You can read my latest newsletter below.
Welcome to my latest newsletter
Over the past week I have been working hard representing you and our community as your local Member of Parliament. In this edition, I have updates on:
- Four years in Parliament
- My Herts Ad Column – Rothamsted Park: Localism in action as Town Council takes over
- Rothamsted Play Park Re-Development
- Hitchin Town Centre Consultation
- Redbourn Road Safety Survey
- Parliamentary Boundary Review
- Support Plans for the Dell in Hitchin
- Harpenden High Street Consultation
- Visit to Hitchin Town Centre & Garden House Hospice Shop
- The Beginners Guide to Saving the Planet
- Education Recovery
- Listening to our Community – let me know your views
Four Years in Parliament
Last week marks four years since I was first elected to represent our community in Westminster. It has been a great privilege to be your Member of Parliament and I will continue to work hard to deliver your priorities in the local area over the coming years.
My Herts Ad Column – Rothamsted Park: Localism in action as Town Council takes over
My column this month in the Herts Advertiser focussed on the recent devolution of Rothamsted Park and other Harpenden green spaces from the District to the Town Council. This devolution and the investment that will follow as a result are a great example of localism in action. You can read my column online at: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=ed403c28-5085-4f69-89aa-e38fbc8d2652.
Rothamsted Play Park Re-Development
It was great to hear that work on the new play park in Rothamsted Park started on Monday 7th June. This is a testament to the hard work of PARC volunteers in campaigning and raising funds for the new park, which has also been part-funded by Harpenden Town Council.
I look forward to seeing the new and improved play park when it opens later this year. A great facility for Harpenden children!
Hitchin Town Centre Consultation
Last year Hertfordshire County Council made changes in Hitchin Town Centre to allow for social distancing and outside trading. They are now consulting local residents about the future of those measures.
The Council is now consulting on whether the scheme should be retained and trialled over a longer period of time.
It is important that residents and businesses have their say, so if you haven't already, please fill in the survey by the 11th July: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/70a7c8fa07ad48bc9293a42f552d20d4#.
Redbourn Road Safety Survey
For the past few months, I have been working with local councillors on a feasibility study about how we can improve the safety of Redbourn Road (A5183). The survey closed on Wednesday and I will keep residents updated as we progress further.
Parliamentary Boundary Review
The Boundary Commission for England have published their initial proposal for new Parliamentary boundaries. In our area, they have proposed splitting Hitchin & Harpenden into two new seats: 1) Harpenden & Berkhamsted and 2) Hitchin.
It is an interesting proposal. But I have learnt in recent years not to get too excited about the initial phase of the boundary commission work - there is a long process which continues for the best part of two years, so a long way to go. I personally like my seat the way it is and I believe it works well - but unfortunately I don’t get to determine it (and that’s probably a good thing!).
You can give your views on the proposals until 2nd August here: https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/.
Support for Plans for the Dell in Hitchin
It has been great to see the community come together to support plans to transform the Dell in Hitchin back into an open-air theatre. This historic theatre first staged a performance in 1951 and it would be great to see it restored to its former glory.
You can find out more about the plans and how to support them at this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/thedellatwoodsideopenairtheatre?fbclid=IwAR3C0sTpLnuk1IBIQjTaGUQSrXAoz2qMuK1iPV1nkwxMeIJDlAoVPH2Quu0.
Harpenden High Street Consultation
Last year the County Council made changes on Harpenden High Street to allow for social distancing. They would now like your views on the future of those measures.
The Council would like to know your views on the temporary changes made and whether they could benefit high street recovery. Your feedback will be used to help decide whether to keep some of these changes for a longer-term trial or whether to remove them completely.
It is really important that residents and businesses make their views known, so if you haven't yet done so, please fill in the survey by the closing date on the 11th July: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bd554407df01465b8a3f2f1b4b4f519d?fbclid=IwAR3Pk_BSHhMIRp-u0IpZ5hVWoiNS3JDzTMEXG7WMYcdrEOhMDhQJvAlHGgE#.
Visit to Hitchin Town Centre & Garden House Hospice Shop
I visited Hitchin Town Centre last week and it is great to see the town centre thriving! New businesses are coming to our town and it is very exciting to see our local shops, cafes and restaurants back into the swing of things. Well done to Tom Hardy for all the encouragement he has given to businesses and their hard working teams over the past year.
