7/30/2019 News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #352

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In this edition:

Greg Hands M.P.s DiaryWebsite of the Week:Rays PlayhouseHands is top Tory forconstituency workNew sleep unit set to help1,000 children each yearHelping disabled peopleinto workPhoto news:District Line Control CentreHands: PM has delivered

on his promise to getpeople the lowest energytariffsAircraft noise getting worse,say H&F residentsChelsea resident celebrates100 yearsOutline planning permissiongiven to Earl's CourtdevelopmentNew school proposed inChelsea

Hands in the papers:Constituency MatterscolumnHow to contactGreg Hands M.P.

Issue 352 - Friday 23rd November 2012

Since the last edition, Greg:

Was shown around the District Line control room (near Baker

Street) by Transport for London, and a new S Stock train on

the Hammersmith & City Line, which will next year be

introduced on the District Line, which will increase capacity

markedly on the line forlocal people.

Opened the new paediatric sleep unit at the Royal Brompton

Hospital, Chelsea. For more, including photos, see below.

Held a round table with H&F Mencap and ParentsActive to

discuss issues facing the mentally and physically disabled in

Hammersmith & Fulham, and parents of children with Special

Educational Needs. Greg will be taking up a number of issuesfor the local groups.

Visited Rays Playhouse in Fulham to view their facilities and

hear their appeals for more donors and volunteers. For more,

see website of the week.

Visited Kensington Prep School in Fulham, and was given an

hour long Question & Answer session by Year 6 girls at the

top-performing local prep school.

Met Daniel Moylan, Mayor Boris Johnsons aviation adviser, to

discuss efforts to prevent Heathrow expansion and to build

instead an estuary airport for London, and other possible

schemes to increase Londons aviation capacity, without the

need to fly over central London.

Attended and addressed the Annual Dinner of the

Hammersmith Conservative Association, held at Westfield,

Shepherds Bush, with guest of honour, the Rt Hon Lord

Strathclyde, Leader of the House of Lords.

Attended the Annual General Meeting of the Fulham Society,

held at Lady Margaret School, Parsons Green.

Met representatives of Teach First, the highly successful

scheme aimed at putting more top graduates into teaching.

Attended the Spectator magazines awards forParliamentarian of the Year and other categories.

As the Governments Treasury Whip, spent two days in a

Commons Committee debating the Governments Public

Service Pensions Bill, which reforms public sector pensions

and puts them onto a more sustainable footing.

Held two surgeries for Chelsea and Fulham residents at

Peter Jones, Chelsea. Gregs surgeries are held generally

every Monday at Fulham Methodist Church, or at Peter Jones,

Sloane Square. To make an appointment, email

mail@greghands.com or call 020 7219 5448.

Website of the Week:

www.raysplayhouse.org

The website of Rays Playhouse in Sands End, Fulham,which provides play and drop-in facilities for young children.Greg visited the popular facility this week. Rays needs moredonors, volunteers and maybe you could help?

Hands is top Tory for constituency workFigures released this week by BBC Londonshow that Greg Hands meets moreconstituents at his surgeries than any otherConservative M.P. Around 1,000 localpeople are seen each year at his weeklyconstituency surgeries.

Although M.P.s with so-called safe seatsare sometimes accused of doing less workin their constituencies, this clearly doesntapply to the Chelsea & Fulham M.P. Hecomes out on top for constituency work,despite having the largest percentagemajority of any Conservative M.P. in London.

Asked why, Mr Hands said: I really value the weekly, face-to-facecontact with local people. Its all too easy for M.P.s to become trappedin the Westminster bubble. Surgeries are the best way to grasp the

problems that exist and, often, to be able to help.He has held surgeries at numerous venues since he was first elected

in 2005. Some are even held in meeting rooms at Peter Jones, thefamous department store in Sloane Square. Eager to maintain contactwith his voters, he also sends out a weekly email bulletin, which has

just had its 351st edition.

And it seems there is no shortage of demand. As Mr Hands says:Any constituent who is struggling with a particular problem to do with

public services can make an appointment. I also take up casework inrelation to private sector companies and operators.Whatever the problem, my mission is to solve it, or, at the very least,to get my constituent an answer. I became a Government Minister lastyear, but Ive continued to keep up my weekly surgeries. I lookforward to holding many more.More information on Greg Hands M.P.s surgeries is available atwww.greghands.com/content/surgeries-0 or by ringing 020 72195448.

New sleep unit set to help

1,000 children each year

Greg Hands being shown around the new children's sleep unit atthe Royal Brompton Hospital this week.

