Sarah Green

Government give £20 million to help improve Southern train services

Posted on 01/09/2016 by Sarah Green

Government creates £20 million fund to help improve performance of the Southern network and train services.

Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, today confirmed a £20 million fund and the appointment of one of Britain’s most experienced rail industry figures to help get the service back running as it should.

Chris Gibb will head a new project board, working with the train operator, the Department for Transport and Network Rail. The board will oversee the £20 million fund and closer working between Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Ltd and Network Rail to improve performance for Southern customers. A passenger representative will also be included on this review board.

Commenting on the announcement Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, said: “I welcome the news that the Government is investing £20 million and creating a new project board to help to resolve some of the terrible problems that commuters in my constituency have had to put up with for months.”

Chris Grayling MP, added: “I want the Southern network to be run by a team of people who work together to make sure passengers get decent journeys and that problems are dealt with quickly. This review will suggest how we achieve a joined up approach to running the train and tracks and make things work better for the public.

“We also need to get to grips with things that go wrong on this part of the network. That is why we are putting in place a £20 million scheme to tackle the cause of breakdowns that too often cause frustrating and damaging delays on the network.

“I now urge the industry, the train operating company and unions to work together to improve services for passengers.”

Key additional benefits of the £20 million include:

♦ £2 million to be spent on more rapid response teams to fix faults more quickly, located close to known hotspots

♦ £2.5 million to be spent on accelerated train maintenance

♦ £0.8 million investment in extra signal supervisors to keep trains moving across the network

♦ £0.9 million investment in a series of measures to minimise the impact of bridge strikes

Following the announcement a 24 hour strike by ticket office staff for next Wednesday (7) has been cancelled.

Local Greens demand further action on rail crisis

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Sarah Green

Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

Green Councillors are calling on Brighton & Hove City Council to intervene directly in the growing crisis affecting rail services for commuters and visitors to the city, as concerns are raised over impacts of inadequate rail services to the successful fundraising achievements of the Pride festival in August.

At a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council on Thursday, Labour councillors have put forward a motion proposing that the Council: “calls on the city’s MPs, the Greater Brighton Economic Board, the Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership and other relevant bodies to press the Government to act on rail infrastructure and services at the earliest opportunity”.

Greens have welcomed the motion but say it does not go far enough to address the daily struggles of commuters and visitors to the city, and say that the failing franchise managed by Govia Thameslink must be returned to public ownership as soon as possible.

Green Councillors have submitted an amendment to the Labour motion, requesting that the council write to the GTR Chief Executive to demand the company implement better compensation for passengers and guarantee additional capacity for the Pride festival on August 6.

The amendment also requests that the Council writes to the Railways Minister to set out concerns over passenger safety associated with changing the role of the conductors, and take immediate steps to restore services, reduce overcrowding and improve reliability under public ownership.

Green Councillor Louisa Greenbaum, spokesperson for the Greens on Environment, Transport and Sustainability, said:

“We welcome Labour’s proposal to bring the rail crisis to Council for debate this week, an issue which Greens have been pushing for urgent action on for considerable time now, and which Caroline Lucas MP has raised in Parliament numerous times.

“However, we feel that the situation with rail services has become so dire that it is not sufficient for the Labour administration simply to ask others to act on their behalf. Local MPs from all parties agree that something needs to be done to address the distress experienced by residents on a daily basis and the impact that GTR’s failures are having on our local economy. That’s why the Council should be acting directly to write to both the Chief Executive of GTR and the new Rail Minister calling on them to take action.

“We would like to see immediate steps taken to restore services, reduce overcrowding and improve reliability. This can be best achieved by stripping GTR of its franchise and bringing rail services back into transparent and accountable public hands”.

May appoints Brighton Kemptown MP to Treasury post

Posted on 16/07/2016 by Sarah Green

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has been appointed to a Ministerial position in the Government as Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

Prime Minister, Theresa May telephoned Mr Kirby earlier today to offer him the position.

Mr Kirby said: “I am honoured and humbled to have been asked to become Economic Secretary to the Treasury. I will do my very best to support our Prime Minister Theresa May and her Government and continue to work hard to represent everyone in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.”

