Dear friend,

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Butterfly City-

I’ve been a proud patron of Butterfly City since I was involved in its creation in 2019. This year’s People’s Planting Week saw just over 2,000 young buckthorn saplings distributed free to individuals, schools, community and voluntary organisations across the city and beyond.

The leaves of the buckthorn are food for the caterpillar of the yellow Brimstone Butterfly, so more buckthorn means more Brimstones.

The launch was held at Hull Church’s Resident’s Association where children from Priory Primary School and resident’s decorated pots, sowed seeds and planted buckthorn in the grounds. It was a lovely morning and took me back to what was so rewarding about my days as a primary teacher. The children also took buckthorn back to their school for planting in their grounds.

The buckthorn was made available through a network of pick-up points and events across the city, co-ordinated by Rosie Ireson, and were gone within days.

The saplings were grown by Mires Beck nursery, a local charity which employs and trains adults with learning disabilities and paid for by Reckitt who also distributed 70 to staff and planted some on site. They have provided a map of where their staff will be planting theirs. As you can see from the map of Brimstone sightings for 2023 from Butterfly Conservation, we are already having an effect and the buckthorn are going in the right places!

If you’d like to do more for butterflies in your own space, get in touch with Sean at butterflycityhull@gmail.com

PPE for protected characteristics bill presentation and debate-

Earlier this month I met Katy Robinson, a project manager for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, who told me about her campaign to make PPE for people with protected characteristics statutory. She told me about problems women have in getting PPE that fits properly.

When I heard about Katy’s campaign I immediately offered my support and I was able to present a bill and secure a debate in Parliament calling for PPE for people with protected characteristics to statutory.

Failures during the pandemic highlighted how dangerous ill-fitting PPE can be and as we try to encourage diversity in STEM careers, we must ensure that ill-fitting PPE is not a barrier.

I want to see this guidance become statutory and will continue to work with Katy to ensure that PPE is not a barrier to accessing work.

Legacy Funeral Directors-
The situation with Legacy Funeral Directors has been truly devastating for all those affected. I want to thank the police for their quick action, diligence and compassion while dealing with this case. I cannot comment too much as the investigation continues.

I was shocked to learn that the funeral director profession is completely unregulated and there is no system of statutory licensing or inspection in place. Having spoken to government ministers, I called for the process of bringing all funeral directors under a regulatory system. I have been told by the government that this will process will begin in the next few months. I understand that this process will take time and therefore in the meantime, I would like to see all funeral directors encouraged to subject themselves to voluntary regulations by one of the trade bodies.

It has been a deeply upsetting time for our area but the community came together to support those affected with a vigil at Hull Minster. It was a deeply moving service, honouring the lost with dignity and respect through lighting candles. It was an emotional event and I hope it offered comfort to those who attended.

Community Champion Award-

Voting is now open for my Community Champion Award!

The last few years have been challenging for many people with the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis.

Through the most difficult times there has been a beacon of hope; the wonderful people and organisations that volunteer to support their community.

I, and I’m sure many others, want to give back to those who generously give their time to ensuring people in our communities are looked after. That’s why I’ve created the Emma Hardy Community Champion Award to recognise those who do so much for others.

Please complete the voting form linked below to vote for an individual and/or an organisation based in Hull West and Haltemprice you think deserves recognition!

Save Pickering Park Pool-

I was extremely disappointed to hear that Hull City Council will not open Pickering Park pool over the summer due to repairs which need making.

During the midst of a cost of living crisis, the pool is a fantastic, free resource, which many families across Hull West and Hessle enjoy. I know it will be hugely missed by those who use it. Hull City Council have also announced that they will take the summer to run a consultation on the future of the pool. I fear that this will be used as a way to justify a permanent closure of the pool.

I have written to Hull City Council expressing my disappointment over it’s closure and asking for full transparency over their decision to close it this summer and future plans for the pool.

I have also started a petition to save the pool. You can sign it here- https://forms.gle/Kskz2QtAbdTRXEcZ7

Private Parking Regulations Bill-

All too often I’m hearing from constituents who are receiving threatening letters after submitting appeals to parking fines from private car parks. It highlighted to me the urgent need for regulation in this space.

The Government attempted to introduce a code of practice which the parking companies immediately attacked through the courts two years ago. The government withdrew the code, held a call for evidence and we’ve heard nothing since.

This is why I presented a bill to Parliament calling for regulation of private car parking companies to ensure a better consumer experience.

Telegraph Poles meeting and bill presentation-

Earlier this week I attended a ‘roundtable’ event hosted by Minister Julia Lopez, as well as other local MPs, Dame Diana Johnson and Graham Stuart. The event included a robust discussion on how current legislation, policy and Ofcom guidance is impacting on not only Hull West and Hessle, but the entire city of Hull and surrounding areas. The realities of the situation were made clear to Minister Lopez and I explained that in the area, alternative providers to KCOM are effectively racing to install infrastructure in a bid to quickly offer services alternate to the ones offered by KCOM.

Following the meeting, I was happy to sign a letter organised by Graham Stuart MP, reiterating the concerns raised in the meeting to the minister and setting out a number of asks, including;

• asking the minister to direct Ofcom to bring forward its review of the ‘Hull Area Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review 2021-26’ to now, with a view to setting out when Ofcom can act should broadband providers fail to share already existing infrastructure, and
• ending Permitted Development Rights for telegraph poles where infrastructure exists, either overhead or underground, and
• expedite the assessment of creosote and whether it is safe to use (in this case, on telegraph poles) in residential areas, based on current evidence.
  

I have also presented a Private Members’ bill to the government entitled ‘Telecommunications Infrastructure (Requirement to Share Apparatus) Bill’. The bill calls for:

”Bill to require providers of electronic communications networks to grant access to their apparatus to other such providers in certain circumstances; to prohibit the installation of new electronic communications apparatus where services can be provided by sharing apparatus; and for connected purposes.

I know that this issue is a source of concern and frustration for so many and I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that I fully share your concerns. Please be assured that I will continue to speak up on your behalf at any given opportunity and will do everything I can to push for change that will make infrastructure sharing a legal requirement.

Best wishes,

Emma