8/12/2019 News Bulletin from Greg Hands MP 394

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From: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.com

Subject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #394

Date: 24 February 2014 11:02

To: news@greghands.com

In this edition:

Greg Hands M.P.s DiaryWebsite of the Week:Hammersmith & FulhamConservative CouncillorsGreg Hands MP welcomesnew trains with increasedcapacity on District LinePhoto news:Westfield Park, ChelseaGreg Hands disappointed atwater bill rises to fund

Super SewerPhoto news:Kensington, Chelsea &Fulham ConservativeFutureHammersmith & Fulhamincluded in Heathrowconsultation, after pressurefrom the ConservativeCouncilKensington & Chelsea hasthe lowest rates ofoverweight and obeseadults in the country

How to contactGreg Hands M.P.

Issue 394 - Monday 24th February 2014

Since the last edition, Greg:

Welcomed news of another increase in capacity on the

Wimbledon branch of the District Line, thistime through the

introduction of the new S Class trains later this month. The

Line includes five stations in Gregs constituency. For more,

see below.

Attended the unveiling of a memorial plaque at Westfield Park,

Chelsea, to mark 70 years of what is believed to be the last

bomb to fall on Chelsea. For photo, see below.

Welcomed pupils from Cameron House School, Chelsea, for

a Question & Answer session at the House of Commons.

Attended and addresses the Annual General Meeting of

Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservative Future. For

picture, see below.

Carried out his duties as the Governments Deputy Chief

Whip.

Held a regular, weekly, advice surgery for local Chelsea and

Fulham residents, at Fulham Library, on Fulham Road, close to

Parsons Green tube. Gregs surgeries are generally weekly, on

Monday mornings, at either Fulham Library, or Peter Jones,

Sloane Square, Chelsea. To make an appointment, email

mail@greghands.comor telephone 020 7219 5448.

Website of the Week:

www.hfconservatives.com

The website of the Hammersmith & Fulham ConservativeCouncillors why not get involved to help keep the Council inConservative hands, with election day coming on Thursday 22ndMay.

Greg Hands MP welcomes new trains with

increased capacity on District Line

Greg Hands MP at the District Line control centre.

As the latest stage of his decade-long campaign to increase capacity

on the District Line, Chelsea & Fulham MP Greg Hands haswelcomed the arrival of new S Class trains coming into service onthe District Line later this month. The Borough of Hammersmith &Fulham has the highest number of Tube users of any borough in theUK, and Chelsea similarly has many Tube users via Sloane Squareand Earls Court. In 2011 14,000 residents responded in a TfLconsultation which resulted in five more rush-hour trains runningthrough Fulham during the morning peak.Greg himself was a guest of Transport for London when visiting one ofthe very first S-Class trains, when they were introduced on theHammersmith & City Line early in 2013. The new 'walk-through' S-Class trains, which are one carriage bigger than the line's old trains,

will go into operation for the first time on the Wimbledon Branch Line,which runs through Fulham and through Sloane Square, at the end ofFebruary, and 80 new District Line trains will be phased in graduallyuntil all are in service by 2016.The S-Stock is unique as it's the first train on the Tube with a walk-through gangway between carriages - the inside of the train is onecontinuous length, providing improved capacity, security andpassenger flow. The new trains, which are built by Bombardier inDerby, can accommodate 865 passengers, 17% more than currentstock, and have wider doors and walkways, as well as airconditioning. They are also better adapted for wheelchair users andCCTV also enables the driver to see into every carriage, for increasedsafety and security.The District Line is also used by more than 700,000 people each day.

At peak times the Wimbledon branch of the District Line operates at92 per cent of capacity with some trains operating over capacity, andmany passengers unable to board at stations such as Parsons Greenand Fulham BroadwayWelcoming the new trains, Greg said: This is fantastic news foreveryone in Fulham and many stops beyond. I have beencampaigning for more trains on the Wimbledon branch for years. Thisnew trains will now add significantly more capacity, on the line makingfor more efficient, comfortable and smoother journeys. The air-conditioning will also be welcome during the summer months. I travel

by the District Line at least twice a day between Fulham, Chelsea andWestminster and am looking forward to using them; Im sure manyresidents are too.Similar S-Class trains were introduced on the on the Circle andHammersmith and City lines last September and have proved popularwith passengers. The District Line's existing trains are more than 40years old. They started service in 1969/70 and were manufactured intwo batches in 1969, with a further supply in 1977.By the end of 2016 there will be 191 of the new trains on 40% of theTube network, running on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City andMetropolitan lines.

Photo news:

Westfield Park, Chelsea

Greg Hands MP at the unveiling of a new historical plaque inWestfield Park, Chelsea, to mark the last World War Two bomb tofall on Chelsea, together with the Mayor (Cllr Charles Williams),

the Mayoress (Mrs June Williams), a Chelsea Pensioner, theGerman Deputy Naval Attache (Jan Hackstein) and Chelsea

Riverside Ward Councillor (Cllr Gerard Hargreaves) and localresidents.

Greg Hands disappointed at water bill

rises to fund Super SewerGreg Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, has called on ThamesWater to do more to protect the pockets of their customers, and not to

pass on the cost of building the planned Super Sewer, by hiking pricesabove inflation.Earlier this month, UK water companies announced that average billsacross England and Wales are set to rise by around 2% this year, justbelow the current inflation at 2.7%. However while most firms areincreasing prices by less than the rate of inflation the biggestcompany, Thames Water, will impose a 3.4% hike on the combinedwater and sewerage charge. This represents an 12 rise for theaverage household, which will come into effect on 1 April 2014. Therise for Thames customers comprises of the sewerage component ofthe bills, which will rise by 13 a year.