A new state-of-the-art childrens sleep and ventilation unit was openedlast night at Royal Brompton Hospital by Greg Hands, M.P.Greg said: This is my seventh visit here and I am delighted to be hereagain. I am very proud to open the sleep centre and congratulations to

everyone involved in making this unit possible.The unit, representing an investment of close to 1 million, will helparound 1,000 children each year who experience difficulties breathingat night. Disorders affecting childrens sleep can have a negativeeffect on their brain development, heart and blood vessel metabolismand the immune system.The childrens sleep and ventilation unit is fitted with state-of-the-artequipment for sophisticated tests that can monitor oxygen and carbondioxide levels in the bloodstream, movement of the chest andabdomen, heart rate, airflow, and electrical activity in the brain. Data

gathered during testing is used in diagnosis and treatment planning.Royal Brompton Hospital is a leading centre for research into andtreatment of respiratory conditions in children. Experts at the hospitaltreat about 2400 children each year with conditions such as musculardystrophy, severe asthma, cystic fibrosis and rare lung diseases.Many patients begin their treatment as small children and stay withthe hospital throughout adulthood.Commenting on the new unit, Dr Duncan Macrae, director ofchildrens services at the hospital, said: We are delighted to havethese impressive new facilities, which allow us to do verysophisticated testing and treatment, in a dedicated environment

designed to put our patients at ease. We are also very pleased thatsuch sophisticated technology will allow us additional scope for ourresearch into sleep disorders.Dr Hui-leng Tan, consultant in paediatric respiratory and sleepmedicine, is spearheading development of new research programmesinto sleep-disordered breathing and paediatric sleep medicine, andfostering collaborations with sleep centres in other parts of the world.Children on long-term ventilation, meaning they rely on ventilators tohelp them breathe when they return home from hospital, will benefitfrom improved care during stays on the unit, and parents of youngpatients can stay overnight on the dedicated unit with their children,helping to put them at ease so they sleep well.Claire Goodbody, recently stayed with her seven-year-old daughterGemma at the new unit, and said: Gemma has congenital musculardystrophy and has her sleep monitored at the Royal BromptonHospital each year. We were so surprised and thrilled by the new unit.It has been very thoughtfully designed with privacy and everything wecould need, so that we felt like we were in a home away from home.The whole environment is set up to make it as easy as possible forGemma to get to sleep."The new unit also provides expanded and improved facilities for Royal

Bromptons outreach training programmes. Earlier this year, theChildrens Long Term Ventilation (LTV) service launched a specialisttraining programme involving hands-on training, along with an e-learning package, for hospital and community staff across London andthe South East, as well as parents of children who need to beventilated. This means parents have access to practical support closeto home and enables ventilated children to be safely cared for in theirown homes. Previously such babies stayed in specialist intensive careunits for many months, but it is now widely recognised that with theappropriate care at home, and in the community, they can thrive.The unit was funded by Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charityand features original artworks commissioned by rb&hArts and madepossible through donations from the Octavia Appeal, which worksthrough the Friends of Royal Brompton.Greg Hands also took the opportunity to reiterate his support for RoyalBromptons childrens cardiac surgery unit. He said: I believe thedecision that London should only have two centres is fundamentallywrong and I am delighted that Jeremy Hunt has decided to look at thisagain. I am hopeful that we will get a good result, not just for RoyalBrompton, but for the future of childrens heart services in England.

Helping disabled people into workThe Government has announced more support for small businessesto pay for specialised equipment and cover the other costs facingdisabled people in the workplace. Businesses with less than 49employees will no longer pay towards these costs, saving them up to2,300 for every employee who uses the Access to Work fund.

As part of the package of measures, disabled jobseekers who want toset up their own business using the New Enterprise Allowance willnow be eligible for Access to Work funding from day one of claimingJobseekers Allowance.

Greg Hands M.P. commented: Under this Government, the numberof disabled people in work has steadily increased. There are now123,000 more disabled people in work than before the election.This is fantastic progress, but we need to do more. Thats why thisannouncement is so welcome. We are breaking down the barriersfacing disabled people who want to work.

Photo news:

District Line Control Centre

Greg Hands M.P. at the District Line Control Centre this week.

Hands: PM has delivered on his promise to

get people the lowest energy tariffsGreg Hands M.P. has welcomed Government plans to ensure thatenergy bills are set at the lowest possible price, ending the rip off ofmultiple tariffs.The plans announced this week will force energy suppliers to offertheir customers the best deals, fulfilling the Prime Ministers promiseto take action to get people the lowest tariff possible.Under the proposals:

Households will no longer face hundreds of tariffs, with energy

companies limited to four tariffs per fuel.

Energy companies will have to make bills simpler for customers

to understand, and outline personalised information on the

cheapest tariff that they can offer.

Households will be moved onto the cheapest tariff under their

supplier that suits them.

