In Westminster last month, President Zekenskyy gave an historic address to Parliament. He spoke about the unbreakable ties between our nations and our joint determination to defeat evil and invasion. It was deeply moving and an incredible honour to witness such a momentous and historic event.
In Hertford and Stortford, there were lots of other events going on too. I held a roundtable for local businesses which was a good opportunity for them to raise any challenges they might be facing, and for me to look at how I could help. I took away lots of notes from the session and raised their concerns on with the relevant people. I remain available to them and any other local businesses for support in the meantime - please do not hesitate to get in touch.
The New Apton Centre in Bishop’s Stortford is an important local resource, and often a lifeline, for the elderly and most vulnerable in our community. I held several meetings when the Centre faced sudden closure last year. Following some incredible donations and fundraising efforts from local people, the Centre was saved and I was thrilled to spend an afternoon there recently to catch-up with everyone. It was great to learn more from the staff, volunteers and clients there about just how much they value the Apton Centre’s services. They have my full and continued support.
Mandeville Primary School in Sawbridgeworth became an Eco-School last year. I encouraged schools across the constituency to take part in the scheme that provides seven simple steps for teachers and young people to help them address the environmental issues they care about. I visited Mandeville recently to see how they were getting on. They have since won a prestigious Green Flag for their brilliant efforts. The staff and children are inspirational and so enthusiastic. It was fantastic to go back and see the difference this project is already making.
SEND provision in Hertfordshire has been historically underfunded. This is a problem lots of young people and their families in Hertford and Stortford have contacted me about since my election, and an issue that remains top of my agenda. I met with the SEND Minister, Claire Coutinho MP, recently to discuss this. A range of different options are now being assessed as a result and I am continuing to push for better outcomes.
I also asked Affinity Water's CEO and Director of Operations to meet me in Parliament to discuss their response to burst pipes in Bishop's Stortford over the Christmas period. We had a productive discussion and emphasised the importance of compensation for affected residents, increased planning and better communication channels going forwards. I look forward to working with them to make sure constituents always receive the most reliable and best service possible.