Welcome to this week’s newsletter!
For a few months now I have been looking into ways in which we can tackle fly tipping and related issues in Crewe. A number of residents have raised this issue with me. I have researched alley projects that have worked well in other areas like the one on the picture and have been very lucky to secure sponsorship from Radius for a pilot project in Crewe! I am working Crewe Residents Against Fly Tipping, Crewe Clean Team and Crewe Town Council to host an online public meeting next Friday to hear from the other projects who have done and plan our approach. Details on how to register below.
I was able to visit Haslington surgery last weekend to see their new outdoor flu vaccine set up! It was great to see the surgery be so innovative with their vaccine clinic and set up an outdoors walkthrough vaccine service. I got to speak to Rob, who volunteers with the Haslington Volunteer group, to find out how volunteers are helping to organise this vaccine centre. Video of my visit below.
I was delighted to have a meeting with Lisse Harper, wife of PC Andrew Harper who was killed on duty. We discussed her campaign for Harper’s Law, which would see anyone guilty of killing an emergency services worker, due to a criminal act, be jailed for life. I was very impressed with how determined Lissie is to get the laws changed and will be working to help her achieve this.
This week was a busy week for speeches. I gave a speech on the COVID-19 restrictions that are being introduced in the North West and called on the Government to give us clearer explanations. Ultimately I support the government trying to control the virus, if we don't it will overrun our NHS and causes hundreds of thousands of deaths.
I also spoke in the planning reform debate and raised my concerns about the newly proposed changes to planning. My speech focused on the need for the Government to consider the strain on local NHS services when planning development.
Finally, on Thursday, I spoke in support of Crewe Alexandra FC and Crewe Lyceum Theatre and asked the DCMS ministers to continue to look for ways to support our fantastic cultural and sporting sectors!
Dr Kieran Mullan
MP for Crewe & Nantwich
Crewe Alley Ways Project
Haslington Surgery: Flu Vaccine Clinic
Harper's Law
Speaking Up for Crewe Alexandra and Crewe Lyceum
COVID-19 Restrictions: North West
Planning: Too Often Housing Developers Get Their Own Way
Virtual Conference 2020 - What I did
Prime Minister's Conference Speech
HS2 Want Your Feedback on Proposed Changes
Traffic Report
Crewe Alley Ways Project:
I have been contacted by many residents in Crewe about the fly-tipping that is blighting the area. It is sad that our neighbourhoods and alley ways have become dumping grounds for waste of all kinds. I know that the overwhelming majority of people in Crewe are proud of their town and want to play a part in keeping their streets and alleyways clean and decent, so it is something they can be proud of. I understand Cheshire East are shortly due to come up with plans to crack down on fly tippers. We need to see a real change.
But in the meantime, on Friday 16th October at 6pm, I am hosting an online and telephone public meeting to kick off a ‘Clean Alley Ways’ project in Crewe. The idea is to turn alleyways into fantastic local community spaces like the one in the picture.
We have invited some people from other projects like this who have been successful in doing this in other areas.
Crewe Residents Against Fly-Tipping and 'Grot Spots', Crewe Clean Team, Crewe Town Council will all be joining us in this meeting and local business Radius Payment Solutions have kindly agreed to provide funding for the project.
But in order for this project to be a success we need your help. Projects like this always work better where people like you and your neighbours come together for the benefit of the community.
So, if you have ever felt green fingered, or have picked up rubbish from the alley way near you then this is the meeting for you! A lot of hands make for light work. If you want to take part in the meeting message me on here or email me on kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk and we can send you the details of how to take part. If you aren’t available on the 16th but would like to help with the project also let me know.
Haslington Surgery: Flu Vaccine Clinic
Last weekend I visited Haslington surgery to check out their new outdoor flu vaccine set up. The surgery have worked very hard over the last few weeks to put together an outdoor walkthrough vaccine service so they can give these vaccinations quickly and safely.
They were very strict with social distancing. Everyone wears masks, including me when I got closer. Where possible everyone remains outside as I did. So people can visit with confidence.