With gap of more than 300 between the cheapest and the mostexpensive tariffs on the market, this is likely to make a significantdifference to anyone worried about the cost of their energy use.

Commenting, Greg Hands M.P. said: "The Prime Minister promised totake action to get people the lowest tariffs and he has delivered."Households across Chelsea and Fulham will welcome this move toget their energy bills down. It shows that the Government is seriousabout helping people with the cost of living. Along with tax cuts, lowcouncil tax and low interest rates that are protecting mortgage

payments, this action on energy prices will really help with familybudgets."

Aircraft noise getting worse,say H&F residents75 per cent of residents who responded to a poll about the relaxationof runway rules at Heathrow have noticed more aircraft noise as aresult of the trial.The poll asks: Has Heathrow Airport's trial of relaxed runway rulesaffected you? For example, have you noticed more aircraft noise? Ofthe 1,151 people who have responded so far, 867 (75%) voted yesand 284 (25%) voted no.

If you havent voted yet, you can have your say now here.Concerns about BAAs Operational Freedoms trial, which allows theairport's operator to use runways simultaneously under certaincircumstances, have spiralled rapidly. The number of complaints hasrocketed by nearly 900% - from around 200 in May to a spike ofaround 1,800 in August, according to BAA statistics.Historically the airport has used a runway alternation system whichmeans using one runway for arrivals and the other for departures.Traditionally their use is switched halfway through the day at 3pm togive residents a predictable period of relief from aircraft noise.However, under the current trials which last until March 2013 thethreshold for triggering dual use of the runways has been significantlylowered.Both runways are now being used when planes face a 10-minute waitto land or take off or if there is more widespread disruption to theairports flight schedules, for example due to bad weather.On a typical day around 665 aircraft now fly over the borough with theearliest usually starting at 4:20am and flights continuing throughoutthe day, at intervals of about one every 90 seconds, until aroundmidnight.

Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, H&F Council Cabinet Member forTransport and Technical Services, says: A clear majority of peoplewho responded to our poll have noticed more aircraft noise due to therelaxing of rules at Heathrow. If BAA thought this trial was a foot in thedoor to get more flights into the airport and over our heads theyneed to know that we will fight them all the way. I would encourageanyone who has been disturbed by these trials to make their viewsknown.H&F Council is part of the all-party 2M group which represents morethan five million people in boroughs close to Heathrow and wants aguarantee that runway alternation and night flight restrictions will notbe sacrificed so the airport can handle more planes.

The campaign group says that allowing both runways to be used intandem for arrivals and departures a system called 'mixed mode' would be just as damaging as creating a third and fourth landing strip.The councils are now preparing evidence for a new aviationcommission, headed by Sir Howard Davies, which was launched bythe Government to examine the case for airport development acrossthe UK.2M has successfully blocked previous attempts to introduce mixedmode and overturned the previous Government's plans for a third

runway in the High Court.H&F Council has consistently argued that any form of expansion atHeathrow, including a third runway, would bring extra noise hell forresidents, more air pollution put further pressure on overstretchedroads and public transport in the area.In addition to voting on the council quick poll residents should responddirectly to BAA so that concerns are formally logged in theirconsultation. Visit www.heathrowairport.com/noiseor call 0800 344844 or email noise_complaints@baa.com .

Chelsea resident celebrates 100 years

Chelsea resident Dorothy Patrick celebrated her 100th birthday inOctober with a weeklong flurry of activities with family and friends butshe did not let the celebrations prevent her attending her weeklyexercise class at the New Horizons Centre.Dorothy started attending the exercise class at 98 years young afterbeing recommended to take it up by a hospital physiotherapistfollowing a fall.

"It is difficult to say how beneficial it all is but I would recommend theclass to anyone. We've a really good teacher and spend 55 minutesexercising to music. She's very clever and gets us to exercise all ourmuscles,"Dorothy explained."When I was young I did a lot of walking and also played tennis butyou did not consciously exercise in those days,"she added.She attributes her longevity to enjoying life. "Apart from the tragedy oflosing my husband I have had a very happy life. I gave up smokingwith great difficulty at 73 because my second husband did not like itand asked me to stop."

Dorothy's first husband John Symons died in the Second World War in1944 just after her second daughter was born.

