MP Newsletter #29: BoA Fire Station, State of our Roads, WaterAid, NFU, Endometriosis
A warm welcome to my latest update.
It’s been lovely this week to finally feel some real sunshine - long may it continue!
Today has been a particularly special day, as I hosted my first ever careers fair, welcoming over 130 students from schools across Bradford on Avon, Devizes and Melksham. It was fantastic to see so many young people engaging with local businesses and thinking about their future careers. I’ll share a fuller update on that in my next newsletter.
In the meantime, here’s a round-up of what I’ve been working on both locally and in Westminster.
📌 In this edition:
- 🚒 Bradford on Avon Fire Station - consultation and my work in Parliament
- 🚧 Roads, potholes and better coordination of roadworks
- 🚗 Devizes traffic - pressing the Council for action
- 💧 WaterAid campaign - a cause close to my heart
- 🚜 Backing British farmers with the NFU
- 💛 Endometriosis - pushing for better diagnosis and care
🚒 Bradford on Avon Fire Station - Standing Up for Our Community
Many of you will be aware of the ongoing consultation into proposals to close eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire - including at Bradford on Avon. This is understandably causing real concern locally.
I recently led an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on this very issue, where I made it clear to the Fire Minister that I strongly oppose these closures.
It was incredibly powerful to be joined in the public gallery by local firefighters, Fire Brigades Union representatives, and families of Bradford on Avon fire fighters, who came to support the debate and show just how much this station means to the community.
Bradford on Avon Town Council is also firmly opposed and is preparing its own formal objections.
Our local fire stations, staffed by highly skilled on-call firefighters, play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. In rural areas like ours that local knowledge and rapid response can make all the difference.
I am particularly concerned about:
- Increased response times
- Reduced resilience during major incidents
- The impact on flood response and river safety along the Avon
Following a question raised in Parliament by Dr Andrew Murrison MP, I will also be meeting with the Fire Minister alongside other Dorset and Wiltshire MPs to press this case further.
I would strongly encourage everyone to take part in the consultation:
👉 https://www.dwfire.org.uk/about-us/your-fire-and-rescue-service/proposed-station-closures/
I will continue working closely with firefighters, local councils and Ministers and will report back as this progresses.
🚧 Roads, Potholes and Roadworks — Time for Better Coordination
The state of our roads is one issues that fills my inbox week in, week out.
Across the constituency, from our towns to our rural villages, I hear the same concerns: potholes damaging cars, worn-out road surfaces, and roadworks that seem to appear all at once with zero co-ordination.
In a rural area like ours, this really matters. For many people, the car isn’t a luxury - it’s essential.
That’s why I’ve been raising this both locally and nationally, including in a recent Parliamentary debate and in interviews with ITV West Country.
As I said in Parliament:
“One particularly frustrating problem is the way in which roadworks are planned and co-ordinated… multiple sets of roadworks are scheduled at the same time… making travel extremely difficult.”
Maintaining roads is important, but it has to be done properly. That means:
- Better planning
- Clearer communication
- Proper coordination across council boundaries
I’ve spoken with Wiltshire Council on improving both pothole repairs and how roadworks are scheduled.
Put simply - we need roads that work for our communities, not against them.
🚗 Devizes Traffic - Pressing for Action
Following ongoing concerns from residents and local businesses, I have written directly to Wiltshire Council regarding the situation on Northgate Street in Devizes.
Since the fire at the site, the temporary one-way system has caused congestion, reduced footfall and added pressure to local businesses already facing significant challenges.
Planning permission for demolition has been granted - but work has yet to begin, and the delays are causing understandable frustration.
In my letter, I have:
- Asked for urgent clarification on the delays
- Pressed for a clear timeline for demolition
- Called for a wider plan to improve traffic management in Devizes
This is not just about one site - it’s about ensuring the town centre remains accessible, thriving and attractive to residents and visitors alike.
I will continue to push for progress and keep you updated.
💧 WaterAid — “Time to Deliver”
It was a pleasure to meet with WaterAid UK in Parliament this week for the launch of their “Time to Deliver” campaign - a cause that is particularly close to my heart, having worked with WaterAid earlier in my career in Tanzania and across Africa.
The message is simple but stark:
Every two seconds, a woman gives birth in a healthcare facility without access to clean water.
This is something the world has the power — and responsibility — to fix.
You can support the campaign here:
👉 https://www.wateraid.org/global/campaigns/time-to-deliver
🚜 Supporting Farmers — Meeting with the NFU
I also met with representatives from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to discuss the importance of fair standards in food imports and maintaining high animal welfare standards here in the UK.
Farmers across Wiltshire and beyond do an incredible job producing high-quality food, often to standards that are among the highest in the world. It is only right that imported food meets those same standards.
We also discussed the wider pressures facing the agricultural sector - from rising costs to long-term sustainability - and the need for Government policy to properly support rural economies.
💛 Endometriosis — Calling for Better Diagnosis and Care
I have joined colleagues from across Parliament in signing a cross-party letter raising serious concerns about how endometriosis is diagnosed and treated in the NHS.
The current system is failing too many women.
On average, it takes nearly nine years to receive a diagnosis — during which time many suffer chronic pain, worsening health and significant impacts on their daily lives.
The letter calls for:
- Better training and awareness among healthcare professionals
- Faster and more accurate diagnosis
- Improved coordination of care
- Stronger national standards
This is about fairness, dignity and ensuring that women’s health is taken seriously.
I will continue pushing for improvements in this area.
📬 Staying in Touch
As always, if there’s something I can help with - whether it’s a local issue, a concern you’d like to raise, or you’d like to book an appointment at one of my advice surgeries - please do get in touch.
📧 brian.mathew.mp@parliament.uk
My team and I are always here to help, and surgeries take place regularly right across the constituency.
I’d also really welcome your feedback on this newsletter. If there’s something you’d like to see more of, less of, or differently, please do let me know by emailing with “Newsletter Feedback” in the subject line.
Your input helps shape these updates and ensures they remain useful and relevant.
With best wishes,
Dr Brian Mathew MP
Your Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes
Melksham and Devizes Liberal Democrats