I have written many times in previous weekly articles that securing Swindon’s fair share of Government investment has been a top priority of mine since first being election in 2010. That is why I am delighted to have played my part in securing £100 million worth of investment for the Council to spend on projects over the next four years.
One of the most exciting projects is the plans to restore and refurbish the historic Victorian-era Health Hydro building and make it a top leisure and health attraction that everyone in and out of the town can enjoy.
Over the next couple of years, enhancements to the leisure facilities housed within the building will take place along with repairs and maintenance to the structure of the building. Additional works will also be undertaken to restore and reinstate the building’s historical features.
To find out more about the projects and investment in the town centre, please visit: www.swindon.gov.uk/towncentreregeneration.
Another one of my main priorities as the local Member of Parliament was to secure money to expand the services at the Great Western Hospital. As with the £100 million of investment to regenerate our town, I am proud to have helped successfully secure nearly £30 million of Government funding to deliver a modern Integrated Front Door and Transitional Care Facility, and £13 million for a new Radiotherapy Unit.
The team at the GWH have put together a brilliant video which shows the exciting development work underway across the hospital to improve their services, which includes the new Urgent Treatment Centre, a new Energy Centre and the new Radiotherapy Centre.
You can watch the video by clicking on the following link: https://youtu.be/KBHyvfbeOPE.
It was great to see the Police out and about earlier this week tackling illegal parking in the Broadgreen area. This is something I am working closely on with Central Ward Councillor, Lourenco Fernandes and am pleased to see the Police responding to the complaints of the local community.
The Police have assured me that they will be working in partnership with the local community and the Council to educate, encourage and where necessary enforce legislation in respect of parking infringements.
I continue to follow this issue very closely and will keep residents updated.
Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the Minister for Disabilities, Chloe Smith MP, about the British Sign Language Bill. BSL is the primary form of communication for approximately 90,000 residents here in the UK and having supported this Bill in the House of Commons, I am pleased to see the Government is supporting official legal recognition of BSL.
Too many deaf people in the UK continue to face barriers to communication which affect employment, education and access to healthcare. This Bill contains important steps towards levelling up this country for disabled people and I am proud to have supported it.
