14 December 2024
Dear resident
It’s been a packed five months since I had the honour of being elected an MP for residents across the whole of Chelsea and Fulham.
In that time, I’m glad to have been able to help more than a thousand constituents who have got in touch about a wide range of issues.
When I was first a councillor in Hammersmith & Fulham, we put our manifesto promises up on the wall and ticked them off as we went along. So I was pleased last week when Keir Starmer urged voters to hold the government to its key commitments.
These are that by the next election, we will put more money in working people’s pockets, build 1.5 million homes, treat 92 percent of NHS patients within 18 weeks, recruit 13,000 more police officers and PCSOs in neighbourhood roles, and make sure that three-quarters of five-year-olds are ready for school. The country will also enjoy 95% clean power by 2030.
Talking of the NHS, I’ve been elected to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee to scrutinise and hold the government to account. I’ve also pressed Health Secretary Wes Streeting on modernising and rebuilding Charing Cross Hospital. He says to expect an announcement on this and the whole New Hospital Programme (NHP) next year. The Conservatives pretended to have found the funding for Charing Cross and the NHP. Now he’s seen the books, Wes has confirmed this simply wasn’t true.
As promised, I’ve also met Transport ministers and officials to discuss Hammersmith Bridge’s repair. I was clear that the £250 million cost should be met by Transport for London as no one local council could ever afford it.
Finally, I’m delighted the government is putting an extra £1 billion into improving schooling for pupils with Special Educational Needs and an extra £2 billion into providing 30 hours of early education from next September. It has also doubled how much family carers can earn without losing their Carer’s Allowance.
There’s a long way to go but we’re starting to change things for the better.
I hope this newsletter gives you a good idea of what I’ve been doing in the constituency and parliament. If I can help you with anything, please do get in touch at ben.coleman.mp@parliament.uk.
Best wishes
Ben
This week I met senior Post Office managers to discuss the threat to the King’s Road branch. People are genuinely incredulous that it is on a list of 108 that are under threat of closure. Simply put, it is hugely popular and well used. I struggle to believe there would be any commercial – let alone moral – case for shutting it down.
Thousands of residents rely on it, particularly older and Disabled people who live nearby. It was typically buzzing when I popped in, with people queuing at the counter for up to ten minutes. Customers and staff told me of their astonishment and worries at the prospect of it being closed.
I wrote straight away to the Post Office on hearing about their so-called national transformation plan. Since then, a thousand people have signed my petition to save this branch, the only one left in the whole King’s Road. I know that the strength of feeling is one reason why the senior managers agreed to a meeting. Thank you to every one of you who signed the petition.
The Post Office says it hopes to franchise the branch out to a retailer or independent postmaster. I left them in no doubt about the anger and disappointment in the community – and in light of their claim that the branch is loss-making, I asked to see the books. They said they would share these in the New Year. I’ll keep you informed.
Transport for London (TfL) has announced its intention to go ahead with axing the 414 bus. While expected, this decision is very disappointing. What particularly concerns me is that their proposal to make the 14 more frequent to cope with extra passenger demand on the route doesn’t go nearly far enough.
I’ve met the Deputy Mayor for Transport and made that clear to him. One bus every eight minutes simply won’t deal with the demand and I’ve asked for a rethink as a matter of urgency before the changes are introduced.
Separately, I’ve asked for a review of the operation of the 211 bus. The decision to divert it to Battersea Power Station rather than Waterloo was wrong in my view. It served as an important link between St Thomas’s Hospital and the Royal Brompton, the Royal Marsden, Chelsea and Westminster and Charing Cross Hospitals, and I would like to see it reinstated.
I am encouraged by the Deputy Mayor’s promise to look into these issues and to work together to improve the bus network serving Chelsea and Fulham.
Recently, I met TfL at Putney Bridge underground station to make the case for providing step-free access for passengers using this station and Parsons Green. This is a long-standing request of many residents, including the Fulham Disabled Supporters Association, who I’ve met. It becomes all the more important given the decision to axe the 414.
I also showed them the stark need to refurbish the ticket hall and other areas. I understand TfL is in a financially difficult position but the need for investment to improve our local public transport links is clear.
In my maiden speech in Parliament, I vowed to keep supporting the Chelsea houseboat community, where residents face “an existential threat from a predatory, secretive landlord”.
Last month, the Planning Inspectorate overturned Kensington and Chelsea Council’s enforcement notice and granted permission for two megabarges that are blighting this iconic corner of Chelsea to stay on site.
Since then I’ve learned that seven boat owners have been given notice of eviction. This is awful news. There is little doubt that, with the unaffordable increases in their licence, mooring and maintenance fees, the residents are being deliberately driven out of their homes, and this iconic part of Chelsea’s riverside heritage is under existential threat.
Together, residents and I are currently reviewing a range of options, including legal and parliamentary channels, to protect their community. In the meantime, Kensington & Chelsea Council must remain vigilant in preventing further megabarges from mooring, following this deeply disappointing ruling.
I am very grateful to the many hundreds of people who took the trouble to write to me to vote for or against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, often offering deeply moving arguments based on their own experience.
