Antoinette Sandbach Newsletter

Since the last newsletter Antoinette has...

* Questioned the Secretary of State for Transport on his recent announcement on HS2
* Welcomed students from Shocklach Oviatt CE Primary School to Westminster
* Pledged her support to tackle loneliness in Eddisbury
* Attended the opening of Leaf Lane affordable and shared housing scheme
* Held constituency surgeries in her office in Winsford
* Met with the NFU County Chair to discuss dairy contracts, the groceries code adjudicator and animal welfare
* Represented her constituents at a Carers Week event in Parliament
* Discussed the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust with local constituent
* Encouraged constituents to apply for worldwide leadership scheme
* Raised constituent case during debate on contaminated blood
* Attended a number of local carnivals across the constituency including Bunbury, Malpas and Tarporley

Fair School Funding

I welcome the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Education on Monday. I was announced that an extra £1.3 billion will be made available for schools, as well as a commitment to a per pupil funding level of at least £4,800 in secondary schools by 2019/20.
I have tirelessly campaigned for more funding for local schools since being elected in 2015 and have already achieved an uplift in the budget for Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) of £9.4m in 2015/16, alongside colleagues and campaign group F40.
On Monday I responded to the statement and asked the Secretary of State to confirm that funding per pupil will similarly rise in primary schools. The Education Secretary announced that further details will be outlined in September, but that the expectation is a similar boost for primary schools.
I am delighted that the Government has listened to the concerns of the F40 group, local Conservative councillors, teachers and parents by committing significant funds to boosting financial support for schools. I understand the importance of providing schools with the necessary funding to provide a quality education and see this announcement as a major step to alleviate the pressures on secondary schools in particular. I will continue to closely monitor the impact of school funding locally

Carers Week Event

In Westminster I attended a Carers Week speed networking event with carers and charities, and pledged my support to unpaid carers locally.
The event was in support of the recent Carers Week, to celebrate and recognise the vital contribution made by the 6.5 million people across the UK who currently provide unpaid care for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend. It matched up MPs and carers to share experiences of caring and discuss ways to build Carer Friendly Communities -- places where local people and services support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.
Pledge to tackle loneliness
Antoinette met with the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness and made a pledge to tackle loneliness in Eddisbury. Jo set up the Commission, along with 13 organisations, before she was murdered just over a year ago. The Commission is continuing her legacy by raising awareness about loneliness and working to try and reduce the stigma of being lonely.
The Commission is working with Government, businesses and voluntary groups and will make recommendations on how to reduce loneliness. However we can all play our part. Loneliness is a problem in every street and within every family. That means all of us can do something to make someone feel less lonely today. We can start a conversation with a neighbour who we know is on their own, pick up the phone to a relative or friend you haven't spoken to for a while, say hello to someone in the supermarket queue.
Antoinette signed the pledge to support the Commission in its aim to tackle loneliness -- both in Eddisbury and in her role in Parliament. You can pledge to start a conversation too through the Jo Cox website jocoxloneliness.org.

Leaf Lane Housing Scheme Opening

I was delighted to see this project planned by the previous Conservative administration at Cheshire West and Chester Council opened. I hope that in similar projects going forward local Winsford residents will get priority when housing allocations are made. It was a pleasure to meet Hayley and other residents who are clearly enjoying their new homes.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.