Louie French MP's latest column in the News Shopper.
As we start a new year, it's an opportunity to reflect on our achievements in 2024 and look to the months ahead.
We achieved a lot together last year to make Old Bexley, Sidcup, and Welling even better. From improved rail services with the loop services connecting Woolwich and Sidcup lines returning to opening new sports facilities like the refurbished tennis courts at Danson Park and padel courts in Bexley Village.
But this year, there's more to do. Here are my local priorities for 2025 to stand up and deliver for you.
First, work on the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Queen Mary's continues thanks to a £9.6 million investment by the previous Conservative government. It will help transform health services locally, delivering 50,000 diagnostic tests annually and taking pressure off neighbouring hospitals. I'm proud of this investment, which I led the campaign for, and I look forward to opening it when completed.
Second, I'm looking forward to the opening of the new Sidcup Banking Hub, which will open this year once an appropriate location on the High Street is found. It will ensure people can continue to access face-to-face banking services long into the future as more and more banks move online. We've already seen the difference it can make to people's lives in Welling, where we opened one of the first in the country in 2023.
Third, the campaign to bring the Superloop to Bexley Village continues. Over 2,000 people signed the petition I launched with local Conservative councillors Kurtis Christoforides and Cameron Smith to add the stop. But Transport for London (TfL) is yet to agree. We'll keep up the pressure until they agree.
Fourth, I'll be campaigning for even more improvements to local rail services. Southeastern wants to procure new rolling stock to replace its ageing metro trains, which are costly to run and prone to breaking down. I'll push ministers to give the rail firm the green light once its procurement process is complete so that local commuters can enjoy a better service.
Fifth, Sadiq Khan is imposing new tolls on the Blackwall Tunnel next year - ending more than a century of free crossings. Over 6,000 people signed my petition to stop the toll, but the mayor has again ignored people's objections and decided to impose the expensive toll.
With Ulez expanded, the Congestion Charge hiked, and a new toll on Blackwall Tunnel, the total daily bill for Labour's road charges in London is over £35. The bill is even higher for van drivers, with each peak-time crossing costing £6.50. These are taxes on working people that will further damage our economy and divide families.
I'll be fighting the mayor's latest road charge every step of the way on behalf of everyone who will be affected locally.
There's a lot to do in 2025, and the economic outlook is bleak after the budget. Still, I'm optimistic about what we can achieve locally by working with the community, local charities and businesses.
