Tessa Munt MP tells Strode College students to “go for it!”

Local MP Tessa had a packed day at Strode College last week where she spoke to students, assisted in a course activity and congratulated apprentices by giving out awards.

An important part of Tessa’s day at Strode was giving a talk to ‘Aspire’ students. The Aspire Programme has been developed by Strode College to encourage and equip their most able and talented A Level students. This helps them with applications to the best universities as a first step in pursuing lives and careers that are challenging, rewarding and have a positive social and economic impact. One of Strode’s aims is to raise ambition and motivation by exposing the students to positive, inspirational role models – such as Tessa. Students had the opportunity to hear about Tessa’s experiences, the different jobs she had done and her route to becoming our MP. Tessa said “I am hugely impressed with this group of young people and I commend the college on its Aspire Programme. I hope I was able to give them an insight into my experiences and good advice from what I have learned along the way – they are brilliant young people and I said to them they must go for it!”

Tessa meeting the students

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“Youth employment has to be at the heart of 2015 manifesto” says Tessa Munt MP

Local MP Tessa led the way ahead in planning for the 2015 election manifesto by taking part in an important panel event organised by the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion all about Youth Employment policies for the next few years.

Tessa spoke about the importance of pushing traineeships and apprenticeships and the need to start thinking outside the box for young people. One of the most interesting ideas she put forward was making use of local Council brown field land for building projects specifically to train young people ‘on the job’ in the construction industry. Tessa said “I’ve seen firsthand the potential of going down a route like this from the Red Brick Building project in Glastonbury where are looking at giving lots of local young people the opportunity to be on an exciting building project where they can learn so much. There is every reason for us to be looking at doing the same thing in other places.”

Tessa speaking at the meeting

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Tessa Munt MP drums up support at Wells May Day fair

Local MP Tessa put her percussion skills to the test by giving drumming a try with the Mendip All Drummers (MAD) during celebrations for May Day in Wells this weekend.Tessa at Wells May Fair

Tessa joined hundreds of people enjoying the summer sunshine in the annual celebrations arranged again by the Wells Lions club. Alongside the traditional Maypole dancing were vintage cars, stalls, games, music and of course drums!

Tessa said; “This is always a wonderful annual event in the Wells Calendar. We have fantastic weather, and it’s been great fun meeting all sorts of people and visiting dozens of stalls and activities.”

Tessa Munt

7th May 2013

Tessa Munt MP supports Virtual Glastonbury ‘Tor’

Local MP Tessa gave the thumbs up to an exciting online project led by Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce.

The ‘being there’ project is a virtual tour of Glastonbury where you can zoom into various shops, hotels and cafes, allowing people to look around the venue and find out information. 

Tessa said; “This is an exciting project, unique in Somerset and once completed will be a huge asset for the town. I congratulate the Chamber of Commerce for making it happen.”

Tessa Munt

7th May 2013

Ian Tucker, Tessa Munt and Gabriel Avalon

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Virtual Tour Site: http://www.glastonburystour.com/glastonburystourcom/highst/

Tessa Munt MP and the League of Friends welcome Jeremy Hunt MP to Shepton Hospital

League of Friends and Tessa Munt MP welcome the Secretary of State for Health’s visit to Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.

Jeremy Hunt MP visited the planned site for a much-wanted new ‘Health Campus’ in Shepton Mallet, meeting some key members of the ‘Friends of Shepton Hospital’ campaign, which challenged last year’s suggested closure of some of Shepton Hospital’s beds.

Shepton Hospital visit from Jeremy Hunt MP

Tessa said: “I’m so glad that Jeremy visited Shepton Mallet to learn about our campaign to retain our excellent Community Hospital, which provides such an invaluable local service.  I’m delighted he took the chance to hear about our GPs’ plans for future health care in the town and hope we can rely on his support.”

“I look forward to continuing to campaign, both locally and in Parliament, to save our Hospital beds and for the planned ‘Health Campus’ in Shepton Mallet.”
Tessa Munt

30th April 2013

Tessa Munt MP launches new electric car charging point in Wedmore

On Saturday The George Inn, Wedmore, announced the activation of their Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station by local MP Tessa.

Visitors to The George Inn with an electric vehicle can now recharge for free while staying overnight at the Grade II listed building or top-up while enjoying a meal in their locally-sourced restaurant.

Gordon Stevens from The George Inn, said: ‘We are very pleased to be supporting electric car drivers by installing Zero Carbon World’s Charging Stations. It is a great feeling to know that we are now a part of a national network of locations offering reliable charging to drivers.’

‘We are looking forward to welcoming our first electric car and its driver.’

Tessa said “I was so excited to launch this – the Wedmore Green Group and The George Inn have been working really hard to get the charging point here. What’s brilliant is that there is no charge for this service and while you are waiting you can be sampling the delights of the wonderful pub and I really hope this will encourage more people into the village.’’

Tessa is with Cara Nadan (ZCW), Sharon Fay (FJ Chalke), Jono Taylor (WGG), and Indie Heaslip (The George Inn)

Tessa is with Cara Nadan (ZCW), Sharon Fay (FJ Chalke), Jono Taylor (WGG), and Indie Heaslip (The George Inn)

‘There are no restrictions to use ZeroNet, our National Electric Car charging network’ said Cara Nadan of Zero Carbon World. ‘You don’t have to be a member, subscribe, pay in advance or use a smart card to access electricity. Wherever EV drivers are, they can recharge while eating, sleeping, working or simply relaxing. We are extremely proud to be creating the UK’s only Open Charging Station Network.’

