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| From our MP |
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As your Member of Parliament I believe in speaking out loudly on with issues crucial to St Albans. My post bag highlights the pressures of development of all kinds; increased traffic, pressure on local services, threats to NHS services, increases in antisocial behaviour and the railfreight battle, to list a few.
I believe in taking these issues up with the relevant minister; consequently I have held debates in the House on funding for the NHS, housing totals, gypsy and traveller sites, and rail freight and participated in many debates including those on flooding, transport and the environment.
I know many people are concerned about phone masts and I have secured an important agreement from the Government that they will re-examine the controversial regulations surrounding mobile phone masts. Too often communities have to endure telecommunications equipment sited in inappropriate locations. I'm sure that you agree that it's time we gave back control to local people on this issue.
I firmly believe that local people should decide how their community develops. We should not have development targets imposed upon us from central Government. The housing targets set by the Government are far too high and the additional proposals for extra gypsy traveller sites are not needed despite a flawed assessment that implies otherwise.
I am fighting to oppose any additional traveller sites in the St Albans District and challenging the Government to drop this flawed, pointless consultation. In my debate on the issue I made it absolutely clear we do not need any additional pitches in St Albans District and I will continue to fight it at every level.
But we do need sufficient school places and local services to support our community, we need to build sustainably without threatening our green belt. I have led two debates on the housing totals, pressing the Minister to consider the huge environmental pressures they pose, and rethink the housing totals. Worryingly, the Government hasn't conducted any environmental studies to support their figures.
On a positive note, after much argument, I have secured an assurance from the Health Minister that our ante-natal classes will restart this autumn. However, the NHS locally is still troubled. The Hatfield "super hospital" is dead and the transfer of A&E services to Watford is now a "done deal" - I am still hugely concerned about travel to this facility at congested times, but the debt clogged PCT refuses to budge.
I have been battling with the local PCT for some time now and it finally appears that we may have an enhanced service based at St Albans City Hospital that will deliver 5 wards of elective surgery, retention of the minor injuries and breast cancer unit and operate a comprehensive "out of hours" service. However a consultation is still under way and your views on the future of our NHS would be welcomed. You can take part online at: http://www.enherts-pct.nhs.uk/consultation and there is a public meeting in St Albans in September.
Crime is an ongoing worry, so I have been out and about in St Albans talking to shop keepers and the PCSOs and I have passed on the concerns about yobs and anti social activities to the Police Area Commander. I have also agreed to go out with the police again soon to see how they are tackling anti social behaviour.
I welcome constituents sending me their views, particularly on contentious issues, as this helps me raise concerns in Parliament. I hold surgeries on the phone and at my office in London Colney.
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