Agenda item

Keir Mather, MP for Selby attended the Area Committee and provided the following update.

As part of my work as the Member of Parliament for Selby and Kippax, I am providing a written update to the Chair on my work locally.

Improving mobile phone signal for households and businesses

The issue of inadequate mobile phone signal continues to be one of the most frequent concerns raised by constituents, as reflected in the volume of correspondence I receive on a weekly basis. To better understand the extent of this problem, I have actively engaged with local residents and businesses who are affected by poor mobile coverage.

I have been working with the major mobile phone providers (including Three, O2, Vodafone, and EE), to explore potential solutions for improving signal strength in our area. In addition, I have met with Chris Bryant MP, the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, to discuss the future infrastructure plans for telecommunications in our local area.

Looking ahead, I am committed to continuing to engage with local councillors and relevant stakeholders on this issue. My next course of action will be to convene a roundtable meeting with local businesses to explore further steps and identify possible solutions for improving mobile phone coverage in the constituency. I will further update the ACC on my actions in this area in due course.

Protecting communities from flooding and adverse weather

The recent impact of Storm Darragh has underscored the significant risks posed by flooding and extreme weather events in our area. These adverse weather conditions not only present immediate threats to safety but also exacerbate existing challenges, such as poor mobile phone signal, which makes communication during emergencies even more difficult.

In response to these challenges, I have been in ongoing discussions with Emma Hardy MP, the Minister for Flooding, to ensure that our local flood defences are adequately strengthened. Earlier this year whilst she was the Shadow Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy visited the constituency to meet with local residents and understand the unique concerns we face in relation to flooding.

In addition to working with the Flooding Minister, I am collaborating with North Yorkshire Council (NYC) and community groups such as South Milford Against Flooding to enhance flood preparedness and resilience in the Selby District.

Safer roads for our communities

Improving road safety remains a key priority for my work in the constituency. In particular, I am focused on enhancing safety around schools and addressing broader road safety concerns for both residents and visitors.

North Yorkshire is unique in these challenges: road deaths in Yorkshire and The Humber are up by 7.1% in 2023/2024 - whilst in North Yorkshire, the increase is much larger, up by a staggering 41%. Whereas not too far away in Leeds, a city with much greater car use, deaths and serious injury is down by 11%. [Statistics from Brake]

To that end, I have written to every school in the constituency to gather information on their specific concerns about road safety, especially in areas frequented by students and parents. In parallel, I have launched a petition calling for improved road safety measures across North Yorkshire, urging local residents to support the cause.

I have also taken the opportunity to raise specific safety concerns with the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation at North Yorkshire Council, Keane Duncan, pushing for swift action on the issues raised by local schools and residents.

A key area of focus is the installation of fixed speed cameras. North Yorkshire is the only county in the UK that does not have fixed speed cameras, a situation that has been linked to a higher incidence of road casualties. While the decision to install speed cameras lies with North Yorkshire Police, I am actively engaging with local parish councils and have written to the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire, and Crime, Jo Coles, to confirm her position on this matter.

I would welcome further input from councillors on this issue as we continue to advocate for road safety improvements in the area.

Improving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision

The provision of adequate education and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is a critical issue for many families in our community. I remain committed to pushing for the swift development of the planned SEND school in Selby, and I am pleased to have received confirmation from the Department for Education (DfE) that the contractor has not withdrawn from the project, allowing us to move forward.

In addition, the Government recently announced an additional £2 billion in funding for SEND provision, along with an uplift for early years education. While this funding is a positive step, I am aware that North Yorkshire’s allocation remains relatively low, and I am working to ensure that our area receives its fair share.

I have maintained regular engagement with schools and local leaders to address the challenges facing our SEND provision. I am also aware that some school governors and leaders in the Selby area, including Ray Wells, the Chair of Governors at Barlby Bridge Primary School, are working to establish a forum to better understand the distinct challenges faced by schools in our constituency and to develop a strategy for addressing them. He has requested that councillors seek to get involved.

For further information, or to discuss these issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office:

01757 247990

16 Park Street, Selby, YO8 4PW

keir.mather.mp@parliament.uk

Members of the Committee requested that Sir Alex Shelbrooke, MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, be invited to attend or provide a written update to future meetings of the committee.