I started last week, commencing Monday 31st July, with a number of discussions around the Police Station and trying to get assurances from the PCC (Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner) that our Police will continue to all be based in Newton Aycliffe and be present in the Town Centre. Whilst I hear some positive words, I have not yet seen anything concrete. I will continue to push for the full team to remain in Aycliffe. I also met with Greenfield Arts about their impending closure and the need to find somewhere for gallery space. It is incredibly disappointing the school have chosen to close Greenfield Arts and I have requested a meeting to see if there are alternatives. I am also challenging Northern PowerGrid about the ongoing power outages in Woodham. If you are experiencing problems, please get in touch.
Being in the area all week has given me the opportunity for many meetings. These included, on Wednesday 2nd August, taking the Employment Minister, Guy Opperman, to the Ferryhill Ladder. This is a community organisation that helps people throughout the region with a particular emphasis on helping them into employment or with engagement with the DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) and my team work regularly with them. As Guy is the MP for Hexham, I have many discussions with him and he is a tremendously helpful minister.
Whilst in Ferryhill I took a walkaround and met some of the shopkeepers frustrated by the ASB they continue to suffer, and I continue to raise their concerns with the PCC and Police. The weather on Wednesday was awful and after the Ferryhill walkabout it was off to Middridge to open the new playpark delivered by the Parish Council and your Town Councillors and huge credit goes to those who braved the weather for the opening. I also went to Fishburn to meet some members of the Brass Band who are working to improve their facilities and I hope to help. Later I went to talk to the Womens Institute (WI) at Sedgefield. When I go to organisations like the WI or Rotary, I make a point of not discussing politics, the discussions are all about Parliament and how it works, if you would like me to come to your organisation just drop us an email.
On Friday 4th August, I held a surgery at Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre (NAYCC), it is good to see the NAYCC getting popular again, there is lots going on and it’s well worth a call in. When I had finished the surgeries, I popped into the main hall and had a chat to the team from Haystacks Nursery who were setting up for their graduations later in the day. It was a delight to call back and watch the graduations and see some very proud parents and children.
In between these visits I went to Ferryhill Station to do some filming as part of my ongoing campaign to reopen the station and the Leamside line. These train links are important for our future, but I am also continuing to challenge Arriva and the Council to improve our bus services and, in particular, reinstate or replace the X21 service.
This week, commencing Monday 7th August, will start with a ministerial visit to NETPark in Sedgefield and I can tell you more about that next week. This column is written before I head down to London for a couple of days to catch up with my London team and their work. When it comes to Westminster and how Parliament works you may be interested in the revisions to the Parliamentary constituency boundaries, which will change at the next UK general election. Constituencies must now have populations within 5% of the ‘electoral quota’ of 73,393. The existing Sedgefield constituency will be split between four successor constituencies, with the bulk of the population moving to the new Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor seat and depending on location – others will move to Stockton West, Easington and Darlington. But, please don’t worry, I will continue to work very hard as your current MP.
I’m really looking forward to visiting Aycliffe Town Centre on Saturday 12th August. Cllr Ken Robson said this fabulous event will include a petting zoo (including horses, sheep and rabbits), balloon modelling, face painting, the Women’s Institute will be there as well as Aycliffe Radio – for what I am sure will be a fun packed day. Hope to have a chance to have a chat with you if you’re taking part in the festivities.
If I don’t have a chance to catch up with you on Saturday and if you want to get in touch about the boundary changes or any other questions you may have about Parliament or Constituency matters, you can always reach my office by phone on Aycliffe 01325 790580 or by sending an email to paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk