Shailesh Vara MP at the unveiling of Allison Homes' new HQ in Peterborough

1 February 2024
Vara meets with Yaxley residents and developers to tackle threat of flooding

Shailesh Vara MP, along with representatives from Yaxley Parish Council, local residents and the Middle-Level Commissioners has met with the developers Vistry and their consultants Stantec, who are developing the Great Haddon site. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the risk and potential impact of flooding from the development into neighbouring Yaxley.

Those attending included Cllr Andrew Wood, Vice Chair of Yaxley Parish Council, Helen Taylor, Clerk to the Council and Paul Burrows, Chief Executive Officer of the Middle-Level Commissioners.

This meeting followed a previous one last year with the Parish Council and District Councillors Kevin Gulson and the late Mac McGuire. It was decided at the time that a meeting with the developers and the Middle-Level Commissioners, who are responsible for managing the water levels in the Fens, would prove to be beneficial.

During the recent meeting, Mr Vara and the Yaxley residents made clear their serious concerns regarding the increased flow of water and associated flood risk posed by the Great Haddon development which when completed will have over 5000 homes.

Also of much concern is the fact that the cost of managing the floods would have to be met by Yaxley Parish Council, and so far, there has been no offer of financial assistance from either Peterborough City Council or the developers.

The role of the City Council at the early planning stages was also discussed. In particular, it was noted that initially the City Council had intended to carry out a Flood Risk Assessment, but the Council subsequently decided not to proceed with this.

It was felt by all those present that such an Assessment would be very useful in helping to better understand the issue and Mr Vara said he would contact the City Council to request that a Flood Risk Assessment be carried out.

Following the meeting, Mr Vara said:

“It is clear that at the earlier planning stages not enough attention was given to the flood risk for Yaxley and its residents. Given the huge development at Great Haddon, with over 5000 new homes to be built, it is a major omission on the part of the planners.

“Andrew Wood and Helen Taylor, along with other local residents, are right to raise their very serious concerns and they have my full support in trying to resolve this issue.

“I will be writing to Peterborough City Council to request that a Flood Risk Assessment be carried out as this may help us to move forwards.”

Cllr Wood added:

“The remodelling of the drainage system for Great Haddon and the A15 has resulted in a significantly increased drainage flow, which the watercourse in Yaxley was not designed for. It should always have been a requirement for the Great Haddon development to assess the potential impact on Yaxley, and we have been consistent in our demand for a Flood Risk Assessment to satisfy this need.”

Mrs Taylor said:

“A Flood risk assessment for Yaxley should have been carried out prior to any approval to put additional water into a small watercourse. The volumes and flow experienced over the recent months is beyond the capacity of the existing system resulting in the flooding we have experienced. Yaxley Parish Council welcomes this request to Peterborough City Council.”

30 January 2024
Vara backs legislation supporting drivers

Shailesh Vara MP is co-sponsoring a 10-Minute-Rule Bill tabled by his Parliamentary colleague, Kit Malthouse MP, who was previously Minister for Crime and Policing.

The Road Traffic and Street Works Bill seeks to address three issues, including the enforcement of low-level speeding offences and the way that roadworks are carried out on A roads.

Currently, those caught speeding up to 30 miles per hour in a 20-mile zone are given the choice of having penalty points put on their licence or attending a speed awareness course when they commit their first offence, but on subsequent occasions they automatically receive penalty points.

However, the Bill would ensure that drivers only recieve speed awareness courses as a penalty at this speed range, rather than having penalty points for second and subsequent breaches.

Moreover, Local Authorities have the power to fine drivers caught for non-speeding traffic offences, such as being caught in a yellow box junction or accidentally turning left or right when it is prohibited.

The Bill proposes that motorists caught in such circumstances should receive a warning letter in the first instance, which would allow drivers to learn from their mistake. Thereafter, for second and subsequent offences of the same kind, fines would be permissible, as is the case at present.

The Bill also deals with roadworks taking place on A roads, which are typically left unattended, often for many weeks. The Bill requires that there should at all times be at least one employee present at the works.

This would ensure that there is always someone working on the site, and if necessary, able to help with the traffic and congestion that occurs. It would also act as a powerful incentive to contractors to complete the works much sooner.

Following the presentation of the Bill in Parliament, Mr Vara said:

“I am very pleased to be supporting this Bill which is on the side of drivers.

