Welcome to this week’s constituency newsletter for residents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire.
Following concerns raised by residents in Tilehurst about poor maintenance and excessive charges being levied against their properties, I organised a meeting with residents and estate management companies Firstport and Homeground. I am pleased that both companies agreed to address the issues that residents raised. I will continue to press them to make sure that they follow up on their promises.
In June we will come together to show our support for Armed Forces Day. Following the fantastic news this week that the Government have made £500,000 available for local events, I have written to a number of local organisations asking if they would like to submit a bid. There are more details on how to make a bid below.
There was good news earlier this week with the Government announcing action to force tech firms to find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.
To keep up to date with what I am doing in Parliament and in the constituency, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.
Tackling rip-off estate management fees
Last year I heard from residents living in Tilehurst, about poor maintenance and excessive charges being levied by the Estate Management Companies, Firstport and Homeground.
I called for Firstport and Homeground to meet with me and residents, and I am pleased that this meeting took place last Friday. At the meeting residents raised concerns about a lack of clarity about which areas of the estate Firstport and Homeground are responsible for, a lack of transparency around service charges, poor maintenance and poor communications with residents.
I am pleased that Firstport and Homeground agreed at the meeting to put in place an action plan to address these issues and to hold a meeting in the coming months to report back to residents. I will be holding both Firstport and Homeground to account to make sure that they follow-up on their promises.
Calling for action on sewage in Stanford Dingley
It was good to see the BBC highlighting the unacceptable situation in Stanford Dingley earlier this week, where Thames Water failures have led to sewage running down the streets and rising into residents’ back gardens.
It is clear from the stories told in this article and my own conversations with residents that local people do not feel like Thames Water is listening to them or acting with the necessary urgency.
That’s why I wrote to the Chief Executive of Thames Water last week, urging him to take responsibility, properly communicate with residents, and clean up his mess.
Tackling intimate image abuse
For too long, tech firms have got away with doing nothing to tackle intimate image abuse.
Women and girls should feel safe and respected online, so Labour is forcing firms to find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours. And we’re ensuring that victims only need to report an image once to remove it across multiple platforms in one go and prevent future uploads.
The burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims. It must fall on perpetrators and on the companies that enable harm.
Government support for Armed Forces Day
In June we will come together to show our support on Armed Forces Day, and the Government have made £500,000 available for local events. I have written to a number of local organisations asking if they would like to submit a bid, but would also be delighted to support any bids from anyone in our community so we can honour the brave men and women who keep us safe. You can submit a bid here:
https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/…/apply-for-funding/
And please email me if you submit a bid or would like any support: olivia.bailey.mp@parliament.uk
Taking illegal e-bikes and e-scooters off our streets for good
One of the issues that I hear about from residents time and time again are concerns about illegal off-road bikes, illegal e-bikes, and e-scooters being ridden dangerously in our communities. So, I am pleased that the police are using the new powers introduced by the Labour Government to deal more swiftly with this issue, with – in December 2025, in our area alone – Thames Valley Police seizing 57 e-bikes and e-scooters getting them off our streets for good.
Dates for your diary
Open discussion on social media use by under-16s, 6.30pm to 8.00pm on Thursday 5 March. Share your perspectives with me as your constituency MP. The points raised at this event will then be fed back to the government’s consultation. You can register here
Meet Your MP, Kentwood, 2.00pm to 3.00pm on Sunday 29 March If you live in Kentwood and would like to come along for a chat with tea and biscuits between 1.30pm and 2.30pm, you can register here https://oliviabailey.co.uk/kentwood-meet-your-mp/
Best wishes for the week ahead.
Olivia