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is the fifth-most senior ministerial post in the UK Treasury, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the paymaster-general and the financial secretary.

He replaces Harriett Baldwin MP and while it is not a cabinet-level post, it has been an important stepping stone on the CVs of many current and recent ministers including Andrea Leadsom MP, Nicky Morgan MP, Sajid Javid MP, Justine Greening MP and Ed Balls.

Dog awareness week – Brighton MP calls for reduction of dog attacks on postal workers

Posted on 10/07/2016 by Sarah Green

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven has been supporting the Royal Mail’s fourth annual Dog Awareness Week.

Royal Mail has been working together with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, the National Dog Warden association and the National Police Chief’s Council to raise awareness of dog attacks on postal workers and has been encouraging responsible dog ownership during Dog Awareness Week which finishes today, July 9.

Mr Kirby has been working with Royal Mail to encourage dog owners to play their part in reducing the number of incidents.

Simon said: “While the number of dog attacks on postmen and women has fallen from last year to 2,660, as many as seven postmen and women are attacked across the UK each working day.”

“Dog attacks are a significant issue faced by postmen and women, members of the public and indeed by myself and my volunteers when out leafleting.”

“Royal Mail, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust and the police are doing a fantastic job promoting responsible dog ownership and I fully support this important campaign”.

Greens choose local activist to stand in East Brighton

Posted on 04/07/2016 by Sarah Green

Activist and campaigner Mitch Alexander has been selected as the Green candidate for the by-election in East Brighton ward on Thursday, August 4.

The by-election was called following the decision of Labour councillor Maggie Barradell to stand down from the seat she won at the 2015 local elections, citing personal reasons.

Mitch is an active campaigner from Bevendean for what she believes is fair and right for all the city’s residents and she was one of the leading campaigners in the fight to stop the Labour controlled council putting up council tax bills for those on benefits and low incomes.

More recently, she led the campaign to stop the Willows GP Surgery in Bevendean from closing down, and has fought for better bus services to and from city estates, including her current work with the people of the Bristol Estate in East Brighton who are suffering with a very infrequent bus service.

Mitch said: “I love living in Brighton and want every single person who lives here too to enjoy all that the city has to offer, which is why I am campaigning hard for better public transport, accessible healthcare, stimulating community parks, affordable and free involvement in the Arts.

“I want Brighton and Hove to become a place where no resident feels left out of the city’s well-known vibrancy because of a low-income. Before starting a family, I worked in Drama and theatre and am currently in the process of setting up an organisation which will run free weekly drama workshops for children, teens, adults and the elderly in Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb and Hollingdean.”

Mitch moved to Brighton seventeen years ago when she was pregnant with her first daughter. She spent her early years in the city bringing up her three daughters while running a baby and children’s shop in the North Laine. She currently lives with her family in Bevendean.

Conservatives gain Council support for Armed Forces ‘Count Them In’ campaign

Posted on 22/06/201615/08/2017 by Sarah Green

Conservatives on Brighton & Hove City Council obtain cross-party support for the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland Count Them In campaign.

The campaign calls for additional questions to be included in the next Census in 2021 which will capture much-needed data on the Armed Forces Community – particularly Reservists and Veterans – who are otherwise largely hidden from official statistics.

This information will help local authorities, charities and statutory bodies to more accurately identify areas where service life presents a disadvantage, which will in turn enable the Government, councils and the NHS to better allocate resources and deliver on their Armed Forces Covenant commitments.

Conservative Group Lead on Armed Forces Issues and member of the Brighton & Hove Civil Military Partnership Board, Cllr. Ann Norman, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve managed to get cross party agreement to support this campaign. I brought it forward, having been approached by the Royal British Legion, because I agree with their assessment that there is a glaring gap in knowledge about this often hidden community and the problems they face. It is really not right that we have more information about Jedi Knight followers in the UK than we do about the Armed Forces Community. The more councils that sign up to support this campaign the more likelihood we have of succeeding in getting these vitally important questions onto the 2021 Census return.”

For more information about the campaign, click here:

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Greens champion the homeless and call for action on emergency housing

Posted on 16/06/201616/06/2016 by Sarah Green

Greens in Brighton and Hove appeal for the Labour Council to take “urgent and decisive steps” to address increasing reports of poor living conditions in emergency accommodation for homeless people.