“The current penalties for speeding up to 30 miles per hour in a 20-mile zone, where someone can end up receiving penalty points for driving at 24 miles per hour, is felt by many people to be disproportionate to the offence.

“It is also long overdue for contractors doing works on A roads to be incentivised to complete the repairs quickly, rather than leaving them unattended for weeks on end, causing much misery to drivers and their passengers.”

Shailesh Vara meets objectors to the Woodhurst Waste Incinerator

23 January 2024
Vara backs British Liver Trust to promote awareness and early detection of liver disease

Shailesh Vara MP attended a Parliamentary reception hosted by the British Liver Trust, which seeks to promote the importance of early detection in treating liver disease.

The Trust is the UK’s leading charity for adults affected by liver disease. The organisation provides information and support to those affected, including for liver cancer, and it works to expand awareness to the wider public.

Mr Vara spoke with Ms Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Communications and Policy for the Trust, along with other staff and leading hepatologists, about the disease, which caused over 12,000 deaths in the UK in 2022 alone.

Despite 90% of liver disease being preventable, three-quarters of patients are diagnosed at crisis point.

As well as encouraging early detection, the charity emphasises the importance of exercise and a healthy diet, which can help mitigate the risk of serious illness.

Following the reception, Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to speak with members of the charity and to hear about their work in raising awareness and supporting patients with liver disease.

“As the vast majority of cases are preventable, it is of the utmost importance that individuals, regardless of whether any symptoms are present, take the time to undergo a liver scan.

“Preventative measures are also very important, and we should all strive for a healthier diet, as well as find time for exercise.

“The Trust’s work is incredibly important, and we should all take the steps needed to bring awareness of liver disease to save lives.”

Photo: Ms Vanessa Hebditch with Shailesh Vara MP.

23 January 2024
Vara continues support for objectors to Woodhurst waste Incinerator

Shailesh Vara MP, together with Cllr Steve Criswell of Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, has met with local residents and businesses to discuss a planning appeal submitted by Envar Composting Ltd to the Planning Inspectorate. The planning application, which was previously refused, is for a dry anaerobic digestion facility, healthcare waste energy recovery facility as well as for other amenities at Envar’s site in Woodhurst, Huntingdon.

The packed meeting took place at the Raptor Foundation, which looks after various species of birds and is located close to the Envar site in Woodhurst.

The original planning application submitted by Envar proposed an expansion of their current waste facilities and included a 26-metre-high chimney.

The application was refused in April 2023 by Cambridgeshire County Council. Amongst the reasons for the refusal was that the chimney would cause “harm to the visual amenity of local businesses and residents” and the proposal would “introduce significant perceived health and well-being harm to local businesses and residents”.

Envar has since appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate, with the matter to be heard next month.

Local residents raised a number of issues with Mr Vara and Cllr Criswell. These included concern for the health of those living nearby, the impact of increased traffic congestion and the consequences of the development on local businesses and amenities.

The impact of the proposals on the health of those living nearby was a matter of much concern, and it was agreed that the development would create a genuine risk to the physical and mental health of residents and children attending local schools. It was also felt that there would be harm to the animals on nearby farms as well as those at the Raptor Foundation.

There was also agreement that the additional traffic would increase the risk to drivers at the notorious Wheatsheaf crossroads, notwithstanding the installation of new traffic lights in the near future.

Moreover, Ms Liz Blows, Chief Executive of the Raptor Foundation, spoke of the difficulties that the organisation would face if the proposals went ahead. She explained that if the appeal were to be successful, the Foundation could be forced to close due to the impact of the pollution on the birds from the site.

Following the meeting, Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to see so many people at this important meeting to discuss the appeal by Envar.

“It is a matter of deep concern that, despite serious reservations from the local community, Envar continue to push ahead with their plans which would have a considerable and irreversible impact on those living nearby, as well as threatening local businesses.

“I very much hope that the Planning Inspectorate will take careful note of the serious matters raised in objection to the appeal, as well as the strong feeling felt by the local community which was so clearly displayed at the meeting.”

Cllr Steve Criswell added:

“Members of the public have made their opposition to the incinerator proposal very clear. As elected members we will continue to support them”.