It was great to see the surgery be so innovative with their vaccine clinic and set up an outdoors walkthrough vaccine service. I also got to speak to Rob, who volunteers with the Haslington Volunteer group, and found out how volunteers are helping to organise this vaccine centre. Volunteers are still playing a vital role in helping this country get through this pandemic and I am so grateful for all the work that they are doing.
Please watch the video to the end for an update on the current government plans on the expanded flu vaccine scheme.
Harper's Law:
This week I organised for MPs to meet with Lissie Harper, wife of PC Andrew Harper, as part of my support for her campaign for Harper's Law. I know what it's like to hear a police officer is killed and to worry whether it was my loved one. Lissie knows what it is like to hear that it is.
Her campaign is a fitting tribute to her husband, and I am very impressed with how determined she is to get a change in the law.
We can't bring people back, but we can deliver justice for families.
Please sign the petition:
https://harperslaw.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1RTFbcxp8NTI7HTAMuibHeJjOvbqy7OvBws_BwfAju87d_uNVYxT1y_VU
Speaking Up for Crewe Alex FC & Crewe Lyceum:
We need to protect our cultural and sporting institutions!
Yesterday, I spoke about the importance of the Government supporting sporting and entertainment sectors in the months ahead, using Crewe Alexandra F.C. and Crewe Lyceum Theatre as examples of institutions that vitally need support. But there are dozens of sports clubs of all shapes and sizes struggling. Nantwich Town FC are struggling as well for example.
The Government have worked with Sport England to provide a £195 million package of support to help community sport and a further £15 million to the Community Emergency Fund. For local football, the £9.5 million Pitch Preparation Fund is a huge boost for clubs and organisations who need assistance getting their pitches ready.
But Crewe Alexandra F.C. is facing a period of uncertainty. Unfortunately, fans have been unable to return to the stands due to a rise in coronavirus cases, which means the club has been unable to collect any matchday revenue. The government wants the financial burden to be shared with wealthier parts of the football family, but we can't allow those negotiations to go on forever. A deal needs to be agreed. We need to make sure that after the pandemic fans still have their local clubs to watch
Since the start of the pandemic, I have been vocal about supporting the culture sectors for example Crewe Lyceum Theatre.
I was incredibly pleased when a £1.57 billion support package was announced for the culture sector in July. However, a lot of this money is still not allocated, and we need to make sure that this money reaches the places where it is needed the most. Our Lyceum Theatre is a tremendous asset and cultural draw to Crewe, and we need to do all we can to support it!
I called on the culture Minister to urgently decide how this package of support will be distributed so cultural institutions are able to survive the pandemic.
COVID-19 Restrictions: North West:
Most people will have seen the local restrictions that have been put in place across much of the North West. Cheshire East is now one of the few areas that does not have any local restrictions, but it is on the watch list.
In Parliament this week I called on the Government to be clearer with the public and MPs about the restrictions they have put in place. I know that members of the public and local business owners would like to have clearer explanations for why we are doing things like the 10pm closing time.
But a large rise in COVID-19 cases would put a huge strain on our local health services. We can either take the right steps to control the virus or let the virus rip through our communities. Two weeks ago, the number of patients in hospital with coronavirus was 1,747. Today it is 3,145. The number of patients on a ventilator has roughly doubled as well to 442. In the North West there are now more people in hospital with COVID (1,098) than there were at the end of March (964)The government is clear we are going in the wrong direction and if we don't see a change more steps will likely be needed.
Some people think we should just let young people get on with life and have tighter restrictions on the 2.5 million people over 80 or the 10 million people who are in their 60s and 70s. But if the virus was spreading rapidly amongst younger people it would mean older people would be essentially confined to their homes for potentially 6 months or even a year. Think of all your friends and family that age and whether you would want to ask them to do that.
Whilst we may still have a way out with a vaccine let's do what we can to stop the spread and give that way out a chance.
Planning: Too Often Housing Developers Get Their Own Way:
All too often when planning developments are agreed the impact on the NHS is forgotten. Developer legal teams just keep going and going until they win which puts a massive strain on local authorities and residents.
It is so important that we get planning decisions right. New developments have a huge impact on the local services which needs to be considered.
In the Planning Reform debate, I raised my concerns about the planning reforms that have been outlined by the Government.