After her husband's death Dorothy lived in Battersea for nine yearswith her two young daughters before moving to Chelsea in 1954where she still lives. She has five grand children and eight great grandchildren. She remarried when she was 66 years old but after eight andhalf years her second husband Noel Patrick died."I had an incredible birthday, the main celebration was a family eventat the Cavalry and Guards Club. My actual birthday was on Sunday28 October and I went to my church, St Mary in the Boltons, and

unbeknown to me one of the great grandchildren tied a helium balloonto the back of my pew for everyone to see."In spite of turning 100, Dorothy continues to enjoy an active social lifeas well as going to her exercise classes at New Horizons. She enjoysattending the Christ Church Fellowship, listening to classical music,watching television and reading.Cllr Fiona Buxton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "I wish

Dorothy hearty congratulations on her 100th birthday. I'm delightedthat she is able to enjoy the activities offered by the New HorizonsCentre. Dorothy's is an example to us all and proof that you are never

old to take up exercise."New Horizons Centre Cadogon Street, SW3 is a multi activity centreoffering varied weekly activities for those aged 50 and over. It isdelivered by a consortium of three charities, Open Age (lead), Age UKKensington and Chelsea and the Guinness Trust, in partnership withthe Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the NHSKensington and Chelsea.

Outline planning permission given to Earl's

Court development

A planning application, which opens the way for the redevelopment of

the Earl's Court site, was approved on Tuesday 20th November by theRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Major PlanningDevelopment Committee.The decision gives outline planning permission for the redevelopmentof the part of the site within Kensington and Chelsea which includesthe Earls Court 1 Exhibition Centre.The overall Earl's Court plans will see the creation of a new urban

quarter spanning the two boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea andHammersmith & Fulham, which will provide thousands of new homes,a minimum of 7,000 new jobs, new retail units, community facilitiesand new cultural facilities.Neighbouring Hammersmith & Fulham Council is seeking toregenerate the West Kensington and Gibbs Green Housing Estatesand Transport for London is looking at options for its Lillie Bridge RailDepot making the area a site of immense potential.Councillor Paul Warrick, who chaired the meeting said: "RedevelopingEarl's Court to provide much needed housing and other uses hasbeen our policy for many years.

"On both sides of the border we hope that the granting of this planningapplication will make Earl's Court a more desirable place to live withless congestion and more opportunity for work, commerce andleisure."

New school proposed in ChelseaThe Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and John Lewis

announced proposals on Thursday 15th November 2012 to developtwo closely related sites in the heart of Chelsea - Marlborough PrimarySchool and the Clearings site on Draycott Avenue SW3.The proposals offer the chance to build an entirely new school toreplace the current Victorian buildings. If planning permission isgranted, the new Marlborough Primary would offer state-of-the-artfacilities and more space to accommodate the growing demand forplaces.During construction, the nearby Clearings site would accommodate ahigh quality interim school. Once the new school is complete, theClearings site would then be redeveloped for residential use.

Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, Cabinet Member for Education, said:"This is a once in a generation chance to provide a fantastic newschool, with more space and better facilities. If planning permission isgiven, I am sure the pupils, staff and indeed residents of the area willall benefit from the opportunities this presents."The Council and John Lewis will shortly be consulting with the localcommunity on the proposed plans prior to submitting formal planningapplications next year. At which point the local planning authority willcarry out a formal statutory consultation to get residents views.Public exhibitions will be held at the Clearings site and Marlborough

Primary School.The exhibition at the Clearings will take place on the following days:

Thursday 6th December - 9am to 8pm

Friday 7th December - 9am to 8pm

Saturday 8th December - 10am to 6pm

An exhibition at the school will take place on Friday 7th Decemberbetween 4pm and 7.30pm.For further information contact the Clearings community line on 020

7618 9195 or email Marlborough@rbkc.gov.uk .To keep up-to-date with developments go towww.clearingsdevelopment.co.uk .

Hands in the papers:

Constituency Matters columnGreg Hands M.P., Hammersmith & Fulham Chronicle

Friday 23

rd

November 2012One of the great, transformative policies of the last 30 years is theRight to Buy your council home. It has helped thousands of peoplelocally since it was introduced by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.Home ownership is a good thing, it encourages people to takeresponsibility, and it has brought real benefits to our housing estates.Despite this, Labour deliberately sabotaged the Right to Buy, slashingthe discount and making it unaffordable for all but a handful oftenants.Thankfully, the Government has changed all that by increasing the

discount from 16,000 to 75,000. Our local councils have beeninundated with new enquiries from hard-working tenants who arefinally able to get the chance to own their own home.Last week, Hammersmith & Fulham completed its first Right to Buysale under the new scheme to a couple with a young daughter, whodescribed it as a no-brainer and spoke of their relief at owning theirown home at last. They are now set to be joined by many more.London is an expensive place to live, but Im delighted that theGovernment is doing all it can to help people who want to get on.

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448

By email: mail@greghands.com

By post: Greg Hands M.P.House of CommonsLondon SW1A 0AA

In person: Click here for details of howto book an appointment atGreg Hands M.P.s weekly

surgery

www.greghands.com

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News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #352

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