News – Page 2 – Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB

Constituency Day Round-Up: 19th October

It was another busy day in the constituency on Friday 19th October.

First, Michael met senior management at the Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust at Highlands House in Tunbridge Wells, where he reviewed mental health provisions and resources in the area, as well as what more can be done to reduce waiting times for treatments.

Michael then cut the ribbon at NFU Mutual’s store opening on Sevenoaks High Street. NFU Mutual, a leader in the insurance industry, moved from Edenbridge and will employ locally – they have already taken on 2 graduate trainees. Michael welcomed NFU Mutual’s addition to the High Street.

Michael cuts the ribbon at NFU Mutual's new Sevenoaks office — Michael cuts the ribbon at NFU Mutual’s new Sevenoaks office

Later that afternoon, Michael met Age Well West Kent, where he received an update on their progress, in addition to his regular advice surgery appointments in Sevenoaks on Friday evenings, and in Swanley on Saturday mornings.

Transport Department’s M26 Lorry Park Plan Wholly Unacceptable

Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon has today expressed his serious concerns about the Government’s plans to turn the M26 into a lorry park in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The move would close the motorway from 8pm to 5am every night between 15^th and 19^th October, and 19^th November and 29^th March 2019. Ministers failed to consult local councils and MPs.

Sir Michael said: “It is wholly unacceptable that residents were not consulted on these proposals, which will have severe pollution and noise consequences for my constituents’ evening travel and access for local businesses. Any lorry parking will cause significant disruption for those in Dunton Green, north Sevenoaks, Otford, Seal and Kemsing. I have urged the Transport Secretary to reconsider these plans and meet me at the earliest opportunity to find an alternative solution.”

Fallon Backs Moorhouse Objectors

Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon has today pledged his support for opponents of Roxhill Developments’ proposal to build a DPD distribution centre at Moorhouse tileworks.

The new distribution centre, which would become DPD’s largest, delivering an initial 25,000 parcels a day and resulting in 800 extra vehicle journeys a day, would cause an unacceptable increase to traffic on the A25, particularly through the historic villages of Westerham, Brasted and Sundridge.

Sir Michael said: “A similar scheme was rejected two years ago, and this proposal is no better. The significant increase in traffic would choke the A25 and bring unreasonable pressure on our historic villages. I have outlined my strong objections to Tandridge District Council and Kent County Council, and I have urged them to oppose this development.”

Fallon Again Urges Housing Secretary to Lower Housing Target

Sir Michael Fallon has today urged again the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to lower the “wholly unrealistic” housing target of building 13,400 new homes by 2035.

The request follows research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which suggested that the Government’s previous house building projection of 210,000 new homes had been downgraded to 159,000.

Sir Michael said: “I have already urged the Housing Secretary to revisit the wholly unrealistic target due to Sevenoaks’s overwhelming amount of Green Belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The newly revised ONS‎ figures show he must not force us to build on the Green Belt when there’s no need to do so.”

Swanley Business Expo

I was delighted to this week attend the Swanley Business Expo, a joint initiative between Swanley Town Council and Sevenoaks and District Chambers of Commerce to promote local businesses in the area.

Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy: they pump money into the local economy, creating jobs and community supply chains.

It was a real privilege to meet so many exciting small businesses in Swanley – a place far more than a commuter town. I look forward very much to hearing about their successes in the future.

Wear It Pink

Today in Parliament, I had the pleasure helping Breast Cancer Now prepare for #wearitpink on October 19^th.

Since 2002, Breast Cancer Now has raised over £31 million to fund life-saving research, including here in Sevenoaks. 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year – and it is organisations such as BNC that drive forward research into detection, prevention and effective treatment.

To find out more about their work, visit: https://www.wearitpink.org/.

Constituency Day Round-Up: 31st August

Michael had a very busy constituency day on Friday 31st August. First, he met Jill Roberts, Chief Executive at West Kent Mind, to discuss progress and was delighted to learn that they had increased their funding on last year and were running at full capacity.

West Kent Mind are working on several new initiatives, including meeting local schools agencies to try to detect early signs of mental health in children and prevent it. West Kent Mind now also run counselling services for those who have suffered loss (not just bereavement), and have expanded their work into Ashford. For more information on the fantastic services West Kent Mind run, visit here: https://westkentmind.org.uk/

West Kent Housing Association

Swiftly after that, he visited White Oak Court in Swanley where the West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) and Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) have set up self-contained apartments as part of their ‘Starts at Home’ sheltered housing scheme.

Michael met residents and received a tour of the apartments along with local councillors. County Councils are increasingly asking planning authorities to factor extra care housing such as White Oak Court as alternatives for more expensive residential care homes.

Brexit

Michael held his regular monthly surgery in Sevenoaks, helping constituents with a range of issues, before he addressed local Conservative Party members at the Sevenoaks Town Council offices about Brexit and the Prime Minister’s Chequers Deal.

Michael took questions for 90 minutes on the current state of Brexit negotiations, and local members were free to air their views in a lively discussion.

Local Plan

It is for Sevenoaks District Councillors to adopt the Local Plan and they are consulting on the details.

I want to make clear that I am not in favour of building new houses on our Green Belt. Indeed I have continued to object to the 14,000 total of new houses that the government proposes: it’s unachievable without breaching a significant amount of Green Belt land. I will continue to urge the Communities Secretary James Brokenshire, to reconsider.

I am aware that Sevenoaks Hockey Club and Sevenoaks Rugby Club (where I am a Vice-President) need more pitches, and I support both of them. But this should not be interpreted as support for any particular new housing proposal.

Sports Minister Visits Greatness Recreation Ground

Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch MP, this week visited the Greatness Recreation Ground in Sevenoaks.

The trip’s purpose was to learn more about the the cooperation between Sevenoaks Football Club and Sevenoaks Town Council in funding the state-of-the-art facilities, including the new 3G pitch.

The Sports Minister met the Mayor of Sevenoaks, local councillors and staff from the Recreation Ground before watching a game of Power (wheelchair) Football.

Sir Michael Fallon said: “It was fantastic to welcome the Sports Minister here to Greatness Recreation Ground and see first-hand how our brilliant local initiatives are having a big impact on the community.”

Michael visits SECAMB

Today, Michael visited the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB) in Paddock Wood, where he met senior management and reviewed their recent progress.

“I am glad that SECAMB is improving their response rate. It is vital that our area has quick responses, not just for emergency call-outs, but also for getting people to hospital quickly and safely. I will be following their performance closely.”