Tatton MP Esther McVey has opened the doors of her new constituency office in Wilmslow.
Located on Chapel Lane, the premises provide a base in the constituency's largest town for the MP and her staff which is separate from the Tatton Conservative Association's office in Knutsford.
Speaking about the location, Ms McVey described it as "a great little road which also has ease and accessibility - being on a bus route and with car parking."
Ms McVey will continue to hold surgeries across the constituency, four have been held so far in Wilmslow, Mobberley, Knutsford and Wincham, but will also be holding future surgeries in Chapel Lane.
Her first few months as Tatton MP have been busy, during which time she has been getting out and meeting with people, whether that be at the opening of a new business or attending local events like the Wilmslow Show, Wilmslow Scarecrow Parade or the Cheshire Show.
Ms McVey has also visited the nearby Green Room Theatre, Waters Corporation and Alderley Park as well as meeting with the Forum for Private Businesses - to discuss issues such as exports, transport and business rates - and Transport Minister Paul Maynard with the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association to discuss unlocking the lines to connect Mid Cheshire to Manchester.
One of the first things Ms McVey did when taking up office was meet with local headteachers to discuss the Fair Funding Formula. She then met the Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening MP, along with other local Cheshire MP's to discuss the historic under-funding of schools in the area, and school budget issues more widely.
Ms McVey welcomed the recent confirmation of an extra £1.3 billion for the national schools budget by 2019-20 and the "enhanced plus settlement for Cheshire", saying "I will wait and see how it sits with teachers and governors to determine whether I should go back to the Secretary of State."
When I asked what have been the highlights during recent months, the Tatton MP spoke about the "spectacular community spirit" and all the things that the locals do such as the fantastic Wilmslow Scarecrow Parade, the Mobberley Rose Queen, Knutsford May Day and the opening of the new pavilion at Croftside Tennis Club.
Speaking about priorities for Wilmslow, Ms McVey said she has been met with many local community groups about proposed changes in the area, particularly the Local Plan and the building of new homes.
She said "The people of this area are incredibly pragmatic and incredibly practical. They understand the need for new homes but also that there should be the necessary infrastructure. It's about getting the sequencing right, the numbers correct and keeping with the character of the area."
Another project Ms McVey has been working on is setting up a Youth Advisory Group who will be holding their first meeting at the weekend.
She explained "There needs to be a voice for the youth as they have a lot of big issues coming their way, whether it be tuition fees or getting their foot on the property ladder."
Esther McVey intends to be very active canvassing in the local community and will be knocking on doors in Wilmslow on Saturday, 23rd September.
Her office can be reached via 01625 529922 or [email protected].
Comments
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I wonder if Ms McVey will be able to re-focus the London-centric view of her party for the benefit of UK citizens who do not happen to live and work in the South East?
I'm nearly 17 years business in Wilmslow, its bloody graft i tell you. You prob know that.
To those who comment, come on, just try something, you are empowered to do stuff!
sadly the glass.......is almost always empty for a large swathe of the regular contributors
I applaud your positive post.
He is proposing a ludicrous scheme for 'in cab' digital signalling for the route instead. If there was ever a rail route less suited to this 'high speed line' technology it is the Trans Pennine route.
Esther, tell him to stop being patronising in his attempts to pull the wool, and to get electrification re-instated. If he does insist on a smoke & mirrors cover for his fusing of the Northern Powerhouse, tell him at least to try harder than this for a believable smokescreen.
Terminating HS2 at Birmingham would not address the worst capacity issues, which are between London and the North West. If it were to be scaled back (and it should not be - that would be as short sighted as cancelling rail electrification while banning diesel cars) the logical northern terminus would be Crewe, with the Birmingham link deleted.
Compared to the 6-lane scar and hard shoulders of those motorways, with their 24 hour never ending roar of polluting traffic, the nearby 2-track HS2 rail line with the occasional swish of a pollution-free high speed electric train will be hardly noticeable.
Thanks again Ms McVey
The UK railway system carries almost three times the passenger traffic it did prior to privatisation, and that growth is set to continue. Rail freight (which would get dangerous and polluting HGVs off the motorways and roads) is throttled by lack of 'paths' on the over-full railway.
If we don't add this capacity (and really we need it NOW, not in 20 years time) our railways will simply grind to a halt. Take a look around mainland Europe - see how we should be doing it!