Tessa Munt

29th April 2013

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Notes:

For more information on Zero Carbon World please visit:

www.zerocarbonworld.org

Zero Carbon World donates Charging Stations to the hotel and leisure industry to support the development of a national charging infrastructure and to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. Wedmore Green Group and The George Inn paid for the kit installation but for anyone charging their car there is no charge!

The Charging Station donation to The George Inn comprises two simple, robust and reliable Charging Stations – one 13A and one 32A. Zero Carbon World is donating Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations to businesses around the UK. The George joined ‘ZeroNet’ – the only unrestricted National Electric Car charging network in the country.

For more information on The George Inn please visit:

www.thegeorgewedmore.co.uk

For more information on Wedmore Green Group please visit:

www.wedmoregreengroup.co.uk

Tessa Munt MP helps launch Chilcompton Village Plan

Local MP Tessa was delighted to announce the launch of the Chilcompton Village Plan on Saturday at Chilcompton Village Hall.

The completion of the plan is the result of over two years hard work involving the whole village; 42 committee meetings, open days, fund-raising, newsletters and consultation events. The plan is here to best reflect the views of everyone in the village. It identifies features and local characteristics that people value, identifies local needs and opportunities and includes an action plan for the future.

Tessa at the plan launch

Tessa said; “Not only is the plan itself an invaluable document, the work behind producing the plan has been a fantastic example of a community pulling together to achieve something important. Even before the plan was finished a litter picking group and a river watch group were established once the need was identified which was just terrific. I commend the committee and the whole village for making this happen.”

Tessa Munt

29th April 2013

Tessa Munt MP welcomes ban on rip-off surcharges

Local MP Tessa is backing the recent ban on excessive surcharges, and is asking her constituents to report organisations that break the new rules.

A ban on excessive surcharges for debit and credit card payments came into effect on 6 April 2013 as a result of a two-year campaign from consumer champion ‘Which?’ The campaign was supported by over 50,000 members of the public as well as Tessa.

The new law means that any surcharges paid must reflect the cost of processing the payment. Which? estimates that this should be no more than 50p for payment by debit card, or 2% of the transaction fee if paying by credit card.

Tessa said: “It’s good news that people in Somerset will no longer have to pay over the odds when paying by card. Unfortunately, while most companies are playing by the rules, there are still some that aren’t. I encourage anyone who is charged too much for using their card to report it to Which?”

Richard Lloyd, executive director, Which? said: “We’re pleased the ban on rip-off surcharges was introduced but for it to be effective there must be a tough enforcement regime.  Companies must also play fair and not pass costs on to customers in other ways.  We will be monitoring the ban closely and want people to come forward and tell us about surcharges they think are excessive.”

Tessa Munt MP is calling on people to visit www.which.co.uk/surcharges to report surcharges they think are too high. Which? will pass the complaints it receives on to Trading Standards which is responsible for policing the ban.

Tessa Munt

29th April 2013

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Tessa Munt MP hosts Somerset Disabled Carriage-Drivers in Parliament

Local MP Tessa was delighted to give a guided tour of Parliament and have lunch with four members of the Somerset Disabled Carriage-Drivers last week.

Somerset Levels RDA group are a charity providing carriage driving therapy for more than 30 disabled people. The group’s attendees were Caroline Sturgess (Chair), Ann Turner (a wheelchair-bound user of the group’s services and a trustee), George Turner (Ann’s husband and a group volunteer), and Paul Dickens (a client of the group’s services).

Caroline Sturgess, Chair of the Somerset Levels RDA Carriage-Driving group said “This was a fascinating day.  It was hugely interesting to see at firsthand what we usually only hear reported in the media.

“It was also great to see how Parliament is truly wheelchair-friendly – and to see how Party Whips work very differently to carriage-driving whips”, she added.

Tessa said, “It was great to welcome the team to London and for them to see Parliament in action. I am always more than happy to give other local people or groups the opportunity to visit.”

Tessa Munt

30th April 2013

RDA visit to Parliament

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For more information on the RDA please call Caroline Sturgess on 01278-760621 or 07939-418414 

 Photo-Caption:

Left to right:  Paul Dickens, Tessa Munt MP, Caroline Sturgess, Ann Turner, and George Turner.

Local MP Tessa Munt hosts flooding summit with Minister

More than 150 farmers, landowners, tenants and smallholders packed an ancient tythe barn in Theale, near Wedmore last Thursday evening to question Richard Benyon, Flooding Minister from Defra (the Department of Food and Rural Affairs) in an event organised by local MP, Tessa Munt.

 Tessa was very keen that the Flooding Minister should see the Axe and Brue valleys so he could view the damage caused to land and businesses by flooding for himself.  After a tour of the Brue and Axe, Richard heard from local farmers about their concerns, the real hardships they face after an extraordinarily wet 2012, in which Somerset saw 135% of the annual average rainfall, and to hear them offer suggestions and solutions to improve the situation.   

 Many blamed more than a dozen years of neglect, pointing out that no dredging of the rivers or rhynes had been included in the regular maintenance programme, which would at least have allowed the watercourses across the Somerset Levels to work as they were designed to do two hundred years ago.  As a consequence, much of the wildlife and habitats for which the Levels and Moors are reknowned was lost, as floodwater sat on the land for many weeks and months.

 Tessa said “This visit will have left Richard Benyon in no doubt as to what is needed to improve the farmers’ chances of making a living from the land.  He appreciates changes are necessary, and has taken back to London a clear message for Defra from the farmers of Somerset.”Tessa Munt and Richard Benyon

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