The final debate of the parliamentary year - now called The Sir David Amess Debate after its most loyal attendee - is an opportunity for MPs to set out their aspirations for their constituencies over the year ahead.
I took the opportunity to highlight three priorities for Newbury over the next 12 months.
A bridge over the railway line in Thatcham is much needed due to unacceptable daily delays for frustrated residents at the level crossing. I recently visited the signalling box at Colthrop where the team from Network Rail and GWR explained a growing problem. In recent years there has been a 19% increase in trains using this stretch of track and vehicles using the level crossing have increased to almost 10,000 a day. Because of the location of the stations, safety necessitates frequent closures of the gates. This means that queues of traffic are unable to clear before the gates come down again. It is now clear that previous plans to build a bridge over the Thatcham level crossing itself were unfeasible, but a more realistic vision would see a new stretch of road and bridge over the track closer to Colthrop. I have discussed this with the Transport Secretary and will be working to build a business case over the months ahead.
My campaign for reduced waiting times for autism and ADHD diagnoses for children. Since I started my campaign in 2021, waiting times have reduced from a shocking three years to two, with 96% of children now seen within this time. However, when I spoke to managers at the Berkshire West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in July, they told me they were unlikely to meet my target of a 12-month maximum wait by March 2024. This is because of an 84% increase in demand for diagnoses since the end of the pandemic. I have already successfully lobbied for increased funding for the service and will continue to work with central government on ways we can support it. We need to bring down waiting times significantly from where they are.
And finally, I raised my latest proposal to improve the environmental performance of water companies. It is now well known the water watchdog OFWAT has the power to impose fines of up to £250,000 for illegal pollution of our waterways. In June, I wrote to OFWAT suggesting new rules to prevent water companies from paying shareholder dividends or company bonuses if their environmental performance falls below standard. Just as in financial services, bonuses are not paid to bankers who are found to have acted improperly, I believe the same should apply to the performance of water companies. I am, of course, aware that Thames Water is currently in a state of flux following the resignation of its chief executive, however I anticipate that its future will be clearer when parliament returns and I shall be fighting for West Berkshire on these issues again.
