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36 Phonebox Magazine | October 2025Over the past few weeks I%u2019ve been out and about across the constituency, meeting with residents, community groups, and local businesses. It%u2019s always inspiring to see the strength of our villages and the pride people take in their communities. I was also delighted to join Newport Pagnell Town Council to mark their 40th anniversary, a real celebration of the hard work that has gone into serving the town over the years. But alongside the positives, people have also shared with me some of the real challenges they%u2019re facing day-to-day.I know many of you have contacted me about the ongoing waste dumping and burning near Sherington. I want to begin by thanking everyone who has taken the time to get in touch and share details. I appreciate this has been incredibly distressing for local people, especially given Sherington is such a beautiful village. I visited one of the local businesses aff ected and staff told me how smoke from the site was aff ecting both them and their customers. I know this is having a massive impact on the local community and I am determined to push the relevant organisations to use whatever powers they have to stop it. In recent weeks, I have spoken with both Milton Keynes City Council and the Environment Agency. I wanted to hear directly what their plans were, how they would act, and what steps they were taking to support the local community. The occupiers of the site have now been spoken to, an arrest has taken place, and the Environment Agency has required the removal of the waste.While I hope we can quickly make progress, it points to a far bigger problem. When we face challenges like this, the organisations responsible for ensuring the rules are followed often act too slowly, or don%u2019t have the powers necessary to respond in a timely manner. In the case of illegal burning, court cases can take months as evidence is gathered, and then the fi nes are too small to create a proper disincentive. Too often, people see examples of the criminal justice system moving at a snail%u2019s pace, with neighbourhood policing stretched too thinly, and enforcement processes that feel dysfunctional. For too many communities, there is a sense that justice simply isn%u2019t being delivered properly. That is why I am determined to campaign and press Government for stronger action. We cannot allow those who seek to exploit loopholes in the system to profit at the expense of our rural communities. This behaviour is unacceptable and undermines the safety and security of villages like Sherington. Alongside this, my office has also been working closely with Sherington Parish Council, including by engaging directly with residents at a recent council meeting and making sure that concerns are being listened to. It%u2019s vital that this issue is not forgotten about, and that local voices remain at the heart of the response. I will also be requesting a relevant minister to see if we can ensure agencies have all the powers they need to respond to incidents like this. My priority remains clear: Sherington, and all of our rural villages, should be places where people feel safe, secure, and proud to live. They should not be targeted by those who put profi t before community. Finally, I would encourage residents to continue reporting any new incidents. The more evidence agencies have, the stronger the case for action. You can report directly to the Environment Agency%u2019s Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Thank you once again to everyone who has already been in touch. Your persistence has shone a light on this issue, and together we will keep working to make sure the right action is taken for the community. Chris CurtisMP for Milton Keynes NorthAs always, please follow my Facebook page (@ChrisCurtisLabour) for frequent news and updates from both Westminster and our constituency. If you ever need my assistance, or would like to attend one of my constituency surgeries, please don%u2019t hesitate to get in touch with my offi ce via chris.curtis.mp@parliament.ukChris visits Little Hermitage Coff ee Shop (above) and Alban Hill Nurseries (below)