7km piece of pipe with no access points along its length, so they can only get into it from one end or the other). They have been in through the end nearest the pumping station and have made some progress, but now need to cut into the pipe at the far end at Stonebridge Wharf to insert a camera and jetting kit. In tandem, they will be carrying out an infiltration study to look at why the flows in the Gosden Common network are so great. The study will begin next week and should take about 7 days to complete. I will of course keep you updated.

BRIGHT HORIZONS I’ve recently been contacted by local parents who are understandably worried about the proposed closure of the Bright Horizons nursery ([link removed]) in Godalming on 31st March. The closure comes as a shock to many - with no prior warning, and seemingly without consultation. A lack of nursery spaces at other local premises (including for children with SEND) is compounding the concern. I’ve raised it with Tracey Sanders, Assistant Director, Inclusion & Additional Needs at SCC, and will be meeting with the Operations Director at Bright Horizons ([link removed]) in the near future. Hopefully this will help to understand the reasons behind the closure, and whether there is anything that can be done to help them stay open. I will keep you posted.

HASLEMERE CRIME UPDATE Surrey Police have confirmed that there has been a slight increase in shed break ins ([link removed]) (for bikes and tools). They believe as Haslemere borders Sussex and Hampshire, and is well connected via trains, people come in and out of the area to offend. Surrey are currently doing some work with other forces on vehicle thefts seen at the train stations, in order to look at patterns of offending. They will also be assessing the burglaries across the town, to see if there’s a pattern there too. For larger properties or commercial premises that may have been targeted a number of times, a DOCO (designing out crime officers) will visit the site and may get involved in consultation processes with councils if any significant developments are in the pipeline. If you have been victim to a recent burglary, and feel you would benefit from a DOCO visit, please contact your local team
([link removed]) to discuss further.

UKRAINE UPDATE We have done a brilliant job welcoming Ukrainians, but nearly a year on, many need to find new families to stay with as renting can be very expensive. If you can’t help with that, there’s also a WhatsApp group for anyone with household items to give away, and many thanks to the Baptist Church in Godalming for continuing to offer its premises free of charge for English lessons. The Kings Arms have also generously agreed to allow some Ukrainian mothers and children to meet on Saturday mornings in a private room, and are hoping to put on a drama production this Spring. There will also be a candlelit vigil in Godalming tomorrow, (Friday 24th Feb) at 6pm, held at the Wilfred Noyce Centre, to mark the first anniversary of this horrible invasion. For further information on the above, please email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

ON A POSITIVE NOTE From Adele to Queen via Mary Poppins and Kinky Boots, this Saturday evening in Haslemere, four leading choirs will be performing a number of catchy, uplifting songs in aid of the new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre at the Royal Surrey. ([link removed]) Don't miss out on this fun and entertaining evening whilst supporting an amazing cause (there's a rather good raffle too I'm told!). Tickets from Haslemere Hall ([link removed]) or phone the box office on 01428 642161.

JOIN ME Want to get more involved locally? Email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to join my growing team supporting our work in our community.

AND FINALLY… My successor as Chair of the Health & Social Care Committee ([link removed]) and a good friend of mine, Steve Brine MP, has started a new podcast discussing all things health and NHS related ([link removed]) . The pilot was recorded on Tuesday, and I encourage you to listen wherever you get your podcasts - Steve is great.

As always, if you know anyone (a friend or neighbour perhaps?) who might like to receive this email, please do forward it on. Anyone can sign up here ([link removed]) to receive them and can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the box below or emailing me.

This email and any attachments to it (the 'Email') are intended for a specific recipient(s) and its contents may be confidential, privileged and/or otherwise protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this Email in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email, and delete it from your records. You must not disclose, distribute, copy or otherwise use this Email. Please note that email is not a secure form of communication and that the Conservative Party ('the Party') is not responsible for loss arising from viruses contained in this Email nor any loss arising from its receipt or use. Any opinion expressed in this Email is not necessarily that of the Party and may be personal to the sender.

Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

============================================================

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
South West Surrey Conservative Association . 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road . Hindhead . Surrey, GU26 6TD . United Kingdom