Subject: News

Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #318 Date: Friday, 18 November 2011 15:40:08 United Kingdom Time From: To: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.com

In this edition:
Greg Hands M.P.s Diary Website of the Week: Thames Waters Super Sewer consultation Super Sewer Summit on Wednesday 7th December Boosting apprenticeships for young people and small businesses Have your say on the future of Earls Court and West Kensington Royal Borough calls on Government to rethink relaxation of licensing laws H&F to put armed services first on local housing list Hands in the papers: Supersewer site's lorry route 'will cause road chaos' Hands in the papers: Police hope new Twitter feed will help build community links Hands in the papers: Westminster Column How to contact Greg Hands M.P.

Issue 318 Friday 18th November 2011

Since the last edition, Greg:

Laid a wreath at Fulham War Memorial as part of the Remembrance Sunday service, conducted by Rev Joe Hawes of All Saints Church, under the auspices of the Royal British Legion. Addressed the annual general meeting of the Milner Road Area Residents Association, Chelsea, addressing issues such as basements developments, new planning guidance, District Line changes and the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Visited again the site of Thames Waters proposed Super Sewer main drill site at Carnwath Road, Fulham, to assess the likely impact both on the local area and on the areas traffic network. Chaired a meeting of the All Party Romania Group in the House of Commons with guest speaker, the UK Ambassador to Bucharest, Mr Martin Harris. Attended the dinner of the No Turning Back Group of Conservative M.P.s with guest speaker, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne M.P. Had a full schedule of activity as a Government Whip in and around the chamber of the House of Commons, including ministerial meetings and organising votes and standing committees. Held a weekly surgery for Chelsea and Fulham residents at Fulham Town Hall. Gregs surgeries are held generally every Monday at either Fulham Town Hall or at Peter Jones, Sloane Square. To ask for an appointment, email mail@greghands.com or call 020 7219 5448.

Website of the Week:

Thames Waters Super Sewer consultation

Click here for the website of Thames Waters Super Sewer consultation. It is vital that ALL local residents respond to the consultation and give the projects proposed Fulham main drive site the thumbs down.

Super Sewer Summit on Wednesday 7th December

Greg Hands M.P. highlights the residential surroundings of Thames Waters preferred site for their super sewer drive shaft. An urgent public meeting to challenge Thames Waters ludicrous decision to dump the giant super sewer drive shaft on a residential street in Fulham has been called by Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Greg Hands M.P. The Super Sewer Summit, on 7th December, will allow locals to probe Thames Waters decision to earmark south Fulham for the main sewer construction site for their 4.1billion Thames Tunnel. Thames Waters u-turn, in deviating from their original choice outside of the borough, has sparked a wave of protests from residents and businesses south of Lillie Road especially in the tight knit residential community around Carnwath Road. The impact of Thames Water's latest proposal will be felt far beyond Fulham, with 29,000 lorries travelling through Chelsea and Wandsworth to and from the Carnwath Road site. Despite admitting at a meeting in October that using the Fulham riverside would be more costly and more disruptive to more people Thames Water named Carnwath Road as the preferred site for the main west London tunnel drive shaft earlier this month. The public meeting, organised by Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council, will be the first chance that residents, councillors and Greg Hands M.P. have had to publicly question Thames Water about their change of heart. Greg Hands M.P. said: "Thames Water's proposal to move the main tunnel entrance from an uninhabited site in Richmond to the middle of a densely-packed residential community in Fulham is obscene and wrong. Thames Water officials have admitted that it will affect more people and cost more money. We need to understand what is driving Thames Waters bizarre u-turn and then persuade them that there are better alternatives. Work by Greg has shown that Thames Water's own figures show that 29,000 lorries will bring roads like King's Road, New Kings Road and Wandsworth Bridge Road to a standstill during the six years of construction work. The Sewer's costs will be passed through to Thames Water bill payers from 2013 - despite the fact that the earliest the Government could give approval to the Tunnel is 2014! Anti super sewer site campaigners, backed by H&F Council, have vowed to fight the proposal and launch a concerted effort to persuade Thames Water to reverse the decision in time for the final selection deadline - which is expected next spring. If construction work goes ahead on the Fulham riverside there would be an average of 31 extra lorry trips every day on west London streets for two years during tunnelling and around 33 per day when the tunnel is being lined. Thames Water plans to move all plant and construction materials by road, and some of the excavated spoil to reduce costs. Only part of the excavated spoil will be taken by barge, despite the existence of the wharf being given as one of their key reasons for using Carnwath Road. Earlier in the autumn the Selborne Commission - which was an independent study and report sponsored by five London councils announced that a shorter tunnel, combined with green infrastructure solutions that are built up incrementally in the medium to long term, would be both compliant with EU directives and less costly and disruptive to Londoners. Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader, says: Fulham is uniting to say no to these plans. The Super Sewer Summit is a call to arms and we will all need to man the barricades if we are to defend our close knit residential neighbourhood from Thames Waters bulldozers. Any resident south of the Lillie Road who is unaware of Thames Waters plans needs to understand that the super sewer is the biggest threat to our quality of life that we will face this decade. It is a real and present danger with the potential to blight the lives of thousands of west Londoners from the heart of Fulham and Parsons Green to Chelsea and all along the New Kings Road. By proposing to use the Fulham riverside as the main west London drive shaft Thames Water is threatening homes, jobs and local schools - not to mention the disruption on our roads for six years. We will continue to defend residents' and water bill payers' interests by highlighting the sensible alternatives that exist for cleaning up the Thames." South Fulham resident, Alex Kennaugh, says: We know that there are cheaper and greener ways to clean up the river but if Thames Water is determined to push ahead with its nineteenth century tunnel solution the main drive shaft needs to go in the least disruptive place possible. If there is a choice between uninhabited sites and a thriving residential community, then Thames Water must pick the area that harms the fewest people. Campaigners have asked Thames Water to provide a document specifying how Fulham was chosen as the main drive shaft, including the pros and cons of using other sites, and to explain why their thinking has changed since the phase one consultation. The Super Sewer Summit is open to all residents and takes place from 7pm on Wednesday December 7 at Hurlingham and Chelsea School, Peterborough Road, SW6 3ED.

