After a busy summer in the constituency, it has been great to return to Westminster and raise the issues I have been discussing with local residents.
Transport remains a key area of focus and this month I launched a transport survey for residents in Otford. Since my election, many of you have been in touch to share with me your views on transport provision across the Sevenoaks and Swanley constituency. Better links for Otford (by bike, train and bus) is a common theme, and I therefore wanted to provide a platform where you can feed in your ideas. ( The survey has now closed).
If you do not live in Otford but wish to share your local concerns, I will be running future surveys later this year to focus on other key issues affecting our local towns and villages. It is vital that everyone across Sevenoaks and Swanley can have their views heard. Equally, if you wish to raise something with me directly, please do email my office on [email protected].
I also celebrated this month two very exciting developments. Firstly, my election pledge to open a Sevenoaks campus for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys has now been delivered. Education has always been a top priority for me, and since becoming an MP I have worked hard to support our schools locally – regularly speaking with parents, teachers, and students and arguing for better facilities. We’ve had fantastic results in Swanley and West Kingsdown, with more to come. Pivotal to maintaining high standards across our schools is the need for more school choice and this is why I am particularly pleased to have seen progress in this area. The new campus will mean: parents have more choice locally of quality secondary schools, pupils are more likely to get their first choice of school and families will spend less time and money on the school run. Thank you to The Sevenoaks Grammar School Campaign, all the students, parents, teachers, and Councillors who have been involved and of course my predecessor, Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon. Lots of fantastic people working together to make Sevenoaks an even better place to live.
Secondly, and on a more national stage, I am delighted to report that tomorrow my Private Members Bill to ban Botox and dermal fillers for under 18s will be enforced nationwide. The legislation will also require a doctor, registered medical practitioner, or a health professional to administer such procedures where there is a medical need in under 18s – a requirement not previously in place. This is a truly momentous occasion and one I am immensely proud of. No child needs cosmetic Botox or fillers. They are dangerous and unnecessary procedures which can ruin children's lives – both emotionally and physically. We do not expect something that we can easily, and very legally, get done in the comfort of our own home to be something that can blind us - but shockingly, that is the case. It has been an honour to bring about legislative change so early in my Parliamentary career and I am just delighted that those unscrupulous providers will no longer be able to take advantage of some of our children.
Thank you all for your continued support, and if there is anything I can do to help you, please do get in touch.
Laura Trott
MP for Sevenoaks and Swan
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