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Rebecca’s Review By Rebecca Smith MP for South West Devon and Ward Councillor for Plymstock Radford
As our postal service approaches the busiest period in the calendar, Christmas, it is even more important that the Royal Mail finds ways to modernise and improve efficiency. I was pleased to join the Royal Mail at their Plymouth Mail Centre in Plymstock for the opening of their new Parcel Sortation Machine.
I enjoyed meeting their friendly team and having a go on their new machine. This cutting-edge piece of kit will increase processing capabilities by 9,000 parcels per hour and help provide a more secure service in the long-term.
I’ve picked up the baton of supporting the community in Plympton St Maurice regarding traffic issues from Sir Gary Streeter. Working alongside the Plympton St Maurice Civic Society, local councillors and officers from Plymouth and South Hams Councils, we’ve been looking at how to safeguard the historic streets running through the village. More to come on this in due course…
Still in Plympton, if you and your family use the playpark at Summerlands Close in Chaddlewood, I’ve been working with Plymouth City Council to explore options for renovating it. If you want to let me know your thoughts on this, please email me on rebecca.smith.mp@parliament.uk.
If you’ve been following me for a while now, you’ll know that I’m committed to seeing a bus link between Plympton and Plymstock. I’m also keen to ensure the new crematorium and Saltram are accessible by bus too.
Having written recently to the chief executive of Plymouth City Council, I am pleased to share that Plymouth City Council are now actively considering a potential bus link between Plympton and Plymstock and that it has gone out to tender.
Also, the council’s Bereavement Service are continuing to review access to the new crematorium by all modes of transport.
As part of the Sherford development, a future cycle/pedestrian link has been proposed to Saltram House and parkland which would be located approximately 250 metres to the south of the park. All of these options are essential to ensure our community is fully connected and I’ll keep fighting for this.
Kathy White pictured
with the pumpkin
carving winner at
Radford Park
Congratulations to the team at Radford Park for organising a hugely successful Bat Walk to kick of half term. With around 60 families getting involved, there was fancy dress, pumpkin carving, crafts and a walk in the woods to spot local bats!
I had the pleasure of judging both the costume competition and pumpkin carving with my colleague, Councillor Kathy Watkin. A tough choice, but in the end, brother and sister Lola and Otis won with their excellent spider and web costumes and Niamh came second with her mummy outfit! Baby Erith’s dad won the pumpkin carving contest too!
October saw Hospice Week and it was the perfect opportunity to visit our very own hospice, St Luke’s. While it serves the whole of Plymouth and the surrounding area, I’m proud that its home is in South West Devon, where patients get to look out over Plymouth Sound from Turnchapel in Plymstock. Thanks to chief executive, George Lillie for his time and for updating me on life at St Luke’s.
It was great to finish one of my constituency Fridays at Summerskills Brewery in Plymstock, the oldest brewery in Plymouth. Their brewing equipment was bought from Terry Jones of Monty Python! I thoroughly enjoyed one of their ‘real ales’ over the weekend and have put their beer mats on proud display in my Westminster office.
You can find Summerskills beers at a number of local pubs in South West Devon, including the Fox and Hounds in Brixton, Horse and Groom in Bittaford, Royal Oak Inn in Meavy and Eighteen87 in Plymstock. Their shop is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm or you can by online by visiting www.summerskillsbreweryshop.co.uk
Next month, I’ll report back on my petition to Parliament to save the funding we need for Derriford’s Urgent and Emergency Care Unit. This is vital if we want to see an end to the 19 hour wait at A&E that a constituent recently shared with me.
The previous government was committed to this work and it’s essential that the new Labour Government enable this shovel-ready project to crack on. You can find out more on my website.
As ever, you can book a surgery appointment or get in touch via email: rebecca.smith.mp@ parliament.uk or call the office on 01752 335666.
Visit my website or Facebook for more information: www.rebecca-smith.org.uk and fb.com/SWDevonRebecca
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