Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, has welcomed the Localism Bill published by the Government on 13 December. The Bill will give individuals, groups, and their local councils a much greater say in decisions affecting their local communities.

 

Maria said: “This new legislation will make a real difference to how local matters are decided. The Community Rights measures, for example, will give new rights to local community and voluntary groups to protect, improve and even run important frontline services that might otherwise close down, such as local shops, pubs and libraries,.”

 

Maria added: “This Bill offers great opportunities for Basingstoke. Among other things, it will radically reform the planning system so that local people have a greater say and influence over what Basingstoke looks like in the future. Giving local people the opportunity to shape the development of the communities in which they live is something that I have long campaigned for, and I am delighted to see it being enshrined in law.

 

“The Borough Council’s current consultation on the number of new homes needed in Basingstoke is part of this process of taking local people’s views into consideration in developing a vision for the future. I would urge all residents to let the Council have their views on this before the end of the consultation on 14 January.”

 

Maria welcomes guidance published by the Department for Transport which helps Basingstoke residents’ clear snow and ice safely.

 

In response to public concerns about the fear of litigation following last year’s snow chaos the Government has published a step by step 10 point  plan advising households and traders wish to clear snow and ice from paths in front of their property, pavements and other public spaces. 

The guidance also makes clear that there is no law preventing someone clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside their property, pathways and public spaces.

Maria said “I am pleased that the new guidance will enable Basingstoke residents to act in a public-spirited way to keep the paths and pavements clear in severe weather about without fear of being sued.

The Snow Code makes it clear there is no law preventing anyone clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside their property, pathways and public spaces.

Last year many residents and local businesses expressed concern about being sued for negligence if they cleared snow from pavements during the period of severe weather. I campaigned for more clarity in the law to ensure that the balance is in favour of people who want to undertake helpful, community minded activities without fear of litigation”

Here are some of the tips on safely clearing snow and ice:

• Start early – ice compacted by people walking on it is much harder to clear.
• Don’t use hot or boiled water – this may cause black ice.
• When shovelling snow, don’t block other people’s paths or drainage channels.
• Make a pathway down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on.
• Spreading salt will help stop ice forming on cleared areas.
• Sand and ash are good alternatives to salt if it isn’t available.
• Pay particular attention to steep areas and steps.

 

Full guidance is available at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868, if you do not have access to the internet please contact Maria on 020 7219 5749 or House of Commons London SW1A 0AA to obtain a paper copy.

Maria said: “This announcement is great news. Basingstoke residents continue to struggle to get access to broadband despite being a pilot for BT’s Superfast service.  Reliable internet access is vital for business and education. A superfast broadband network will help boost Basingstoke’s economy and create jobs. It will also help improve life in our rural communities.”

Following last winter’s snow chaos in Basingstoke, local MP Maria Miller urged Hampshire County Council to supply additional salt bins across the Basingstoke area in time for this winter.

 

The County Council has clear responsibility for keeping the roads clear, but when it comes to residential side roads, local neighbourhoods want to be able to help themselves too.

 

As the weather turns more wintery, Maria went out on 26^th November to see some of the new salt bins in the Borough.

 

Maria said: “If we have another winter of severe weather, these new salt bins will enable residents to help themselves – and their communities – by helping to keep the residential side roads clear and also keep the pavements clear of snow and ice.”

 

Maria also welcomed the action being taken by the Borough Council to plan ahead for severe weather. She said: “I would encourage people to sign up to the ‘Community Crisis Line’, to help vulnerable people if we have heavy snow again this winter.”

Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, went to J Davy Basingstoke on Friday 26^th November to hand over a new Motability car to Aaron Morgan of Lychpit. Aaron became disabled at the age of 15 as the result of a motocross accident.

 

Maria said: “Being able to get around is an important part of any person’s independence and Motability provides a great scheme for disabled people who want to be able to drive a car to maintain their own independence.”

 

Maria added: “I was particularly pleased to be asked to present this new car to Aaron because I’m here in my role as Minister for Disabled People helping to support a disabled person who is also a Basingstoke resident.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller visited the Camrose Resource Centre on Friday 26^th November.

