Mike Weatherley MP

Mike is attending a fundraiser for a bilingual school in Brighton & Hove in April at Fellini, a new Italian restaurant in Hove.

The bilingual primary schools aims to be the first English and Spanish primary school in the UK. The school is being set up as a Free School which is now possible under the reform of the education sector that is being led by Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education. More details of the bilingual school are available at www.bilingualprimaryschool.org.uk.

Commenting, Mike said: “This looks set to be a great event. As well as supporting a new restaurant in Hove, it is an excellent opportunity to help see this project become a reality. I know that all those involved have been working incredibly hard to make the city’s – and indeed the country’s – first bilingual school a success.”

The fundraiser will be held on Tuesday 3rd April at 7:00 for 7:30pm at Fellini, 115 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF. It includes crudités on arrival, along with a pasta course, main course and dessert. A vegetarian option will be available to order on the night. Tickets cost £25.

For tickets, please contact: Cllr Andrew Wealls on 07931 381153 or andrew_wealls@yahoo.co.uk.

Mike is supporting the Poets Corner Nursery, in a disagreement over waste collection charges that could force them to close.

Mike was contacted by the Poets Corner Nursery after they received enormous bills for waste collection from PHS Wastetech. The owner of the nursery was completely unaware that the charges for the nursery’s waste collection had increased to over £100 for a weekly collection.

Commenting, Mike said: “Nurseries like the Poets Corner Nursery provide a valuable service in our community. I have written to the manager of PHS Wastetech requesting that the issue is reviewed as a matter of urgency. It is important that large companies, particularly during a dispute, treat their customers fairly.”

Nursery owner Lynn Hoare added, “I was never informed that prices were rocketing up. Money was just taken from the nursery’s bank account by direct debit. It is disgraceful that PHS expects me to pay in the region of £5,000 per year for emptying one small bin once a week.”

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Retail & Business Crime, has tabled an Urgent Question in Parliament on the issue of riot compensation for small businesses across the UK.

Mike’s campaign on this issue has included writing to his colleague Nick Herbert MP, Minister for Policing, and tabling a number of Written Parliamentary Questions. This follows the news that some Police Authorities have classed last summer’s riots as ‘violent disorder’, which means that businesses in some parts of the country are illegible for compensation.

Commenting, Mike said: “Given the importance of this matter, I felt that an urgent question was the best way to highlight this matter to the Minister and the House. Sadly it appears that there exists a shocking and ongoing attempt by some Police Authorities to re-write history and say the riots of last August were merely incidents of ‘violent disorder’ rather than rioting. This leaves businesses around the country out of pocket.”

Mike underwent a fracture risk assessment in the House of Commons to raise awareness of the risk to bones of breakage.

Fractures are a major health concern in Hove and Portslade, outnumbering both heart attacks and strokes. It is estimated that 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer a fracture after the age of 50. Three million people in the UK have osteoporosis, a long-term condition which results in fragile bones that can lead to painful and disabling fractures in both men and women.

Mike underwent a FRAX fracture risk assessment, which has been developed by a group of Sheffield-based clinicians and endorsed by the World Health Organisation. FRAX is a web-based tool which can determine the 10-year probabilities of suffering a hip or other major fragility fracture. The calculation is based on answers to a simple online questionnaire. The online assessment can be accessed at www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/.

Commenting, Mike said: “Fractures can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, particularly older people who can lose their independence, quality of life and even their home following a debilitating hip fracture. It is vitally important that people with an increased risk of fractures are getting the treatment they need to protect their bones and hopefully prevent a future fracture from ever occurring. I would urge anyone who is concerned to complete the simple online FRAX questionnaire.”

Mike has welcomed the Coastal Communities Fund Prospectus launch by the Department of Communities & Local Government.

The new fund underlines the Government’s commitment to support coastal towns now and in the future so that they can benefit from growth in the marine revenues of the Crown Estate as it further develops its coastal and off-shore resources. The prospectus gives details of the aims/objectives, eligibility criteria and bidding/approval process.

