by Paul Scully | Apr 6, 2018 | News |
I am delighted that the 166 bus route has been protected following discussions between TfL and Surrey Council Council.
The 166 bus route runs from West Croydon to Epsom Hospital and is jointly managed by Transport for London (TfL) and Surrey County Council. It passed through the southern end of the Borough and is often used by Belmont and south Cheam residents to get to Epsom and back.
The service looked in danger of being terminated as TfL and Surrey County Council began discussions about this route. However, following pressure from myself, local residents and councillors, as well as neighbouring MPs and councillors, TfL and Surrey County Council have agreed to financially support the cost of these routes, with no alterations, for the next five years.
Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport Mike Goodman said: “There’s a vital need to fund these services in Surrey to help people get to and from hospital – it’s what our communities rightly expect us to do.
“We know just how important these buses are to people’s daily lives, which is why we’ve worked with TfL to invest the money that ensures they continue to run, whether that’s to help people go for a medical appointment, get to school or do shopping.
“It means we’ll be investing around £130,000 annually to ensure the 166 bus continues operating between Banstead and Epsom Hospital and the 216 carries on running from Staines to Ashford Hospital as normal.”
Claire Mann, TfL’s Director of Bus Operations, said: “We welcome Surrey County Council’s offer to part fund these services, and are very happy to work with them to continue running these important hospital routes.”
You can find details about the route here.
by Paul Scully | Feb 28, 2018 | News |
I have been working with Belmont councillors David Hicks, Patrick McManus and Jane Pascoe, along with residents and local business owner, Lisa, to campaign for a new post office counter for Belmont.
The Post Office in Belmont closed many years ago and has been greatly missed. Since then I have joined councillors and residents to campaign for a new counter at one of the local stores in Belmont village.
I’m delighted that Lisa Kear, the owner of the Pet Shop in Station Road, has been granted a licence to operate a new Post Office in her shop. The new counter will open on Friday 16 March 2018 at 1pm.
This will be a very welcome addition to Belmont and should have a positive effect on local businesses. Credit in particular goes to Peter Mattey from the Belmont and South Cheam Residents’ association for helping to achieve this great result.
For more information and to see what services it will provide, please see the letter from the Post Office here.
by Paul Scully | Feb 22, 2018 | News |
I have signed a pledge to #PassOnPlastic with Sky Ocean Rescue – a commitment to reduce single-use plastic consumption. In particular I will focus on reducing plastic straws and disposable cups in my daily life.
Launched in January 2017, Sky Ocean Rescue aims to shine a spotlight on the issues of ocean health, particularly single-use plastic, and inspire people to make small changes. The #PassOnPlastic pledge was also signed by 113 MPs, all making a public commitment to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Sky Ocean Rescue’s whale, Plasticus, which is made up of a quarter of a ton of plastic – the amount that enters our oceans every second – arrived outside Parliament to bring to life the scale of the problem.
Sky have been working hard to raise awareness of ocean health and I am delighted to join their campaign and look at ways to reduce my own plastic consumption. It is deeply worrying that there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans, with 8 million tonnes more ending up there every year. We all have a role to play in protecting our oceans – that’s why I have signed my pledge to #PassOnPlastic and encourage others to do the same.
Find out more about Sky Ocean Rescue on social media @SkyOceanRescue and on the Sky Ocean Rescue website: skyoceanrescue.com.
I am also involved in the Conservative Party’s own campaign to #giveupplasticforlent. Hear more about my pledge here.
by Paul Scully | Feb 21, 2018 | News |
This March I am is joining thousands of other #LitterHeroes to clean up this country.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy’s annual national clean up – the Great British Spring Clean (2-4 March) is back – helping us all do our bit to reduce the litter blighting our country.
Last year the campaign saw more #LitterHeroes than ever collect a staggering 70,000 wheelie bins of rubbish over one weekend. More than 300,000 people got involved, cleaned up their local streets, parks and beaches, and had fun doing it.
This year they want even more people to get involved and I am urging residents in Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park to get involved too.
Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “Littering is a serious issue that blights the beautiful beaches, countryside and cities of the UK. It also has a devastating effect on our wildlife.
“The Great British Spring Clean is an opportunity for everyone who cares about the rubbish scarring our country and threatening our seas to take a stand.”
Individuals, groups, families, schools, businesses and clubs can all sign up and make a difference. Register at www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean and let’s clean up our country.
by Paul Scully | Jan 23, 2018 | News |
This week I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, pledging my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
Saturday 27th January will mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.
In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘The power of words’.
Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park and across the country to reflect on the tragic events of the Holocaust. As the Holocaust moves from living history, to just history, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to remember the victims and also pay tribute to the survivors. I would encourage my constituents to show their support for such an important day.
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “The Holocaust did not start in the gas chambers but with hate filled words. Our mission is to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. We are very grateful to Paul Scully for signing the Book of Commitment, signalling a continued commitment to remembering the victims of the Holocaust as well as challenging antisemitism, prejudice and bigotry in all its forms.”
by Paul Scully | Dec 16, 2017 | News |
Since being re-elected in June I have continued to work hard to stand up for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park in Westminster.
I have also resumed many of my roles from the last parliament, including being re-elected by my colleagues to sit on the Petitions Committee and the International Development Select Committee, chairing the Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI), and chairing/being a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) for the British Curry Catering Industry, Tamils, Bangladesh, the Ahmaddiya Muslim Community, Domestic Violence, Taxis, Burma and London.
However, I am delighted to have been appointed to some new positions in this Parliament. I am sadly no longer a member of the British Parliamentary Delegation to the Council of Europe, but I have been pleased to use my short time there to speak about some very important issues, such as refugees, migration and security, including having the chance to see the refugee relief effort in Greece for myself.
In August I was appointed the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Burma, Brunei and Thailand. This is a very exciting role, but also a very personal one as my father was from Burma. I believe that Britain’s trade post-Brexit will, and should, have a more global outlook. The Secretary of State for International Trade, Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, has been doing some excellent work, laying the foundations to build new trade deals with countries all around the world, and I am happy to have a chance to be a part of this, expand the UK’s soft power and help find new and exciting trading opportunities.
Last month I was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Baroness Evans, the Leader of the House of Lords. As the Lords is going to be the focus of debate on all the Brexit legislation, it will be essential that contacts between MPs and Peers are clear, unambigious and well-informed. I want to use this opportunity to strengthen the relationship between both Houses of Parliament, ensuring that we have a mutual understanding on important issues like Brexit, but moving forward encourage more cross House conversations.
Most recently, I have this week been appointed as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for London. I was incredibly pleased at my own election result in June, and I look forward to having the chance to working with colleagues from across London to build on this across our City.
I am humbled to have been selected for these roles, but my first priority has always been and will always be, working hard to represent the residents of Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park and continue to be their strong, local voice in Westminster.