Greg Hands M.P. visiting local social housing blocks on Carnwath Road home to hundreds of local people and just yards from Thames Waters proposed super sewer drive shaft.

Boosting apprenticeships for young people and small businesses

Greg Hands M.P. has welcomed new measures from the Government, which will ensure young people and small businesses feel the full benefits of the successful expansion of apprenticeships. Data released last month showed that in Chelsea and Fulham: 100 people started an apprenticeship in 2009/10. 230 people started an apprenticeship in 2010/11.

This means the number starting an apprenticeship locally has already more than doubled under the Coalition. On 16th November 2011, the Government announced it will be: Offering cash bonuses for taking on young apprentices. The Government will offer employers with 50 employees or fewer up to 1,500 for taking on an apprentice aged between 16 and 24. This will support up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13. Making it quicker and easier for employers to take on an apprentice. The National Apprenticeships Service and training providers will be required to ensure that every employer is able to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice. Targeting apprenticeships where they are needed. The programme will focus on younger adults, new employees, higher level qualifications and particular sectors where apprenticeships can make the greatest impact. Equipping apprentices with basic skills. Apprenticeship providers will be required to offer all apprentices training in English and Maths up to the standard of a good GCSE. Ensuring high standards. A review has been launched into the standards and quality of apprenticeships, undertaken by a leading employer and reporting in the Spring.

Commenting, Greg Hands M.P. said: In Chelsea and Fulham, 130 more people are benefiting from an apprenticeship thanks to the governments extra funding. Thats not just great news for them, but also for the whole local economy. Too many businesses have been put off taking on an apprentice because of unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape. Thats now changing. I would urge local companies to take advantage of the new system and give our young people these vital opportunities.

Have your say on the future of Earls Court and West Kensington
Residents can have their say on the future redevelopment of the area around Earls Court. Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has launched the next stage of consultation on its planning framework called the Supplementary Planning Document or SPD. The framework sets out key principles for the long term future development of the area on issues such as urban form, housing, employment, social and community facilities and transport. The SPD supports the idea of comprehensive regeneration, including building new homes for residents on West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates. The proposed planning framework comes on top of a separate economic study which showed that comprehensive regeneration including the estates would bring significant benefits for local people including new jobs, homes, better transport links, a greater range of housing choice, new community facilities and other neighbourhood improvements. A masterplan has already been produced by Sir Terry Farrell which imagines a future of four villages and a high street, with up to 7,500 new homes and more than 12,000 permanent new jobs. No land agreement has been signed yet and the council will continue to consult local people before making a final decision. The council will only consider signing a land agreement if legal agreements drawn up by residents themselves can be met. These guarantees include: An offer of a new modern home for council tenants, leaseholders and freeholders within the regeneration area People will only move once their new home is ready Everything will be done to keep neighbours together Residents leaseholders and freeholders will receive the market value of their home, plus 10% compensation AND a 10% discount on their new home should they wish to buy in to the development Council tenants will remain secure tenants and receive 4,500 compensation, plus moving costs and new household goods such as fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, oven and carpets/curtains

Leader of H&F Council Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh said: We have said all along that we will only support including the estates in comprehensive development if there are substantial benefits for people living there. There is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create thousands of jobs, build new homes and secure major neighbourhood improvements such as new schools, parks, health centres and shops. We are determined to continue to explore the potential benefits with local people." You can view the Supplementary Planning Document in local libraries or log on to www.lbhf.gov.uk/earlscourtspd. The consultation will last for six weeks from 11 November to 23 December 2011.

