Westminster Report - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Westminster Report – BY David Burton-Sampson MP for Southend West & Leigh.

Westminster Report – BY David Burton-Sampson MP for Southend West & Leigh.

BY David Burton-Sampson MP for Southend West & Leigh.

The days are lighter and the skies are bluer as we head towards summer and for the residents of Southend West and Leigh, a brighter future ahead, with the arrival of two new bus routes.

I am delighted to see the changes that introduce a new hourly bus service, the 3A, thanks to funding from the Labour Government, which will run from Southend, past the Hospital, along Blenheim Chase and Elmsleigh Drive to Leigh town centre, giving residents in Leigh a vital link between home, Southend Hospital, and further into the city.

I also welcome the new bus route from Leigh, through Eastwood, and onto the airport, which will provide an essential link for residents from St Laurence, Eastwood Park, Belfairs, Blenheim Park, Leigh and West Leigh.

For too long now communities living here have suffered from being cut off, without suitable routes. The new services provide much-needed connections.

We aim to look further to identify any gaps in services and we are determined to provide good coverage across the city, providing essential links for residents. I know so many residents will welcome this news as much as I do.

The funding for these improved services has been provided by this Labour Government, which is committed to local bus services after thousands of vital services were under the Conservatives.

This Government has put buses at the heart of its agenda with £1 billion of funding and these new services for the residents of Southend West and Leigh reflect that.

Not such good news, I am afraid, with the sudden closure of the ramp to Chalkwell station, which has become unsafe.

I am continuing to press for a speedy solution to replace the ramp. I have had meetings with the City Council, Network rail and c2c and we are all working together to agree a way forward.

I have had assurances that options for a permanent replacement will be drawn up soon and a public meeting will be held in May, to make sure that all the options can be discussed.

I am also encouraging c2c to find a way to open their access gate to the beach, but this appears to be complicated, with several barriers currently in the way.

It is better news, however, that I have received a guarantee that the works for a new lift at the station, under the “Access for All” scheme, will be carried out this summer, making life easier for disabled passengers.

Another welcome development is the plan to erase unsightly graffiti next month that has been making Chalkwell Avenue bridge an eyesore.

I understand the importance and depth of agitation over the unexpected ramp closure, which I have stressed at every meeting I have attended. Unfortunately, it is not a simple job. The engineering works will demand a significant line closure for the demolition of the ramp and the installation of new temporary access. All of this requires the agreement of c2c and Network Rail.

I completely understand that this issue is vitally important to residents and businesses and must be resolved as quickly as possible.

I will keep everyone informed of developments as soon as we have a timetable for the works.

Parliament has returned after its Easter break and with it, my role as business champion, when I hosted a lively meeting of banks, lenders and industry experts. We discussed the challenges facing the industry in relation to business lending and they had plenty of suggestions for the government! I assured them all that we are listening.

Growth is this government’s agenda, and commercial lenders are very much part of unlocking growth. Labour’s plan is built around the three essential elements of stability, investment, and reform. The Government has made significant progress, putting in place measures to support economic and fiscal stability and long-term investment.

We still need to go further and faster because without growth we cannot keep cutting hospital waiting lists, putting more police on the streets, meet our climate goals or give the next generation the opportunities to thrive. That is something to look forward to, after 14 years of Conservative inaction and delay.

Talking of stability, I reminded the meeting that at least we have kept the same Prime Minster and Chancellor for nine months. That raised a smile.

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