Welcome to my latest newsletter. I hope you find this a useful summary of my work on your behalf.


** HUW MERRIMAN MP NEWSLETTER
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Dear Resident,

Welcome to my my latest newsletter.

Last Friday marked the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Events to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Ukraine were held across the country and in East Sussex. Local residents have welcomed Ukrainians into their homes and, in Parliament, we welcomed President Zelenskyy who gave an historic address to MPs and peers in Westminster Hall. This was the first time a leader of a country at war has addressed both Houses. I am proud that the UK will continue to support Ukraine with military aid and we are helping the country to rebuild its infrastructure to help the war effort.

This week we also saw a breakthrough on the Northern Ireland Protocol issue. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, secured an agreement with the European Union (EU) to replace the Northern Ireland Protocol with a new legal framework – the Windsor Framework – that will fix the practical problems facing the people and businesses of Northern Ireland, protect Northern Ireland’s place within our Union, and restore the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) agreement.

I hope you enjoy reading more on the above matters as well as reports on local issues and meetings I have been involved in over the past month.

Best wishes,

Huw

Observer Article on Ukraine

In my fortnightly column, I focussed on the historic address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Parliament and the UK's aid to the Ukrainian war effort. The first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine was marked across the country.

I should like to thank everyone who has hosted Ukrainian guests during this difficult year for them, and the voluntary groups and networks across our towns and villages which are supporting them. 1,431 guests are living in East Sussex under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

East Sussex County Council would like to hear from anyone who is considering becoming a Homes for Ukraine host. They can be contacted at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call on 01273 337010 (tel:01273 337010)

Read the full article here ([link removed])

Tackling road safety issues in Hooe

At the invitation of Wealden District Councillor, Pam Doodes, I met with Hooe residents to discuss their concerns about speeding and dangerous driving on the country lanes through their village. This is an ongoing problem in many rural villages and I have committed to supporting the community with these road safety issues.

This issue was the subject of my Observer column last Friday, which you can read at this link ([link removed])

Sewage Tanker Disruption for Bexhill Residents

In early February, a burst sewage pipe in St Leonards resulted in considerable disruption for residents in East Bexhill due to a high number of tankers passing their homes through day and night. The tankers were moving sewage from the damaged area to local water treatment sites, including Galley Hill.

I challenged Southern Water on their repair operations and asked that the repair not only fixes the damaged pipes but builds greater resilience into the system to avoid a repeat.

I also asked Southern Water to improve their communications on this and future issues to better explain the their operations to thepublic and stakeholder. In this case, it was important that impacted residents understood the need for so many tankers and that their concerns were being heard. The issue was resolved and I now await a full report into this incident.

Local Meeting on Sea Defences

I spent a day during the February recess in Pevensey and Pevensey Bay. As part of a busy schedule, I held a meeting with officials from the Environment Agency and members of the Pevensey Bay Coastal Community Group to discuss the project and government funding to protect the coastline from Eastbourne to Cooden Beach from flooding and the impacts of climate change.
For more information about the project and to sign up for updates from the EA, please follow this link ([link removed])

Northern Ireland Agreement

The Prime Minister has secured an agreement with the European Union (EU) to replace the Northern Ireland Protocol with a new legal framework – the Windsor Framework – that will fix the practical problems facing the people and businesses of Northern Ireland, protect Northern Ireland’s place within our Union, and restore the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) agreement.

For further detail about this agreement, visit the dedicated page on my website at thislink ([link removed])

A21 Safety Package

National Highways are currently working on a £20m package of safety measures for the A21. I met the team delivering this project recently to talk about their proposals for safety interventions for Hurst Green.

They have been examining pedestrian routes, speeding and junctions. Rather than relying on accident data, the team have been monitoring driver behaviour by camera. This approach is helping them devise better long-term solutions to modify and prevent dangerous driving. I am still keen to see an average speed camera for the village and have taken this up with the Sussex Road Safety Partnership and Sussex Police.

