Dear resident,
As we approach the end of December, I would like to wish you a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year. ✨
I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all local pupils who have submitted a festive design to my Christmas card competition, and all the teachers who took the time to take part with their class.👏🏽
The winner is Suki (Year 6) from Framfield Church of England Primary School, whose colourful picture of Jingle Bells is featured on the front of the card. The runners up are Jessica, Year 5 at All Saints' & St Richard's Church of England Primary School in Heathfield and Emily, Year 5 at Mark Cross Church of England Primary School. This year, a special commendation has also been awarded to Vanya Serevetnyi, Year 6 at Framfield Church of England Primary School, whose design featured the Ukrainian Father Christmas, Micolie. I have personally delivered my Christmas card to Mr Speaker to champion all of these wonderful designs!
This year, my office and I responded to over 8,000 local residents and we have provided support and assistance to over 4,000 local residents. 🤝🏽
As another busy year begins to draw to a close, please allow me to reflect on just some of the local successes, funding that I helped secure for our infrastructure, and work that has been done to support our communities:
✅ Securing over £3m for Beacon Academy in Crowborough and over £500,000 for Uplands Academy in Wadhurst from the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund.
✅ Delivering £4.7m accessibility upgrades at Crowborough train station, following similar improvements worth £1.9m at Eridge train station in 2022. I will campaign for such improvements to be delivered at Wadhurst station.
✅ Investment of over £70,000 to help Hailsham swimming pool improve its energy efficiency.
✅ Helping to secure £297,000 for a new Community and Health Centre in Mayfield and Five Ashes.
✅ Opening the new Changing Places toilet at Ashdown Forest Centre, ensuring that it is accessible.
✅ Working with Sussex Police on tackling and preventing cross-border rural crime and anti-social behaviour, and on making our roads safer for all users.
✅ Convening forums with NHS leaders and advocating for expansion of our primary care services.
✅ Holding water companies to account following flooding and sewage overspills as well as severe water outages and securing improvements to water infrastructure across the constituency.
✅ Hosting regular forums with farmers and working with the NFU on how we can best support our farms.
✅ Opening The Station Youth Centre in Hailsham and working with staff on more support for young people.
Just some of the activities I've been up to in December👇🏽
🚙 Campaigning for a safer A267 🚙
I met with Sussex Police, local councillors and representatives from the A267 Road Safety Group to discuss traffic issues and incidents on the A267 and what more can be done to make help make it safer. Read more 👉🏽 HERE.
Following the meeting, I welcomed the news from East Sussex County Council that public consultations on the introduction of lower speed limits, including at sections of the A267, are due to begin in the New Year. This is a great result for the campaign, and I'd like to encourage local residents to share their views in due course.
🌳 Meeting with Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Ashdown Forest CEO
🤝🏽 Supporting local manufacturing business VACGEN near Hailsham
🛍️ Championing local businesses on Small Business Saturday
📮 Thanking Crowborough postiesduring busy run-up to Christmas
🤝🏽 Advocating for Sussex Weald at meetings with Wealden Council CEO
🎓 Visiting Annan School near Halland to support their art exhibition
💧 Don't forget to sign up to South East Water's Priority Register 💧
I’m pleased that South East Water is investing in infrastructure. However, with the winter months approaching and temperatures dropping, I would like to encourage eligible customers to sign up to the Priority Register and ensure they receive priority treatment and additional support in case of supply disruptions. It is free to register and it will help South East Water prioritise vulnerable customers. To register, please fill out the online form available 👉🏽 HERE 👈🏽 or call the Customer Care Team on 0800 952 4000 Monday to Friday 8am-7pm.
☎️ Contact ☎️
It has been a busy year with lots of wonderful news and wins locally, but there is more to be done.
Please be assured that I will continue to work hard in 2025 to campaign for more resources for Sussex Weald and to ensure that your concerns are heard in Westminster.
🎄 My office will be operating on limited hours over the festive period and my team and I will be working solely on the most urgent cases.
📞 In the new year, casework will resume to be undertaken daily and surgery appointments will continue taking place in person, over the phone, or virtually. If you need my assistance regarding a particular issue, please email me at [email protected] and provide as much information as possible about your query
🎄Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a successful start to 2025.✨
Yours sincerely,
Nusrat