Welcome to this week's newsletter!
We discovered a technical hitch has meant those signing up to my newsletter online were not being added to the mail out list so welcome to many of you receiving this for the first time!
Exciting festive news! My Christmas Card Competition is now closed! A huge thank you for the hundreds of submissions I have received and to the schools helping their pupils take part. Voting is now open on my Facebook page.
As many of you will now be aware, Post Office Ltd have announced a restructuring programme for their directly run Post Office branches – Bexhill’s Devonshire Square Post Office is on the list of potential closures.
Post Offices like Devonshire Square offer specialised services which cannot be provided by smaller franchise branches. That is why I have started the Save Bexhill Post Office petition, which you can sign here, to make sure Post Office Ltd know the local opposition to the branches closure. Once the Post Office is gone, it will be incredibly difficult to get back!
However, it is not just in the constituency that I’m campaigning – in Parliament this week I met with local farmers who took part in a major rally against Labour’s Family Farm Tax in Westminster. Despite this Labour Government promising to protect farmers, their new inheritance tax laws threaten more than 100,000 farms. If you too want to voice opposition to the Family Farm Tax you can sign our petition here. I was certainly impressed by the turnout to support the farming community, both young and older generations.
Indeed, moments like these can be inspiring to young people and play a part in their getting involved in politics. As part of reaching out to young people, each year Parliament hosts UK Parliament Week, which has just taken place. Its aim is to bring together youth groups, community organisations, and schools in constituencies across the UK to celebrate democracy, and get young people involved in learning about how the country is run.
As part of UK Parliament Week (UKPW), I’ve made a number of school visits and took part in a virtual Q&A. As always, it is a pleasure of the job to speak with younger generations and to see their interest in the world of politics.
I was pleased last week to attend the Alzheimer’s Society reception in Parliament, where I spoke with representatives about the importance of dementia training for our social care workforce. It is so important during the later stages of life, whilst suffering a disease like dementia, that those who care for us are qualified to do so, which is why I have written to DHSC to query the introduction of certain measures.
In the constituency, I had a lovely visit to Coombe Valley Countryside Park with David Dennis from Bexhill Wild/Bexhill Nature Club, where they are seeking to protect and expand the unique nature of the part; and I also visited Little Common & Old Town GP Surgery to speak with the team about their long ambition to move to a brand-new site in Barnhorn Green. I will do everything I can to help get them over the line with this project and others.
It is great to hear that the De La Warr Pavilion has been awarded the Art Fund funding for their project ‘Transforming Heritage: Community, Creativity and Skills’. I’m also delighted to be closely involved in the Bexhill Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair hosted at The De La Warr.
It is so important to support spaces like The De La Warr, and all it offers, so get down to support if you have the chance! And if you are an employer looking to speak directly with jobseekers, sign up now for the Fair as registration closes on 20 December.
Lastly, a reminder that ESCC is conducting a consultation for proposed parking charge changes in Rother. Your feedback is essential to shaping these decisions. To review the full details, check out the last article.
Have a great weekend.
This Week's Newsletter:
- Christmas Card Competition Closes!
- Save Bexhill Post Office
- NFU Stop The Family Farm Tax
- UK Parliament Week
- Alzheimer's Society Drop-in
- Coombe Valley Countryside Park
- Visits to Local GP Surgeries
- De La Warr Pavilion Art Fund Award
- Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeship Fair
- ESCC Consultation for Proposed Parking Charge Changes in Rother
Christmas Card Competition Closes!
My Christmas Card competition recently closed, and I'm calling on residents to vote for the winner! Each entry reflects the spirit of the season in unique and imaginative ways, making it no easy task to choose the finalists.
The easiest way to vote is via my Facebook page, residents can LIKE the ONE design that is their favourite to win.
https://www.facebook.com/DrKieranMullanUK
OR
Residents can vote via the survey on my website:
https://www.drkieranmullan.org.uk/campaigns/vote-now-winner-years-christmas-card-competition
The winning design will earn £100 for the artist’s school to spend on creative art supplies, kindly sponsored by Blackbrooks Garden Centre.
I've carefully selected the top entries, looking for originality, skill, humour, and ensuring all schools had the chance to participate. Now, it’s over to the community to decide the winner!
Voting closes soon, so don’t miss your chance to help celebrate the creativity of local young artists. Good luck to all the finalists!
Save Bexhill Post Office
Many of you will likely be aware of the recent announcement that Bexhill Post Office may be facing potential closure as part of a restructure programme by Post Office Ltd. I share your concerns about the potential loss of vital services which Bexhill Post Office provides, and the impact this may have on the town.
Directly run Post Office branches such as the one at Devonshire Square offer specialised services, such as passport checking and DVLA licences which cannot currently be provided at smaller franchised branches. In addition, the Post Office has taken on the day-to-day banking services for the major high street banks which have left Bexhill Town centre in the last few years – Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and NatWest. These banking services are really important to local residents and businesses, charities and voluntary organisations.
As the Post Office is so important to the town, I have started a campaign to save Bexhill Post Office. I want to make sure that local concerns are heard - but not just from me. It is so important that when I lobby Post Office Ltd and the government, they are hearing your words too.
That’s why I have set up a petition on my website, linked here. If you follow the link, it will bring you to my campaign page, providing a little bit more information on what we hope to achieve and also offering the chance to sign-up in opposition to Post Office main branches plan.
We must make sure we all come together on this important issue. Once the Post Office is gone, it will be incredibly difficult to bring back.
NFU Stop The Family Farm Tax
This week I met local farmers who took part in a major rally against Labour’s Family Farm Tax plans in Westminster.
