Hello everyone,

Normally when I do an MP update, I try to focus on a few things that I've been working on that I think will be of interest. This time, though, when I looked back at the last 2-3 weeks, there was such a wide variety, that I thought for a change I'd try to cover more as it will at least give you an idea of the variety of stuff an MP gets involved in - more than I ever realised going into the role!

Shopmobility - Volunteering Week
To promote National Volunteering Week, I helped out at Wandsworth Community Transport's Shopmobility project which is based in Sainsbury's in Wandsworth and is a service that provides transport for less mobile people, generally elderly, from their homes, takes them to Wandsworth where a volunteer will accompany the person as they get on with their shopping. It helps people retain independence and go about their lives normally even though they may not be quite as mobile as in the past. You don't need much training to become a volunteer at Shopmobility. Its very easy and each volunteering session only takes a couple of hours. Shopmobility are always looking for more volunteers, so if you are interested you can contact Marcia Millington via wct@ukonline.co.uk.

Roehampton University and Barnes Station
I'm working with Roehampton University to see what we can do to get safety and access to Barnes Station improved. Last week, we headed down to the station to take a look first hand at some of the issues and what we might do to solve them. There are some plans underway to improve bus stops and station security, but we will make sure that any changes are ones that will really improve things. We may also try to get the station signs changed to highlight that the station serves Roehampton as well as Barnes.

Roehampton Lane Bus Lane
And suddenely there was a bus lane with no consultation! Having just had a reply back from Transport for London, it turns out the consultation they relied on was undertaken between December 2003 and January 2004 - two and a half years ago. Not very impressive - TfL should as residents living in an affected area today, especially when people move in and out so often. I'm concerned the bus lane is adding even more congestion to Roehampton Lane which is already very bad by restricting traffic even further, but if you are a resident affected or a bus/car user of Roehampton Lane tell me what you think - a good idea to have the bus lane, or a bad idea?

A few other things…
I've also met with the Wandsworth Deanery Synod, visited Greenmead School, visited our local YMCA in Wimbledon, met with the Royal Parks Agency about the pedestrian access from the Alton Estate to Richmond Park, welcomed our new priest in charge to St Barnabus church in Southfields, continued to lobby Thames Water on local performance to name a few things. In parliament, on the Work and Pensions Select Committee, we're finishing an inquiry into pensions so that's keeping me pretty busy too.

Whatever else I'm getting involved in, I always have my weekly MP surgery, so if you need to get in touch then call me on 0208 944 0378, or email me on greeningj@parliament.uk, or write to me at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA.

Best Wishes,

Justine Greening MP

June 22, 2006