MP Newsletter #19: Rail Update, WaterAid, SEND, Flooding, and a School Visit
Dear Friend,
A warm welcome to my latest newsletter. Parliament may be back in full swing after the conference season, but most of my focus, as ever, remains on the issues right here in our towns and villages.
It’s been a busy few weeks with meetings, debates, and community visits across the constituency.
There’s far more going on than I can squeeze into one update, but below you’ll find a few highlights from my recent work — both locally and in Parliament.
In this edition:
- 🚆 Transport updates: Devizes Station and the Bath & Wiltshire Metro
- 💧 Supporting WaterAid’s ‘Water Can’t Wait’ campaign
- 💬 Standing up for families on SEND funding
- 🌧 Flooding concerns and nature-led solutions in Bradford on Avon
- 🏫 A visit to Staverton School
- 🗳 How to follow all my work in Parliament
If you missed my previous newsletter, you can catch up here.
Rail Update: Devizes Station and the Bath & Wiltshire Metro
Transport remains one of the biggest barriers to opportunity for so many of us in Wiltshire, and that’s why I’m continuing to push hard for better rail services.
Top of the list is the long-awaited campaign for a new railway station near Devizes - a project that would reconnect around 30,000 people to the national rail network and boost the local economy. I’ve now launched a petition calling for the station to move forward - please do sign it here.
In Parliament, I asked the Secretary of State for Transport directly about both the Devizes Gateway and the Bath & Wiltshire Metro proposals - two linked projects that could transform travel across our area. While ministers stopped short of committing to funding, they did recognise both schemes and encouraged Network Rail, GWR, and local authorities to continue working together.
Behind the scenes, I’ve been doing exactly that - holding regular meetings with Network Rail, GWR, and local council leaders to make sure our case stays firmly on their radar. There is real momentum building, and I will keep pressing to make sure Wiltshire is not left behind.
As I said in a recent debate: “Where good transport leads, high-quality housing, jobs and opportunity will follow.”
With a fair share of investment and a bit of political will, we can get our communities moving again.
💧 WaterAid at Downing Street
Last week, I was proud to join WaterAid and a group of young climate leaders at 10 Downing Street to hand in their ‘Water Can’t Wait’ open letter.
Having worked with WaterAid in Africa before entering politics, this campaign is especially close to my heart. Together, we called on the UK Government to take urgent action on the global water and climate crisis, because the world simply cannot wait for clean water and climate resilience.
As we head toward COP30, I’ll continue pressing ministers to show global leadership by investing in the skills, technology, and funding needed to build a sustainable future for all.
💬 Standing Up for Families on SEND
One of the most pressing issues I’ve raised in Parliament recently is the crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) funding.
A national petition calling for fair funding has attracted over 122,000 signatures, including 244 from right here in our constituency. It’s a clear message: families have had enough of underfunding and delays.
Wiltshire receives almost 30% less SEND funding per pupil than many other areas — even though our children’s needs are exactly the same. That’s simply not fair.
I told ministers bluntly that you can’t fix the SEND crisis without fixing the funding system behind it. The repeated delays to the government’s promised White Paper are frustrating parents and schools alike, while children wait for the support they deserve.
Families aren’t asking for special treatment — just a fair chance. I’ll keep pushing for Wiltshire to get its fair share of funding and for reform that delivers in practice, not just on paper.
🌧 Tackling Flooding Locally
Flooding remains one of the biggest worries for residents in Bradford on Avon, Melksham, and other parts of the constituency as we head into winter.
During Flood Week in Parliament, I took the opportunity to raise local concerns again. The government has recently changed how flood mitigation schemes are funded, and I’ve written directly to the Wessex Area Director of the Environment Agency to ask how these changes will affect our area - particularly in Bradford on Avon town centre.
I also visited an inspiring local project exploring nature-based solutions to flooding, creating new wetland habitats and ponds upstream of BoA to slow and store water after heavy rain. This approach not only helps reduce flood risk but also supports wildlife and biodiversity - a real win-win for our community and the environment.
🏫 A Visit to Staverton School
It was a real pleasure to visit Staverton School recently and meet headteacher Ed Powe and his fantastic team. I especially enjoyed the Q&A with pupils, who asked brilliant (and challenging!) questions about resilience, the war in Ukraine, and life as an MP.
Visits like these are always uplifting. Seeing the dedication of our teachers and the inquisitiveness of the children reminds me why this job matters so much.
🗳 Keep Up with My Work in Parliament
If you’d like to keep track of everything I’m doing in Parliament, from speeches and questions to votes, petitions, and Early Day Motions, you can find it all on my official parliamentary page:
👉 View all my contributions here
Stay in Touch
As always, I want to hear from you. If you’d like to speak with me at a surgery, please do get in touch with my office below and we can let you know the next available dates.
📧 brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk 📞 01225 434216
Best wishes,
Brian Mathew MP
Your Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes