August 2024 newsletter to constituents
I've now had just over a month as an MP, and I've been busy starting work on the priorities I shared with you during the election campaign. This newsletter will cover some of my work as an MP and other local issues to keep you updated. As my first newsletter, it is a little longer, so do scroll down to headings of any areas you may be interested in. The newsletter covers:
Health facilities
My maiden speech
Social care, two child benefit cap and sewage: Lib Dem response to the King’s speech
Labour proposing planning changes
Lewes bus station
Polegate parking
Water leaks
Local visits
Support for WASPI women
An eye roll in the commons
Getting in contact
I look forward to staying in touch.
Health facilities [back to top]
Our healthcare facilities in Seaford and Willingdon are outdated and are crying out for more funding. This was at the heart of my election campaign, especially the issue of GP services. This is an issue I heard about across the constituency. After Labour’s pledge to boost funding for frontline health services, I have recently written to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to ensure our areas get the funding they need and deserve.
For too long our local health services have been neglected under the Conservatives, and so it is vital that the Lewes constituency feels this increased funding. In my letter to the Health Secretary, I outlined how Seaford, a town with over 25,000 residents, has no modern health centre, and the two GP surgeries are overwhelmed and unable to provide adequate care for its patients. I also outlined how I want to see the new health facility that was promised as part of the unpopular Hindsland development in Willingdon funded. I have also met with Wealden District Council to discuss this. I will soon be meeting with the NHS locally to press forward with these proposals. This is why I am supporting the Liberal Democrat calls for an emergency Health and Care Budget to ensure our healthcare service gets back on its feet.
Watch my maiden speech [back to top]
My maiden speech outlined the beauty and importance of our constituency. I outlined the importance of healthcare funding, the atrocious sewage dumpings in our rivers by Southern Water, and the importance of community energy and heat networks. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to get our politics and our country onto a better, fairer, greener and more prosperous path.
Social care, two child benefit cap and sewage: Lib Dem response to the King’s speech [back to top]
Social care: The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech to rescue social care. Our amendment calls for free personal care in England, better support for carers and a cross-party commission on social care. This is vital for the deep crisis in social care, where half a million people are on waiting lists for care in residential settings or at home, and one in ten care staff positions are vacant. As Ed Davey said, ‘We will be the voice of carers in this Parliament and work with others to find solutions to the big challenge of social care.’.
The two child benefit cap: I am pleased to share that one of my first votes in Parliament was to scrap the two child benefit cap. The cap affects over 1.6 million children, according to the Department for Work and Pensions, and causes widespread poverty across the UK. The UK should not be accepting child poverty and no child should grow up without adequate food, a warm home or security for their future.
Sewage: I know I'm not the only parent who is now concerned about their children paddling and swimming at our local beaches. In order to tackle this, the Liberal Democrats have proposed a massive expansion of marine protected areas and a new Blue Flag status for rivers which would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping in those sites. For the last three years I have been campaigning against sewage dumping in our area, and it is vital that we stop sewage dumping from ruining our beautiful rivers and coastline.
Labour Government proposes planning changes [back to top]
The new government has proposed significant changes to how planning works, including a rapid eight-week, 69-page consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework. The changes would mean a higher target for the number of houses needing to be built in both Wealden and Lewes district. The changes reduce the targets in some urban areas, including in London.
There are areas of these changes which I welcome: Increased minimum standards for energy efficiency, and encouragement of solar panels on new housing.
There still remain a significant number of houses with planning permission, which haven’t been built. For example, in the Lewes District this is over 2000. The proposals have a lack of clarity on steps to encourage the building of sites which have been given planning permission but aren’t yet built.
There is also a lack of clarity on how the government will address the building of new council, or social housing. Liberal Democrats will be encouraging the government to allow councils to build more genuinely affordable social housing.
Wealden and Lewes Districts are still going through the local plan process, to put a plan in place which allocates local sites and adds a local framework to development. It remains to be seen how the changes to the planning rules will affect the process.
We have a crisis of affordability of housing, and it is right Labour are taking steps to address this, but there are a number of areas in these proposals which need further reflection.
