Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire. This week I have been celebrating the 75th Anniversary of AWE and I was delighted to be able to speak to staff and guests at their Anniversary Event in London on Thursday. I am proud the Government’s £15 billion investment in AWE not only shows a steadfast commitment to our national security, but it will also be transformational for our local area.
A huge thanks to the more than 700 residents who got in touch with me about West Berkshire Council’s move to three-weekly black bin collections. This week I sent a report setting out residents’ concerns to the leadership of the Council along with a number of questions based on what people told me. I will continue to press the Council until I get satisfactory answers.
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AWE 75th Anniversary
It was a huge privilege to be able to speak at the AWE 75th Anniversary Event in London on Thursday about the vital role that AWE plays in Reading West and Mid Berkshire and for our national security, and to able to celebrate my constituents who work every day to keep our country safe.
I talk a lot about the Government’s investment of £15 billion in AWE not only because it demonstrates a steadfast commitment to our national security, but because it will also be transformational for our local area.
To give you a flavour of what it means for Reading West and Mid Berkshire. Over 2,000 of AWE’s employees – just under quarter of the workforce – currently live in the constituency, plus there will be many more who work for companies that supply AWE. What’s more, the team at AWE are inspiring the next generation through their STEM engagement programme, which during the 2024/25 academic year reached over 2,300 young people in Reading West and Mid Berkshire alone. And, in 12 months over 2024-25 AWE spent £500 million in the Berkshire supply chain – supporting local businesses and boosting our local economy.
I am looking forward to working with AWE to maximise the impact of this Government investment. Keeping the UK safe and making Reading West and Mid Berkshire a more prosperous place to live.
West Berkshire Bin Bodge Latest
Thank you to the more than 700 West Berkshire residents who got in touch with me with concerns about the move by West Berkshire Council to three-weekly black bin collections. It is clear from what people have told me that they feel that the change to three-weekly collections has been rushed, poorly communicated, and the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities has not been properly thought through.
So, this week I have written to the leadership of the Council setting out residents’ concerns as well as putting a series of questions to the Council leadership based on what people told me. I will continue to press them until I get satisfactory answers.
Huge funding boost for support for families
There was great news this week with the announcement of a huge funding boost of £260,000 from Government for family services across Reading and West Berkshire to deliver Best Start Family Hubs. Building on the success of Sure Start, Best Start Hubs will provide activities for children up to five and act as a one stop shop for parents seeking a range of support, including, with mental health, housing issues, children’s early development and language.
This is on top of the all of the other support that we are delivering for families, including our new Best Start in Life website for expert advice, free childcare, school-based nurseries and breakfast clubs.
Making sure hard-working parents are able to benefit from more early help is a promise made, and a promise kept.
Tilehurst Station Lifts
Great news for users of Tilehurst Station, with confirmation from Network Rail that the electricity supply was connected in early October, meaning that the lifts to and from the platforms will soon be operational. Well done to everyone who has been involved in campaigning for the station to be fully accessible over the past few years.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust
On Friday, I met with Julian Emms, the Chief Executive of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We discussed the challenges for the Trust including around support for young people’s mental health and services for people with dementia. I am looking forward to working with the Trust as the Government delivers the commitments set out in the NHS Ten Year Plan to improve mental health services.
Celebrating BookTrust’s Centenary
It’s always such a privilege to meet with Her Majesty The Queen, and earlier this week I was delighted to be hosted by her at Clarence House for BookTrust’s centenary celebration.
I of course also enjoyed my opportunity to take a photo with the one and only Peter Rabbit, one of my favourite book characters from my own childhood!
BookTrust are celebrating a century of work championing children’s reading, and I’m sure many of you have benefited from their fantastic work in schools and early years settings across our community. Here’s to 100 more!
Educating Yorkshire
I was also thrilled this week to meet the one and only Mr Burton from Educating Yorkshire!
It was great to meet some of the cast of the show, including the inspirational Musharaf, at an event to celebrate the brilliant teachers in our communities and the impact they have on our children.
I spoke about an inspirational teacher in my life – my Mum, who was an English teacher for decades and changed the lives of so many children here in Berkshire.
And to the envy of my whole team I was even presented with my very own ‘Be Nice, Work Hard’ badge!
Date for your diary
Meet Your MP, Calcot, 2.00pm to 3.00pm on Sunday 23 November If you live in Calcot or nearby and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 2.00pm and 3.00pm, you can register here.
My team will confirm the venue to those registered in advance of the event.
Best wishes for the week ahead
Olivia