Local news
From our MP - August 2014
Ever since I was first elected as MP for Wimbledon in 2005 I have tried to ensure I communicate regularly with everyone in the Wimbledon constituency.
I have produced numerous leaflets and surveys, knocked on thousands of doors, set up a website (www.stephenhammondmp.com), a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SHammondMP) and a Twitter account (@SHammondMP). Additionally, every year I have also sent out at least one “Report Back” newsletter to every home in the constituency.
However, many local people have requested a quick regular update of what I am doing and what is going on in Wimbledon. Therefore I have decided I will also start to write a short regular email. So, welcome to this one, the very first!
Forces and Fetes
On 28th June I was proud to be part of our local celebrations for Armed Forces Day. After taking the salute, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor and I took part in a short service at St Lawrence church in Morden. Armed Forces Day celebrates the great work of our Armed Forces in protecting our country and our interests. I was delighted to see so many young people who were Army, Air Force or Police Cadets attending the parade. Whilst Remembrance Sunday is rightly about commemorating the contribution of those who have died, yesterday was about saying thank you to the living. It also recognises that we will require Armed Forces in the future and those smartly turned out cadets represent that future.
Later I opened the Holy Trinity School fete in South Park Gardens, which was a wonderful community occasion. There were lots of stalls and music playing, and I saw many local people pop in, not just parents and pupils. I also visited the Priory School fete on Queens Road.
This weekend I opened St Joseph Hood fete and attended the Hollymount School fete. I always enjoy visiting these fetes and other local community events and Wimbledon is lucky that we have so many people prepared to give some of their time to volunteer for all manner of local community groups.
If you are arranging or know of an event in your area, please do let me know by sending me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Crossrail 2 - Status Update
Last year there was an extensive consultation on Crossrail 2. This is a possible new line which would link south west London to north east London and has the potential to deliver huge benefits to Wimbledon, Raynes Park and Motspur Park. The idea of additional Crossrail 2 railway stops at Motspur Park and Raynes Park were embraced in the first consultation on regional options in 2013 when Conservatives put them forward. So I am very keen to see this plan progress and look forward to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, coming up with a possible financing plan.
Given the positive steps being made with Crossrail 2, you can imagine my surprise to receive a copy of an email about a botched consultation from the Liberal Democrats. Apparently we aren’t being consulted on various options. Luckily this is nonsense. The 2014 consultation is a supplementary one to deal with questions north of the Thames of a stop in Chelsea and also in north east London. I have worked with local Conservatives to ensure that our area’s interests were protected. Unfortunately, yet again, one gets the impression from their messages that some Members were asleep on the first consultation and are now trying to catch up with what my colleagues and I have done.
Keeping in touch
As I mentioned at the start of this email, this will be the first of a new regular email update newsletter. I hope you have found it to be of interest, but please do let me know if there are any particular issues which you would like to know more about in future bulletins.
Please do also get in touch with me about any local issues which you have where I can assist. I can be contacted by email
(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and also by phone (020 8944 2905).
