MP Newsletter #13: Out & about, nature, dementia

A warm welcome to this latest edition of my newsletter.

The last couple of weeks have been busy. Parliament was in recess last week and with the sun shining it was the perfect opportunity to get around our beautiful constituency to meet with residents, organisations and businesses.

As ever, I welcome all feedback and comments about this newsletter, and I want to make sure that it is as useful as it can be for my constituents. If you have any suggestions, comments or feedback please do feel free to email me at brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk. A reminder that you can also contact my office on 01225 434216, and please do get in touch via phone or email to book a surgery appointment. These take place at regular intervals at different villages and towns across the constituency and we will do our very best to fit you in at the one which suits you best.     

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Getting out & about

It might be a cliché, but it doesn’t stop it ringing true. The greatest pleasure in this role is meeting and chatting with constituents.

While in Westminster I am working hard to represent all of you, but it’s always a lovely feeling to step onto the train and head back home to Wiltshire. This week (Thursday June 5) saw us celebrate Wiltshire Day, and it’s always worth pausing to remember how lucky we are to live in this beautiful part of the world. Of course, there are always things that can be improved, and I hope to make a difference where I can.

Last week’s half term recess gave me a great opportunity to get out and about and hear directly from all of you.

There were many highlights, and it was lovely to spend a pleasant afternoon at Rowdefest in Rowde and to hear some excellent music as well as joining in with the festivities. In a similarly celebratory vein, I also visited the new Boathouse Pub in Bradford on Avon as part of their grand re-opening under new owners. I’m an enthusiastic supporter of local pubs, and I wish them all the best.

On Bank Holiday Monday it was over to Box to visit the Box Revels fete and spend a leisurely few hours chatting with constituents and to enjoy all the fun of the fair!  

Last weekend I also spent a useful morning at Azimghur Barracks in Colerne joining military families at their Saturday morning drop-in session. These sessions are put on to provide support to military families and to act as a meeting place for families in similar positions. We’re an area with a proud military history, and it’s always a privilege to engage with our local servicemen and women.

Nature & the environment

As many of you may know, nature and our local environment is one of my main interests as your MP. While the weather has been a bit changeable recently, it hasn’t stopped me getting out there to meet with some of our amazing local groups.

I enjoyed a five-mile walk with the Wiltshire Ramblers starting in Melksham as we discussed the Access to Nature Bill as well as the current poor state of many of Wiltshire’s footpaths and rights of way.

I also spent time with Natural England at Morgan’s Hill near Calne to hear about the work their undertaking in our area.

Then on Saturday evening I took part in the Wild Rivers festival at a session on ‘Nature-based solutions to flooding’ in Bradford on Avon. The festival is aiming to celebrate all elements of our wonderful rivers and this session is one that I know many will have an interest in given the floods we experienced over the winter. I was joined by some excellent speakers including Bradford on Avon flood warden Danny O’Callaghan who gave an in depth explanation of the geology of the area and how ground water was as much a feature of the recent flooding as the river itself, and representatives from the Environment Agency, Wessex Water, the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) and Johns Associates based in Bradford on Avon.

Given the flooding we have experienced in recent years, and the increasing frequency of these we expect in years to come, it is vital that we look at all solutions to our flooding woes. I’m particularly keen to pursue nature-based solutions and this session was a great chance to compare notes with some real experts and to share the principles with a wider audience. 

Dementia care

There are an estimated 1,638 people living with dementia in our constituency. The disease will at some stage touch all of us, either ourselves or through our friends and family.

But behind every case there is an individual story, and I have spent time since being elected last year visiting care homes & hospices and meeting with dementia charities to learn more about support they need.

There are some truly inspiring projects out there such as Nationwide Building Society’s dementia nurse clinics that take place in branch. These sessions have a dementia nurse available to customers and Nationwide staff have also been given specific training to help those with dementia with their banking. It was good to hear about this first hand when visiting their branch in Devizes recently.

Those who dedicate themselves to caring for those with dementia, and indeed all carers, are true local heroes.

But the rises in employer national insurance contributions will have a huge impact on our care sector - which already operates on razor thin margins in many cases.

I will continue to advocate for all our carers and highlight the vital work they do.

I spoke about this in parliament this week, and you can view the video here.

 
This evening I'll be celebrating National Fish & Chip Day in Bradford on Avon, and I can't wait! Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Best wishes,

Brian Mathew MP

Your Lib Dem MP for Melksham & Devizes