Despite Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Environment Secretary Steve Reed previously promising to protect farmers, under Government proposals, more than 100,000 farms across the country will be hit by new inheritance tax laws.
They will be devastating for family farms and pose a serious risk to domestic food security and food prices.
To oppose the new tax, a petition at www.stopthefarmtax.com has been set up for people to back British farming and voice their support to family farms.
Labour’s ideological decision to target family farmers – despite promising not to do so – has the potential to wreck farmer’s lives and the industry as a whole.
Not only have they underestimated and undervalued the farms affected by this harsh new tax, but the knock-on effects for the whole country could be disastrous.
I will stand beside our family farmers in the Bexhill and Battle constituency, and those from across the country, to show the Labour Government they have made not only a bad decision, but the wrong decision. I will remain committed to helping local farmers fight this harsh new tax and gathering together will have shown Keir Starmer just how poor his judgement is.
And I urge people to sign our petition at www.stopthefarmtax.com
UK Parliament Week
This week marks UK Parliament Week, taking place from 18-24 November, and is all about youth groups, community organisations and schools in constituencies across the UK celebrating democracy, and getting young people involved in learning about how our country is run.
I’m proud to be informed that in our constituency 36 groups have signed up to participate, making Bexhill & Battle the 40th highest placed in the UK!
My team have been working hard to raise awareness locally, so I'm delighted to see so many people taking part.
From learning about the history of Parliament, to exploring how we can all make a difference, UKPW is a fantastic opportunity to inspire the next generation of active citizens.
I know that for some people, Parliament can seem opaque, making them unsure of what exactly goes on - UKPW wants to make sure that the youth of today are well informed.
Those signed up will have received a free kit with resources, including a booklet (with information and activity ideas tailored for youth groups, primary and secondary schools, or adults), a ballot box, bunting and a unique Give Way card game.
As well as exploring UK Parliament and ways to get involved, this year’s UKPW throws a spotlight on the various roles and people who help to keep our Parliament running.
Last year over 1.6 million people took part in every nation and region of the UK, and many countries all over the world.
As part of UKPW, I’ve visited a number of schools in person, and had a virtual Q&A session with Stonegate CE Primary School, providing the opportunity to speak with them about what made me interested in politics, what Parliament is like, and then fielded some really thoughtful questions about politics more generally.
Always a pleasure of the job to speak with younger generations and to see their enthusiasm for the world around them.
Alzheimer's Society Drop-in
I was pleased to attend Alzheimer's Society reception in Parliament last week, where I spoke with representatives about the importance of dementia training for our social care workforce. I also met Angela Rippon CBE, who has become involved with the charity following her own experience caring for her mother who suffered vascular dementia.
During my time working in and alongside the NHS, I have seen the difficulties that some social care workers have whilst caring for those with dementia. It is critical in the later stages of life, and perhaps whilst suffering a disease like dementia, that those who care for us are qualified to do so. It can make all the difference.
The Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy, led be Skills for Care, recommends that all social care staff receive mandatory dementia training for their role, however, data shows that not everybody does.
Therefore, I have written to the Department for Health and Social Care to request that they consider introducing measures to ensure our social care workforce has the necessary training to care for those who suffer dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Coombe Valley Countryside Park
It was lovely to visit Combe Valley Countryside Park with David Dennis from Bexhill Wild/Bexhill Nature Club.
As well as helping train apprentices with Groundwork they are seeking to protect and expand the unique nature of the park. Did you know there are several rare bee species living there?
If you are a fan of getting outdoors and taking in nature, you might be interested to know that they host nature walks and activities - Check them out here!
Visits to Local GP Surgeries
It was a pleasure to meet the team at Little Common and Old Town surgery to talk about their long ambition to move to a brand new site at Barnhorn Green.
Their surgery serves the largest number of patients in Bexhill and their new site would increase the services they can offer to patients and staff, with more clinical rooms and GPs. The project is a joint venture with Rother District Council which has benefitted from £5 million of investment under the Levelling Up Partnership Fund. However, the project has some challenges, and I want to do whatever I can to help.
I have raised these challenges for those seeking new premises in Parliament and I am due to meet the Minister soon to discuss. I will do everything I can to help get them over the line with this project and others.
De La Warr Pavilion Art Fund Award
From boosting the local economy to inspiring future generations, museums are key to thriving communities.
I’m proud to celebrate The De La Warr Pavilion receiving Art Fund Reimagine funding for their project: "Transforming Heritage: Community, Creativity and Skills".
It’s essential we keep supporting these spaces for all, so make sure you have a look at their current exhibitions, upcoming events, and also visit their shop, Café Bar and Kitchen!
Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeship Fair
I'm delighted to be closely involved in the Bexhill Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair
which will be back at DLWP on Friday 21 March 2025. Registration is now open for employers.
A fantastic opportunity to talk direct to job-seekers actively looking for full and part-time vacancies, apprenticeships, career change opportunities, back to work support and skills development opportunities. Register by 20 December at https://www.dlwp.com/jobsfair/
ESCC Consultation for Proposed Parking Charge Changes in Rother
East Sussex County Council is consulting on proposed increases to on-street parking charges and permit costs across Rother.
The proposals would impact parking fees based on location, length of stay, and vehicle emissions, with discounts for low-emission vehicles. The proposed rise in hourly rates across the district ranges from 25p to 85p.
Your feedback is essential to shaping these decisions. To review the full details and share your views, visit the following link here.
Members of the public unable to access the online consultation can request a paper copy by post by calling 01323 463643.
Consultation closes Friday, November 29, 2024.