I also visited the Garden House Hospice shop where they have opened a new bridal department. Go along to get affordable and beautiful wedding outfits - not just for brides to be but for the whole wedding party. If you have preloved wedding gear gathering dust, do consider donating it here to a very worthy cause.
The Beginners Guide to Saving the Planet
I was very pleased to contribute to the excellent Beginners Guide to Saving the Planet, which was compiled by the Harpenden Society and Harpendia. This is a very interesting local resource – well done to everyone involved in putting it together.
You can read it online here: https://issuu.com/exxy/docs/beginners_guide_to_saving_the_planet_pdf.
Education Recovery
I spoke in the Education Recovery Statement on Monday to emphasise that the catch up plan should be bottom-up, teacher-led and individually tailored to each child.
You can see my question and the Secretary of State's response here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=186224420173349.
Listening to our Community – let me know your views
I am launching a new monthly survey where you can give me your views on my priorities and salient local issues in our community. Please find June's survey here: https://www.bimafolami.co.uk/form/june-2021-survey.
If you would like to give your thoughts on any issue not covered by this survey, please email me on bim.afolami.mp@parliament.uk.
Once restrictions have been lifted, I will be resuming my normal schedule of Pub Surgeries, Parliamentary Tours and House Meetings, which are all great opportunities for me to hear your thoughts on local and national issues. You can find out more at https://www.bimafolami.co.uk/meet-bim.
My Plan for Our Community
I am working hard to protect and enhance our local community. I will:
1) Protect our Environment
2) Help our Local Businesses
3) Support our Young People
You can see more at https://www.bimafolami.co.uk/myplan.
Volunteer groups
Harpenden
If you would like to volunteer or are in need of support visit https://harpendencares.org or call Harpenden Cares on 01582 460 457.
Wheathampstead
If you need help then please contact the Parish Council by emailing info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk or call them on 01582 380 910. If you would like to volunteer contact the Wheathampstead Community Continue Group Helpline on 07539 176 481.
Redbourn
If you are in need of support please contact the Redbourn Care Group on 01582 794 550 or email info@rebourncaregroup.co.uk.
Sandridge
If you would like to volunteer or are in need of support visit https://www.communities1st.org.uk/ or call Communities 1st on 020 8207 4504 or 020 8386 4006.
Hitchin and the villages
If you would like to volunteer or are in need of support visit https://www.thvolunteering.org.uk or call Herts Help on 0300 123 4044.
For a full list of voluntary organisations please click here
Useful contacts/websites
- For free, confidential, expert support or a listening ear: contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline Team on 0808 2000 247.
- For advice, information and support to unpaid carers of all ages: contact Carers in Hertfordshire on 01992 58 69 69 or email them at contact@carersinherts.org.uk.
- For general advice: contact Hertfordshire Advice line on 03 444 111 444 or 03000 3300 650 from a mobile.
- For general advice: contact Citizens Advice. You can leave a voicemail with your contact details and they will ring back as soon as they can. Call 01462 689 801 (North Hertfordshire), 01727 811 118 (St Albans District) or www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
- For issues related to products or services purchased: contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
- For advice on claiming Universal Credit: 0800 1448 444 (freephone) or citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim.
- For advice on insurance, cancelled travel/events and tips for self-isolation: take a look at this consumer rights hub created by Which? https://www.which.co.uk/news/coronavirus/.
- For tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing: take a look at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/.
- For tips to protect yourself from scammers: take a look at https://www.fca.org.uk/news/news-stories/avoid-coronavirus-scams.
- For business support: contact the BEIS Business Support Helpline on 0300 456 3565 or visit https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/.
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For advice and support for children who have been bereaved: contact Stand-by-me Bereavement Support for Children on 0746 925 5139 or email them at info@stand-by-me.org.uk.
I hold regular telephone surgeries for constituents and businesses. If there is something you would like to discuss with me, contact my office at bim.afolami.mp@parliament.uk to book a slot. Please also ensure to provide your address details and a brief of what you would like to discuss.
Yours,
Bim
Bim Afolami MP
Member of Parliament for Hitchin & Harpenden