 

The Camrose Centre was established three years ago to provide advice and support to homeless people, those at risk of becoming homeless, and the socially excluded.

 

Maria said: “The Camrose Centre provides a unique and vital service for homeless people in Basingstoke and helps many of them get back onto their feet.”

 

She added: “The Centre has helped 300 people over the last three years and it is important that their invaluable work continues.”

Basingstoke’s MP, Maria Miller officially opened the new facility at Key House on Friday 15^th October.

Key House was purchased and renovated by Basingstoke Community Churches. The new buildings has greatly improved and extended the King’s School’s facilities including new laboratories, drama studio and arts/crafts rooms enabling Sarum Hill Centre to develop more community activities and initiatives. 

Maria said, "I am delighted to be involved in the opening of this new school and community building. The Basingstoke Community Churches work at the heart of our community. A new building gives this successful school an opportunity to grow. The King's School is a living example of what parents and the community can achieve in providing excellent education for children that has a strong ethos and values."

Local MP Maria Miller officially opened the new CT Scanner facility at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital on Friday 15 October.

 

The Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner, which uses X-ray equipment and computer software to create high quality, can help to diagnose a wide range of medical conditions. CT scans are particularly useful for doctors because they can produce very clear images of several types of tissue including lung, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels. These images allow radiologists to more easily diagnose diseases such as cancer.

 

Maria said, "CT scans are an important diagnostic tool used to help road crash victims, cancer and stroke patients. This state of the art scanner keeps our hospital at the forefront using the very newest technology. A whole body scan can be completed in less than a minute -something that would have taken half an hour when CT scans were first introduced twenty years ago."

Maria Miller, Basingstoke’s MP attended St Gabriel’s Church in Popley on Sunday 19^th September to mark the RAF’s 70^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Maria said: “For decades Basingstoke has had a close association with the RAF. Not only do we have our local air base, many Basingstoke businesses manufacture and supply essential equipment to the RAF for use at home and on operations abroad.

It was a great privilege to be asked to take part in the Basingstoke’s branch of the RAF Associations' 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. In spite of the apparently overwhelming might of the German Luftwaffe, the RAF, through sheer grit and determination, overcame the odds, in what became a crucial turning point in the Second World War.

Remembering and paying tribute to this dedication and sacrifice is as important today as it was 70 years ago.”

Local MP for Basingstoke Maria Miller officially opened the library at Merton Junior School in Popley. The new library includes new computer software which allows students to scan check the books in and out of the library.

Pupils at the school, parent helpers and the school governors also attended the event.

Maria said: “I am delighted to have been invited to open the new library at Merton Junior School. Reading is the basic foundation for all education and strong reading skills are essential if a child is to reach their full potential.

This wonderful library will help children develop a love of reading which will stay with them for life.”

 

The library is open from 8.30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday where the children will be able to enjoy the library and change their books. 

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller visited the Dial a Ride Charity to discuss their ongoing hard work.

Meeting the Chairman Jim Lawson and Stan Emery to talk about the success of their scheme Maria was impressed at how the charity is progressing.

Maria said: “Dial a Ride provides an invaluable service for elderly and disabled people who find it difficult to get out and about. For those who are disabled transport is a key concern. Dial a ride provides a flexible high quality service for hundreds of residents in the borough and enables customers to lead independent lives.”

 

Basingstoke’s MP, Maria Miller is calling for a mobile Post Office in Old Basing after the closure of the Belle Vue Road post office over 2 years ago.

Since the closure of the Old Basing Post Office, residents have continuously campaigned  to get post office services reinstated in Old Basing, however at present constituents have to travel to Chineham or London Road to use these vital services.

Maria visited a mobile Post Office in Dummer to see whether a similar system could help residents in Old Basing to have a more regular access to local post office services.

Maria and the Post Office have received a string of reasons from the villagers of Old Basing for the host mobile Post Office to visit the village. Meeting with the post master Kevin Molloy, Maria discussed the current situation and will meet the Post Office to see further whether it would be possible for the post office to operate in Old Basing.

Maria said: “To have access to a local regular Post Offices service is a necessity in any residential area, especially for older and less mobile residents.

