I returned to Parliament from the February recess on Tuesday refreshed and raring to go. Of course during the recess itself I had held various meetings and visits in the constituency. On one day alone, I visited a successful Redditch business, enjoyed a tour round a village school, met with an important local health body and held a telephone catch-up meeting with the Worcestershire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership).
Niche technical distribution company Lake Chemicals and Minerals, based in Paper Mill Drive, has grown from zero to 45 employees in 15 years, while turnover has increased from zero to £15 million in 2017. It’s always interesting to visit the huge variety of successful businesses in Redditch, and there’s always another one you never knew existed!
On the same day I was shown round the delightful Inkberrow First School, one of a number of village schools in the constituency that I am getting to visit. I also held a meeting with Healthwatch Worcestershire. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion tasked with finding out what locals think about health and social care services, making sure you have a say in how services are run and holding services to account, and it was interesting to hear their views on local issues.
Over the last eight months I have met with many residents to discuss any issues they may have and I will of course do everything I can to help. In January, I held the latest in a series of successful pop-up surgeries in the Kingfisher Centre, and there is another set for this Saturday (24 February) from 10am-11am. As your local MP, it is important I am visible and easily accessible, and pop-up surgeries are just one of many ways you can get in touch with me. I will soon be piloting a series of beer mat surgeries – targeting the villages - so I’m sure you’ll see me in a pub near you very soon!
As well as surgeries, you can get in touch with me via e-mail too. The address is rachel.maclean.mp@parliament.uk. Since I was elected last June, I have received some 50,000 emails on a wide range of issues and topics. As a result, I have sent out thousands of letters and e-mails responding to residents’ issues and concerns.