Helena Dollimore MP: Taking the necessary steps

The work to rescue our NHS has already begun, this week we agreed a deal with junior doctors to end 18 months of strikes. After 14 years of Conservative neglect, we are taking action to cut waiting lists and reform our broken NHS.

We also had further confirmation that our housing market is broken. Shelter revealed that, outside of London, Hastings has the highest rate of children living in temporary accommodation.

One in 28 children in Hastings are growing up in temporary accommodation. When I have spoken to some of these children, they told me how hard it was to be moved far away from family and friends, and not have a space to do their homework.

The Tories failed to tackle the housing crisis. It is this Labour Government that is taking the necessary steps to fix our housing crisis, by banning no-fault evictions and giving renters more rights. We are also getting Britain building again by making changes to the planning system so that families can get the homes they desperately need. I’ve raised the issue in Parliament and stressed how we need more affordable and social housing here, while also building the right infrastructure to go with it from GP surgeries to sewage pipes.

From the state of the roads to the state of our bus network, many residents have contacted me about roads and transport in Hastings and Rye. Bus users frustrated with the reliability of our local buses have been further let down by the recent bus service changes that have brought fewer direct routes and more expensive tickets and no improvements in the reliability of services.

We should have buses that our local community can rely on. This month Labour announced its plan to deliver ‘better buses’ by giving communities powers to set routes, fares and services. I will put pressure on our local councils and Stagecoach to make sure that Hastings, Rye and the surrounding villages get the bus services they need.