MP Newsletter #18: Conference, driving test wait times, BoA mine, and more!

Dear friend,

A very warm welcome to this latest edition of my newsletter. I am fresh back from the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth. 

Of course, this was a great opportunity to meet up with colleagues to share tips, learn from each other and to swap experiences. 

But, more importantly, it’s a chance to speak to a number of key individuals and organisations about the work I am doing here in Wiltshire on behalf of all of you. 

And of course, I was thrilled to get a bit of swimming in too! 

With parliament now in recess due to the conference season, my diary is jam-packed with constituency work and visits. Just yesterday I visited Silverwood School in Rowde, which was a wonderful morning even if I didn’t get to try the delicious smelling garlic bread they were cooking! I then spent the afternoon discussing potential nature-based solutions to flooding Bradford on Avon. It’s nothing if not varied! 

This newsletter includes:

• A rundown of what I got up to at party conference
• My campaign on driving test waiting lists
• Launching the Melksham and Devizes business network
• Recent constituency visits
• Update on Bradford on Avon mine

If you missed my previous newsletter, you can catch up here.  

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My office can be contacted via email at brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 01225 434216 

Conference update

Thankfully the weather played ball, and we were blessed with almost wall to wall sunshine in Bournemouth over the weekend at the Liberal Democrat Conference. 

As mentioned it was a great opportunity for me to speak directly to many organisations, and over the weekend I spoke with health experts about my campaign to expand to services at Melksham Hospital. 

I held a very positive meeting with Specsavers and with dental experts. Put simply, the will is there to help improve services in Melksham and the surrounding areas, including in Devizes too. I look forward to keeping in touch with these groups to try to push forward the case to improve health services in our community. 

I also met with the National Education Union (NEU) to discuss the funding cuts in our constituency as well as SEND provision and working conditions for our brilliant teachers. 

Since 2011 we have seen over £1m of real term cuts to secondary schools in our constituency. If funding was restored to even 2011 levels, many schools would be able to hire more than five extra staff as well as purchase more than 250 laptops. I have visited all the secondary schools in our area and many of the primary schools too, and every single one of them is doing their very best in the face of huge challenges. I will continue to advocate on behalf of all our schools, children and teachers. 

Conference also gives the chance to widen the lens and look at global issues too. I have been clear for several months that the UK must recognise the state of Palestine and push for an end to the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza. I therefore commend the UK government’s decision to recognise Palestine.

Speaking with colleagues and delegates from across the country in Bournemouth it was clear that whatever political persuasion you may be – we must all make the case for a ceasefire loudly and clearly. 

As part of my role on the International Development Select Committee (IDC) I spoke on a panel on UK soft power in the wake of the international aid cuts both here and in the USA. The room was full of industry experts and people who have vast experience in the UK’s role in deploying and administering aid and development projects. The message was clear, the UK must step up our role in international aid. Not only is it the just and right thing to do, it also serves the UK’s best interest. We must deter the influence of China and Russia, and their authoritarianism, in the developing world. It is also one of the most effective ways we have to control illegal migration to this country – if we can improve their homes, they are far less likely to risk their lives reaching the UK. 

Melksham and Devizes Business Network 

I’m delighted to be setting up a new business network for our constituency - open to any business, large or small, based anywhere in the constituency.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to:
✅ Connect with other local businesses
✅ Share ideas and experiences
✅ Hear from industry experts
✅ Spend time with me discussing the issues that matter to you

If you’re interested, simply register your interest via the button below:

Driving test wait times

I have heard time and time again from constituents about the staggering waits to secure a driving test.

Many are waiting as long as six months, and many are travelling as far as North Devon or South Wales to take their test.

Problems are particularly acute here as we have just three local driving centres operating full time and face additional pressure from Bath as they no longer have a test centre.

We all know that despite our ambitions to improve public transport here, we are still in a predominantly rural area with poor connectivity. The car is often the only way to get to work, drop kids off at school or pick up the shopping.

The delays in testing are causing unnecessary stress and expense for so many drivers.

I have written to the Transport Secretary to make it clear this cannot go on. I will share the response I receive and will keep campaigning on this.

Bradford on Avon mine

Many of you will have heard about the incident at the mine on Frome Road in Bradford on Avon earlier this week.

You can see the full statement from the Police here.

I have been in regular contact with Wiltshire Council over the last few months on behalf of residents to tackle the anti-social behaviour in the mine and to find a solution to seal the entrance while still allowing the resident bats in and out.

Along with Bradford on Avon Town Council I also reiterated this to Wiltshire Council yesterday and I am pleased to say it looks like there is a solution now being actioned. I will stay in touch with Wiltshire Council to make sure this is carried out in a timely and efficient way in consultation with residents.

 
Recent constituency visits

Finally, I wanted to update you all on just some of the recent work I’ve been doing in the constituency.

As mentioned earlier, I spent an uplifting morning at Silverwood School in Rowde discussing SEND funding, learning more about their hydrotherapy pool and chatting to some pupils. I know that the current crisis in SEND funding is on many of your minds, and I will continue to work with local parents and schools on this. 

As we head back into autumn, flooding is once again rising to the top of many minds – mine included. I had a very interesting meeting Bradford on Avon about the potential for nature-based solutions to flooding. Simply put, this a low impact way of potentially mitigating against the worst flood events in the town. It’s an area I have a particular passion for, and I will keep pursuing this as well as working with the Environment Agency and central government on flooding issues.

Last week I was invited to join a panel at the Wiltshire Business Show along with fellow Wiltshire MPs Andrew Murrison and John Glen and Wiltshire Council cabinet member Helen Belcher. I was thrilled, but not at all surprised, to feel the buzz in the room as everyone pulled together to push the case for business investment in Wiltshire. The world is changing rapidly, and the advent of new areas such as AI, is a big opportunity for us in Wiltshire to leverage our links to Bristol, Bath, Swindon & London as well as our enviable landscape and quality of life to attract inward investment.

There are many more visits and meetings that I don’t have time to list here but I do want to highlight one more. It was privilege to spend time Azimghur Barracks with 21 Signal Regiment and to be hosted by Lt Col Tuni Masi and to meet some of his team. They are at the forefront of the digital and cyber warfare which is increasingly commonplace. 

Best wishes,

Brian Mathew MP

Your Lib Dem Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes

P.S: I always welcome feedback. If you have any suggestions or comments please do get in touch via email.