Dear Wendy, I am sorry to hear of the problems you have been experiencing. You are more than welcome to come and see Andrea and she will be happy to look into this matter for you. If you click on the 'contacts' section at the top of this website you will find a list of Andrea's upcoming advice surgeries and drop-in surgeries. No appointment is needed for the drop-in surgeries and the constituency office can make you an appointment at the next advice surgery if you give them a call on 01604 859721. Alternatively you are welcome to write to Andrea by letter to Andrea Leadsom MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or email andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk or use the contact us section under 'contacts'. I hope this is helpful. Kind regards Marc
- Marc Pooler (Parliamentary Researcher)

Perhaps you would like to consider the experience of the people in this news story - they feared the worse when a wind farm was proposed, but now even the strongest opponents have admitted they were wrong. http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/wrong-turbine-noise-admit-protesters/story-13713002-detail/story.html
- Helen

Helen, thanks for your message. The information regarding Northamptonshire not being a windy county comes from the Office of National Statistics which found between 2004 and 2009, on average, Northamptonshire was the second least windiest county in the country.
- Marc Pooler (Parliamentary Researcher)

Many thanks for your answer Marc, I really appreciate the fact that you took time to answer my question. However, I'm still struggling to find the relevant information - please could point me in the direction of the specific information relating to this on the ONS website? Thank you.
- Helen

Dear Helen, sorry for the delay in replying to you. The information was used around a year ago for a speech Andrea did in Parliament. I am also now having trouble finding the actual report where the figures came from; however, I will find it and forward it to you. Do please bear with me.
- Marc Pooler (Parliamentary Researcher)

I agree Martin, Simon Burns' remarks were loutish. But on the other hand he's demonstrated that for all this government's talk of listening to public opinion and ePetitions and the like, they hold the electorate in contempt and and unwilling to listen to their views.
- Helen

I did vote for an EU Referendum...please have a look at my news page on this website for more information.
- Andrea

Thank you for your comments. I'm keen that as many as possible write/email me at andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk or at House of Commons, London SW1A OAA to make their views clear, so that I can pass this onto the Department for Transport.
- Andrea

Northamptonshire CC has successfully bid for Government funding for the rolling out of Superfast Broadband in the County and I am in contact with them seeking some of that money to be sent towards rural S Northants. I agree with you that it is a key issue if we are to get our economy going again.
- Andrea

I agree with you Richard, and I think the fact that offenders have gone to prison shows that they have not been dealt with any more lightly than other thieves. Parliament should not get any special treatment.
- Andrea

I agree.
- Annie

I was a keen supporter of the Northampton Enterprise Zone - delighted to hear that we have won the tender, as it will bring big advantages to the town, including the Saints prospects for development. I'm also supporting Tresham College's bid to build a University Technical College at Silverstone Circuit that will train 14-19 year olds in Motorsport and Hospitality....another potentially enormous boost to local economy. Sorry if the website doesn't cover everything I do - pls look at 'Andrea's News' as it tends to be a summary of all the many campaigns. The Wind Farm, HS2 and Planning tabs are there because they are without doubt the 3 biggest problems for this area.....
- Andrea

I too find your negative attitude very disappointing. You give yourself away by using the word 'problem'. Why not 'issue'? You may see these things as 'problems', but not everyone does. I'm sure that the proposed University Technical College will be an enormous boost to the local economy - but will it be an enormous boost to local 14-19 year olds when you factor in higher tuition fees and the loss of the EMA?
- Helen

I completely agree Steve!!
- Andrew Lewis

Absolutely. I have a 'drop in' surgery on Friday 5 September at Towcester Farmer's market if you want to have a chat about it.
- Andrea

As this is a 'private' issue, please would you email me at andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk ? Thank you
- Andrea

The planned increase to the state pension is a total disgrace in that many pensioners like myself and my wife have paid in full for our state pensions. My wife even paid for extra years to make sure she received the full state pension. This new scheme is '' giving'' the new pension to people who will only have to pay NI for 30 years. It will create a new second class pensioner group and should be re-considered immediately. I will fight tooth and nail to have this decision reversed. It is also age discrimination which is illegal in the UK!
- Harry Robinson

It is incredibly difficult to bring in reforms, and impossible to bring them in if it means backdating for all those who have already retired. I have had several letters on this subject and am very sympathetic, but the cost of trying to include all existing pensioners would be prohibitive.
- Andrea

Personally, and having a 15 year old son myself, I don't think 16 year olds (with some notable exceptions) have enough experience of life or maturity to have the vote. Interestingly, I went to a debate at Magdalen College secondary school at Brackley where the top two years (ages 16-18) held a debate on precisely that issue and voted overwhelmingly against reducing the voting age to 16!
- Andrea

I would like to know how the bus service is now? I've written to NCC numerous times on different bus services, and I think their planned taxi buses are a good option that could work well in rural areas. I'm not sure what has happened specifically in Hartwell and so do let me know if I can help at all
- Andrea

Would you be able to email me separately about this please, with more details including the name of the Street? I can then take it up with NCC on your behalf.
- Andrea

I am well aware of the dreadful problems Tiffield has with roads, and also the access to the A43. I have recently written again to Highways Authority on the matter.
- Andrea

It is already a travesty that children in Towcester and the surrounding villages have to travel crazy distances to school (Towcester to Paulerspury and Silverstone to Roade) due to local schools already being over subscribed. How can these guys even consider building new homes when to be honest we don’t need any? I think this type of development should be binned until our current issues are resolved.
- James

