Jessica Toale MP - building a better Bournemouth, one year on
- Team
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
It’s been exactly a year since I was elected as your MP in Bournemouth West in what was an historic election for the area. Not only was I the first female MP, but I was the first Labour MP - joined by three other Labour MPs in Dorset including in neighbouring Bournemouth East and Poole.
It’s been a busy year with many highs, and some lows, but what has really stood out for me is the relentless dedication of the people who live and work here to improving our town - and I am absolutely committed to doing the same. This milestone represents the perfect opportunity to look back over the achievements of the last year, and how I, and this Labour Government, are stepping up efforts across a range of areas to build a better Bournemouth. Of course, it’s not just down to us - the council, police and local businesses and charities have a huge role to play, as does everyone who lives, works and visits here.
As your MP, my work is divided into four areas.
Representing constituents: Meeting with, listening to and supporting thousands of constituents across Bournemouth West with a wide range of issues - from housing and education to health and immigration. Acting as the voice of local people in Parliament, raising their concerns, needs, and opinions. Attending local events, holding surgeries (meetings), and communicating regularly to stay connected with residents.
Legislating: Participating in debating and voting on new laws and policies affecting the whole country. As PPS in the Foreign Office, working with Foreign Ministers on International Issues. Taking part in cross-party groups on specific issues to inform new legislation.
Advocating for local issues and funding: Campaigning on key issues that matter to Bournemouth West (see below), and raising things in Parliament and with the relevant agencies and people to ensure progress.
Bringing people together: Working with local councils, businesses, charities, groups and individuals to develop projects that benefit the community.
After hearing from local people and reflecting on how to build a better Bournemouth, I’ve been focused on some key priorities and wanted to share the progress we’ve made over the past year (not an exhaustive list).
Bournemouth Town Centre
My work on Bournemouth Town Centre has engaged many more people in the future of the town - with hundreds of people attending my events to share their views and 250 applicants putting themselves forward for the citizens’ panel. We now have 50 ambassadors working on an action plan out at the end of the year. We’ve seen some large new businesses open including The Ivy, Patch, The Botanist, Tap & Tandoor, Barbara’s Bierhaus and JD Gyms. And plans are well underway to develop the former House of Fraser and Beales department stores. Events such as Bournemouth Writing Festival, Arts By The Sea and Winter Wonderland have seen massively increased footfall. This has been part of a big collaborative effort and is part of ongoing work to improve the town.
Funding:
Extra 500k to tackle homelessness
£358k BCP investment into town centres to improve the public realm thanks to increased government funding + almost £100k extra from BIDs
Extra £2m to tackle potholes
£1.3m+ UK Shared Prosperity Funding to support local businesses and improve our towns
£1.5m for building repairs to Russell Cotes Museum & Art Gallery
£6m for improvements to local busses
Policy:
High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) to breathe life into high streets by filling empty shops – BCP Council signed up as early adopter
Expanding Community Right to Buy powers so the community gets first refusal on the sale of council assets, and 12 months to raise the funds to buy them
Southwest Trains first rail operator brought into national ownership with Great British Railways which should support more people to visit Bournemouth
Visits
35 individual visits to local businesses
20+ meetings with BCP Council, including setting up the citizens’ panel
Ministerial visit to the Branksome depot to celebrate the launch of Great British Railways
Events
6 x coffee mornings and town hall events to hear residents’ views
Women’s Safety event bringing together a panel of experts - urban planners, council and police to shine a spotlight on women’s safety
Attending 10+ town events including the writing festival, Pier Journal launch, celebrations of Portugese culture and night-time economy roundtable
Campaigns
Spearheading the launch of Bournemouth Town Centre Citizens’ Panel to embed residents' voices into shaping the future of the town
Digital campaign to celebrate local businesses with a targeted visit and dedicated post
Led campaign to save local Post Office services, with 2k strong petition and direct asks of government and Post Office bosses
Housing
At the start of this year, my focus was on housing. I hosted three super surgeries to help residents with a range of housing issues - getting survivor of domestic abuse added to the priority housing list, securing agreement from a local housing association to invest in fixing longstanding problems and refurbishing problem properties.
Funding
A multi-million pound investment pledged by local housing association to undertake urgent repairs
Extra funding to tackle homelessness (outlined above)
Policy
New government targets for housing locally requiring BCP Council to build 40,000 homes within five years - to meet the local housing need of almost 2,700 a year (Government rejected BCP’s plan to build 24,000 - equivalent of 1,600 a year for falling short of this)
Warm homes plan expansion giving households £150 off their bills
Renters Rights Bill to end no fault evictions, rolling rental contracts, no more inflation busting increases in rent, ban rental bidding wars and introduce a ‘decent homes standard’ to which landlords must comply
Rising minimum wage and Employers Rights Bill to boost earnings and align more with housing costs
Visits
Met with hundreds of constituents with housing issues
Met with council to discuss housing targets
Met with area’s housing associations to discuss issues
Met with students to understand their housing needs and concerns
Ministerial with the Veterans Minister visit to the Helping Homeless Veterans hub in Winton
Events
3 x housing super surgeries across the constituency (Alderney, Winton and Town Centre) bringing together Citizens’ Advice, St Mungo’s, Shelter, DWP and Police to support constituents with range of housing issues
Campaigns
Targeted campaign with local housing association to mproving conditions in social housing
Water quality
I’ve long been campaigning on water quality and we’ve seen some significant progress on this in the last year thanks to swift government action where the previous government failed. New legislation bans bonuses for polluting water bosses and establishes a new commission to hold them to account. Locally we’ve got huge investment to future proof our water treatment centre, and I’ve been working with my fellow Dorset Labour MPs to ensure cleaner bathing waters.