In the end, after much deliberation, I voted against. This was not a decision I reached lightly and I set out my reasons in detail in this blog.
The Bill, which was passed by the House of Commons, will now go forward with a final vote expected by next summer. At each stage of the Bill, as it progresses, I can assure you I will be reviewing the situation and considering my vote in light of the amended Bill as it stands.
Seven years ago 72 people lost their lives at Grenfell Tower. The lack of respect that Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC) showed for its tenants when they raised concerns time and time again contributed to this entirely preventable tragedy.
We know this from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, which I spoke about during a debate in the House of Commons last week.
Since the terrible incident, RBKC says it has changed the way it engages with residents. But I am not convinced. The evidence which I’ve heard first hand from social housing tenants in Chelsea suggests otherwise.
There is so much more that still needs to be done to make people feel respected, listened to and safe. You can see my speech here or read it in Hansard here.
I was delighted to be with Sir John Lillie pupils and Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) councillors to celebrate the council’s green “Passivhaus” rebuild of Hartopp & Lannoy Point.
H&F has partnered with Higgins Group to produce flats with astonishingly green credentials. Solar panels and communal air source heat pumps will deliver truly impressive carbon savings for the day-to-day benefit of residents.
And the 134 new homes (67 affordable rent, 45 shared ownership and 22 private sale) help with the Labour government’s mission to build the 1.5 million new homes that we need.
Held a crime and safety meeting with residents of the World’s End Estate… Popped into SEACC Fulham to wish lantern-makers happy Diwali… Toured West London College with Principal Karen Redhead… Met Rainville Road Residents at Dorset Wharf… Congratulated pupils of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Chelsea after their performance of La Bohème at the ENO… Talked democracy with engaged Sir John Lillie primary school pupils… Celebrated the Fulham Boys School ten-year anniversary… Attended unveiling of restored war memorial at St Etheldreda’s Church, Fulham… Visited award-winning Royal Trinity Hospice shop in Fulham Road to meet CEO, staff and supporters… Met staff from M&S Fulham Road to discuss tackling shoplifting… Followed up on making Fulham safer with Metropolitan Police Borough Commander Christine Jessah and Superintendent Craig Knight… Chaired meeting between Sir Thomas More Estate TRA and RBKC housing officers… Explored Margravine Cemetery with the wonderful Friends’ committee… Spoke at British-Somali graduation dinner… Laid a wreath at Remembrance Sunday in Chelsea and joined veterans to lay a cross on Remembrance Day at Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions… Spoke at the Cheyne Walk Trust and Chelsea Society AGMs… Attended Lancaster Court Residents’ Association… Journeyed around St Luke’s Earls Court parish with Rev Dave Matthews… J’ai parlé aux élèves de l’Ecole des Petits bilingual nursery in Fulham… Discussed future of Fulham Picture House with Richard Bourne of Martin’s Properties… Took residents with multiple sclerosis to meet Charing Cross Hospital’s top team to address concerns over new treatment… Toured Thomas’ Academy with brilliant young pupils… Congratulated Action on Disability on 45 years of support for Disabled People… Welcomed next phase of H&F Council’s Upstream London to support jobs for young people in Fulham… Attended Christmas lights switch-on at Sloane Square and Parson’s Green… Joined St Eth’s Fulham Camel Procession, carolling with Fulham Brass Band and St John’s Walham Green Primary… Blown away by local business at Fulham Social Hub’s Christmas market at SEACC Fulham… and enjoyed Wandsworth Bridge Road Christmas sparkle… (pic below)
Welcomed government’s review into carers’ overpayments scandal… Voted for second reading of Renters’ Rights Bill to end no-fault evictions… Teamed with Labour MPs to launch a campaign to stop managing agents ripping off leaseholders… Supported Hospices UK and met Trinity Hospice CEO in Hospice Care week… Discussed children’s palliative care with Together for Short Lives… Hosted Contact event on extra costs of caring for a disabled child… Met Education and Treasury ministers to argue for exempting more pupils with SEN from VAT on school fees… Spoke in Parliament on free transport for disabled students until age 25…. Stood with ministers to restate the government’s commitment to halving Violence Against Women and Girls…. Chatted to Fulham Boys and Park Walk Primary pupils during their visits to Parliament… Met UK entrepreneurs around UK International Investment Summit… With Angela Rayner, welcomed Employment Rights Bill… Added a splash of colour to support Breast Cancer Now #wearitpinkday… Championed animal welfare with Animals Matter….Caught up with Battersea cats and dogs to support pet friendly housing… Purr-chanced upon Larry the cat outside No.10 Downing Street… Spoke up in Parliament for deepening UK-EU trade… Discussed UK-EU matters with German and Polish ambassadors… Strengthened links with Spanish industry, academia and civil society at UK-Spanish Tertulias… Talked to MEPs about security, defence and trade at European Commission’s London office… Addressed London University Labour societies… Supported Greenpeace oceans protection campaign… Backed the fight against microplastics pollution… Met the resilient Sophie White with the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce… And backed the Safer Phones Bill (pic below) to tackle children’s addiction to smartphones…
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Promoted by Nikos Souslous on behalf of Ben Coleman, both at 28 Greyhound Road, London, W6 8NX