The prospectus also details the design and delivery arrangements for the new Coastal Communities Fund. The prospectus for the Fund, which comes into operation on 1st April, may be downloaded here: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/regeneration/coastalfundprospectus

Commenting, Mike said: “This is welcome news for our city. I hope that a range of organisations from Hove and Portslade will take full advantage of this fund and submit a number of high quality bids. I am keen to back any local application that is made.”

Mike has come out in support of a student campaign for more competition amongst bus companies in Brighton & Hove.

Students from Sussex University’s Conservative Society have launched a petition that calls on the Competition Commission to change the rules governing bus service competition in order to encourage and enable smaller providers, such as the Big Lemon Bus Company, to successfully operate services.

To sign the petition, please visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/buses. For more information on Big Lemon Buses, see www.thebiglemon.com.

Commenting, Mike said: “It is no secret that Brighton & Hove Buses have a monopoly in our city. I urge residents to stand up to this transport giant by supporting this campaign to help smaller providers like the Big Lemon. Predatory practices that force out competitors are damaging to everyone in the long-run. I hope that the Competition Commission will review this case.”

Mike has written to Mark Hoban MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on behalf of constituents who have still not received any payments from the Equitable Life fund.

In his letter, Mike said: “I have been contacted by a number of constituents about the Government’s handling of Equitable Life settlements. Indeed, many of these constituents are quite old and further delays are having a significant impact on them.”

Commenting, Mike said: “I wanted to highlight to the minister that the delays in paying out money with relation to Equitable Life is having a considerable impact on the lives of many Hove and Portslade residents. A timetable needs to be outlined so that policyholders know where they stand.”

Mike has called on Brighton & Hove City Council to examine ways in which it can influence Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company to provide more bus services along Hangleton Valley Drive.

In a letter to John Barradell, Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council, Mike has raised the issue of re-routing a bus service following calls from residents. Many residents moved into the area a number of years ago and always relied on a car to get around. However, as many residents have gotten older and stopped driving, they have found themselves increasing isolated as the provision of bus services is so bad.

In his letter, Mike said: “While I understand that there is already a limited bus service along Hangleton Valley Drive, its frequency is far from desirable. Having discussed this issue with residents and Hangleton & Knoll Councillors Tony Janio and Dawn Barnett, it would appear that the most logical solution would be to re-route some or all of the 5b services.”

Commenting, Mike said: “I know that from discussing this issue with residents that there simply aren’t enough buses along Hangleton Valley Drive. I hope that Brighton & Hove Buses will listen to what residents want and start providing more regular services into the City Centre.”

Mike has welcomed a visit by Baroness Prosser to Portslade Academy to talk to children about the House of Lords.

As part of the House of Lords Peers in Schools programme, Baroness Prosser will be visiting Portslade Aldridge Community Academy on Friday 10th February, to talk about the role and work of the House of Lords. Baroness Prosser of Battersea was made a life peer in 2004 and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Equality & Human Rights Commission. More details of Parliament’s education outreach programme can be found at www.parliament.uk/education.

Commenting, Mike said: “Visits like this are an excellent way to engage with children on how our democracy functions. I am pleased to see that the House of Lords is making a concerted effort to work with schools and help children understand the role of Parliament in all of our lives.”

Mike has written to Chris Burchell, Chief Executive of Southern Railway, to convey his disappointment over the response that he received to his recent letter on travel chaos following delays.

Mike recently called for a co-ordinated programme of simple steps to be taken during large-scale disruptions at principal stations on the Brighton mainline. However, the response that Mike received from Southern failed to properly address any of Mike’s specific concerns.

In his rebuke, Mike said: “I am quite simply astonished that the points that I have raised in my letter have been completely ignored…The issues that have been raised are relatively straightforward. I would appreciate a response that is frank and to the point.”

Commenting, Mike said: “More and more residents are contacting me about the poor service offered by Southern. I find the recent response that I received totally unacceptable. If Southern chooses to ignore letters from Members of Parliament, what hope do passengers have when contacting them?”