We received the fantastic news that Crewe will be getting £6.4 Million of Government funding for a new youth facility. One thing that has been highlighted to me numerous times is the need for more things for young people to do in Crewe - so this is very welcome!
The Government also announced its plan to tackle antisocial behaviour - an issue that unfortunately affects us locally. This will involve quicker, more direct punishment for offenders and increasing police presence at hotspots.
Cost of living payments will be sent out very soon - with millions of families set to receive £301 in April - and additional funding coming later in the year for pensioners and those with disabilities. Read on below to find out if you are eligible.
The charity bingo club I help run returns next Thursday raising money for Nantwich Christie Hospital Support Group, 7.00pm at Hough Village Hall. It's always fun and only costs £5.00 to play. Do come along!
Finally, I met with a few charities and organisations in Parliament this week - such as Parkinson's UK, the APPG for Motor Neurone Disease and Chester Zoo - learning about the valuable work they do and the campaigns they are running. Read on below to find out more.
Have a great weekend.
£6.4 Million for New Youth Facilities in Crewe
Plans to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour
Cost of Living Payment
Motor Neurone Disease - Getting Funding for Researchers Quicker
Sustainable Palm Oil
Parkinson's UK
Traffic Report
£6.4 Million for New Youth Facilities in Crewe
Crewe will be getting £6.4 Million of funding for new youth facilities!
The funding, part of the Government’s £90 Million Youth Investment Fund, will help build the Crewe Youth Zone on the Oak Street Car Park site. This builds on the funding allocated from the Crewe Town Deal.
I have always wanted young people to benefit from levelling up, and one thing that has been highlighted to me on numerous occasions is the need for more things for young people to do in Crewe.
The site will be open 7 days a week and serve around 4,000 young people aged between 8 and 19, or up to 25 for those with additional needs. Members will have the opportunity to access over 20 activities every night, ranging from sports such as football, boxing and climbing to creative arts, music, drama, and employability training – all for just 50p per visit and £5 annual membership.
In addition to the advanced facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available 7 days a week to offer guidance and support to help Crewe’s young people to thrive. It will also create up to 70 full and part-time jobs and up to 100 volunteering opportunities.
We already have seen youth funding through the Crewe Town Deal, such as the boxing club at the Mirion Street Youth Club and upgrading the facilities at the Cumberland Arena – but we can always go further in providing more opportunities for our young people. I am therefore really pleased to see this investment has been confirmed.
Plans to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour
I know from speaking with residents that antisocial behaviour is a key issue we are facing locally. It is unacceptable behaviour that makes people feel unsafe, prevents them from going out and erodes any sense of community.
In Crewe, we often see drunk groups of people hanging around bus shelters. I have reported this to the local police, and only last week spoke in Parliament to ask the Home Secretary about new ways we can tackle this. We also have had issues with fly-tipping and littering. Local groups such as Clean Clean Team and the alleyway volunteers do fantastic work cleaning up and creating a sense of pride in their neighbourhoods, but we should also be doing more to tackle the issue at source.
I am therefore glad to see the Government taking this seriously, with a new zero-tolerance plan to crack down on Antisocial Behaviour and ensure people feel safe in the place they call home.
This includes:
- Tougher, quicker and more visible punishments for offenders
- Banning Nitrous Oxide
- Increased Police Presence at Hotspots
- Higher Fines for Littering, Graffiti and Flytipping
- A New Tool to Report Antisocial Behaviour
Cost of Living Payments
The latest round of cost of living payments will soon be sent out. The spring payment of £301 will arrive in bank account from 25th April - providing financial support for millions of families.
There will also be additional payments for pensioners and people with disabilities later in the year, along with a 2nd and 3rd cost of living payment.
Motor Neurone Disease - Getting Funding to Researchers Quicker
This week, I met with Andrew Lewer MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Motor Neurone Disease.
MND is a terrible, incurable disease that significantly shortens the lifespan and reduces the quality of life for those it afflicts.
It was good to hear from Andrew about the work that has gone into getting research funding for this disease to the researchers quicker - allowing them to do more valuable work in finding treatments.
While progress has been made on streamlining research funding in this area, I will be on hand to help push it if more needs to be done.
Sustainable Palm Oil
On Wednesday, I went to an event, ran by Ferraro, Chester Zoo and the Orangutan Trust to learn more about the sustainable use of Palm Oil.
Palm Oil is used in up to 50% of supermarket products in the UK: from biscuits to shampoo. 193 critically endangered species, such as the Orangutan are impacted by palm oil. There has been a lot of publicity about the idea of banning it. But the issue is not straightforward as palm oil is incredibly efficient, with other plant oils requiring up to 9 times as much land to produce the same yield.
Sustainable sourcing is therefore more effective than a complete boycott.
Thank you to Cameron from Chester Zoo for chatting with me about this important issue!
Parkinson's UK
n Parliament, I went along to a drop-in session ran by Parkinson's UK, a leading charity funding research into promising treatments for the disease.
It was great to meet with Tincy Jones, an ambassador for Parkinson's UK who has the condition herself. She works as a hospital nurse and is doing work in her hospital to ensure medication is give out more effectively.
Thank you for all you do!
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Mill Lane, Oakhanger - Until 14th April
Flag Lane, Crewe - Until 10th April
Delamere Street (Between Flag Lane and Saint Mary’s Street) - Until 10th April
Gresty Lane, Crewe (Between Depot Entrance and No.15) - 3rd April until 5th April
High Street and Waterlode, Nantwich - 2nd April