The recent withdrawal of number 12 bus service means that Old Basing residents have even more difficulty accessing the closes post office service which is based in Chineham Shopping Centre.”

 “There is a clear need for a service in Old Basing and I hope that the Post Office will respond positively to the idea of having a mobile Post Office in Old Basing to provide these vital services” Maria added.

The Dummer Post Office has no permanent office, but sets up every Friday in the village hall.

Maria Miller Basingstoke MP launched a campaign to save the Cheque Book which could be phased out by 2018.

 

The Payments Council made an announcement in December 2009 that after 350 years cheques are to be phased out by October 2018 despite the fact that millions of cheques are still written and received every day in the UK.

 

Maria, the Basingstoke’s Over 55s Forum and Shopmobility have drawn up a petition warning that abolishing cheques will be a great disadvantage and discrimination against the Over 55s and some of the most vulnerable in society.

Maria said: “Last year 54% of the population wrote and 48% of adults received a cheque in last year, this demonstrates that cheques are clearly still being extensively used across the UK.

 

I am concerned that abolishing the cheque will hit pensioners, disabled people and the housebound the hardest as they will have to keep large sums of money in order to pay for deliveries and home services, exposing them to risk of theft and fraud.

 

Small businesses, tradesmen and charities also often rely on this method of payment.”

 

Maria will be sending the petition to the Payments Council to highlight the importance of the cheque book for Basingstoke residents.

Maria Miller, local MP for Basingstoke attended the Shopmobility Wessex regional meeting to discuss issues and changes within the charity.

Maria who was most interested to learn about the work carried out by the charity and discussed the issues surrounding scooters and other mobility vehicles.

Maria in her new role as Minister for Disabled fielded questions from Hampshire representatives and discussed the future of local services.

Maria said: “Shopmobility is an important last link in the transport chain for many disabled people. A volunteer lead service, it plays a vital role in helping people live independent lives.

During my meeting with Shopmobility Wessex, it was clearly highlighted the importance of ensuring that sufficient training is available and that issues of insurance need to be considered.”

The Wessex group has been running for seven years and has proudly been awarded the Certificate of Competence.

Maria Miller MP for Basingstoke was delighted to officially open a new community initiative “Basingstoke Food Aid 4 U”.

Basingstoke Food Aid For U was started by local couple Martin Schroder and Tracey Gauntlett, the community group is based at YMCA in Eastrop Way and provides food packages to some of the most vulnerable and in need in the local community.

The group gives food vouchers to partner agencies and people can then collect food either from the YMCA or from a new base at the Spotlight Centre in Shakespeare Road, Popley.

Maria said “I am delighted to open Basingstoke Food Aid 4 U. People’s circumstances can change quite quickly, through no fault of their own, and at times the welfare system can take some time to catch up. Initiatives such as Food Bank will provide important support for Basingstoke residents who may find themselves in crisis.

“We are fortunate to have an organisation like this in Basingstoke which can support vulnerable residents and I applaud all the hard work done by Martina and Tracey.”

Basingstoke Food Aid 4 U has an agreement with ASDA and Somerfield supermarkets to, that allows them to collect food donated by big-hearted shoppers, which is then, handed out to those with vouchers.

The whole of Hampshire is now covered by the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme which offers screening to men and women aged between 60 and 69 years - the highest risk age group. If you are a man or women in this age group and you are registered with a GP then you will be offered screening every two years. However, it is a new programme and so some people won’t receive their first invitation until the programme has been running nearly two years (roll out will continue until September 2010).

 

 

Maria is encouraging everyone to get to know the key symptoms, to get involved in the NHS screening programme for bowel cancer and to act quickly on key symptoms and screening.

  

Maria said “Around 35,000 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer this year. But the good news is - it is one of the most curable cancers you can get if it is caught early enough. Few people talk about it – yet it is preventable and curable. I am urging all constituents in Basingstoke to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer and NHS screening programme”

 

To find out more information about Bowel Cancer Faster Diagnosis Week visit www.bowelcancer.tv

The most common symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• a persistent change in bowel habit, especially needing to go to the toilet more often or having diarrhoea for several weeks
• bleeding from the back passage or blood in the bowel motion
• severe abdominal pain
• a lump in the abdomen
• unexplained tiredness or weight loss

Maria would like to let all constituents know that the first online Water Energy Calculator has been launched by the Energy Saving Trust.