I voiced the frustration of mine and my constituents about the Government's approval of a housing development in Stapeley. This was approved despite the development being against the local and neighbourhood plans and with a good planned supply of new houses.
I was also disappointed that this development gave no consideration to the impact this building development would have on the NHS including Leighton Hospital. The Government need to give proper consideration to the impact of new developments on local NHS services and I am keen to know how the Government plan to tackle this issue.
I support the Government's emphasis on our national building design code and the locally produced building guidelines. I also back the Government's goal in making the building rules clearer. We need to build more homes but we need to do it in the right way, in the right place and in a way that does not negatively impact the local area. Planning permission has been given to more than 1 million homes. The focus should be on getting them built.
Virtual Conference 2020 – What I did:
This week I chaired a roundtable with MacMillan Cancer, RS News, and Versus Arthritis, on access to vital NHS services during the pandemic. The discussion highlighted the impact on people with arthritis and cancer, and the effect of cancellation of surgery.
We spoke about ways to encourage the government to keep health services on track in the coming months. We also spoke about possible steps the government could take if we go into a second lockdown, to make sure patients can see medical professionals and not miss out on health check-ups.
I have been contacted by many constituents who have been unable to have meetings with their GPs or doctors during the lockdown. I know this is an issue that impacts people across Crewe and Nantwich and I hope that this meeting will contribute to discussion about how we can make sure patients do not miss out on their doctors meetings appointments.
Prime Ministers Conference Speech:
The Prime Minister set out in his Conference speech this week how the Conservative Party in Government is delivering on the People’s Priorities and how we will build back better. The Prime Minister said:
-
This Government is working night and day to repel this virus and we will succeed because we have seen how the country has responded before, with the energy and self-sacrifice of the NHS, the care workers and the armed forces.
-
But after all we have been through this year it isn’t enough just to go back to normal. We are resolving not to go back, but to build back better – with a greener economy, more homes, better hospitals and schools, and a new offer on skills to ensure everyone can get ahead.
-
This Government will not shirk the decisions that others have for decades – we will unite and level up, delivering lasting change across this country as we build back better together.
I was pleased that the Prime Minster recognises the sacrifices made by the country and his optimistic vision for this country’s future.
HS2 Want Your Feedback on Proposed Changes:
This week the Transport Minister announced a consultation on proposed changes to the design of Phase 2b. Communities across Cheshire have been invited to give their views on the design changes, which would allow more HS2 services to call at Crewe Station and support the creation of local jobs at the expanded Rolling Stock Depot.
The consultation focuses on the proposed modifications to the current design of the Phase 2b Western leg.
The two changes to the design of the railway north of Crewe propose to:
-
Include the Crewe Northern Connection in the design for HS2 to enable the benefits of NPR and the Crewe Hub to be realised in future with more and quicker services to the north; and
-
Modify the design of the Crewe North Rolling Stock Depot to provide the required stabling and maintenance facilities for HS2 rolling stock and support the efficient operation of the HS2 network
The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 11 December 2020. Everyone is welcome to contribute to this consultation on the changes to Crewe station and the other proposed changes.
To access the consultation documents and for details about how to respond, please visit www.hs2.org.uk/phase2b or call our Helpdesk on 08081 434 434.
Traffic Report:
The following is the road closures for the week ahead, as reported by Cheshire East.
Maw Green Road - Maw Lane - Closed until 16th October
Sandon Street, Crewe - Closed until 16th October
Delamere Street, Crewe (Between Tower Way and Queensway) - Closed until 30th November
Westminster Street, Crewe - Closed until 2nd November
Rope Bank Avenue - Closed 11th October
Cobbs Lane - Closed 16th October
London Road Level Crossing - Closed 12th-13th October
PREVIOUS EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
Friday 2nd October
Friday 25th September
Friday 18th September
Friday 11th September
Friday 4th September
Friday 28th August
Friday 14th August
Friday 7th August
Friday 24th July
Friday 17th July
Friday 10th July
Friday 3rd July
Friday 26th June
Sunday 14th June
Sunday 7th June
Sunday 31st May
Friday 22nd May
Friday 15th May