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Latest News from Priti Patel MP
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Announcements
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St Peter's Hospital consultation
The site of St Peter's hospital in Maldon has been under review for redevelopment over the last two decades and has been subject to a wide range of development proposals by Maldon District Council throughout this time.
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On the 25th January 2024, the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) announced a formal consultation into the future of the St Peter's Hospital site. The consultation will run until the 21st March 2024. The site itself currently provides the following medical services: blood tests, X-rays, dermatology, maternity and orthopaedic services. Although this site is dated, Sir John Whittingdale MP and I are clear that the NHS must reconsider these plans and want the ICB to look at how some of the current essential services can be retained on the site.
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The consultation proposals are seeking to relocate midwifery services to Braintree, remove stroke rehabilitation services and to consider the relocation of other services from the St Peter's site. I have been very clear with the Mid and South Essex ICB that we must have greater localised health provision and more local NHS services which are accessible to residents at a local level. I am pressing them to look at how they can secure NHS services at this site whilst pressing the explanation of local healthcare provision within the Maldon district, including the plans for a new community facility in Heybridge Heath.
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I am engaging with the ICB and questioning their plans. I would encourage constituents who use the St Peter's site and have concerns about these proposals to respond to the consultation and register your view, by clicking the button below.
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Royal Mail delivery delays
Across the Witham constituency there has been a poor service of Royal Mail postal deliveries covering the areas of Stanway, Little Wigborough and Coggeshall. Constituents have been in touch about delays to their post. This is unacceptable, and I have pressed the Royal Mail about this issue.
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I am in constant contact with the Royal Mail and raising concerns from constituents. Royal Mail have said these delays are caused by staff shortages and sickness. I am pressing them over the actions they are taking to improve this situation, and if anyone else has experienced problems with their postal services, please get in touch with me.
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Look ahead to the Spring Budget
Next week the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the Spring Budget to present to the Government's latest fiscal plans for public spending and taxation.
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In advance of the Budget, I continue to make the case for tax threshold to rise in order to reduce the burden tax for middle income families who are increasingly caught in the higher rate of income tax. I am also pressing for a reduction in fuel duty and continue to make the case for the reform of business taxes to enable business investment and job creation.
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Priti in Parliament
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Ministerial Statement on Horizon
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During the Ministerial statement on the Government's compensation for victims of the Horizon scandal, I pressed the Government on the bureaucratic delays and process experienced by sub-postmasters as they seek financial redress from the gross incompetence of the Horizon system. I continue my call for justice and compensation to be delivered without delay for the victims.
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I recently met with Cancer Research UK at their World Cancer Day event in Parliament to discuss the Cancer Research UK Cancer Manifesto. I spoke with practitioners, campaigners and health staff at the event, and thanked them for the incredible work they do to prevent cancer and support those living with the illness.
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Oesophageal cancer campaigners
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At a recent Parliamentary event on preventing Oesophageal Cancer, I discussed the new methods and technology for detecting and preventing early-stage Oesophageal Cancer.
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Department for Work & Pensions Questions
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During Work & Pension Parliamentary questions, I highlighted the way in which local businesses are employing apprentices, and young people and investing in their skills and career development. I urged the Secretary of State to develop a cross government British Workforce Strategy to reduce our reliance on foreign labour and upskill home grown talent.
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Apprentices celebrated in Parliament
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During National Apprenticeship Week, I joined businesses from across the UK, including from Essex, to celebrate and promote the fantastic opportunities they provide for young people.
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Throughout my time in Parliament and Government I have worked with businesses and young people in the Witham constituency who have benefited greatly from apprenticeships. However, we need to make sure the levy works for business and reduce the red tape that restricts some enterprises from taking advantage of the apprenticeship scheme.
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Discussing alcohol duty ahead of the Spring Budget
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The success of the wine and spirits industry is imperative to the survival of hospitality businesses.
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This month, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr Miles Beale, the CEO of Wines and Spirts Association to discuss alcohol duty ahead of the Spring Budget.
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As of September 2023, on-trade sales of wines and spirits were worth over £11 billion annually. The UK has a world class Wine and Spirits industry & reducing red tape & taxes on enterprise will help boost our economy and this great British industry.
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Organisations like the Jewish Leadership Council and Jewish Women's Aid provide such important support for women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
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As Home Secretary, I worked and supported them to develop our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, and I was delighted to meet with them again to discuss how they can support vulnerable people within the community.
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Debate on Foreign National Offenders
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I contributed to the debate on Foreign National Offenders, where I re-stated my longstanding belief that the rights of victims should be put first, not the rights of foreign criminals.
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Out and About Across the Witham Constituency
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Local school rebuilding programme
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The Government has announced that six schools across the Witham constituency will be rebuilt as part of the Government's school rebuilding programme. This funding will be used to either rebuild or improve their school buildings, including those affected by RAAC.