For further information about the scheme visit the dedicated website at this link ([link removed])

Supporting hospitality businesses

Our local hospitality sector faces some serious challenges relating to recruitment and retention of staff, the cost of living crisis which has impacted eating out habits, as well as rising food and energy costs. I want to do all I can to help our local hospitality businesses who are so important to our local economy. I, and my team, are actively involved in local initiatives to support them.

I am a keen cook and was lucky enough to spend some time with local Chef Mal who runs the Sobremesa restaurant in Bexhill. Mal has diversified his restaurant offer and shares his passion for food and cooking at Food Social events where you can learn to cook a dish (regardless of ability) and socialise. They are proving very popular.

Police Federation Meeting

I met representatives from the Sussex Police Federation with my East Sussex Parliamentary colleagues, Sally-Ann Hart, Caroline Ansell and Maria Caulfield. This was a great opportunity to discuss how we can entice the next generation of police officers to the force, as well as a number of other local policing issues.

Wild About Burwash

I enjoyed an evening with Burwash residents in early February to discuss local public transport in and around Burwash, preservation of the AONB and limiting green field development, and protection of dark skies.

Thank you to Cllr Julian Kenny of Burwash PC, the Wild About Burwash team and Burwash Common Pavilion for organising and hosting this really interesting evening.


The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund is now live. This applies to people who aren’t already receiving an automatic discount, such as: wholly or partially funded care home residents, homes on heat networks, residents of park homes, tenants in certain private and social rented homes and more.
You can find more details on the scheme by reading the below press release:
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To apply for the scheme, constituents can follow the link below:
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Those who do not have online access can call the service on
0808 1753 287


Pevensey Flooding Problems

During the February recess, I spent a day with Chairman of Pevensey Parish Council, Peter Lowton. Our first visit was to residents of Gresham and Church Lane who have been suffering from repeated flooding incidents. Their issues were similar to those of residents in Hailsham Road in Heathfield, who I had helped last year.

I am grateful to colleagues in East Sussex County Council Highways, Southern Water and the Environment Agency who have examined the issue and are working on the solution. The issue appears to be related to highways drainage and this is now being thoroughly investigated. This is another great example of a multi-agency approach to dealing with a local problem.
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Bexhill Jobs Fair 10 March 2023

The Bexhill Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair is taking place next Friday from 10.30am to 3.30pm at the De La Warr Pavilion . Find out more and register to attend at this link ([link removed])

I wasn't able to join the event launch at Bexhill College last Friday but the media students have created a great short video of the event for social media which you can watch here ([link removed])

Photo credit: Lineker Photography

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Pevensey Day

I enjoyed a day of visits and meetings in Pevensey and Pevensey Bay during February. My thanks go to Pevensey Parish Clerk, Sarah Mosedale, and Chair of Pevensey Parish Council, Peter Lawton, for organising a busy and varied schedule.

Our visits took in St Nicolas Parish Church; the local Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group - RASCALS who hold their monthly meetings at St Wilfrid's church hall, led by the amazing Katy Layer; the recreation ground where the parish council has invested in new play equipment; the Royal Oak and Castle pub where proprietor Hayley talked to me about challenges facing the hospitality sector, as well as two meetings on flood-related issues. I also visited Pevensey Community Library which has thrived since I worked to support a local Community Interest Group who it took it over from the County Council in 2019.

For a full report on my Pevensey day follow thislink to my website ([link removed])

SE Water resilience

Many residents across the constituency will recall the water loss they experienced during Storm Eunice this time last year. Power cuts affected water pumping and treatment sites operated by South East Water and hundreds of homes were without water.

Since the storm there have been other water loss incidents in the constituency and I have been challenging the SE Water and regulators to put more resilience into their sites and be better prepared to distribute water when needed.

I have posted the latest update from SE Water which outlines progress they have made on this issue on my website at this link ([link removed]) .
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