Funding
£110m for the Alderney Water Treatment Centre
Wessex Water investing £3m in improving storm overflow in line with gov regulation
Policy
Water (Special Measures) Act passed to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses, ensure real-time water monitoring and introduce an independent commission to oversee this
Visits
Ministerial visit to the Alderney Water Treatment Centre
Durdle Door visit with Surfers Against Sewage & Litter Free Dorset
Events
Joined Surfers Against Sewage on big paddle out protest
Joined hundreds of local women for The Big Swim on International Women’s Day
More events coming this summer…
Campaigns
Joint campaign with all Dorset Labour MPs to improve water quality and call for year round testing of bathing sites
Health
We’ve welcomed significant investment into local healthcare over the past year from hospitals to GP surgeries and dentists. Winton is set to benefit from the re-opening of the health centre and a local dentist now taking on new NHS patients. Waiting lists are down and GP appointments in Bournemouth West rose by 8.5% since the last election, exceeding the national average of 7.1%. And this is just the start.
Funding
£2.78m for Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital
£1.3m funding to re-open Winton Health Centre
11 new GPs in BCP, 7 of which serve residents in Bournemouth West
Policy
Launch of NHS 10 year plan to create a new neighbourhood health centre in Bournemouth - a one stop shop for GP, mental health and physiotherapy services
Thousands more emergency dental appointments funded in Dorset, and golden handshake for new dentists with one Winton surgery now taking on new NHS patients (previously told to go to Totton!)
Getting rid of NHS England to reduce red tape, putting the power back in the hands of NHS Dorset
Introduction of “Martha’s Rule”, giving patients and families the legal right to request an urgent second opinion if they believe a hospitalised patient is deteriorating
Visits
Met the NHS Dorset Chief Executive, ICB Chair and University Hospitals Dorset Chief executive
Visited the former Winton Health Centre to learn more about the plans to re-open thanks to government investment
Visited Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals
Met with health charities including HealthBus and Healthwatch Dorset
Visited 4 x GP surgeries and all local hostpitals
Events
Series of health focused surgeries across the constituency in partnerships with University Hospital Dorset and Day Lewis Pharmacies
Campaigns
Raising issue of lack of NHS dental services with Health Minister
Crime & antisocial behaviour
It was one of the Labour government’s manifesto priorities, and something I know lots of local people feel strongly about and I’m pleased that - following my interventions - our police are receiving more funding, anti knife crime campaigns are gathering pace and crime stats remain relatively low (when compared to elsewhere in the UK).
Funding
6.5% uplift for Dorset Police
£1m for hot spot policing in Bournemouth
Policy
Tougher penalties for nuisance e-scooters and quad bikes
Crime & Policing Bill passed with new offence created for assaulting retail workers
Safer Streets Summer Initiative - which will see increased police patrols and targeted enforcement in areas including Wimborne Road (Winton), Ashley Road (Alderney), Poole Road (Westbourne), Christchurch and Old Christchurch Road (Central Bournemouth) and the wider town centre.
National Knife Crime Task Force established
More neighbourhood police for Dorset - 40 new full-time police officers, 3 new PCSOs, 16 new Special Constables countywide
Visits
Henry Brown Centre for launch of new C.A.M boxing club
Knife Crime Awareness action day in the town centre
Dorset Police CCTV control room
Events
Women’s Safety event in the town centre
More events coming in the autumn…
Campaigns
Support for Changes Are Made (C.A.M) campaign set up in memory of Cameron Hamilton by his gran to educate and provide opportunities for young people - raised several times in Parliament with recognition from the Prime Minister and Home Secretary
Campaign to change the police funding formula to ensure seasonal pressures on Dorset Police are considered
Education
Bournemouth West is fortunate to have many good schools, it’s the reason some people move to the area and I’m delighted that this government is investing so much locally - from expanding free school meals and rolling out free breakfast clubs to funding building improvements for at least three local schools and our excellent college. One of the highlights of my role as an MP is visiting schools and engaging the next generation of citizens with politics.
Funding
£1m for Bourne Academy and Oak Academy for building improvements
£1.6m for Bournemouth & Poole College refurbishment
Funding for solar panels at St Joseph’s Primary- saving them £8,500 a year
Policy
Expansion of free school meals, lifting hundreds of local children out of poverty
Launch of free breakfast clubs, with Elm Academy among the first to benefit
Capping the cost of branded uniforms
Visits
4 x school visits hosted in Parliament
8 x local schools visited
Visits to Bournemouth & Poole College, Bournemouth University & Arts University Bournemouth
3 x student placements hosted
3 x recent graduates employed
Events
Summer school launching with BU lecturers to support
More events coming in the autumn…
Campaigns
Letters to Chancellors of both local universities to support staff in face of job losses
My year in numbers:
16.5k emails received, including campaign asks
7k cases resolved
50 parliamentary speeches
250+ constituency meetings
220+ votes cast
80 pieces of press coverage
75 x written questions to ministers (more than my predecessor did in 14 years!)
38 x events, including surgeries
Member of 10 x All Party Parliamentary Groups - including water pollution and ocean
3 x ministerial visits hosted - Veterans Minister, Transport Minister and Water Minister
1 x Westminster Hall Debate hosted on High Street Rental Auctions
26k followers on social media & newsletter
Here’s to another productive year. If you want to keep up to date with my work and opportunities to get involved, please sign up to my newsletter. As always, if you live in Bournemouth West and want to share your thoughts or get support with an issue myself and my team might be able to help with, email me at jessica.toale.mp@parliament.uk making sure you include your full name and address.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I will not let you down. And to those who didn’t, I hope that I can earn your trust and support and I will continue my role representing everyone in Bournemouth West.
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