October Highlights

October has once again involved meeting residents, visiting local organisations and businesses, helping with casework, and taking the issues people raise with me back to Parliament.

Out and about across Newbury and West Berkshire

One of the best parts of this job is getting out across the constituency and meeting the people who make our communities what they are.

This month, I met with Newbury College to talk about opportunities for young people, particularly those who are not currently in education, employment, or training (NEETs). The college has secured almost £7.5 million to expand facilities in areas including construction, hospitality and catering, early years, and health and social care, helping young people and adult learners develop skills for the future.

I also spent time at local schools, including Enborne Primary School and John Rankin, where I joined a Bikeability session and got to see first-hand the skills and confidence it helps children develop.

Supporting our local economy remains a big priority too. Visits to Fuel Cell Systems and Legends Barbershop gave me the chance to hear directly from local businesses about what is going well and the pressures they are facing.

Standing up for local services

Royal Mail deliveries have been a frustration for a number of residents, so during October I raised those concerns directly with Royal Mail and visited Newbury Delivery Office to discuss the problems face-to-face. There are encouraging signs of improvement, but I’ll keep the pressure on to make sure residents see a reliable service at their own front doors.

I continue to campaign to protect our local Post Office services too. These branches are particularly important for older residents, businesses, and our rural communities, and I’ll keep making the case for accessible local services.

I’ve continued holding surgeries and getting out into our communities too, including open meetings in East Garston and Chaddleworth. Hearing directly from residents is hugely important to me and helps make sure the issues I take to Westminster reflect what people here are actually experiencing.

In Westminster

Back in Westminster, I’ve been making sure those local concerns are heard in Parliament.

Farming was a particular focus this month. In a debate on support for farmers, I spoke up for farmers across Newbury and West Berkshire and challenged the Government over the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, after local farmers were left facing uncertainty and unable to access the support they need.

I pressed Ministers for a clear and early timetable for the next SFI window, support for farms whose existing agreements are coming to an end, and meaningful investment in farming through the Budget.

Housing has also been high on my Westminster agenda. I continued scrutinising the Social Housing Bill, taking part in the detailed committee stage where MPs examine legislation line by line and challenge the Government on how it will work in practice.

For me, the focus is on making sure the Bill delivers for people who need safe, secure, and genuinely affordable homes, including here in Newbury and West Berkshire.

Housing and renters

That work in Parliament goes alongside the conversations I continue to have with residents and organisations about housing closer to home.

This month, I hosted a roundtable with the British Pest Control Association to discuss the next phase of Awaab’s Law and how tenants can be better protected from serious problems in their homes, including hygiene hazards and pest infestations.

Everyone should be able to expect a safe and decent home, and I will continue pushing for better standards and stronger protections for tenants.

Keeping connected with our communities

October has also allowed me to spend time with some more of our brilliant local organisations and community groups.

My visits and events have included the RDA yard, suicide prevention training at West Berkshire Council, GreenFest, and the UN Day ceremony.

I also visited Vision Youth Club, run by Thatcham Youth. It was great to see the work the team does to support young people locally. A huge thank you to everyone involved for the time and energy they put into providing such an important local service.

Casework

Behind all of those visits and meetings, my team and I continue to help hundreds of residents who contact us for support.

Casework this month had a strong rural and environmental focus, with significant correspondence on farming, sewage pollution, rural communities, and trail hunting. Housing, health services, transport, and education also remained important concerns for residents.

Working hard for Newbury and West Berkshire

Whether it is helping an individual resident, visiting a local business, supporting our voluntary and community organisations, or raising local concerns directly in Parliament, the focus remains the same: working hard for Newbury and West Berkshire and making sure our communities have a strong voice in Westminster.

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