Stephen Metcalfe MP shows support for Berry Lane Patient Participation Group

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock showed his support for the Berry Lane Patient Participation Group when he dropped in last Friday.

The Patient Participation Group gives patients the opportunity to get involved with and support the running of the Berry Lane GP practice. The group includes members of the practice staff and they meet at regular intervals to discuss how to improve the services and facilities offered by the surgery.

Mr Metcalfe joined the Group for one of their regular meetings and was able to answer questions from the group about upcoming changes to the health service.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “I was very pleased to have been asked to attend the meeting. The Group is a good example of all stakeholders, from doctors to patients, working together for the common good and to improve the service patients receive. It was also a great opportunity for me to hear the concerns and thoughts of both patients and healthcare professionals.”

“Patient involvement in healthcare is a very high priority for the NHS and will become even more so as GPs make the transition into Clinical Commissioning Groups next week.  Patient Participation Groups offer a positive line of communication with patients and I would encourage all practices in my constituency to start one.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP is on board with First Bus Essex Hybrid Launch

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, and John Baron, MP for Basildon, called in on Basildon Bus Station yesterday to support the launch of First Group’s new hybrid buses.

Mr Metcalfe was delighted to accept the invitation from General Manager of First Group, Danny Jones to see the new buses in operation and to learn about how they will benefit both customers and the environment.

The 19 Volvo 1900H vehicles will be operating in Basildon as part of First’s commitment to providing greener, cleaner, quieter and smoother journeys for their customers.

The Low Carbon Emission Buses (LCEB) are able to achieve the LCEB target for greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to a 30% reduction compared to the average Euro 3 diesel bus of the same total passenger capacity.

Stephen commented: “It was great to be with First Group for the launch of the new buses. They offer a vital service to the people of South Basildon and East Thurrock and customers will now benefit from more comfortable journeys, whilst the environment benefits from reduced emissions.”

“Let’s not forget the investment this brings into the area. Each bus costs £275k and I would like to thank First Bus for bringing this to Basildon.”

Stephen Metcalfe welcomes new steps to control immigration

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed new steps set out by the Prime Minister to ensure we have an immigration system that favours people who work hard and want to get on in life. 

Tough reforms of all the routes of immigration to the UK have already been implemented by the Conservatives and have seen net immigration fall by almost a third since the last general election.

Stephen said: "Many people in Basildon and Thurrock are concerned about the issue of immigration and after thirteen years of open borders under Labour it is no wonder. Conservatives in Government have implemented a comprehensive policy of reform to our immigration system to make it more robust and more selective. These reforms have seen net immigration cut by a third since the general election."

"I welcome the new steps which the Prime Minister has set out to ensure that everyone who comes here pays their way and gives something back. By changing the rules on benefits and NHS treatment we will stop our system from being a ‘soft touch’. Making entitlement to public services something migrants earn and not an automatic right will stop the ‘something for nothing’ culture which grew up under Labour. These are common sense reforms and they will make a difference for people in South Essex."

Stephen Metcalfe MP presents awards to McDonalds apprentices

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, and Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, presented awards to some very deserving apprentices from local McDonalds’ restaurants last Friday.

  

The apprentices from across Basildon have all gained Level 2 Apprenticeships in Multi-Skilled Hospitality which is the equivalent of 5 A*-C GCSE’s.

Apprenticeships at McDonalds are booming in Basildon thanks to the fantastic apprenticeship scheme offered by the restaurant chain which is one of the largest in the UK.

Local businesses woman Gen Isikgun who owns 5 local restaurants, is keen to see her 349 strong team benefit from the program. 

Mr Metcalfe commented: “Over the last year, 21 of Gen Isikgun’s team have gained Level Two apprenticeships and it was a real privilege to be at the awards evening to celebrate this fantastic achievement.”

One apprentice, Michael Gooda, who works at the Town Centre Restaurant began his employment in 2011 and is now a manager having gained his qualification in 2012. The apprenticeships are open to all crew members regardless of previous qualifications meaning that every employee has the opportunity to develop their skills base in such a way.

