We’re closing on Autumn in Harrow, and the past month, while a
turbulent one in Parliament has been much brighter at home, with
residents
celebrating ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


[Update]

 

Dear John,

 

We’re closing on Autumn in Harrow, and the past month, while a
turbulent one in Parliament, has been a bit brighter at home, with
residents celebrating Diwali and the Hindu New Year in homes and
temples across the borough. We also joined in the celebration of Black
British history, as part of Black History Month. 

 

With the shorter days and colder nights brings the slow build towards
Christmas, and, with it, many of the great Fairs, carols, pantomimes,
and Bazaars that make this period special. I look forward to meeting
with residents in the weeks ahead, whether at an advice surgery, or on
a tour of Parliament, or at functions of Remembrance in the next two
weeks.

 

SURGERIES & TOURS 

[Next surgery]

As I return to in-person surgeries, I plan to continue my roving
surgeries across Harrow West. In recent months, this has been held at
local churches, temples and community centres across the borough. My
next walk-in surgery is taking place on MONDAY, 14TH NOVEMBER
 at THE BEACON CENTRE at 9 SCOTT CRESCENT, HA2 0TY 
from 10AM-12PM. Open to all Harrow West residents, please drop by if
you have any concerns or issues that you would like to raise with me.

 

If you have a suggestion of where you would like me to host a surgery
next, do please drop me a line. I also run my regular advice surgery,
taking on casework at my constituency office at 132-134 Blenheim Road,
this surgery is appointment-based and appointments can be made by
calling my parliamentary office on 020 7219 4243.

[Litterpickers]

Following successful clean-ups of Byron Park and Headstone Manor,
I’m looking forward to joining the Friends of Alexandra Park and
Harrow Litter Pickers on Tuesday, 08/11 for a litter-pick of the park
from 9:30AM. [🌳] [🚮]

 

If you don’t have a litterpick and/or bag, we will aim to provide
you with one, by the Park Lane entrance at 9:30AM. Open to all, so
please come along if you can!

[Tours]

It was a privilege to show over forty plus members of Harrow’s
Romanian community around Westminster last week - some great questions
on British democracy from the children and I look forward to even more
questions from more of Harrow’s youth, with pupils of Vaughan
School, this week.

 

A reminder that anyone living in Harrow West and wanting to join a
tour of your House of Commons
[[link removed]], please feel
free to let me know by filling out a form here:
- [link removed]
[[link removed]]

PARLIAMENT ROUND-UP

 

 

It’s safe to say that I have seen some turbulent months in my
Parliamentary career but October 2022 might have been in a league of
its own. 

[Fracking motion]

A major vote that many residents have been in touch about and I know
that many more were watching closely was Labour’s motion on the
banning of fracking. Fracking would make no difference to energy
prices, and would risk the health of local communities, nature, and
water supplies. In 2019, every single Conservative MP stood on a
manifesto that pledged to ban fracking yet not a single Tory MP
(including the two other Harrow MPs) joined us in the vote. 

 

Ultimately, the vote for Labour’s motion brought about enough Party
turmoil and pushed Truss to give her resignation after only 45
CHAOTIC DAYS IN OFFICE. Whilst their irresponsible actions continue
to impact residents across Harrow, the Tories continue to show they no
longer have a mandate to govern.

 

After the financial backlash to a shocking mini-budget, October
brought about the fourth Chancellor this year, which was shortly
followed by the appointment of the fifth Home Secretary and the
country’s third Prime Minister. It is certainly a big milestone to
see representation at the highest level, with the country’s first
Indian Prime Minister and, while we will disagree politically, I know
that seeing an Asian man at the highest office in our politics will be
of huge significance for so many young boys and girls across Harrow.

 

TRADE (AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND) BILL

 

Despite the turbulent Westminster backdrop, much of my work in
Westminster has focused on the ‘Trade (Australia New Zealand)
Bill’.

 

As Shadow Minster for International Trade, I led the oppositions
scrutiny at 2nd Reading and Committee Stage of this Bill which has
important implications for the Government Procurement Chapters of the
Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreements.

 

These Free Trade Agreements which were recently even criticised by the
newest Prime Minister this year as one-sided in favour of Australia
and New Zealand, during his leadership campaign against the most
recent former Prime Minister this year (Liz Truss). 

