Hello,

Its been a busy couple of weeks as usual and I've been out and about working on local issues, more of which below:

Sewage dumping in the Thames:
As PutneySW15 readers may have seen, the recent rain downpours have caused a massive amount of sewage - over a million tonnes - to flow directly into the Thames causing an environmental and public health disaster. Although this particular incident made the news, speaking with rowers who use the river regularly, many people are concerned that lesser amounts of sewage are flushed into the river regularly. We have a 19th century sewage system for a 21st century city. Thames Water have attempted to get agreement for a huge pipe that would run underground and carry the sewage effectively out of London. I am now lobbying the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Mayor to do what I can to get some agreement that our sewage system needs some serious investment. In the meantime, more effective clean up operations and public notices letting us know when problems occur are vital.

Meeting with local Police:
Working with the police to combat anti social behaviour has taken up a lot of my time recently, and I met with our local Putney police chief, Inspector Dollery this week. We had some issues on the Longstaff estate that quickly needed to be addressed. With help from people living on the estate and in nearby roads, we've now been able to initiate some action on the people who seem to think they can behave how the like with no respect for other people. It was a joint effort with councillors, the Council and Police. Getting information from residents is critical to give the police and council the best chance to get action taken. If you are suffering from anti-social behaviour in your area, please let me know and I will do what I can to help get them sorted out.

Opening Wandsworth JobCentre Plus and Roehampton SureStart visit:
Earlier this week, I officially opened the new Wandsworth JobCentre Plus. It is there to help people get back into work and I very much hope it will do a great job. I am still concerned that people living in Roehampton have too far to travel to get these services, and will continue to monitor the situation over the coming months. As a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, it is an area I take a very close interest in at parliament aswell as locally.
The Roehampton Surestart grand opening was also this week and went very well. Actor Dennis Waterman was even there, as a local lad who grew up on the Ashburton estate. Hundreds of balloons were released on the countdown to the opening, so if you see any floating by, or in your garden (if you're lucky enough to have a garden), then they may well have started life at Roehampton Surestart Centre.

And other areas:
I've also met with St George's Hospital senior management, went to meet the Roehampton Citizens Advice Bureau for the Wandsworth CAB AGM, met with childrens' charity St Christophers in Putney Wharf, visited the Gwendolen House nursery, spent several hours at Wandsworth County Court to see how they run their cases, and met with the UK Youth Parliament to find out what their views are on national issues.

Don't forget, if you need my help as MP, you can contact me by calling 0208 944 0378, coming along to my weekly MP surgery (call 0208 944 0378), email me on greeningj@parliament.uk, or write to me at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA. Please do get in touch if you need me - I can't solve every problem, but I will certainly try.

Best Wishes,

Justine Greening MP

September 30, 2006