Mr Metcalfe added: “In 2011/2012, a record number of people started apprenticeships in South Basildon and East Thurrock and I would like to thank all those who have, and continue to invest in apprenticeships. They are a vital means through which young people can gain vocational skills that will stand them in good stead for future employment and a vital means through which we can get the economy moving again.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again congratulate all of the apprentices who have worked so hard to gain their qualifications and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP and CCllr John Schofield welcome Lee Chapel Primary expansion plans

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the news that Essex County Council (ECC) has granted Lee Chapel Primary School the opportunity to expand their premises.

Mr Metcalfe and Essex County Councillor John Schofield have been lobbying ECC for some time to allow the expansion to take place and are said to be delighted with the decision. The new facilities will allow Lee Chapel to increase their capacity with an additional form of entry.

In their last Ofsted report, Lee Chapel Primary School achieved Outstanding status with Ofsted praising both the standard of teaching and the excellent progress made by pupils throughout their time at the school.

Mr Metcalfe, who is known for his staunch commitment to promoting education throughout South Basildon and East Thurrock, commented: “This really is fantastic news for both the school and for children in the local area. Lee Chapel sets extremely high standards and this is exactly what we need from our schools.”

“The expansion will enable even more children to benefit from the outstanding education Lee Chapel provides and I very much look forward to seeing the finished result. In the meantime, I will of course be doing all I can to support the staff and students as the expansion process unfolds.”

John Schofield, County Councillor for Basildon Westley Heights who works hard to support improvements for his area said: "After having personally campaigned for over seven years on this issue I am thrilled that Essex County Council has agreed to release The Knares offices, the previous infant school premises, to enable the current primary school to expand. It is an outstanding school recently having obtained government teaching accreditation. This will be a stimulus for educational improvement across the whole of Basildon".

Stephen Metcalfe MP presents poetry award at Greensted Junior School

Stephen Metcalfe MP with headteacher Mrs Farrow 

and the School Council

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock visited Geensted Junior School last week to present the winner of the Basildon Challenge poetry competition with their award.

The recital competition, organised by the Basildon Education Services Trust (BEST), took place earlier in the month and saw children from across Basildon come together to recite by heart a poem they had learned or written. 

The overall winner was Sian Firth from Greensted Junior School and the local MP made a special visit to present Sian with her award in the school assembly.

Mr Metcalfe, who is patron of BEST commented: “It was fantastic to be able to present Sian with her well deserved award in the school assembly. I was a judge at the final of the competition so it was great to be able to follow that up and I hope it inspires the children at Greensted to get involved with other Basildon Challenges.”

Mr Metcalfe was also given the opportunity to have a tour of the school to meet with staff and pupils and to talk to the packed assembly hall about the role of an MP.

He added: “My visit was an extremely positive one and I was really impressed by the school.  The children were enthusiastic, keen to learn and very well behaved throughout my talk! I have high hopes for Greensted and I am sure this will be first of many awards that I present at to the pupils there.”

Stephen Metcalfe MP’s rail summit hailed a great success

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, organised a rail summit last Friday which has been hailed a great success by all involved.

The summit brought together all those with an interest in local rail issues including C2C, Network Rail, DP World London Gateway, and local stakeholders including councillors and residents to try and tackle some of the problems affecting the community.

All involved were supportive of the objectives and there was consensus that there were a number of issues that need looking at.

The focus of the discussions rested largely on the need for expansion at Stanford-Le-Hope station to both meet demand and ease congestion and also on how to tackle congestion problems caused by the level crossing in East Tilbury.

Stephen Metcalfe commented: “This was an extremely productive and constructive meeting. It was great to be able to bring so many different local stakeholders together to really get to grips with the problems affecting the local area and I think this will be the start of a long process in which improvements will be made.”

“As I have said before, these improvements will not happen overnight but we have made a start in addressing the problems. We have all come away from the meeting with action points and I look forward to hearing about they have been implemented at our next rail summit planned for June.”