Nearly a quarter of domestic CO₂ emissions are as result of our water use – and 89 percent of all UK emissions from water come from activities in the home itself, rather than treatment and pumping. The Water Energy Calculator will show the potential water and energy, bill and carbon savings, unique to each home, which can be made from just some simple water efficiency changes. 

Maria said “The South East of England has less water available per person than Sudan and Syria, however water saving has not had the attention it deserves. Everyone can help reduce waste by making small behavioural changes such as turning off a dripping tap and by choosing more water efficient products.”

In total, approximately 33 million tonnes of CO₂ is emitted each year from hot water use across the UK – equivalent to the total CO2 emitted from energy use in 6 million UK homes.  Heating water for use in taps, baths and showers makes up around 30% of average household's gas bills - around £200 a year - and could well cost even more when an electric immersion heater is used.

“The key to water efficiency is reducing waste, not restricting use. You can save both energy and money and cut the carbon footprint of your home by using the online calculator. If we do not take action now, climate change, population shifts and behaviour mean the UK  and especially the South East will face increased water stress in the future. ” Maria added

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller met with Borough Council Officer Tony Manners and a police officer Geoff Scrutton to visit local traveller and ex traveller’s sites in the constituency.

 

During the visit Maria discussed how the unauthorised traveller encampments can impact the local community and whether transit sites could help to reduce this problem and provide partners with additional tools and powers to use in the removal of unauthorised encampments.

 

Maria also met with members of the Traveller community, who explained that often the choice to camp on a particular site is often determined by availability of work.

Maria said, “There has been an unacceptable 20% increase in the number of illegal traveller and gypsy encampments in Basingstoke over the past year.

If it can be clearly demonstrated that a new transit site will stop unauthorised encampments, there has to be a clear and enforceable undertaking from the traveller community that any new site would be properly used, before any tax payer money is committed.

 

Currently it takes the Borough Council two to three weeks to remove unauthorised encampments and during this time the rubbish left by travellers is unacceptable and the cost to clear up the site falls to the tax payer.  

 

The Government’s commitment to give tougher enforcement powers to police is the right way forward. At a time when money to fund many local services is under pressure, we have to be very sure that funding a new transit site would be a clear benefit to Basingstoke residents.”

Maria Miller MP for Basingstoke visited local Shopmobility service to meet with staff and volunteers.

 

Shopmobility Basingstoke has been operating for almost thirteen years and is part of the national Shopmobility scheme for people with restricted mobility, whether temporary or otherwise.

 

The charity has helped over six thousand customers to date by providing powered scooters and electrical or manual wheelchairs for hire to improve access to Basingstoke Town Centre and Festival Place, as well as for longer term loans for holidays and weekends away.

 

Maria was shown the wide range of scooters on offer to customers and met with Anne Blackmore (Manager), Lin Chandler (Assistant Manager) and Chris Evans (Chairman) of Basingstoke Shopmobility to learn about the fantastic service they provide, and work that they do to encourage and inform new customers to use their services.

 

In 2010 Shopmobility Basingstoke was awarded the 2010 Tom Hillier Award for their outstanding customer service

 

Maria Said: “I was delighted to visit Basingstoke’s Shopmobility. The centre provides a unique and vital service, enabling local residents to get around Basingstoke with ease.

 

I would like to congratulate Shopmobility on their well deserved Tom Hillier award, which clearly demonstrates the high level of customer service they provide to Basingstoke resident.

 

This service is only possible because of the local team’s fund raising efforts and I applaud the dedicated team and their hard work, which has helped over 6,000 customers to date. “

 

 

Local MP for Basingstoke, Maria Miller visited St. Michaels Hospice following confirmation that important funding will be available for planned improvements. Maria was given a guided tour of the Hospice and was shown where improvements will take place.

St Michaels Hospice is a registered charity which offers specialised skills and knowledge to patients who are suffering from a terminal illness. The Hospice currently has 15-20 day care patients and relies on the 670 volunteers it has nationwide.

