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July 2022 July 2022

DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD SUCCESS NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER

Over the extended Jubilee bank holiday in June it
After two years of waiting, three was great to be able to meet and chat to so many
ex-Kingsbere Explorers, Jordan people whilst out and about in the constituency. I
Hobbs, Will Rogers and want to thank everyone who was involved in
Cameron Findler, as well as their organising Jubilee events, bringing so many people
respective mothers, had the together. From beacons to concerts, special church
chance to celebrate the services, festival exhibitions, picnics and street parties
completion of their Gold Duke – what a fantastic way to pay tribute to a lifetime of
of Edinburgh Award. service from Her Majesty the Queen.
The celebration took place in Wimborne was the only town in England to have a
the Buckingham Palace militia giving a 21-gun salute! I was also delighted to meet 7-year-old Olivia
Gardens and was hosted by Lansley in Canford Heath. She is aiming to swim 70 lengths representing 70 years
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. of Her Majesty’s reign, to raise money for the Royal British Legion. You can find a
The Prince lead the celebrations link to donate on my website.
from the rear terrace
After one of the local events, I volunteered alongside the Scouts to collect litter.
It was a pleasant surprise to find that very little had been left, with most people
accompanied by DofE ambassadors James tidying up after themselves. Littering and fly-tipping is a pet hate of mine, so I’m
and Oliver Phelps as well as other notable pleased that the government is cracking down on waste crime. This is estimated
DofE alumni. to cost the economy an astonishing £924m per year in England. In the last six
months we have announced that we
After the speeches, we were able to take are reforming the licensing system,
the opportunity to explore the beautiful introducing mandatory digital waste
palace gardens. Spread throughout the tracking, investing to tackle fly-
gardens were other guest speakers which tipping and supporting people to
covered the topics of adventure, alumni dispose of their waste correctly. We
and careers. are consulting on changes to ensure
Soon after, came our scheduled time at the that householders can dispose of
official tea tent for a much needed cup of household DIY waste without being
tea and some cakes. Sitting down listening charged, to reduce fly-tipping. You
to the military bands in the sunshine with can contribute your views here:
cake in hand is certainly a better way to https://consult.defra.gov.uk/waste-
spend a May afternoon than stomping and-recycling/consultation-on-diy-
through a bog in Dartmoor! waste-and-call-for-evidence/
Of course, some litter is unseen, and I’m pleased that we have already banned
microbeads in toiletries like shower gel; plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds. All
retailers now have to charge for plastic bags, and we have consulted on
banning single use plastic cutlery & plates. We are also looking at a deposit
return scheme for drinks containers.

Over the June recess I also had the chance to meet some of our newest
residents when I hosted a coffee morning with Cllr Sean Gabriel, for Ukrainian

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