Royal Borough calls on Government to rethink relaxation of licensing laws

Pubs and clubs in the Royal Borough may soon be able to put on music without first having to get a licence from the Council if a current Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation becomes law. Alarmingly the DCMS consultation is not just proposing the deregulation of small-scale events but those with audiences of up to 5,000. In Kensington and Chelsea there are currently 878 venues which, under the DCMS proposals, would be able to lay on unregulated events. The Council is worried that not only would this result in a sharp increase in noise and nuisance for Royal Borough residents, but a spike in associated antisocial behaviour. Another implication for the Royal Borough is that it hosts one of Europe's largest events, the Notting Hill Carnival. In the interests of public safety it is essential that the Council and the Metropolitan Police bring Carnival to a close at a reasonable hour. With complete deregulation any premises within the Carnival area could legally provide live and recorded music 24 hours a day over the Carnival period, as long as any alcohol sales they make are within their permitted hours and their audiences are not more than 5,000. Councillor Nick Paget-Brown, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Far from being meddlesome, pointless bureaucracy, entertainment licences are actually how we ensure that noise is controlled, that events close down at a reasonable time and that landlords generally act responsibly. "It's no secret that councils and constabularies are hard pressed right now and indeed for the foreseeable future. We for one simply do not have the resources to cope with a serious rise in complaints and urge the DCMS to rethink its proposals. "In addition to our formal response to the consultation, I have written to the Secretary of State at the DCMS to express the Council's grave concern about the adverse impact this proposal will have on densely populated inner-city residential areas like Kensington and Chelsea." You can have your say on the consultation by visiting www.culture.gov.uk/consultations and clicking on the link entitled "Consultation on proposal to examine the deregulation of Schedule One of the Licensing Act 2003". The consultation closes on Saturday 3 December 2011. Please send your comments or if you have any queries about this consultation to: regulated_entertainment_consultation@culture.gsi.gov.uk. Or by post to: Nigel Wakelin Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH

H&F to put armed services first on local housing list

Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council is aiming to become the first local authority in the country to put members of the Territorial Army (TA), as well as members of the regular armed forces, at the front of the housing queue. The move comes as the council, which was the first in the country to start prioritising working households in 2007, looks to review how it allocates its social housing and Home Buy products to give a greater priority to those who also undertake voluntary service or have served in the armed forces. The announcement follows a recent commitment by the Government, and endorsed by H&F, to ensure that priority is also given to former armed services personnel and their families who have a strong local connection to the Borough. The council believes that the nature of military work means that servicemen and their families all too often end up living in poor quality and expensive rented accommodation. The council also plans to give Special Constables priority for social housing. Hammersmith & Fulham is home to the Royal Yeomany TA Regiment who were awarded the Freedom of Hammersmith & Fulham earlier this year. The Royal Yeomanry has a prestigious history and has served in every major campaign dating back to the Boer War in a variety of roles. The regiment is the oldest and most senior Territorial Army Cavalry regiment. Cllr Andrew Johnson, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: We are eternally grateful for the courage and bravery of our armed forces serving in dangerous places across the world. However, all too often, when they return home from duty they struggle to find appropriate housing. We do not believe that years of loyal service to this country should become an obstacle to finding a home. There can be no people more deserving of a council house or access to home ownership that those who give voluntary service in the name of Queen and Country. In the meantime, the council says that under its new Tenants Charter it hopes to prioritise allocating council housing on the condition that people find work or enrol on a training course or undertake voluntary service whilst in part-time work. New tenants who are able to work but refuse to do so may forfeit their right to a council property within Hammersmith and Fulham. Cllr Johnson added: If we want to build strong, mixed and sustainable communities we need to prioritise hard working local people when considering applications for council housing. We want to give people a hand up and not a hand out and the best way to do that is to prioritise people who are making an effort and penalise those who simply cannot be bothered. Council housing can be a great safety net to help get people back on their feet, but that is all that it should be. Council housing is a springboard - not a destination. Since April 1, 2011, the council has helped 58 working families into social housing. Between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011, that figure was 134. Between August 2009 and March 2010, 114 working families were helped into housing.