Ms Liz Blows added:

“The Raptor Foundation is a Charity as well as a small tourist attraction, employing 13 members of staff and if Envar was to receive planning for the Incinerator it would have a huge impact on our business, but not only that it would have more of an impact on the health of the animals in our care.  We won’t be alone as there are other small business, farmers, nurseries, tourist attractions, pubs, restaurants, the list is too long to mention, that will lose their livelihood.”

Photo: Cllr Steve Criswell, Shailesh Vara MP and Liz Blows together with local residents and business owners.

17 January 2024
Vara critical of Republic of Ireland’s action on Northern Ireland Troubles Act

Speaking in Northern Ireland Questions, Shailesh Vara asks the Secretary of State about the Republic of Ireland’s decision to take the UK Government to court over the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which is designed to bring justice and information recovery to victims of the troubles.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is deeply regrettable that the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is pandering to his domestic audience, rather than thinking of the greater good of Northern Ireland and the victims of the troubles?

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chris Heaton-Harris)

My right hon. Friend makes a very fair point, because in the midst of everything we are trying to do to get the Executive back up and running, the Republic of Ireland’s decision to take an inter-state case out against the UK Government on our Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which is designed to bring justice and information recovery to victims of the troubles, is unhelpful and unfortunate. We have made our representations very plain on that matter.

Hansard

6 December 2023
Vara draws distinction between economic migrants and asylum seekers coming to the UK

Following the Home Secretary’s statement on the Government’s plan to stop the boats and tackle the vile trade in people smuggled across the channel, Shailesh Vara highlights the fact that the people who will be affected by the new proposals are arriving in this country from a safe country, France, and are mostly young men in their 20s and 30s who come here as economic migrants and not asylum seekers.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

Some in this House take the view that our proposals are not the way to treat asylum seekers. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the people we are talking about are arriving in this country from a safe country, France, and are mostly young men in their 20s and 30s who come here as economic migrants and not asylum seekers? It is important that that point is recognised.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (James Cleverly)

This country has always been, and remains, incredibly generous to people who are fleeing persecution and seeking safe haven. We will continue to provide that, but it is also right that many people who attempt to come to this country do so to get a better economic life for themselves. As my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) said, we do not criticise people who seek to come to this country for economic reasons, but we make it clear that there are safe and legal routes for them to do so. This is about breaking the business model of evil people smugglers who prey on the people my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Shailesh Vara) speaks of. We are duty-bound to explore every way of breaking that evil model and that evil trade in human misery to ensure that we protect the people who need protecting by working with countries such as Rwanda that seek to do the right thing on the world stage.

Hansard

Shailesh Vara MP hosts a meeting in Parliament to discuss local policing

5 December 2023
Vara hosts meeting in Parliament with local police

Shailesh Vara MP recently hosted a meeting in Parliament to discuss a number of local policing matters. Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly also attended as did Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston and Chief Constable Nick Dean.

Among the issues discussed was the disparity in payment of the South East Allowance. This is an additional payment made to police officers in some forces to reflect the cost of living in the South East region. While the allowance is provided to officers in neighbouring areas, such as Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, it is not extended to Cambridgeshire officers.

Moreover, Liz Groom, Chair of the Cambridgeshire Police Federation, also attended the meeting and spoke of the need to change the national police funding formula, which is the process by which financial resources are distributed to police forces more generally. It is felt that Cambridgeshire does not receive its due allocation and this can be rectified by reviewing the funding formula.

It was agreed that Mr Vara, along with Mr Djanogly and other Cambridgeshire MPs, would follow up some of the issues with the Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, especially regarding the disparity in the allocation of the South East Allowance.

Following the meeting, Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to host this meeting and there is clearly much to be done to ensure that there is fair treatment and payment for Cambridgeshire police officers.  

“I will be working with my colleague Jonathan Djanogly and other Cambridgeshire MPs to take matters up with James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, especially with respect to the payment of the South East Allowance.

“It simply isn’t right that while officers in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire receive this allowance, their colleagues in Cambridgeshire are excluded from it, despite the very close collaboration between the forces.”

Photo: (from left to right) Joshua Richards (from the office of Lucy Frazer MP), Jonathan Djanogly MP, Darryl Preston, Tiffany Lynch, Belinda Goodwin, Stuart Taylor, Liz Groom, Shailesh Vara MP and Nick Dean.