Last week I spent a day in the constituency with Vicky Ford MEP and Nick Alston, Conservative Police Crime Commissioner Candidate. We spent the day out and about visiting various communities, organisations and community events.
We visited the High Street, City Beach, The Storehouse, Southend Airport, Wakering and Rochford Square. I also hosted a community out and about surgery in Rochford. Both Vicky and Nick were on hand to speak to residents about any concerns they had in relation to crime and Europe.
As I am sure you will know from previous columns I have written, I hold out and about surgeries on a regular basis. Being able to offer constituents the opportunity to speak with an MEP and the conservative Police Crime Commissioner Candidate was beneficial for all. It gave an insight as to the challenges and issues constituents face and it enabled Vicky and Nick to engage in a dialog with constituents that they may not have spoken to otherwise.
Following the community surgery we headed over to Southend Airport to have a tour of the airport. We met with Alastair Welch, Managing Director and discussed the history of the airport and the recent investment and expansion.
The final visit for the day was to Temple Sutton Primary School where we met Mr Barratt, Headteacher to discuss the police station that is located on the school grounds. Mr Barratt spoke about the positive impact having a police presence at the school has had for both pupils and the families.
I was delighted to be able to have Vicky Ford and Nick Alston with me for the day. I wanted to show them the extent of the diversity that there is in Rochford and Southend East. From visiting the Storehouse in Southend, a project that supports some of the most vulnerable in our society to a rural village within Rochford District provided them with the opportunity to appreciate just that.