 

I tabled a number of amendments to the Bill which sought to provide
safeguards against the inadequacies of Procurement chapters of the
Bill. Inadequacies which would have potentially huge implications for
our NHS, the UK’s agricultural sector, future trade agreements and
beyond. 

 

Unfortunately, due to the most recent chaos in the Conservative party,
limited time was available to fully explore the deficiencies of this
Government bill and I hope for further opportunities to amend the Bill
to protect the UK against its potential harms at Report Stage in the
coming weeks.

 

Full details of the Committee stage can be found below:

·      
[link removed](AustraliaAndNewZealand)Bill(FirstSitting)
[[link removed](AustraliaAndNewZealand)Bill(FirstSitting)]


·      
[link removed](AustraliaAndNewZealand)Bill(SecondSitting)
[[link removed](AustraliaAndNewZealand)Bill(SecondSitting)]


 

FUNDING FOR THE TEACHING OF SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES

[Community Languages]

Recent data sourced by my office from the House of Commons library
shows a steep decline in the number of UK students studying Gujarati,
Urdu, and other languages prevalent across south Asia. I have pushed
the Government for a debate in Government time to explore the reasons
for that decline and how find solutions to how this trend can be
reversed. My advocacy on this issue has received national and
international coverage and can be found in the links below:

 

·      
[link removed]
[[link removed]]


·      
[link removed]
[[link removed]]


·      
[link removed]
[[link removed]]


·      
[link removed]
[[link removed]]


 

I will continue to push on this issue as I believe that Government
investment in the languages of South Asia will help create stronger
trade, cultural and security links with India and other South Asian
nations, which are crucial to delivering long-term economic growth
across the United Kingdom.

 

Support the campaign
here: [link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

WEST HARROW DEVELOPMENT AREA

[Ridgeway campaign]

As many readers of this newsletter will know, I was delighted to hear
that we won the inquiry on 265, The Ridgeway in May, and that the
Planning Inspector rejected the plans for a huge development.  

 

Following the successful campaigns to reject planning proposals for
265, The Ridgeway, as well as the 11-storey Aparthotel on Vaughan
Road, IT IS CLEAR WEST HARROW NEEDS ITS OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN.

 

I have written the below letter to the new council Chief Executive,
Patrick Flaherty:

 

_Dear Chief Executive Patrick Flaherty,_

_ _

_RE: THE FUTURE OF WEST HARROW_

_ _

_I am writing now, specifically about the implications for West Harrow
of a decision by the Planning Inspector to reject Harrow Gospel Hall
Trust’s appeal against Harrow Council’s entirely reasonable
arguments against their proposals for 180 flats and huge further
development on the site. On first hearing of the Inspector’s
decision many will have sighed with relief that a nightmare was over._

_There is as you will understand though the possibility of further
development proposals coming forward for this site. In practice, it
has merely bought time before the next big development gets proposed
in our community. After 600 plus changes to planning law since 2010 it
has become ever harder to stop over development and determined
developers from getting their way._

_ _

_Harrow Council could now support preparation of a local Neighbourhod
Plan for our area. West Harrow has a distinctive character and a local
plan could help to preserve this community whilst allowing sensible
initiatives to increase affordable homes._

_ _

_When Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, Harrow, like every other
London borough, was required to identify an area for higher and more
dense development. The resulting intensification area stretches from
Harrow on the Hill to Wealdstone and includes the Kodak site. Recent
Prime Ministers have perhaps not surprisingly kept this requirement in
place. A neighbourhood plan for West Harrow would help to ensure that
there was no developmental overspill from central Harrow and
Wealdstone._

_ _

_Harrow Council would have to accept a West Harrow neighbourhood plan
so long as there had been proper consultation with all residents._

_ _

_We therefore urge you to support and facilitate local residents to
put together a Neighbourhood Plan for West Harrow before any further
proposals are brought forward to damage the character and amenity of
this beautiful part of our borough._

_ _

_Yours sincerely,_

_ _

_GARETH THOMAS_

_ _

SIGN YOUR NAME TO MY OPEN LETTER BELOW IF YOU SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A
SPECIFIC LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR WEST HARROW:

 

[link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

 

DIWALI 

[Diwali]

Wishing a very Happy New Year to our Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities
– I was honoured to pay visits alongside local Councillors and many
Harrow residents to our local Siddhashram Shakti Centre, as well as
the great Jain temple in Kenton, and an incredible display at Neasden
Temple, joining an expected 60-70,000 people that have ventured
through the week.