Thames, which serves 14 million customers in and around London,had asked the regulator Ofwat to be able to impose a one-off 29 billhike for 2014/15 but the request was turned down following pressurefrom Greg Hands MP and other consumer groups.Commenting on the announced bill increase Greg said: I amdisappointed that Thames Water have insisted on hiking prices onhard pressed families by more than inflation, despite repeatedrequests from me and Ofwat for them to keep costs down. I amhowever pleased that we managed to block the proposed rise of 29(11%), and I am grateful to Ofwat for this.Greg added: This rise stems solely from Thames Waters plans forthe expensive Super Sewer, as evidenced by the fact they are cutting

the water supply component of the bills. I am continuing to campaignagainst the drilling of the tunnel from Carnwath Road in Fulham, andagainst the project cost being passed on to customers. Thamesshould follow the good example of other UK water companies and cut

prices for their customers in these difficult times.In October, Ofwat called on all companies to consider whether theyneeded to take up their full permitted increases, in recognition of thedifficult economic circumstances facing many of their customers. Sixcompanies (Affinity, Anglian, Southern, United Utilities, Wessex,Yorkshire) have responded by reducing their allowed bill increases in2014-15.

Cathryn Ross, Ofwat Chief Executive, said: Its our job to make surecustomers are getting a fair deal. We know that customers are havinga tough time. In the last five years bills have risen with inflation, yet weare well aware customers incomes havent. We are pleased that anumber of companies have heard our call, listened to their customers,and taken action. Ten million households will now benefit from lowerthan expected bills this April. We are now focused on getting the bestdeal for customers over the next five years.These rises are the final ones of the current five-year pricing period.Ofwat is currently analysing and challenging companies businessplans for the period 2015-20. Final decisions on these prices will bemade by January 2015, with new bills coming into effect in April 2015.

Photo news:

Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham

Conservative Future

Greg Hands MP, RBKC Council Leader Nick Paget-Brown and

members of Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservative Futureat their Annual General Meeting earlier this month.

Hammersmith & Fulham included in

Heathrow consultation, after pressure

from the Conservative Council

Proposed location of new third runway at Heathrow Airport.Heathrow bosses have agreed to explain their airport expansion plansface-to-face with Hammersmith & Fulham residents following pressurefrom the council.Despite the fact the borough is likely to be among the most affectedby proposals for an additional runway, Heathrow had originally omittedHammersmith & Fulham (H&F) from a list of consultation events untilthe leader of the council stepped in.

After the Davies Commission included Heathrow on its shortlist ofoptions for additional runway capacity in the UK, airport officialslaunched a consultation on plans for a third landing strip but failed toinclude H&F on its list of consultation venues.Glossy adverts said that residents from Brentford, Colnbrook,Harlington, Harmondsworth, Hounslow, Longford, Putney, RichingsPark, Richmond, Stanwell Moor and Windsor were all set to get publicexhibitions where local residents will be able to pick up a copy of theconsultation document and meet some of the Heathrow team andlearn more about the proposals.However, despite the fact that half of H&F is already under Heathrowflight paths and could suffer worse disruption if a third runway planever takes off, Heathrow officials had decided not to hold an event in

the borough before their u-turn last week.Council Leader, Cllr Nicholas Botterill, says, I am pleased that thecouncils intervention has persuaded Heathrow officials to changetheir minds and agree to hold a consultation event in our borough.H&F residents simply cannot be ignored on an issue as serious as thefuture of Heathrow Airport.Residents can now probe Heathrows plans to build a third runway atthe UKs busiest airport in detail without having to traipse out ofborough.The Shaping Heathrows north west runway proposal takes place at

Hammersmith Town Hall on Wednesday March 12 between 12noon 8pm.Residents can find out more about the consultation by calling 0800307 7996 or emailing communityrelations@heathrow.com or byvisiting www.heathrow.com/localcommunity . The consultationstarted last week and runs until March 16.

Kensington & Chelsea has the lowest rates

of overweight and obese adults in the

countryAccording to new data released this week by Public Health England,rates of overweight and obese adults in Kensington and Chelsea arethe lowest in England.Commenting on the figures, Cllr Mary Weale, the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea's Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:"While I am very pleased that percentages of overweight and obeseadults in Kensington and Chelsea are the lowest in the country it is notyet time to celebrate. The fact is that close to 60,000 people in theborough are overweight or obese means that too many of ourresidents will still miss out on more good years of health because of

preventable disease."We are working hard to tackle public health concerns like obesity.Current initiatives include building a brand new leisure centre in NorthKensington and refurbishing the Chelsea Sports Centre. Our wellmaintained parks and open spaces are wonderful and provide afantastic environment for people to take exercise on their own or withtheir families."

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448By email: mail@greghands.com

By post: Greg Hands M.P.House of CommonsLondon SW1A 0AA

In person: Click here for details of howto book an appointment atGreg Hands M.P.s weeklysurgery

www.greghands.com

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Greg Hands M.P. a strong voice for Chelsea & Fulham

Published & Promoted by Jonathan Fraser-Howells on behalf of Greg HandsM.P.,

both of 1a Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3 5RP

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