Hands in the papers:

Supersewer site's lorry route 'will cause road chaos'

Mark Prigg, Science Editor, The Evening Standard Wednesday 16th November 2011 Up to 29,000 extra lorry journeys could blight Chelsea and Fulham for years under plans for London's supersewer, it is claimed. Thames Water recently revealed that Carnwath Road in Fulham has been identified as a key drilling site for the 4.1 billion project. MP Greg Hands claims it could cause chaos on the area's roads. "This route would bring traffic misery," said Mr Hands. "We already knew that parts of Fulham would be affected, but not on this scale. Both Fulham and Chelsea could see gridlock, as well as noise and other disruption." The extra traffic could also cause problems for Chelsea fans on matchdays. The latest proposals also see major drilling sites at Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey and at Kirtling Street in Battersea. Thames Water says 90 per cent of excavated soil will be transported away by barge or rail to minimise congestion on roads during the work. Mr Hands says it is not enough, adding: "It is completely unacceptable for Thames Water to put thousands of lorries through residential areas." The 7.2 metre-wide tunnel is set to be the biggest engineering scheme undertaken in the capital, with a six-year construction period set to begin in 2016.

Hands in the papers:

Police hope new Twitter feed will help build community links
Greg Burns, Hammersmith & Fulham Chronicle Friday 18th November 2011 Police in Hammersmith and Fulham are hoping their new Twitter site will help them reach out to young people in the borough. The www.twitter.com/@MPSHammFul feed was launched last Monday (14/11) posting crime appeals, updates and public safety information between 8am and 6pm on Monday to Friday. It comes after residents and community groups urged police to make better use of social media in the wake of the London riots last August. Hammersmith and Fulham escaped relatively unscathed from the widespread disorder compared to neighbouring borough Ealing which saw looters and violent thugs pour onto the streets. And Chief Superintendent Lucy D'Orsi, borough commander, said the message from the community, and young people, was clear. She told the Chronicle: We were one of just five boroughs that was not really affected by the riots across the capital and my officers worked tirelessly to make sure that was the case and help neighbouring boroughs where needed. But there was a lot of concern within the community and we held numerous public meetings to reassure them and speak about a number of issues. The thing they kept telling us was that we should be making better use of social media like Twitter and Facebook. That was especially the case with young people who we are really keen to engage with. So we took that all on board and I am really excited about our new Twitter site. Mrs D'Orsi is aiming to make the @MPSHammFul site the most followed police site in the capital and is already looking at other ways to keep the public informed. She said: The general Met Police site has more than 40,000 followers and my ambition is for our site to go beyond that. Ultimately, I want to have dedicated Twitter sites for each of our policing wards. But we will take it one step at a time. The police's arrival on Twitter has been welcomed by the online community and was racing towards 200 followers after its first week. Councillor Greg Smith, H&F Council residents' services leaders, tweeted: Big welcome to Twitter to Hammersmith & Fulham Police. MP Greg Hands said: Welcome H&F Police to Twitter. I like the 'don't report crime by Twitter' plea.

Hands in the papers:

Westminster Column
Greg Hands M.P., Hammersmith & Fulham Chronicle Friday 18th November 2011 The news that Thames Water has chosen Carnwath Road on the south Fulham riverside as its new preferred site for the drill shaft of its Super Sewer will bring years of misery to my constituents across both Fulham and Chelsea. Buried in the small print of the documentation is the fact that some 29,000 lorries will travel along the Kings Road, the New Kings Road and Wandsworth Bridge Road to go to and from the site, transporting construction equipment to and from the tunnel site. The impact on Kings Road retailers, Chelsea and Fulham Football Club matchdays and the general public going about their business by bus or by car is likely to be severe. The decision to choose Carnwath Road comes despite Thames Water themselves admitting that using a residential area will cost more than the uninhabited site they had previously between Putney and Barnes. It will also disrupt far more people. The Council and I have responded swiftly to the news, and have called an Open Meeting for Wednesday, 7th December, at Hurlingham & Chelsea School. Thames Water have been invited. Residents will have the chance to have their say. We need a big turnout to show Thames Water that their decision needs to be reversed.

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: By email: By post: In person: 020 7219 5448 mail@greghands.com Greg Hands M.P. House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Greg Hands M.P.s weekly surgery

www.greghands.com

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