Green Councillors welcomed a petition brought before the Housing and New Homes committee today which highlights the plight of homeless households living in emergency accommodation, which can be cold, damp, and lacking in hot water and basic cooking facilities.

The petition was first submitted by Daniel Harris, a resident in emergency accommodation who has been campaigning to raise awareness of the issue. The campaign gained momentum last week with a public meeting of residents urging that standards be improved. Thanks to Daniel’s public stand, the private landlord directly involved has pledged improvements to the accommodation he lives in, despite Brighton and Hove Council Housing Department and the Labour Group doing nothing to inspect the properties or enforce.

Following a Green amendment to the petition at the council meeting in March, the committee was formally requested to take steps to drive up housing quality and resolve issues.

Greens say the Council should invest in its own quick-build emergency accommodation, drawing on ideas such as Y:Cube housing to reduce its bill from private landlords.

Green Housing spokesperson, Councillor David Gibson, said: “I’m deeply concerned about the increasing reports of poor standards and barely habitable conditions in the city’s emergency accommodation. Homeless people in emergency accommodation are often in turmoil and it is beholden on the council not to aggravate matters by housing them in poor quality accommodation. The council purchase this accommodation from private landlords and expect it to be of a decent standard that offers a safe and habitable space for residents seeking to get back on their feet. These landlords appear to be taking the Council for a ride and this has to stop.

“I attended a meeting with residents living in emergency accommodation and was moved by their struggles and desire to fight for improvements despite being close to rock bottom. They have my full support.

“The council’s rough sleeping strategy shows that of those rough sleepers with a local connection, 31% have been evicted from a hostel or temporary accommodation. It’s clear the Council aren’t getting everything right in our support for homeless households, and need to be doing more to ensure people can access effective support in a safe space.

“That’s why the Greens are pushing for rapid action and a new approach to the issue which focuses on building quick-build housing units to house the city’s homeless, rather than simply filling the pockets of private landlords. Not only will this save the Council money and deliver its financial targets, it will allow the Council to ensure standards are maintained for people to meet their basic needs and focus on moving forward with their lives”.

East Brighton Labour councillor to stand down

Posted on 15/06/2016 by Sarah Green

Councillor Maggie Barradell, Labour and Co-operative member for East Brighton, is standing down for family reasons.

Ms Barradell was elected as a first time Councillor in East Brighton ward at the local elections in 2015.

Cllr Barradell said: “I feel really sad to be leaving the city but I know it is the right thing to do. My father died before Christmas and I need to return to Suffolk to look after my mum.

I leave with many fond memories and have been privileged to be a part of some really exciting plans to move the city forward. We will of course be back as holidaymakers as we were before we moved here.”

Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group Councillor Warren Morgan said: “We will be very sorry to lose Maggie. Her contribution to the ward, to the Labour & Co-operative Group and to the city council has been immense even in a relatively short period. However family must come first, and I wish Maggie all the very best for the future.”

A by-election to replace Cllr Barradell will be called shortly to elect a new councillor for East Brighton.

Sussex MP’s attend meeting to discuss patient transport

Posted on 11/06/2016 by Sarah Green

Last week Sussex MPs, met senior management representatives from the Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)and the Managing Director of Coperforma to discuss what is being done to improve patient transport services in the county.

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven says he had received many complaints from constituents about the service since Coperforma took over the service from SECAmb in April this year.

MPs at the meeting were very concerned as two months on, constituents were still contacting them about missing operations, hospital appointments and waiting for hours in hospital reception areas to return home due to patient transport problems.

CCG senior managers told the MPs that they have been working closely with Coperforma to establish the cause of the problems since taking over patient transport for Sussex in April.

They are currently awaiting the results of an independent report to investigate the handover problems. However, they also recognise that urgent action is needed and have already agreed an improvement plan with Coperforma which is being reviewed on a weekly basis.

The CCG has demanded that Coperforma reaches their target of ensuring that 95% of patients are transported to and from appointments on time by the end of June. They are also already consulting with all Sussex CCGs and providers on possible alternative plans should Coperforma not reach this target.

