Dear Residents,
I’ve had a busy few months as your Member of Parliament, with lots of meetings with residents, community groups and local councillors in Southmead.
It was great to see the proposed plans for the development of Glencoyne Square and the shopping area along Greystoke Avenue. I’m sure residents will welcome new affordable homes for local people and a face lift for the shopping areas. I’ve pledged my support and when we’re ready to ask the Government for the money, I’ll do everything that I can to make sure we get it.
But whilst we have hopeful news for this area, and the new Dunmail development on its way, we also have other areas in Southmead that mustn’t be forgotten. That’s why I recently joined local councillors Helen Godwin and Brenda Massey on a walkaround and litter pick on Twenty Acres. Residents are facing several issues including poor quality pavements, blocked drains, broken fencing, high levels of fly tipping and a real sense their concerns are not being heard. Repairs undertaken have not been to the standard residents and I would hope for. Amazingly, it seems that lots of the paths in that area are still owned by the builder who built them in the 1970s (but we don’t know where he is or even if he’s still alive!). So since that meeting Brenda, Helen and I have each followed up with the relevant council departments and asked for action to be taken. I’m hoping we can sort out the ownership of the paths as our first priority, but there has also been talk of setting up a ‘Twenty Acres Action Team’. If you live in the area I’d encourage you to get involved.
Thank you also to the many residents that have worked with our community police team in recent months. We all know of the problems we had last Summer, and the unacceptable bike crime that was taking place in the area. It was great to see a quieter Summer this year and the decline of bike crime. Anti-social behaviour is hard to deal with, but when we all work together to make it clear that we want Southmead to be the best place to live for everyone that lives here, then we can make a real difference. The key point is that this isn’t solved just by politicians or police officers, but because of you and our community.
Lastly, I want my constituents to be able to make change happen. That’s why I recently launched my Powered by You app. This mobile app is a quick and informal way to talk with other residents and share your views and ideas with me. Powered by You aims to bring together residents from across Bristol North West, to discuss local and national issues, working together to organise local campaigns and help create change. You can sign-up to download the app by visiting www.poweredbyyou.org.uk
If you would like to get in touch with me about any local or national issue, please email darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk, write to Darren Jones MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or sign up to my monthly newsletter via www.darren-jones.co.uk/sign-up. You can also find me on Facebook (fb.com/darrenjonesmp) and Twitter (@darrenpjones).
I’ll be hosting more of my regular café and pub politics sessions in the local area soon so keep an eye on my website and Facebook page for details and in the meantime, let me wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Darren
Darren Jones MP
Member of Parliament for Bristol North West
Your Voice in Parliament. Your Champion in Bristol.