This week we take the next step in the journey out of lockdown restrictions. This is an important and very welcome moment, allowing more of us to see our friends and family and more local hospitality businesses to resume trading.
As of Monday 17th May, you can now socialise indoors in a group of up to 6 people or 2 households, including for overnight stays. Up to 30 people can meet outside. Pubs, theatres, and other venues can open indoors. Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can open for people on holiday.
However, we must remain cautious and continue to take precautions. New variants of the virus remain a cause for concern.
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Covid Community Champions |
This has been an incredibly difficult year, with everybody impacted by Covid-19 either directly or indirectly. However, through these difficulties we have seen the already vibrant community spirit in Wimbledon grow to meet the challenge.
I want to ensure those who have made the biggest contribution to helping others in our community are recognised for their selfless work. That is why I am launching my Coronavirus Community Champion Awards, created specifically to publicly recognise and thank people who have gone above and beyond to help others during this pandemic.
I want to hear from you about the people who have gone out of their way to make life a little bit easier over the last year - this could be a local charity, teacher, delivery driver, care worker, shop worker or someone who has gone out of their way to help their vulnerable neighbours.
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In the House of Commons, I voted for the Bishop of St Albans’s amendment to the Fire Safety Bill three times.
I warmly welcome the principle of the Fire Safety Bill and the £5billion in support the Government has provided for fire safety works for blocks of flats.
However, as I have been saying since February, those in buildings under 18m in height need and deserve more clarity and reassurances. Whilst such clarity has been promised, it has not yet been provided.
In particular, it is essential that the Government publishes full details of their proposed loan scheme for buildings between 11 and 18 metres, which pays for cladding removal through a long-term, low interest, government-backed financing arrangement.
For many in Wimbledon, the dream of home ownership has gone from a dream to a nightmare because of these cladding and safety problems. I believe it is our duty to protect and provide legal certainty to leaseholders who are facing these issues through no fault of their own.
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Now in its 11th year, MyRaynesPark Festival is a community arts festival for local residents. This year between June 24th-27th they will be running a shorter festival with a mixture of open air, virtual and socially distanced events providing comedy, art and music for the whole family.
MyRaynesPark Festival is managed and delivered by Raynes Park Community Church with support from a wide range of local groups and businesses.
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Visit to Queen’s Court Care Home |
Earlier this month I visited Queen’s Court Care Home and enjoyed chatting to staff and residents. It was a particularly exciting day as it was the first day the residents were able to enjoy a minibus trip for many months.
It was fascinating to hear how they have coped during the pandemic and to see their new visitor and testing rooms.
Thanks to Sharon and her team who are doing a great job – and thanks to the chef for the fantastic cupcakes!
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Loss of trees on Plough Lane |
Many local residents were rightly outraged when the Trust Ford dealership on Plough Lane removed eleven mature trees on the site.
Thanks to the hard work of Cllr Edward Gretton and residents, Trust Ford have now apologised and have promised to replant the trees, and help local green projects.
Wimbledon Park Councillor Edward Gretton said : "There has been tremendous concern across the community that Ford decided to fell nearly a dozen trees that were planted 30-years ago.
I am pleased to say that Ford have now engaged positively after listening to the dismay of residents; they have apologised and will work to both reinstate the line of trees as well as planting a new line of silver birch trees along some 60 metres of the Wandle.
They have also committed to planting shrubs or hedge cover under the reinstated trees, and I believe they may also be able to respond positively to local community projects such as supporting local greening initiatives.”
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Education Minister visit to All Saints’ Church of England Primary School |
Last week Children and Family’s Minister Vicky Ford and I visited All Saints CofE Primary in Wimbledon.
It was great to see the positive impact the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme has on speaking, listening & learning skills. We could see the positive changes on Reception children’s confidence with language and communication and how it has helped them re-engage with their classmates.
After the visit, Vicky Ford said, “we know the first years of a child’s life can be the most formative, which is why this Government is making it a priority to make sure all children have the best start in life.
Speaking and communicating with confidence sets a child up for success in life, so it’s vital that we support children to grow in confidence with these skills – especially those for whom English is not their first language or who have been more isolated during the pandemic than their peers.”
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District and Circle Line Track Renewal |
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Please see below for an email from TfL, setting out details of track renewals they will be carrying out on parts of the District and Circle line between 04 and 12 August 2021.
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The track renewals are required to deliver the increased frequency and reduced journey times of the Four Lines Modernisation Programme (4LM), alongside the new signalling also being installed. Once complete, the 4LM programme will improve journey times, frequency and reliability across the four lines. It will allow us to run up to 32 trains per hour and carry up to a third more customers.
The complexity of the planned works means they cannot be undertaken as part of weekend closures. Therefore, between 04 and 12 August 2021:
There will no service between Edgware Road and Aldgate (via Victoria) on the Circle line, and there will be no service on the District line between Earl’s Court and Aldgate East, for the duration of the works
The following stations will be closed during the nine-day closure: South Kensington, Sloane Square, St James’s Park, Embankment, Temple, Mansion House, Tower Hill
There will be a National Rail service only at Blackfriars and Cannon Street
South Kensington will be completely closed throughout the nine-day closure due to the Piccadilly line currently non-stopping to facilitate the renewal of the escalators (this work started on 27 February 2021 and is planned to last for 13 months)
Frequent bus services run between South Kensington and nearby Knightsbridge station on routes 14, 74, 414 and C1
During the weekend, of 7 and 8 August, the District line will also be closed between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon, Kensington Olympia and Hammersmith for track renewal works
A comprehensive customer communications and travel demand management campaign will focus on re-routing, re-timing, re-moding and encouraging customers to use available active travel options such as walking and cycling. We will inform customers via a range of methods, including emails, posters, and PA messages at stations, and roll out targeted communications to manage the busiest alternative routes.
We are also developing a package of mitigation measures at key locations – including the use of additional staff – to minimise any customer disruption.
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Deen City Farm Playground |
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Please see below a message from Deen City Farm and their fundraising appeal to reopen their playground.
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It has been a tough year and without your support we would not have been able to reopen, we cannot thank you enough. We are thrilled that the farm is now open again and we would love to be able to open the playground for everyone as well.
We have been able to fund some replacement equipment but replacing the ground surface is well beyond our means.
To re-open the playground we dearly need your support to finance a new playing surface.
We'd like your help to raise £15K to fund a long-lasting solution to provide a safe ground for children to play which absorbs impact.
Oscar’s playground was built in memory of Oscar Ashton, a little boy from Wimbledon who passed away in 2012 from an undiagnosed heart defect. Oscar was a frequent visitor to the farm with his family, who helped to raise £10,000 to transform an underused part of the farm into a fun and educational area for children to enjoy.
Complete with farm-themed play equipment, Oscars playground is a vital facility for the local community, and we would love to be able to open it up again as soon as possible.
Please donate today to help us reach our goal and re-open our playground in time for summer!
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Promoted by David Jones on behalf of Stephen Hammond MP, both of 3 Summerstown, London, SW17 0BQ |
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