Maria met with Caroline Martin Director of Patient Services, David Monkman CEO and Tony Holden Vice Chairman, to discuss Hospice’s improvements and future plans.

 

Plans include new gardens for patients to use including the Turner Centre courtyard which will become a sensory garden. The current gardens will have a new therapeutic labyrinth which will be wheelchair accessible. Inside the Hospice improvements will be made to patient’s rooms with three balconies being built and new showers in the bathrooms.

 

Maria said: “St Michael’s is a critical part of our local medical support services. Many Basingstoke families rely on the unique, invaluable and vital support that St Michael’s Hospice provides.

 

I was delighted to visit the hospice and see first hand, how the planned improvements will enable the hospice to continue to provide top quality service for patients and their families.”

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller will meet with Equitable Members Action Group from Basingstoke to discuss the Chadwick Inquiry.

 

Maria has previously met with Basingstoke’s Equitable Life Policy Holders and has pledged her supports for the compensation scheme.

 

Maria said: “The Equitable Life situation is unacceptable and needs to be resolved. I fully support the need for a policy holder’s compensation scheme, justice is long over due.

 

The coalition Government is clearly committed to putting a compensation scheme in place which is transparent and fair. That is why we have rejected Labours preference for means testing compensation and rejected the exclusion of decreased policy holders.”

 

The final report from Sir John Chadwick is due in mid-July.

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller was joined by James Arbuthnot MP and Councillor Ranil Jayawardena at Bramley Training ground to see the basic Chinook training for the RAF.

 

Maria said “Hampshire has a long history of association with the armed forces and in Basingstoke that link is most clearly seen everyday with the Chinook helicopters that fly through our skies to get to RAF Odium just few miles south east of the town.

 

Many of those Chinooks are also on their way to the Bramley Training ground located on the main road heading north out of Chineham.

 

With the armed services coming under more and more financial pressure many similar training facilities have been sold off putting more pressure on those, like Bramley, that remain.

 

I know from residents how much they value being able to support the work of our armed services and that the involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan has made training more important than ever.

 

I would like more people to know about the type of work done at the Bramley Training Ground and for more residents to be able to visit to site to see it for themselves.“

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller visited a Sovereign Kingfisher property in South Ham to see first hand a demonstration of fitting a carbon monoxide alarm.

Maria said; “The majority of residents are aware of the importance of having smoke alarms fitted in their homes but sometimes do not realise that Carbon Monoxide is also a potential killer.

Every year 15 to 20 people die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning and I am pleased to be able to support Sovereign Kingfisher Housing Association in their campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and ensure that all properties fuelled by gas are fitted with detectors.”

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller met with The Vyne’s school head teacher Peter Hutchinson and School Council members from year seven and eight.

The students discussed with Maria the changes that they want to see in Basingstoke and around their school and the current and future projects they are working on.

Maria was most impressed by the current project “Work Behaviour Code for students” which aims to improve respect throughout the school. 

Maria said: “I am impressed with the young Council’s member’s enthusiasm. It is clear that these students and the school want to succeed in life, which is reflected by the impressive 87% of the school’s students going into further education.”

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller, Mayor Cllr Keith Chapman and BCOT principle Anthony Bravo attended “Help for Heroes” lunch at Basingstoke’s College of Technology.

 

The lunch was organised to support and raise money for the Armed Forces, and a number of fundraising events took place during lunch, which included a raffle.

 

Maria said: “Help for Heroes is such an important charity and I was immensely pleased to support the event.

 

I am delighted to see the BCOT supporting good causes like Help for Heroes and the lunch provided by the students was excellent.”

 

Maria Miller, local MP for Basingstoke was pleased to open the Summer Fayre at Cranbourne and Business Enterprise College where young entrepreneurs were encouraged to show off their talents.

 

Working towards their Level 2 NCFE Award in Enterprise Capabilities, Year 9 Students had worked hard since September to organise the Fayre and design their individual businesses. Next step is to evaluate their findings.

 

Maria said; “CBEC is an entrepreneurial college and today’s Fayre is a great example of what students can achieve when they are given hands on experience. 

 

It was clear that we have a good crop of young entrepreneurs making their way through the system!”