Welcome to this week's newsletter.
This week I met with the new Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, about the Campaign to get Leighton Hospital to be one of the final 8 new hospital builds. Leighton needs a fundamental rebuild and this funding opportunity is a unique opportunity to see this happen. Find out more below on how you can help support us in this campaign.
There is a walk in vaccination clinic at Crewe Honda Centre this weekend (3rd & 4th July), for anyone over 18 who needs 1st or 2nd Pfizer jabs, details below.
Today I have launched a campaign to save the Shavington Youth Club building. The building is at risk of being sold to private developers or having the cost of its upkeep dumped onto the Parish Council. I think Cheshire East need to work with us to get the building repaired and back into use. Cheshire East should not have allowed it to deteriorate in the first place.
I have also written to Cheshire East Council this week, after residents have got in touch with with me about the continuing closure of Hospital Street and Church Lane Car Parks in Nantwich. This was meant to be a temporary measure to aid with social distancing in but it is damaging local buisnesses and I don't think it makes any real difference.
I got the chance to meet some local heroes as well recently-Cheshire Help the Heroes and 6 year old cycle fundraiser Franklen! Read below to hear more about them.
Have a great weekend.
NEW HEALTH SECRETARY - LEIGHTON HOSPITAL NEW BUIILD CAMPAIGN
ALLEYWAYS PROJECT - SATURDAY 3RD JULY
SAVE SHAVINGTON YOUTH CLUB
REOPEN HOSPITAL STREET AND CHURCH LANE CAR PARKS
HELP FOR HEROES
LOCAL 6 YEAR OLD FUNDRAISER
PARLIAMENTARY EXPORT SCHEME
BAN MOBILE PHONES IN SCHOOL? - HAVE YOUR SAY
PENSION CREDIT-DON'T MISS OUT
WALK-IN VACCINATION CENTRE
TRAFFIC REPORT
NEW HEALTH SECRETARY - LEIGHTON HOSPITAL NEW BUILD CAMPAIGN
It was great to have the chance to talk to the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid about our communities campaign to get Leighton as one of the final 8 new hospital builds. Of course the coronavirus is the top priority right now but I want to make a sure wider issues get progressed.
Thank you to everyone who has backed the campaign, you can do so here if you haven't already:
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/news/leighton-hospital-new-build-campaign
ALLEYWAYS PROJECT - SATURDAY 3RD JULY
Following the success of the past few weeks will be revisiting the alleyway between Westminster Street/Walthall Street this weekend to continue work on the project.
If you would like to join us in making a difference to the local community, we will be meeting at Stalbridge Road alley gates by the clinic on Saturday at 10:00AM.
Anyone who wants to get involved let me know via kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
SAVE SHAVINGTON YOUTH CLUB
Shavington Youth Club is a building that is at the heart of the village and so many people have memories of it both as the school and the youth club. It is the only significant Cheshire East asset for Shavington residents, and I don't think it is too much to ask for it to be kept in a good state given all the council tax residents pay.
For more than a year now I have been looking into ensuring Cheshire East deliver a positive future for the building and we haven't got anywhere working with some great Parish Councillors and Youth Club representatives. A number of people have fought really hard on this and we owe them our thanks!
But there is now a serious risk that Cheshire East will try and offload the building to private developers or pressure the Parish Council into taking ownership of it. The PC could then be left with the bill to pay for its repair and upkeep, which is potentially more than the entire current Parish Council budget.
I don't think this is fair or reasonable and I think residents will want to work with me and other Parish Council members to get Cheshire East back to the table to agree a way forward which gets the building repaired and back into use.
Please give us your support on the link below!
www.tinyurl.com/shavingtonyouthclub
One of the things we need to make it work in the long run is a better idea of what else people would pay to use at the building so it can create more income to maintain its upkeep. So let me know what you would like to see there.
Help us save Shavington Youth Club!
REOPEN HOSPITAL STREET AND CHURCH LANE CAR PARK
As a number of people have raised this with me, I wanted to update you to say I have today asked Cheshire East Council to reopen Hospital Street and Church Lane Car park after hearing from local businesses that it was damaging trade.
Cheshire East chose to close Church Lane car park in July last year to remove excess traffic from Hospital Street, where a temporary closure except for access was introduced to support social distancing around the town centre shops. But there has been little enforcement of the closure whilst the car park has remained close.
