I am absolutely thrilled to get a new Princess Alexandra Hospital! This is huge news for people in Bishop’s Stortford who rely on its care and something I have campaigned for passionately in Westminster with my brilliant colleagues Robert Halfon MP and Dame Eleanor Laing MP. Hundreds of millions in government funding will ensure its state-of-the-art rebuild in 2025. Alongside the new Community Diagnostic Centre in Bishop’s Stortford at Herts & Essex Hospital, this really will transform healthcare services and outcomes for our community.
Bishop’s Stortford is a commuter town meaning delays and problems with trains are made all the more frustrating. I know there have been some teething issues with Greater Anglia’s new timetable which is why I met with them to raise people’s concerns. Greater Anglia assured me they are monitoring travel patterns in response, including on passenger numbers and train capacity, and will react quickly when needed. The timetable changes are part of their plan to improve services and efficiency following the pandemic. The Stansted Express, for example, now mostly operates with 12-carriage trains rather than eight - that means hundreds of extra seats per train. On Bishop’s Stortford’s branches such as Cambridge/Cambridge North and Stansted Airport, we have 22 trains that run during the morning peak alone too. Though this is great progress there is more to do and I am on the case. If problems continue to affect you, please email me at julie.marson.mp@parliament.uk.
I am really pleased that new help for local Ukrainians is on its way. East Herts Council will receive £217,029 in government funding to help Ukrainians move into their own homes and secure employment. Having met and supported many to settle in Hertford and Stortford, I know what a difference this will make. Along with the extension on how long Ukrainians can use their driving licences in the UK to three years, these measures will undoubtedly help them to thrive in our community. I continue to support this every step of the way.
Grove Cottage in Bishop’s Stortford is an amazing charity, providing support to people with learning disabilities and their families. I was delighted to visit and present them with a £50,000 cheque from Stansted Airport’s Community Fund. The money will go towards revamping the organisation’s premises and ensuring it is fit for their growing needs. It is an exciting project and I am eager to see the finished result!
I enjoyed meeting with Bishop’s Stortford Climate Group again recently. We had a wide-ranging and constructive discussion - everything from sustainable travel in Bishop’s Stortford to air quality at the Hockerill Lights, heat pumps and biodiversity was mentioned! Lots to take away and get on with.
In the last month I held meetings with staff at East Herts DC and Hertfordshire County Council, Stansted Airport, local councillors, government ministers and more. Check my social media for regular updates on these.