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I have campaigned for new investment for local schools, including meeting with the Education Secretary and Education Ministers, and raising the issue in Parliament on a number of occasions. The schools that will receive funding to support rebuilding plans are St Andrews Junior School in Hatfield Peverel, Baynards Primary School in Tiptree, Honywood Secondary School in Coggeshall and Thurstable Secondary School in Tiptree. Southview Special School in Witham will also receive funding for rebuilding, and Stanway Fiveways Primary School will receive funding to invest in their buildings.
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Points of Light winner and hero service dog
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It was an honour to meet retired Police Officer Mandy Chapman, to present her with the Points of Light award, from the Prime Minister.
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Ms Chapman received the award for her work in championing the role retired service dogs can continue to play by improving the welfare of Police Officers and Police Staff across Essex.
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As Home Secretary, I saw the immense bravery of our frontline Police officers. They are the bravest and the best of us all in the way they deal with traumatic and often life changing incidents, as they protect us from harm.
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Mandy’s exceptional work with retired service dogs to support Police Officers and staff through some of the hardest of times is a testament to her dedication to public service and to our frontline officers.
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Southfields Development in Witham Town
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I visited the Southfields Development in Witham Town, and met with the team managing the site and toured the show home and development. Many of the new homes that have been built have been bought or reserved by local families.
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To mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week, I visited Colchester Institute, a fantastic provider of further education, to meet with apprentices and staff.
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It is vital that young people have the option of learning a trade, whilst getting a high quality education.
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It was a pleasure to attend the Diabetes Discovery Day event hosted at Chelmsford County High School for Girls by my constituent, Mrs Becky Patel and the charity Caddy.
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This was a joint event with Provide and Broomfield Hospital Diabetes Centre, bringing together patients, carers, support groups, representatives and providers of diabetes equipment, and small businesses that made and sell diabetes-related merchandise.
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Becky founded the charity after her diabetes diagnosis, and it has been a pleasure to support her work in this important area.
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I recently visited Tarmac’s Colchester quarry site in Stanway to discuss their plans for minerals and aggregates extraction, and the work they are doing to support the construction industry and to decarbonise their operations.
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Supporting anti-littering campaign
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I had the pleasure of joining the team at Braxted Park to discuss their great litter picking initiative with local schools called 'Let's Talk Trash.'
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This campaign has been set up by Duncan Clark and John Read (Founder, Clean Up Britain) with the objective to raise awareness of school pupils on the scourge of littering and subsequent environmental impact.
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Last year over 300 students from Plume Academy took part in a number of activities designed to shift behavioural change at Braxted Park, and this year the campaign plans to reach out to all schools in Essex. I have written to all schools to invite and encourage them to join the event.
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Meeting Tolleshunt Major Parish Council
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I met with Tolleshunt Major Parish Council to discuss the concerns they share regarding the destruction of Bennet Island at the junction of Tolleshunt D’Arcy Road and Witham Road in the village.
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I share the frustration and concerns of the Parish Council and village residents about the dangers posed by the damaged junction, and local road safety issues from lorries through the village.
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We also discussed other highways safety concerns and maintenance and repairs issues, which I have raised with Essex County Council on their behalf, as well as the impact of large vehicles travelling through the village to use the Beckingham Business Park.
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Meeting the team at Collingwood Surgery
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I was pleased to visit Collingwood Road GP Surgery with the Director of the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, Mr Dan Doherty, to discuss local health matters and concerns with the GPs, Dr Williams and Dr Rasheed at the surgery.
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We held an important discussion about the challenges the Surgery is encountering, and steps Mr Doherty and I can take to support the practice.
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Visiting to 'Hatfields' in Stanway
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I had the pleasure of visiting Hatfields, a family owned and run local retailer, providing furniture, flooring and home accessories. This business was established in Colchester in 1886 by John Hatfield, and remains family owned with it now being run by the London brothers. I had the pleasure of meeting Robert London during my visit, and speaking to him about the history and expansion of the business.
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Transport Update
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Meeting with the Minister for Roads and Local Transport
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The deterioration of local bus services has been an ongoing issue which has affected many constituents including school pupils who use local buses to get to and from school. I have raised these issues and local constituents complaints with Guy Opperman MP, the Minister for Roads and Local Transport to discuss the decline in our local bus services.
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The Minister and I are working with Essex County Council who have received over £21 million from central Government from 2019/20 to 2034/24 to deliver local bus services to address the service provision issues and financial viability of local bus companies and ensure that the issue of home to school transport for pupils with Essex County Council is addressed.
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Here to Help
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My team and I are always available to support constituents with any issues they may be having. Please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail ([email protected]), with your full address and postcode and a summary of the issue that you require assistance with.
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As ever with best wishes,
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Member of Parliament for Witham
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