For the past 20 years, the Mid Sussex constituency boundary hasn’t experienced significant changes but has now been pretty much split in half. At present, three MPs represent the whole of Mid Sussex District-myself, Jeremy Quin MP and Andrew Griffith MP; this will in future decrease to two. The new Mid Sussex constituency is much changed-no longer including East Grinstead and the High Weald. To balance this, Hassocks and the Downland villages, which run along the base of the Downs, are now included: our 3 towns have been split out and this personally has been a difficult and upsetting change-especially as the Boundary Commission has advised it will look again at MP Constituency boundaries in eight years’ time!
This change, made by the Boundary Commission, was addressing variance of constituency sizes which were becoming very unbalanced. Their aim is to have new areas of around 73,393+/-5 in size. The change will be in place for the next General Election. I’ll continue to work hard for all my existing constituents and I hope many of them and parts of the wider District will be mine to represent in the future.
It was a joy to visit the Cats Protection National Cat Centre at Chelwood Gate. It was so good to meet the cats and kittens, have a cuddle and to hear how quickly they can rehome their cats. It was important to discuss the wider pet ownership issues and I was particularly pleased to hear of the Paws Protect service which provides temporary cat fostering to people fleeing domestic abuse and to hear about the help they can give those affected by the cost of living.
My team and I continue to keep Modality on the agenda and attend as many meetings as we can. Last week, I joined another public meeting in Crawley Down. With the Sussex Integrated Care Board and Modality working closely together, a better way forward is being forged.
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