Speaking after the meeting, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, said: “I am pleased that the CCGs and Coperforma agreed to this meeting with Sussex MPs which was very productive. I am looking forward to seeing an improvement to the service and to meeting again at the beginning of July.”

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove & Portslade, added: “It’s unconscionable that elderly and potentially vulnerable people are being so badly let down in a city that takes pride in its tolerant and caring outlook. We must do whatever it takes to get this service back on track and once it is figure out how on earth the contract was awarded to a company so comprehensively incapable of doing what it’s paid for.”

Local Government Minister visits Saltdean Lido

Posted on 03/06/2016 by Sarah Green

Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government visited the Saltdean Lido yesterday.

WEB.600 — Simon Kirby MP, (second left), Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (far right) and Directors of the Saltdean Lido CIC

He was joined by Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, Rebecca Crook and other directors of the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC) to find out about how the project is progressing and received a tour of the building.

The Secretary of State, said: “Simon has been asking me to come and visit Saltdean Lido for ages and it was great to be able to come and see this iconic building firsthand. I know that Simon has been working together with the CIC group for many years and would like to pay tribute to all their effort and dedication in trying to bring the Lido back into use once again.”

Speaking about the visit, Simon Kirby, said: “I was delighted to show Greg around the Lido. We all want to see the Lido reopened as soon as possible to become a vibrant hub of the community once more.”

“It was great that he was able to meet representatives of the CIC and was also able to see the external works in progress. These are going really well and we will have a new pool and children’s pool with temporary changing facilities for local people to enjoy next year.”

“The CIC have worked so hard to secure funding including £2.3 million from the Coastal Communities Fund. We do however, need more funding and I will be working together with the CIC to do all I can to help to make the Saltdean Lido a great place for local people and tourists alike to enjoy.”

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Author: Sarah Green

Government give £20 million to help improve Southern train services

Government creates £20 million fund to help improve performance of the Southern network and train services.

Local Greens demand further action on rail crisis

Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

May appoints Brighton Kemptown MP to Treasury post

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has been appointed to a Ministerial position in the Government as Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Dog awareness week – Brighton MP calls for reduction of dog attacks on postal workers

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven has been supporting the Royal Mail’s fourth annual Dog Awareness Week.

Greens choose local activist to stand in East Brighton

Activist and campaigner Mitch Alexander has been selected as the Green candidate for the by-election in East Brighton ward on Thursday, August 4.

Conservatives gain Council support for Armed Forces ‘Count Them In’ campaign

Conservatives on Brighton & Hove City Council obtain cross-party support for the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland Count Them In campaign.

Greens champion the homeless and call for action on emergency housing

Greens in Brighton and Hove appeal for the Labour Council to take “urgent and decisive steps” to address increasing reports of poor living conditions in emergency accommodation for homeless people.

East Brighton Labour councillor to stand down

Councillor Maggie Barradell, Labour and Co-operative member for East Brighton, is standing down for family reasons.

Sussex MP’s attend meeting to discuss patient transport

Last week Sussex MPs, met senior management representatives from the Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)and the Managing Director of Coperforma to discuss what is being done to improve patient transport services in the county.

Local Government Minister visits Saltdean Lido

Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government visited the Saltdean Lido yesterday.

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Government creates £20 million fund to help improve performance of the Southern network and train services.

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Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

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Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has been appointed to a Ministerial position in the Government as Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

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Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven has been supporting the Royal Mail’s fourth annual Dog Awareness Week.

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Activist and campaigner Mitch Alexander has been selected as the Green candidate for the by-election in East Brighton ward on Thursday, August 4.

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Conservatives on Brighton & Hove City Council obtain cross-party support for the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland Count Them In campaign.

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Greens in Brighton and Hove appeal for the Labour Council to take “urgent and decisive steps” to address increasing reports of poor living conditions in emergency accommodation for homeless people.

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Councillor Maggie Barradell, Labour and Co-operative member for East Brighton, is standing down for family reasons.

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Last week Sussex MPs, met senior management representatives from the Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)and the Managing Director of Coperforma to discuss what is being done to improve patient transport services in the county.

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Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government visited the Saltdean Lido yesterday.

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