OVER the last month or so I have been out and about in the constituency on Fridays and at weekends. While there have been days where it’s been pretty cold chatting to residents on their doorsteps, thankfully it has mostly not been too wet! I have also been hearing back from hundreds of Wareham residents who have returned my survey about the level crossing. If you have received one, please do let me know your views.
As well as helping residents with casework, it’s always great to hear from local entrepreneurs and businesses. I recently met two inventors from Poole who are developing a non-spill jerrycan. For anyone who ever has to fill up a jerrycan this is a brilliant solution to that spill-as-you-fill-up, and could save thousands of gallons of fuel a year!

I’m delighted a local pub has been nominated for a regional award – with the possibility of getting to the national finals. The Chequers Inn in Lytchett Matravers is a South-West regional finalist in the Countryside Alliance Rural Awards, which celebrate British food and farming. The Chequers is well known for not just its great food and warm welcome, but its work for the local community, including its Meal Club which offers free meals for those in need. To win, and get through to the national final, it needs your vote! Please visit www.research.net/r/caawardsswbusiness and give it your support.
If you live in the BCP Council area, elections for the local council are coming up in May. The rules have changed about voting, and you will now need a form of photo ID with you when you go to vote. You can use different types of photo ID and if you do not have one you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You apply for this online here: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate , and you must do so by April 25. If you have a photo ID that has expired – like an old passport – you can still use it as long as you are recognisable from the photo. More details and a full list of what ID you can use are available on my website.

Last month I had a fantastic evening of entertainment courtesy of Broadstone Pantomime Productions, which put on a great show with ‘Freezing’. This season it is helping Teddy20, supporting children with cancer. If you are running a charitable event or show, please get in touch and let me know.
This column can only ever give a small taster of what I have been doing – every month I send out an email newsletter with more details of what I have been up to in the constituency and Parliament. You can sign up on my website or you can email me.

I continue to hold regular surgeries in the constituency, so please get in touch if there is something you need help with or if you’d like me to visit your organisation or business. Email me on michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or contact my office on 01202 624216. You can also follow what I’ve been doing on Twitter @Michael4mdnp or Facebook www.facebook.com/michael4MDNP or on my website www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk

Michael Tomlinson
Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole