Dear Resident
With two bank holidays in May and summer weather what’s not to love! Meanwhile back to business this week and all the wheels are turning again!
Chessington Crime Rampage
Ever been burgled? I have too. It’s soooo painful isn’t it?
So I popped over to meet Masoud at the brilliant Blossom & Brew Limited and Mo Stags Barber to show how sorry we are they have been through such a nasty robbery last weekend.
And despite the horror of 1am police emergency summons, broken glass, stolen cash and cash register and all the expenses of replacing new windows (see Stags photo!) and feeling vulnerable ... the good news is that, thanks to Kingston Met Police, the out-of-the-borough perpetrator operating in a stolen vehicle on a 13 shops one-night rampage ... was caught straight away. Wow! We don’t always hear that do we?
So if you want to make them feel loved pop along by and buy a brew or a bunch or a barber shop bob and give them a hug! I adore my fab flowers too! Feeling community supported is everything isn't it? Group hug for Masoud and Mo! Pop over and share the love.
Northern Lights Night in Kingston
Did you spot it? Who needs to go to the Arctic Circle when the spectacular Aurora Borealis Northern Lights comes to Bolton Rd in Chessington! Incredible light show without the long-haul - right here from our own front doors!
What would you want to see in the next Conservative Manifesto?
This week I was invited to Number Ten Downing Street to tell the Policy Unit what you tell me matters most.
Some people have told me their top priority is to see housing sorted for young people to keep them safer and restore their well-being and give them a stake in conservative values of house owning. Yes, we covered that.
Some of our younger voters have talked to me again and again about university debt. And that is also a major problem with junior doctors who are asking for 35% pay rise and packing their bags for the Oz. So we talked a lot about student debt - especially for junior doctors.
Some people have told me they want to see NHS reforms to tackle costs and waiting lists including more responsible use as well my campaign against waiting times in the corridor in A&E. We talked about that.
Many people have talked to me about the cost-of-living and tax bands and fiscal drag vs National Insurance and they heard that you said you would prefer tax bands.
Thanks for all your ideas on the doorstep when we are out talking to you and for filling out our survey - that's one of the main reasons we come - market research in action - and now you know ... it all goes back in to HQ. So keep talking to us.
Economy ‘returning to full health’
Jeremy Hunt has been on the airwaves this week to deliver a positive message on the economy: the UK is no longer in a recession. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.6pc in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. The chancellor heralded the figures as “proof that the economy is returning to full health”.
Spring Visit and Special Needs Govt Funding
Can anyone be more ambitious about autism than the wonderful Andy Nowak Head of Spring School coming to Chessington next year? As a governor of Chessington School I’m delighted to hear that the two schools will work hand in hand.
The government recently invested £2.5m in special needs education in Kingston Council - Kingston Stronger Together Achieving for Children which Andy says would be well spent on staff development and latest training for special needs and high staff child ratios. Staff have high expectations of children and their maturity and support into work.
Spring School is part of the conservative government's Free School Flagship Education Policy funded by Local Authority and government pupil premium grants that has founded so many free and brilliant new schools around Britain to fulfil niche needs. We look forward to welcoming Spring to Chessington in September 2025.
Kingston Hospital merge with Richmond
What's the ‘Thriving Places’ strategy for healthcare in the Kingston Borough? How will it affect us? Kingston Hospital is merging with Richmond. I joined the briefing call with Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy, Thom Lafferty, Laura Greene Volunteer and Community and team to hear more about the changes coming planned for later this year.
It's a thriving places strategy that offers integrated teams built around local primary care, putting self-care at the forefront. As a volunteer in A&E at Kingston Hospital I see first-hand the pressure on hospitals now and how patients aspire to be independent individuals. The new strategy will make patients more responsible for their own health outcomes and choosing the best path for them.
Tolworth Hospital Redevelopment
I caught up today with Angus Acting Head of Corporate Comms and Stakeholder Engagement, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
He's keen to make sure that neighbours who have been massively intruded on by the noise the dust and the vibrations and who have been so close the last few weeks to all the heavy plant manoeuvres are listened too and helped - I am so sorry for your distress please let me know and I will pop over to feel first-hand how it feels for you.
I heard that the worst part of what is a parking area construction is nearly over.
And they have invited me over for a visit in a couple of weeks. So let me know what you want me to ask on your behalf and get me over to see before then if it has impacted you.
The team that are building Tolworth already built Springfield so they have huge experience and that will make an important foundation for out Tolworth development.
I’m also really focused on how it is going to help our mental health emergency provision. Working in A&E at Kingston Hospital this is something that is close to my heart and has a huge impact on other patients. Also following my night shift with the Kingston Police I saw first-hand how they need full AMP (mental health professionals) to front this need in the community. So Tolworth is going to be transformational.
First Family Hub coming to Kingston
I’m so excited about the first Family Hub coming to Kingston at The Old Malden’s Children’s Centre this September as part of the government flagship policy on childcare and early years education and support for young families.
Work has started already to get ready for Autumn and I even saw the skip outside full to the top of all the old nursey fixtures making way for the new refurb!
I’ll keep you updated on this as I’m looking forward to a visit soon with the centre superstars Sarah and Tina!
Childcare
Have you checked to see how much you can save? It’s worth up to £6700 pa per family and goes up to higher earners too. It would have been a gamechanger for me so I know how valuable this might be for so many women trying to get their career, confidence and status back. The new extension has just launched check it out here.
Check out Returnerships on the government website if you are thinking about a second internship to build new skills. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/returner-toolkit-helping-you…]
If you’re older and looking at building confidence for interviews and starting your job search have a look at the fantastic charity Brave Starts who will hold your hand through the process however bruised, you are feeling. [https://www.bravestarts.com/about-us]
Help make Kingston an Age-Friendly Borough
It was great to join the Help make Kingston an Age-friendly Borough event yesterday at the Richard Mayo and discuss so many crucial topics including employment, leisure space, health, transport, housing, socialising, community participation and comms.
Great to see so many people of all ages interested in tackling this overlooked area of inclusivity. And so sweet to see some long-time loving married couples talking about their own leisure and fitness at the Bowling Club!
I was pleased to share residents’ views and experiences on social housing and security, bereavement, lock down, ULEZ penalty and more.
I was keen to add my own campaigns on back to work
What would you make better in Kingston's Ancient Market Place?
Kingston Council announces proposals to revitalise the town’s Ancient Market Place to create a cultural and commercial destination celebrating the area’s heritage and character.
A decision was made to approve the Kingston Ancient Market Place strategy and a 10-year lease opportunity to a managing operator of the street market. Currently, consultation with the public and stakeholders is ongoing until May 19th.
Last week The Kingston Society attended Kingston First Ancient Market Place Workshop, discussing the placemaking principles of the Kingston Market Place and potential changes to current management roles under new lease arrangements.
Have your say too.
turnerships and the sense of reward of Volunteering. And the importance of preventative health and strength from my first-hand experiences in A&E where so many of our elderly residents come after a fall or a health scare.
Thanks to the Kingston Council - Kingston Stronger Together for this great event and keenness to listen.
Meet Lord Frost
Who's your favourite politician? Such a privilege to welcome mine...
Fascinating insight and anecdotes and inside story on how we got Brexit Done, Britain’s place in the EU, UN and world, our future as a party, as a country and our favourite institution, the NHS.
Mayor of London Election: A Three Horse Race!
Thank you to everyone who voted for Susan Hall for Mayor of London and Ron Mushiso for our SW London GLA assembly member last week. We did better than anyone thought we would and are grateful to all the support we had on the doorstep. We know how painful ULEZ has been for our pensioners, lower income residents and small businesses, and we are so disappointed that we didn’t get enough votes to end this pain and roll back the ULEZ extension.
Last week's election for the Mayor of London demonstrated that right across London Labour did well and for the first time in an election for over a decade we have seen the growth of their vote in Kingston. The choice that voters will be making at the coming General Election will be who they want to run their Government. The only options for the country are a Conservative or Labour majority. The fight to hold the keys of 10 Downing Street is between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. In Kingston and Surbiton a vote for the Lib Dems would be a wasted vote as they will never win a General Election.
Kingston voters will vote with their true colours in this General Election, so everything is up for grabs both nationally and locally. The message for Kingston voters is clear: Vote for Conservatives for a growing economy, security at home, security overseas and a long-term plan for our public services. Or risk open borders, higher taxes and more debt. If voters want to see what a Labour administration will look like, look no further than London, Birmingham and Wales with bankrupt councils charging higher council taxes, ULEZ, pay-by-mile plans, 20mph and crime climbing.
Helen Edward said, “Standing up for our community is always going to be my aim, not playing party political games.”
Thanks for reading our news and for sharing your views, please do get in touch!
Very best wishes
Helen Edward
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Kingston and Surbiton
Promoted by Gia Borg-Darcy on behalf of Kingston and Surbiton Conservative Association, both of 3 Bridle Close, Kingston, KT1 2JW
https://www.facebook.com/HelenEdwardCWO/
https://twitter.com/helenedwardcwo
https://www.kingstonconservatives.org.uk
Write to me
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