I heard about this on the radio. What a nonsense. I have to suffer the traffic issues every morning and has anybody tried to get a doctors appointment on the day that they are ill? We don't have any jobs in the area; doctors and dentists are full; the roads are a nightmare and now we have more hosues being built. I thought all this type of development was being canned by the conservatives!!! Am I alone in thinking this is madness?
- Mike - Towcester

I'm delighted that the decision has been deferred. Please let me know if I can help when it comes back to committee.
- Andrea Leadsom

What action will YOU as our MP be taking to support the residents of south Northants in this proposal to build 1000 homes betwen Brackmills and Wootton.
- Peter Barley

I agree with you, but how long will it take for the decision makers to see sense? In these times of cut backs, would we mind having the lights turned off for a while? No not really!
- Sean

Allelujah! I thought it was only I who thought this. The A5 roundabout at Stony Stratford (hope that's in our MP's patch?!) is the classic - drives me nuts sitting there waiting to drive onto an empty roundabout in the early mornings or late evenings! Costs fuel too!
- Nij

The nature of shopping in small towns like Brackley has changed for good. People with busy lives are not prepared to visit four of five shops to get their everyday food and electrical shopping etc., preferring the "one stop" supermarket. Their shopping habits have changed the face of our town centres for good. However, towns like Brackley are learning to re adjust to this reality and whist the town is very different to a number of years ago it is still alive in a new way. We moved to Brackley just over a year ago. Since moving in a total of 9 new shops have opened in Brackley. I think this is a very positive sign that Brackley is alive and well, but people will need to use these shops if we are to ensure they stay open and more come on stream.
- Mike

People parking on your grass, get a wheel clamp.
- Dave

Although there is little one can do about people parking outside ones house (as this is the public highway and not private land) I understand the frustration of your situation...not least the disappointment at just how inconsiderate people can be. I have recently been looking into ways to stop people parking on privately owned land at the rear of my property only to discover that the Protection of Freedoms Bill, currently being read by parliament, will render me even more powerless as I will not even be able to contract a reputable clamping company to deter rogue parkers. If this Bill is passed, clamping and towing away of vehicles on private land will be outlawed.
- Jones

I have used homeopathy, and have a good friend who is a trained homeopath. As to its funding in the NHS, I think for taxpayers' money to be spent, there needs to be evidence of its usefulness. I am not sure what the status is of research into homeopathy, but would be grateful for your advice.
- Andrea Leadsom

Evidence suggests that homeopathic remedies work no better than placebo. However, the placebo effect is very real, especially when the remedy is taken after a consultation with a sympathetic homeopath who had more time to listen and ask questions than your average over-stretched GP. Perhaps rather than spend money on what are effectively sugar-pills, the NHS should put more resource into GP services. For more info on the scientific evidence, read the relevant chapter in Ben Goldacre's highly readable 'Bad Science'
- Kate

There are two arguments here. First, the economic one. Homeopathy costs the NHS (ie us) about £4m per year, which is about what the NHS spends on wigs for cancer patients. These wigs have undoubted value to cancer patients, as does homeopathic treatment - even in the event that it is just a placebo. Take away the homeopathy and the UK drugs bill will soar (and it is the drugs companies that fuel the anti-homeopathy faction). Second, the research argument that claims that homeopathy is no better than a placebo. My wife is being treated for systemic sclerosis with a combination of immuno-suppressants and steroids. The large scale studies carried out in UK and USA conclude that there is no statistically-significant difference between the treatment and a placebo, yet it is the NHS treatment of choice. Why? Because some people get major benefits from it - just like homeopathy - just not enough to make it 'proveable'. I am not a proponent of Homeopathy, but I do wish that its detractors would come up with a more reasoned argument, instead of the hysterical nonsense spouted by its detractors.
- Andrew Barnes

What are the facts? Do we know how many illegal immigrants are in the South Northamptonshire area? Do we know what effects immigration has had on the area, good or bad?
- Richard

What makes you think they are illegal? Immigrants may be from the EU or the rest of the world
- Concerned

Conservative policy is to introduce a quota and a points system for non - EU immigrants. The quota would be set in the tens of thousands and the points system would ensure only those with skills we need in Britain would be allowed entry. We would also introduce 24/7 border control to stop illegal immigration, and would scrap the 'multiculturalism' policies of the last decade - immigrants wanting to settle here would need to learn English and to adapt to our history and culture.
- Andrea Leadsom

With millions out of work, and with more to suffer that fate. Why do we need any immigrants, with the recent flood from eastern europe at least we are now allowed to talk about immingration without being called racists. The UK is one of the most over populated counties on the planet enough is enough. Please stop the ever increasing population before it its to late. Regards Paul P.S It may all ready be to late.
- Paul

Good comments all round but...please Andrea, just when will the Gov't get round to doing this? I might add that my concerns extend to 'legal' immigration too; the country is over-populated for such a small island, farming land is being gobbled up at a rate that will see it not only become an eyesore but fail to produce adequate produce in times of need...and I am beginning to tire of seeing our own native culture, language and beliefs effectively diluted. This is no longer the country I vowed to defend 20 years ago on taking the Queen's Shilling, but as I continue proudly to serve (assuming we have an Army rather than a defence force in 4 years Andrea?), I will wonder more and more for whom and why I and my colleagues take risk. It may be that this govt will need to make itself desperately unpopular in certain quarters to achieve this but it seems to be coping so far with the teddy-throwing bleatings of that element!
- Nij

There are not enough NHS dentists. Towcester recently got a new NHS dentist, and Brackley needs the same. A Conservative Government will seek reform of the EU, rather than to leave it altogether. The 300 million people in the EU are a valuable market for our own businesses and we don't believe it is in our interests to simply walk away. However, reform is essential. Please have a look at the EU 'tab' on this website.
- Andrea Leadsom