Commons Sense

It has been a busy period and I want to update residents on the key areas I have been championing for Beaconsfield, Marlow and the South Bucks villages both locally and in Westminster.

I know that for many people improved access to GP appointments is an important priority.

Over the last few weeks, I have been meeting with our local GP surgeries to discuss the feedback I have been getting from residents.

It has been encouraging to hear of the improvements being made to GP availability.

I am also delighted to see the rollout of the Pharmacy First programme, which enables people to get treatment for seven common illnesses without the need to see a GP.

This will see thousands of GP appointments freed up across our area.

Following my meetings, I held a meeting with the Health Secretary to discuss how we can further improve access to NHS services locally, making the most of the record levels of investment in the NHS.

Building a safer community is one of my other key priorities and I was pleased to meet with the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber in Farnham Common to discuss local policing.

Thames Valley currently has its highest ever number of police officers, with over 5,000 now in place and I welcomed the news that a further 150 police officers will be recruited over the next year to particularly focus on neighbourhood policing.

I love where we live and that is why I am so passionate about protecting our greenbelt.

Once we lose our green spaces, we can never get them back.

I am continuing to work with residents to fight developments that threaten our greenbelt.

I remain strongly opposed to the proposed Marlow Film Studios and will be urging the Council Strategic Sites Committee to reject the proposal.

I also recently took the opportunity to ask the Secretary of State Michael Gove to reject the release of greenbelt for the proposed Ivers Motorway Service Area.

I met recently with the Roads Minister to discuss the urgent need to improve roads locally.

The Government has allocated a further £51.7m to roads in Buckinghamshire and I have impressed upon the council the need for this money to be used to improve roads in Beaconsfield, Marlow and the South Bucks villages.

Finally, residents have raised with me the issues of overcrowding on local trains particularly for people using the Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross and Denham stations.

I met with Chiltern Railways to discuss the issues and will be monitoring closely whether the recent timetable changes alleviate the problems.

It is a privilege to serve as your Member of Parliament and to be the local champion for Beaconsfield, Marlow and the South Bucks villages in Westminster. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do contact me at joy.morrissey.mp@parliament.uk