I would like to see a much greater emphasis on how the government will enable infrastructure to support any new housing. We can see across our communities in health services, social care, schools, roads and much more, a failure to meet the needs of our growing communities. For Labour to take communities with them for planning changes, they will need to support infrastructure and public service investment and show people they are genuinely listening to their concerns.
You can see the consultation on proposed changes here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system
Lewes Bus station [back to top]
I joined local campaigners on my first Saturday in office, to protest the loss of Lewes Bus Station. The proposals to turn the bus station into commercial housing are an absolute tragedy. How can we ever hope to transition to a greener, more sustainable transport network if we don't have the infrastructure to allow bus travel to grow? Not only are the proposed Phoenix Causeway bus stops dangerous, but, a purpose-built, off road, bus station that had a cafe and space for drivers to wait and take a break offered the best option for the community. Thank you to the local campaigners who have been fighting hard to protect this local asset.
Read more: https://www.moreradio.online/news/sussex-news/new-lewes-mp-calls-loss-of-bus-station-a-tragedy/
Polegate parking [back to top]
A regular challenge for residents in Polegate and nearby areas is the lack of parking enforcement. Cars often park on pavements, and double yellow lines, and the historical decision against enforcement has made the issue worse. It is a particular challenge near the station and Polegate’s town centre.
I have already met with Wealden District Council to raise this issue, and will be in touch with the County Council to call for enforcement.
Water leaks [back to top]
An outrageous amount of water is lost to water leaks every year, including a large number in our area.
I recently shared a list of local water leaks that needed fixing with South East Water. I am pleased to announce that some of the leaks have been fixed after my meeting with South East Water’s David Hinton, Chief Executive Officer, and Simon Lohrey, Surface Water Manager. I look forward to working alongside South East Water to solve these issues.
If you have more leaks that need fixing in your area, please do report them here - or email me if there is no progress
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1010805807712460&set=a.354577460001968
Visits in the constituency [back to top]
During my first couple of months as your MP, I have had the honour of visiting groups in some of the wonderful villages and towns in our constituency. Here are just of the visits I have made.
THE BLUE DOOR NURSERY:
I recently visited The Blue Door Nursery in Seaford to delve deeper into early years support. It's an issue I am passionate about and one I will champion throughout my time representing our communities. I'm grateful to Blue Door Nursery for hosting my visit
POLEGATE FUN DAY
I had the pleasure of opening Polegate Fun Day. We were blessed with sunshine and good weather, and it really was a great day out in one of the lovely towns in our constituency. Thank you to Polegate Mayor Cllr Dan Dunbar for the welcome.
Support for WASPI women [back to top]
I'm pleased to show support for women adversely affected by the changes to state pension age. I've met with local WASPI groups, and now I'm in parliament I've signed the below motion asking for a proper plan to compensate those affected.
"That this House notes with concern the losses borne by 1950s women as a result of maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions; welcomes the findings of the independent inquiry of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; further notes that on average over 100 1950s born women die daily, many of whom have suffered losses and die without compensation; and urges the Government to honour the recommendations of the Ombudsman, and come forward with a proper plan to compensate these women."
And finally…. An eye roll [back to top]
It’s what everyone was thinking! See the clip here of my facial expressions during Nigel Farage’s maiden speech… I think it’s fair to say I wasn't impressed.
Getting in touch [back to top]
Sign up for my newsletter
This is the first edition of my regular email newsletter. If you know anyone who’d like to receive this email, please forward this email on to them and ask them to sign up here:
https://www.jamesmaccleary.uk/email-1
How to book a surgery slot
I’m hosting regular surgeries across the constituency. I’ve had surgeries already in Seaford, Newhaven and Polegate and plan to have surgeries in Lewes and Willingdon soon. If you'd like to attend a surgery, please email James.maccleary.mp@parliament.uk using the subject line ‘Surgery request’, please include in your email a brief description of your issue, concern or what you’d like to raise along with your full address, so I can verify you are a constituent. Online surgery appointments are also available.
For casework queries, please email James.maccleary.mp@parliament.uk including your address so that I know you are a constituent. I'm still setting up my office and staff team, and we will respond as soon as we are able to.
Thank you for reading this update.
Best wishes,
James MacCleary MP