Next week I’ll be back down in Westminster as the summer recess comes to an end and the House of Commons gets underway again. So I’ve been enjoying the last week of the recess, spending some time at home in Colne and working from my offices in Barnoldswick and Nelson.
Over the summer, in addition to attending events and meeting people who drop into my offices, I have held several no-appointment necessary summer Advice Surgeries in different locations across Pendle. I already hold seven monthly advice surgeries, but by mixing up the locations I have been trying to make myself even more accessible.
Over the past 30 days I have held 45 hours of Advice Surgeries spread between ASDA and Sainsbury’s Cafes in Colne, Morrisons Café and Pendle Rise Shopping Centre in Nelson, Booths Café in Barrowford and my office in Barnoldswick. At those I have seen over 300 Pendle residents and taken on over 150 different issues, which required raising with the local council, housing associations, the police or other authorities. The topics discussed have been very diverse, ranging from dog fouling and littering, through to domestic violence.
With the help of my incredible team I am now in the process of resolving as many of the issues as possible and getting back to those who raised them with me. On some issues, we have already had a successful result, including on three different contractual disputes with utility companies where bills have been cancelled and in one case compensation provided. Five immigration cases have been successfully resolved and the police have been out to see several residents who were having specific problems in their neighbourhood. Lancashire County Council have also resolved an issue with a disabled residents Blue Badge and agreed to carry out a speed survey on a road where residents reported persistent speeding.
MP’s Advice Surgeries are a good reminder that whilst fighting to secure investment in projects like the £18 million redevelopment of Burnley General Hospital, the £32 million regeneration of Brierfield Mills or the £50 million investment at Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick, a local MP can also provide residents with individual help on a range of smaller issues. For me helping individual residents is the most rewarding part of my job.