February Highlights

February may be short, but it has been a month filled with important work—both in Westminster and across Newbury and West Berkshire. From housing and building safety to rural services, education, and the pressures facing our NHS, the issues residents raise with me continue to be at the heart of everything I do.

Housing, Home Safety, and Leasehold Reform

A safe, secure, and warm home remains one of the biggest determinants of health, stability, and opportunity. This month, I continued working with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists on the need for a National Retrofit Programme to upgrade

cold, damp, inefficient homes that are driving up energy bills and harming people’s health.

In Westminster, I pressed ministers on long‑overdue reforms to the leasehold system, an issue affecting many local leaseholders. During Oral Questions, I highlighted persistent failings by management companies such as FirstPort, which have left residents in Newbury dealing with unacceptable problems, including a lift that has been out of service for two years, forcing families into impossible situations. This level of neglect is simply not good enough, and I will continue pushing for tighter regulation of managing agents and stronger protections for leaseholders.

Alongside this, my work connected to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee continues, as does engagement with West Berkshire Council on the pressures facing local services. Rural and semi‑rural communities like ours need a fair funding settlement that acknowledges the real costs of delivery.

Standing with Ukraine

February marked four years since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, a moment that continues to resonate deeply with many families living here in Newbury and West Berkshire. Over the past four years, I have seen first‑hand the strength and resilience of our Ukrainian community, and I remain committed to supporting those who have rebuilt their lives here, as well as those still fighting for their freedom abroad.

Supporting Families of Children with SEND

Parents continue to tell me that the SEND system feels confusing, overstretched, and slow to respond. The Government’s February White Paper has only deepened that uncertainty. As I wrote in my update on the reforms, families need clarity and properly funded support, not another layer of bureaucracy. I will keep pushing for a SEND system that puts children’s needs first and is easier for parents to navigate.

Reliable Rural Services: Postal Delays and Digital Connectivity

Reliable post is not a luxury, it is essential, especially in rural and semi‑rural communities where broadband speeds are slow and mobile coverage can be patchy. This month, I wrote about growing concerns over Royal Mail’s decision to scale back second‑class deliveries, a move that will disproportionately affect villages such as Kintbury, Boxford, Lambourn, and Great Shefford. Constituents have reported medical appointment letters arriving too late to act upon, bank statements delayed for weeks, and long stretches with no deliveries at all. I will continue pressing Royal Mail, Ofcom, and ministers to ensure our communities receive the service they deserve.

At the same time, I have met with VodafoneThree to discuss ongoing problems with mobile coverage across West Berkshire. Reliable digital access is essential for education, safety, local business, and daily life, and I will keep pushing telecoms providers to improve coverage and provide clear timelines for upgrades.

Improving Safety on the A34

This month also brought some welcome progress on a long‑running local concern: safety on the A34. Following sustained campaigning, I was pleased to receive confirmation that National Highways has now included the Chieveley stretch of the A34 within a national safety study. The review will assess dangerous slip roads, difficult merges, and longstanding design flaws that residents, emergency services, and local businesses have been raising for years. This study is now underway, with findings expected by Spring 2026. While a study is only the first step, it represents significant movement after persistent lobbying and engagement, and I will continue working to ensure it leads to real, tangible safety improvements for everyone who relies on this vital route.

Championing Young People: Politics, Opportunity, and Online Safety

At the start of the month, I took part in a Question Time event at Kennet Sixth Form, where students asked thoughtful, challenging questions on topics including affordable housing, voting age reform, the NHS, local crime, and waiting times at Thatcham level crossing. Their engagement and insight were genuinely inspiring.

Young people also continue to raise concerns about online safety. This month, I welcomed discussions around proposals to ban social media for under‑16s, an issue frequently raised by parents and teachers. As I wrote in my February updates, improving online safety cannot rely on individual families alone; we need stronger, clearer rules that protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.

Tackling Sewage Failures and Protecting Our Chalk Streams

Sewage pollution has once again been a major concern this month, with new data exposing what can only be described as industrial‑scale illegal discharges into our rivers and waterways across Newbury and West Berkshire. As I set out in my updates, Thames Water has repeatedly failed in its basic duty to protect our environment, leading to unacceptable spills into precious chalk streams such as the Kennet, the Pang, and the Lambourn. These chalk streams are among the rarest ecosystems on Earth, and once damaged, they are extraordinarily difficult to restore. That is why I have been pressing for stronger enforcement, greater transparency, and urgent investment in infrastructure, not bailouts that reward failure. In February, I made clear my opposition to any rescue deal for Thames Water that fails to put local communities, the environment, and accountability first. I will continue working closely with environmental groups, parish councils, and affected residents to push for meaningful action to stop repeat sewage failures and ensure our waterways are properly protected for future generations.

Visits Across West Berkshire

February gave me invaluable opportunities to meet with people, organisations, and businesses across the constituency. A few of these included Lambourn Primary School, John O’Gaunt School, and the Funghi Club in Hungerford, discussing everything from education and local enterprise to family support needs.

My visit to Thatcham Research highlighted the world‑leading work being done here on vehicle safety and innovation. At Elysium Healthcare’s Thornford Park site, I met with staff providing highly specialised mental health support, whose dedication and professionalism are remarkable.

In Newbury, conversations at Adecco focused on employment trends and the skills needed to help residents secure good local jobs. At Good Vibes Music Academy, I saw the transformative role creative education plays in young people’s confidence and aspirations. I also toured Sesanti’s headquarters to learn more about the cutting‑edge technology and high‑tech manufacturing.

The Pharmacy Association reception offered a crucial opportunity to discuss how community pharmacies can be better supported to relieve pressure on GP practices and the wider NHS.

February recess also provided a welcome chance to spend time with my family, a reminder of the balance so many families work hard to maintain.

Parliamentary Work

For those interested in the details of my voting record or parliamentary contributions, you can find the most up‑to‑date information here: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5310/voting

As always, if an issue is affecting you, your family, or your community, please get in touch. It is an honour to represent Newbury, and I will continue working hard, locally and nationally to deliver the fairer, safer, and more resilient future our area deserves.