Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. It was a particularly exciting week as I had the honour of attending a reception at Buckingham Palace for new MPs. I was extremely privileged to be able to meet Their Majesties The King and Queen as well as the Duke of Edinburgh. I was extremely proud to represent Reading West and Mid Berkshire at this wonderful occasion.
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.
Purley community drop-in
Last Sunday in Purley, I held the first of my regular drop in events around the constituency. It was great to hear about local issues including the frequency of bus services and access to the River Thames as well as hearing about some of the great community initiatives that are being delivered by local volunteers. Thank you to everyone who came along.
My next drop in is on Sunday 2nd March in Theale – If you live in Theale and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 3.00pm and 4.00pm, please email and my team will confirm the venue a few days in advance of the event.
A34 Slip Roads
Since the General Election, I have been contacted by residents concerned about the A34 slip roads at East Ilsley and Beedon following collisions and near misses. I know how important safe access to and from the A34 is for residents in East and West Ilsley, Beedon and the surrounding area.
I have raised these concerns with National Highways, but it is clear that we need to build a case for change based on the views of as many residents as possible. To help me do so, I would be grateful if you could complete my survey.
Royal Berks maternity visit
I was born in the Royal Berks and it was great to visit their Maternity department again this week (nearly four decades later!). Two members of their team were recently awarded the Chief Midwifery Award which highlights those who go above and beyond in their care. The Maternity team also received a ‘good’ rating from the CQC and the Chief Midwife visited them to learn more about the care they provide – and use some of their care as a showcase service across the NHS more widely.
I’m so grateful to the wonderful staff in our precious NHS and I will work tirelessly to ensure we give our NHS staff the support they need. That includes continuing to fight for our promised new hospital to be built as soon as possible, and ensuring our RBH has the best facilities and investment it needs in the meantime.
NHS 10-year plan consultation event
If you haven’t already booked, there are still places available for my NHS 10-year Plan consultation event in Calcot, next Thursday 6th February. Please email to book a place and my team will confirm the venue a few days in advance of the event.
Making our streets safe
This week I was delighted to meet with the local police. We discussed the key issues of concern for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire including tackling anti-social behaviour and especially cracking down on illegal bikes.
I was also really pleased to be able to visit Reading County Court and Family Court and to meet the chair of the Berkshire Magistrates’ Association. It was good to have this chance to deepen my understanding of our criminal justice system and hear about the challenges and opportunities facing the court.
Leaseholder reform
Following concerns that residents have raised with me about high service charges, poor maintenance, and bad communications from managing agents FirstPort, this week, I attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Leaseholder Reform Group. Issues with a number of other managing agents were highlighted and we agreed to widen our investigation as well as seeking a Parliamentary debate on the poor practices of managing agents.
If you are a leaseholder and have had any issues with your managing agents, please do email me.
Kick starting economic growth
On Thursday, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves set out the next steps in our plan for growth and showed that the Government is willing to take the right decisions needed to promote growth in the national interest.
And I am delighted that the measures that the Chancellor announced will help support growth in Reading West and Mid Berkshire with the expansion of Heathrow while retaining our commitment to sustainable aviation, and delivering the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
Together these will create new, skilled jobs in life sciences, construction, and aviation right on our doorstep. And, with the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor also comes the need for new transport links, and the government has confirmed funding for East-West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes and upgrading the A428 to reduce journey times between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
And with investment, world class industries and thousands of new jobs comes economic growth – more money in people’s pockets, more investment in public services, and more prosperity for our area. That’s exactly the change we promised back in July.
This government is rolling up its sleeves, showing leadership and doing what is necessary to grow our economy and deliver the brighter future this country deserves.
Cleaning up our waterways
Before Christmas, I spoke in Parliament to highlight the Water (Special Measures) Bill’s importance to residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and earlier this week, I was delighted to be able to vote to support it in Parliament.
The Bill will clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas and hold companies like Thames Water to account by:
- Banning bonuses for polluting water bosses
- Bringing criminal charges against lawbreakers
- Forcing water companies to cover the cost of enforcement action
But I know that residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire will be rightly angry at the news this week that Thames Water are increasing water bills from April – for 14 years, the Conservatives allowed companies like Thames Water to line the pockets of bosses and shareholders and consumers have ended up with the bill every time.
That’s why I am also pleased that this Labour Government is taking action by ringfencing money earmarked for investment so it can never be diverted for bonuses and shareholder pay-outs.
But I know many people will be concerned about the impact on their finances, and I would urge anyone who is struggling to email my office.
Taking action on gambling harms
I’ve had some correspondence from constituents who are rightly concerned by the impact of gambling addiction on vulnerable people. On Monday, I met with Baroness Twycross, the minister responsible for gambling in DCMS, to raise these issues with her.
I’m really pleased that the government is committed to taking action on gambling harms, including working with the Betting and Gaming Council and the Gambling Commission on addressing the potential harms of gambling advertising.
Best wishes for the week ahead
Olivia