News

Stevenage’s new MP has pledged to support muscle disease patients and help them secure better health services. Conservative MP Stephen McPartland signed up to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Manifesto for Muscle in the lead up to the election on 6 May, promising backing for constituents with muscle disease in their fight for better healthcare services if elected.

Stephen McPartland MP said:“I made this commitment to supporting muscle disease patients and their families if I was elected because I believe they need, and deserve, much better healthcare. I’m now keen to take up the challenge of helping local people fight for better care and services, and will help with the campaigning work they do.”

Stephen McPartland MP will be a vital link for local patients and families by raising awareness of muscle-wasting conditions and putting pressure on the NHS to improve health services.

Stephen McPartland, the new Member of Parliament for Stevenage has hit the ground running. He is determined to help local people cut through all the bureaucracy and excuses of why things cannot be done and deliver real change locally. Stephen has already taken a number of cases up on behalf of local people and held his first surgery last Friday to deal with a number of urgent cases.

Stephen said "I am determined to help local people and be a champion for them and Stevenage. I will be holding regular surgeries at Stevenage CVS."

For an appointment or to contact Stephen please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Stephen held his first surgery since being elected as Member of Parliament for Stevenage earlier in May.  His surgeries will be held at the CVS in Stevenage town centre.

Stephen said, "I am very pleased to have a place on the Science and Technology Select Committee as I believe the topics covered and issues addressed by this committee are of key importance to our economic recovery. The work is highly relevant to my constituency as there are many employers in Stevenage involved in high-technology. I will continue to raise the profile of Stevenage nationally and work to maintain and increase local jobs in these industries."

Nigel Fine, CEO of The IET, which is based in Stevenage, added, "I am delighted that Stephen McPartland MP has joined this important committee at a time when the contribution that science and engineering can make to economic prosperity and quality of life in the UK has never been greater."

The King Pin pub on Archer Road is being threatened with closure by Stevenage Borough Council who bought it in December. Local residents are fighting to keep the pub open and have already collected 418 signatures for a petition.

Stephen visited the King Pin pub and said, “It is an absolute disgrace that Stevenage Borough Council are trying to close this community resource. This local pub clearly has a lot of support and should be allowed to remain open until regeneration work begins. I understand that there is no fixed date for the redevelopment and can only imagine that this will turn into another Council-led regeneration that never happens.”

Stephen added, “I am also supporting the Protection of Local Services (Planning) Bill, as I believe that local communities should have a say in the future of local services that matter to them. I urge the Council to consult the local community and actually listen to their views.”

MPs and e-skills UK have launched the fifth year of the Make IT Happy competition, a UK-wide technology challenge for primary school students aged 9 to 11, and MP Stephen McPartland is raising awareness locally.

This year’s Make IT Happy theme of “Pass IT On” calls for schools to use IT to connect with people to make a positive impact on their lives.  Stephen commented, “I have written to all of the local primary schools to encourage them to get involved with Make IT Happy this year. The competition offers a unique way for schools to engage with their wider communities to make a positive impact on the lives of others, while at the same time enhancing their own knowledge of IT. “

Stephen added, ”As well as the cash prizes on offer, I’m confident that pupils will enjoy the chance to work together on such an exciting and relevant project. Entries should be as imaginative as possible in order to capture the attention of the judges. The competition is all about giving young people a chance to use their imagination, creativity and technology skills and show how IT can make a difference to the world around them.”

Stephen McPartland MP is urging constituents who overpaid for gas supply from npower in 2007 to take advantage of their refund and get their share of more than £20 million still unclaimed.
Stephen said,“I encourage all local npower customers with a payment letter from npower at home to take it to the local post office now and get the cash they are owed.  If you think you may be entitled to a refund, then call the npower helpline to check.”

Stephen McPartland MP has been working with East Coast to stop them from reducing services at Stevenage.

Stephen said, “I am pleased the negotiation has been successful for both Stevenage and East Coast, as it is important we work well with our partners and develop constructive relationships. I am delighted that the East Coast ticket office will remain open at Stevenage station and we have secured extra services to Lincoln and York and an evening train going to Newcastle, subject to confirmation from Network Rail.

Stephen added, “The extra services are great news for local people and businesses as Stevenage continues to take a leading role in helping our economy recover. I have been impressed with the courteous and businesslike manner of East Coast under Elaine Holt's leadership.”

Chairman of East Coast Elaine Holt said: “East Coast has listened to the views of customers and stakeholders across the 920-mile East Coast route as it has consulted upon and developed a ground-breaking new timetable, which will be introduced 20^th May 2011. This has included a very constructive and on-going dialogue with Mr McPartland in his role as the MP for Stevenage and, previously, in his role as a representative of the local rail user group.

Elaine explained, “In an earlier draft of the timetable, which East Coast published last year, weekday services to Stevenage were slightly reduced. However, having listened to the views of customers and stakeholders, including Mr McPartland, East Coast now plans to actually increase, not reduce, the number of weekday services that stop at Stevenage by 18 per day, from 40 per day now to 58 services per day from May. This will bring more than 9,000 additional seats each week day for rail travellers to Stevenage.”

Elaine concluded, “It reflects East Coast’s commitment to serving the town and positively contributing to its prosperity. East Coast is also strengthening direct journeys from Stevenage to Yorkshire with an additional 11 services per week day to and from Leeds. Good connections will help maintain East Coast journeys between Stevenage and North East England and Scotland, where there is less demand for direct links.”