Letter From Westminster – From Olly Glover MP

Spending time with local people and businesses to understand your concerns and working to find ways to make improvements is the most important part of my role as your MP. I am grateful for opportunities like this newsletter to provide local people with updates and prompt new connections.

In Parliament, I have continued to advocate for issues that matter to our constituency.  I’ve spoken about the importance of aligning new housing developments with adequate infrastructure – such as a new railway station serving Grove and Wantage, and new or expanded GP surgeries - at every opportunity and I will be on the legislative committee scrutinising the government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. This is a chance to critically examine the Government’s bill that will guide development in the future and suggest amendments and improvements before it becomes law, and address emerging concerns that it will not address the imbalance between new housing and expanded public services and infrastructure, nor give sufficient consideration for natural and architectural conservation

I have started working with fellow MPs on cross-party efforts to improve safety on the A34, including concerns about the length of the slip roads at the Chilton interchange. A project to improve safety and congestion was ‘paused’ by the previous administration, but the huge disruption caused by accidents on the A34, and more importantly injury and loss of life on this National Highways Road must still be addressed. 

Our area is a hub of research, innovation, and enterprise. Recent activities included opening the Nebula Building at Milton Park and welcoming Harley Davidson. With government’s announcement of the Oxford Growth Corridor, I am keen to help ensure that Culham, Harwell Campus, and Milton Park can benefit from investment and opportunities that arise. But I am mindful that most of our local businesses are small or medium sized and face different challenges. I recently chaired a discussion with local entrepreneurs and have visited local farms to understand how new policies around tax and national insurance are impacting them, and the cost and availability of food. 

The local and regional media have covered several issues impacting our area recently, so I have been interviewed about A417 flooding, hare coursing, and rural crime. In my first appearance on the BBC’s Politics South show, I was on a panel discussing conflict in Ukraine and rising energy bills -topics many of you have contacted me about. And on a lighter note, while advocating for children’s literacy skills, I shared my favourite childhood story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

If you have any concerns that you think I can help you with the best way to reach me is by email at olly.glover.MP@parliament.uk or if you are not able to email you can leave a voice message on 0207 219 7657.    

Best wishes,

Olly