THERE are many ways MPs can help their constituents. This is from individual casework all the way through to driving through legislation that will make a difference to people’s lives. But there are a huge range of interests and opinions in a constituency like Wyre Forest, so trying to cover everything can be a challenge. One of the mechanisms MPs can use to help specific groups is through a system of cross party groups known as All Party Parliamentary Groups.

All party groups tend to cover either geographical areas – country specific groups – or areas of special interest, such as rare medical conditions or areas of activity where parliament can help. I chair or cochair a number of these groups and one that I enjoy a great deal is the All Party Heritage Railway Group.

This is a group that seeks to help organisations like the Severn Valley Railway with issues that affect how they operate. During my chairmanship, we have produced a report that looks at the way government can help heritage railways, through View from Westminster making a single point of contact for the railways in government (they currently have to seek guidance from several departments – quite complex for predominantly volunteer- run organisations), to helping with issues such as planning for new tracks. We have had a fair degree of success and there is now a single minster – the railways minster – who looks after heritage railways, and we have succeeded in making planning less arduous than before. There are still things we can do: running heritage trains on the mainline is an issue, as is the franchise implications of running mainline trains on heritage tracks.

Getting London Midland trains onto the Severn Valley Railway to serve Foley Park and possibly Bewdley would be a great result.

Some of the most pleasurable moments can be the events I am invited to as chairman. Last weekend, I was guest of honour at the Heritage Rail Association’s annual dinner in Wolverhampton. This was made all the more memorable for me as I was given the opportunity to present a prize to our own Severn Valley Railway, who have notched up 50 years as a heritage rail.

CONTACT YOUR MP

  • Email: mark.garnier.mp@parliament.uk
  • Telephone: 020 7219 7198 or 01562 746771
  • Write: 9a Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU, or House of Commons, Westminster, London