Josh Dean MP’s column: Leventhorpe pool, food bank access, Grove Cottage, rivers and Remembrance

This month, we paused to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for us, and those who continue to do so.

It was a great honour to take part in Remembrance services as our MP, laying crosses at the graves of those who served at Bishop’s Stortford Old Cemetery, placing a cross in Parliament’s Garden of Remembrance and laying a wreath at Hertford war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. We will always honour the service and courage of those who served, and it was a privilege to join members of our community in acts of remembrance.

I continue to work at pace to try to help find a solution to the proposed closure of Leventhorpe and Fanshawe swimming pools in Sawbridgeworth and Ware.

Earlier this month, I spent time on the doorstep with residents in both towns to hear directly about the positive impact our pools have had on their own and their loved ones’ physical and mental health. The stories I heard highlighted the important role that these facilities play in our communities, bringing residents together and promoting wellbeing. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who took time out of their day to share their experiences with me, and I want you to know I’m committed to trying to find a way to preserve these important resources.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to meet Stephen Morgan MP, minister for early education at the Department for Education (DfE), whose role covers responsibility for school buildings and estates. I impressed upon him the tight deadline we’re facing and I’m pleased to have had a productive conversation regarding our local pools.

He shares my concern about the potential impact that losing these facilities could have on our community, and I remain in contact with the DfE to discuss potential funding avenues and what a long-term proposition for our pools might look like. I hope to have a further meeting with the minister and DfE officials in the very near future.

I’ve also kept in regular contact with both schools involved, colleagues at East Herts Council and community stakeholders. I know that these proposed closures are worrying for many of our residents, and I want to assure you that I remain focused on this issue and I will continue to work collaboratively to try to find a solution. I want to thank residents for their support and input as I continue this work, and I will keep you updated on any progress or developments as they unfold.

I continue to keep active in our community, and I’m grateful to Grove Cottage for inviting me on-site earlier this month to mark the demolition of their old building ahead of its redevelopment. It was a pleasure to meet their dedicated team and hear more about their history and exciting plans for the future. The original building has served families in our community since the 1960s and their new centre will offer enhanced spaces and resources for people of all ages with learning disabilities and special additional needs. The lifelong support they offer is essential for families in our community and I hope to return to see their new building when it’s completed.

On a visit to Hertford and Ware Food Bank earlier this year, I heard about the damaging impact of rules introduced by the previous Conservative Government preventing Jobcentres from referring claimants to food banks, preventing some of the most vulnerable people in our community from accessing support in an emergency.

Last week, I had the opportunity to raise this issue in the House of Commons, asking Allison McGovern MP, a minister in the Department for Work and Pensions, what action this Government will take to remedy it and ensure that those facing hardship in our community can access the support they need. I’m pleased that the minister offered to meet me to discuss this issue in greater detail and I look forward to updating residents on the outcome of this conversation in the near future.

I continue to discuss issues of importance to our community outside of the House of Commons too. I spoke recently with River Action UK and Surfers Against Sewage about how we can protect our local rivers and waterways, and preserve our precious chalk streams in Hertford and Stortford.

We talked about this Government’s Water (Special Measures) Bill, which promises tougher measures to combat pollution, including tougher penalties for offenders and more rigorous monitoring. Clean waterways are essential for the wellbeing of our community and the preservation of local wildlife, and I know that this is important to our residents. I’m committed to working with the Government to ensure that our rivers, waterways and chalk streams are protected for the enjoyment of our community and the benefit of future generations.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who took part in my first ever Christmas card competition. It’s been a real joy to see the many wonderful designs that you’ve submitted and, although judging the entries is a tough job, I look forward to announcing the winning design in the coming days.

As always, I want to hear directly from you about what matters most. My next surgery will be in Much Hadham on Saturday 30 November and I would be delighted to see you there. You can book your appointment by emailing josh.dean.mp@parliament.uk.