Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. In Parliament, I was delighted to support the Government’s Employment Rights Bill and the Crime and Policing Bill. In the constituency, I have continued with my campaigns to improve safety on the A34 slip roads at Beedon and East Ilsley and to tackle flooding at Burghfield Bridge as well as getting in touch with residents about bus services in Calcot and estate management charges in Fairfields.
To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and in the constituency, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.
A34 Slip Roads
As I continue my campaign to make the A34 slip roads and East Ilsley and Beedon safer, I was pleased to speak to BBC Radio Berkshire this week to discuss recent developments following my question in the House of Commons.
I’m looking forward to my upcoming meeting with the Roads Minister and site visit with National Highways, and will continue to keep constituents updated with progress.
You can hear what I said to BBC Berkshire here
Burghfield Bridge Flooding
Following the meeting about flooding with Burghfield Bridge residents at the Cunning Man on 14 February, I have recently met with West Berkshire Council, the Environment Agency, and the Canal and River Trust to discuss next steps. In the meeting, I was very clear that there were a number of actions that were needed to address residents’ immediate concerns as well the need to put in place real plan of action to mitigate potential problems in the future.
West Berkshire Council have recently emailed residents detailing what was agreed at that meeting, and I am pleased that a number of immediate actions have been identified. I am also meeting in the near future with the Environment Minister to discuss issues with flooding across Reading West and Mid Berkshire.
I will continue to press all three agencies on the urgent need to develop a forward plan. In the meantime, if there are any issues that residents would like to raise, please do email.
No 15 Bus Service
Residents in Calcot have raised concerns with me about the change to the Number 15 bus route which means that it no longer stops in Royal Avenue and Garston Crescent. People have told me that either they or someone they know struggle with getting their shopping home, find it difficult to get to their GP, or that they feel isolated at home because they are no longer able to easily access a bus service.
I am working with West Berkshire Councillor, Clive Taylor and Tilehurst Parish Councillors, Pippa and Nigel Furlong King on this issue, and have written to Reading Buses highlighting residents’ concerns.
If you or anyone you know has been impacted by the changes, please share your views and experiences here.
Fairfields Estate Management
Having spoken with local residents and Holybrook Parish Councillors, I am aware that residents in the Fairfields estate have a number of concerns about the maintenance of communal spaces on the estate, particularly in relation to the clearance of litter, as well as the charges being levied by Trinity Estate Management.
I will be writing to Trinity Estate Management and would like to be able to highlight residents’ concerns. If you or anyone you know is affected, you can complete my survey here.
Supporting our Firefighters
Our Royal Berkshire firefighters do an incredible job and on Friday I was delighted to meet with the fantastic team at Theale and to have a tour of the station. We discussed a range of issues including the challenges that they have around dealing with increased incidents of flooding and the increasing prevalence of fires resulting from converted electric bikes. I am committed to supporting and working closely with our firefighters across Reading West and Mid Berkshire.
Ranikhet Academy
Also on Friday, I was delighted to visit Ranikhet Academy where I met with the Pupil Parliament. They asked me some great questions about sustainability and the life of a Member of Parliament. It was great to spend time with such a thoughtful and articulate group of young people. Thank you for having me!
STEM for Britain Awards
STEM careers are a real driver of economic growth and prosperity in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and I am always delighted to meet with local young people who are driving our country’s research capabilities forward.
Earlier this week in Parliament I met Max, whose work with AWE on seismic events in North Korea has led to him winning a prestigious STEM for Britain gold award. This is a huge achievement and a testament to the world-leading skills and expertise we have in our community thanks to our local defence sector. Congratulations Max!
Crime and Policing Bill
After 14 years of the Tories, too many town centres and high streets across the country have been gripped by an epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting, which cannot be allowed to continue. Yet too often the Conservatives wrote off these crimes as ‘low level’ and left communities to deal with the consequences alone.
That’s why on Monday in Parliament, I was delighted to support the Crime and Policing Bill – the biggest package of measures on crime and policing for decades, with 50 new laws to take back our streets and protect our communities from crime and violence including:
- Stronger powers for police to tackle phone thefts, drugs and serious crime
- Dealing with the scourge of antisocial behaviour, including nuisance off-road bikes
- Preventing shoplifting and protecting retail workers from assault
- Measures against stalking, spiking and non-consensual images
- Tougher action on knife crime
- Introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation
- Implementing recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
This Labour Government will restore respect for law and order and give the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle crime.
Employment Rights Bill
On Wednesday I voted for the Government’s Employment Rights Bill – the biggest upgrade to employment rights in a generation.
We promised that we would make work pay, and we’re delivering just that with over 30 reforms including:
- Extending sick pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners
- Protection from Unfair Dismissal
- Entitlement to Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave
- Establishing Bereavement Leave
- Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts
- Abolishing the scourge of fire and rehire
- Improving pay and conditions through Fair Pay Agreements
- Increasing protection from sexual harassment, introducing Equality Menopause Action Plans and strengthening rights for pregnant workers
The Bill will now be sent to the House of Lords before MPs vote for a final time, and I’m looking forward to these measures becoming law as soon as possible.
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour on our rail network
On Friday I met with representatives from British Transport Police and GWR to discuss concerns that have been raised by constituents about anti-social behaviour on the Reading to Newbury and Reading to Oxford lines.
I was reassured that both GWR and BTP are taking these concerns seriously and was pleased to hear about ongoing work to improve safety and security at stations like Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham and Pangbourne.
If you have any concerns about the safety of yourself or other passengers while travelling on the rail network, either call 999 or text British Transport Police on 61016.
West Berkshire Patient Panel
Thank you to the West Berkshire Patient Panel for having me along to their meeting this week to discuss this government’s plan to rebuild our health service and our commitment to ensuring that patients are at the heart of the NHS.
We covered a broad range of topics, including: the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS, primary care capacity, infrastructure, digital inclusion, social care, and workforce planning. I’m very grateful to have had the chance to hear everyone’s perspectives on what changes patients need to see and discuss how policymakers must work hand in hand with patients and NHS staff to deliver a world-class service.
It was also an opportunity to talk about this week’s announcement that we are slashing bureaucracy in the system and improving efficiency – by abolishing NHS England and bringing the service back into the Department for Health and Social Care. I view this as an incredibly positive step forward in delivering on our promise to bring the focus back on the front line and the people who are delivering for patients every day.
Dates for your diary
Sunday 30th March, Community Drop-in, Tilehurst – If you live in Tilehurst and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 3.00pm and 4.00pm, please email with the subject line ‘Tilehurst Community Drop-in’ and my team will confirm the venue a few days in advance of the event.
Best wishes for the week ahead
Olivia