SUPPORT IN HARROW

[Warm Hubs]

While we move to the Third Conservative Prime Minister of this year -
on the ground here in Harrow, one of the richest countries in the
world will be dependent on the good will of some amazing charities,
churches and mosques to have 13 “warm hubs” this winter.

 

As set out by the ‘Help Harrow’ team, the Warm Hubs would become
important spaces within the community, increasing the community
resilience within Harrow and allowing for those residents struggling
to be connected to support and enabled to assist themselves to get
through the winter. 

 

The hubs will become important places to connect local residents
together, helping with their mental health and wellness at a time that
many will be struggling with the cost of living crisis, social
isolation and loneliness. 

 

DETAILS OF SEVEN LOCAL HUBS WITH DETAILS STILL TO BE CONFIRMED –
OPENING IN THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER:

HUB1 SOUTH HARROW 

- Salvation Army 

The Salvation Army will open a warm hub at their site in South
Harrow. 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 9am to 3pm every Monday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB2 WEALDSTONE

- SLMCC

The Sri Lankan Mosque will open a warm hub at their site in
Wealdstone 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Wednesday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB3 EDGWARE

- RCCT 

The Romanian food Hub will open a warm hub at their site in
Edgware/Burnt Oak 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Tuesday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB4 RAYNERS LANE 

- Roxeth Community Church 

Roxeth Community Church will open a warm hub at their site in Rayners
Lane 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Thursday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB5 CENTRAL HARROW 

- Harrow Baptist Church 

Harrow Baptist Church will open a warm hub at their site in Central
Harrow. 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Tuesday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB6 WEALDSTONE (CENTRAL) 

- Red Brick Cafe (HAD) 

HAD will open a warm hub at their site in Wealdstone. 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Friday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

HUB7 WEALDSTONE / KENTON 

- The Bridge Community Centre 

LCK will open a warm hub at their site in Rayners Lane 

The hub will allow for local people to come along for a hot drink and
a friendly place to spend some time. 

The hub will be supported with hot meal supplies to provide a hot meal
from 12pm - 3pm. 

- 11am to 3pm every Thursday
- First week of December until early March - Up to 30 service users
per day
- Hot drinks
- Warm spaces
- Hot lunch
- A friendly space
- Signposting to other services
- Warm pack to take home
- Staying warm help and advice
- Food support parcels 

 

NEW MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FOR HARROW

[Young Harrow Foundation]

THE EXCELLENT YOUNG HARROW FOUNDATION HAS CREATED a suite of FREE new
mental health services and resources for young people aged 5-25. THE
SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF
THEIR EMOTIONAL HEALTH, BEFORE THE CRISIS POINT. SCHOOL BASED SERVICES
FOR TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES OPEN FOR REFERRALS FROM
PARENTS, SCHOOLS, GPS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE. 

 

VISIT THE SUITE HERE: [link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

LONDON’S COMMUNITY KITCHEN:

[London's Community Kitchen]

LONDON'S COMMUNITY KITCHEN (based at The Bridge, next to Harrow
Leisure Centre) run a Free Surplus Food Market open to everyone
every FRIDAY FROM 3-5PM. At the height of the pandemic, this
operation served over 10,000 people across Harrow and London. Please
consider donating or getting involved in any way that you can with
this incredible Harrow-wide response to the cost of living crisis: 
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

If you’re ever in need of their support, the Community Kitchen want
to help - they won’t ask you for any details, or anything in return,
just turn up and they will provide you with food.

 

Many congratulations to Taz and the team on their Outstanding Observer
Food Award. 2 weekly surplus food markets, a cooking school and a Kind
Cafe later – London’s Community Kitchen is expanding across four
boroughs and we’re so proud to have the original in Harrow!

 

[link removed]
[[link removed]]


 

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