I have written to them before with concerns around reduced access to disabled residents that made use of the car park. But Cheshire East kept the measures in place.
More recently local businesses, including Madison Spa, explained the damage it was doing to footfall locally.
I was never particularly convinced this was the right approach and certainly I have never seen good evidence that doing this played any role in controlling coronavirus. People are now well used to understanding the need to keep distant and I don't see how maintaining the closure can be justified. We need to help our local businesses.
We know there are challenges locally with the virus but we need to focus on things that we know make a difference like regular testing. Not box ticking measures that don't make an impact.
If there are other traffic and access restrictions affecting you and your business I am happy to look at these as well. Let me know by email kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk
HELP FOR HEROES
Great to spend time talking with regional rep Steve and his family at the weekend who are volunteers for Help for Heroes Official at their fundraising stall in Crewe. They took the time to explain what they have learnt about what more we need to do for veterans and people serving.
The biggest message was all of us doing more to encourage people to say they need help. It is ok to need help.
Steve was encouraged to become a Help for Heroes volunteer by his son, Nathan, whilst he was at primary school. Now 12 years later, Nathan is getting promoted though the ranks in the Royal Navy and his dad is still passionate about supporting the charity. What a journey!
You can donate here:
https://donate.givetap.co.uk/d/kpck30i0?qr-id=220-url
6 YEAR OLD FUNDRAISING CHAMPION
Great to meet and give a thank you letter to local fundraiser six year old Franklen this morning who raised more than £1000 cycling from Stoke to Crewe! What an achievement! I also discovered he was a flash portrait expert as he drew a portrait for me there and then!
If would still like to donate you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=DavidHughes&pageUrl=8&fbclid=IwAR1KWgC8X6bP8rfnW-Cuu6aPyG9cLmhU2MGgtCw65T1YX9crZLtMV-GBmgc
PARLIAMENTARY EXPORT SCHEME
Are you interested in growing your business? Would you like to find new international customers? Do you know about the support available to help your business identify and take advantage of exporting opportunities?
I want to invite businesses In Crewe and Nantwich to an informative and interactive webinar to businesses in Crewe and Nantwich.
Whether you have never exported before, have exported in the past or you are a current exporter this webinar is for you.
During this session, you will receive tailored updates from the Department for International Trade on expanding your business and accessing new markets. You will hear from panellists including a local experienced exporter, an International Trade Adviser and a selected bank on the guidance and tools available for you to grow your business as new trade deals reduce barriers and open doors to new exporting opportunities.
Click here to register: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/parliamentary-export-programme
BAN MOBILE PHONES IN SCHOOL? - HAVE YOUR SAY
The government is running a consultation on behaviour and discipline in schools including looking at the rules around mobile phones. Everything I have seen and heard from parents and teachers is that stronger discipline in schools would benefit everyone and that if it isn’t managed properly, mobile phone use can cause real challenges.
I think at the very least students should not be using their phone during the school day.
They need a break from their screens and an escape from the pressure of social media. If that is difficult to enforce I support schools that just ban children having them with them.
But let the government know what you think via the link here:
PENSION CREDIT
The government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to, so they can enjoy dignity and security in their retirement.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.
You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.
You can use the Pension Credit calculator to check if you are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what you may receive.
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator
People wishing to claim Pension Credit can call 0800 99 1234 or can claim online.
WALK-IN VACCINATION CENTRE
Anyone over the age of 18 requiring a Pfizer Vaccination either 1st or 2nd, this weekend (3rd & 4th July) they will be carrying out a walk in service between 9am-6pm both days at the Crewe Honda Centre site. Grab a jab!
TRAFFIC REPORT
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Groby Road, Crewe (Between Stoneley Road and Remer Street) - Until 16th July
Selworthy Drive, Crewe – 8th July to 9th July
Frank Webb Avenue, Crewe (Between Smith Grove and Westbourne Avenue) - 5th July to 6th July
Richmond Road, Crewe (Between Hallshaw Avenue to Beech Grove) 5th July until 6th July
Slaughter Hill, Haslington – (From Narrow Lane) - 7th July
Bartholomy Road (From Mill Lane) - 5th July
Wrinehill Road, Wybunbury (From Cobbs lane to Cliff Cottage) - until 7th July