I try to stay in touch with local constituents through a variety of means - regular reports delivered through their letter box (at no charge to the tax payer), knocking on their door to have a chat, surveys mailed directly, emails, this website - and calling residents at home.  On this occasion I was fortunate to have a big team of volunteers to assist me, but usually it's more likely to be me sitting at home in an arm chair going through lists of numbers of people I have spoken to in the past to see whether the problems they told me about have been resolved.

I visited some of the shops along Bexley Road today with councillor Eileen Glover.  The small businesses there are struggling, no question.  As if the recession wasn't enough, the parking problems caused by an increase in students at the university is causing serious problems.  And now, with proposals for timed parking bays which are meant to help residents living in surrounding roads, there are even greater fears for this parade's future.  As one small business owner said to me this morning, if people only have 20 minutes to pick up a prescription, buy a pint of milk and pay a bill at the Post Office, it'll cost them a £60 fine when they overstay their parking space.

This is a massive problem, for residents and small businesses.  Some said the car parks at the Avery Hill campus are not being used as much as they could be since parking charges were introduced, but when I visited this morning they were both full to bursting.  I'm afraid the problem has been caused by the university expansion.  This is a problem we must solve, and quickly.  Otherwise it won't just be the recession that's to blame for shops closing in this parade.  The effect will be devastating to the whole community.

Europe is back on the political agenda and with the rumour mill in overdrive that after being landed with an unelected Labour Prime Minister we may now be lumbered with an unelected Labour President as well, this has never been more important.

I have invited the Shadow Minister for Europe, Mark Francois MP, to visit Eltham on Thursday 29th October to hear your views.  Please join us at St Luke's Church Hall, Westmount Road, from 7pm.  The meeting starts at 7.30pm.  All local residents are welcome to attend.  This is the latest in a series of public meetings and neighbourhood events I have arranged.  It is vital for the most senior politicians at Westminster to hear what people in Eltham think.  For too long we have been ignored or taken for granted.  I do not intend to allow that to continue.

I visited the farmers' market today, as I usually do if I'm around when it's on.  However, I think today's market was the smallest yet.  There were so few stalls the entire market neatly fitted in the furthest corner of Passey Place.  That said, I bought some goodies including freshly baked tomato bread, fresh vegetables, garlic cloves in oil and chilli - and a hot sausage baguette!  But my point is this: it seems the market is shrinking and becoming less popular.  Perhaps it is too much of a luxury in the current economic climate or maybe the timing of the market (one Sunday a month) is just not right.  Either way, I fear for the future.

Residents across Eltham West will have received their latest communication from Eltham Conservatives this weekend as I launched a new campaign with Conservative activists in a ward Labour seem to take for granted.

After the fiasco of a path being driven through the historic Eltham Green, many residents got in touch with me saying this was only the latest in a series of episodes that led them to want a change of government, locally and nationally.  Many are furious with Labour lies about housing and broken promises on crime and anti-social behaviour.  Some were considering giving their support to the Far Right extremists - but that risks allowing Labour to remain in power.  Only a vote for the Conservatives can guarantee the end of this discredited, tired and divided bunch.

I went door knocking again today with my team, as we do just about every Saturday through all types of weather.  The second person to open their door launched into a diatribe about how politicians only ever knock when there's an election on!  After he'd clarified that in actual fact, I was the only politician to have ever knocked on his door (when he was at home, anyway), I pointed out a couple of facts.  Firstly, as a parliamentary candidate from the real world, I hold down a full time job - I am not able to pay the mortgage and buy my own food without holding down a full time job (unique by the standards of some politicians, I know!).  If elected at the next election, I will dedicate myself entirely to being an MP and will continue to knock on doors.

Secondly, there are tens of thousands of homes in the Eltham constituency.  With the best will in the world, it is virtually impossible to call at every single door.  Even if it was, I usually find only about a quarter of residents are actually at home, whatever time of day we call.

Thirdly, I have been knocking on doors across the constituency for the last three years, as well as holding a series of public meetings to which thousands of people have received personal invitations.

After explaining all this, and answering a number of very interesting questions on a range of subjects, the gentleman realised I'd been at his home for nearly 20 minutes.  If I spent that time at every door, I'd speak to hardly anyone!  As I went to leave, the man shook my hand and assured me I would have his support.  Proof, that voters are not apathetic - they just want their politicians to make an effort to reconnect with them.

It has been another busy week in Eltham and I am spending today (apart from the 5 minutes it'll take for me to write this short blog entry) working from home. Last night we were out in Shooters Hill calling on residents, many of whom were very concerned about a spate of burglaries.  Many said they can't remember the last time they saw police on patrol.  My team and I enjoyed a very decent curry at Cafe Eltham last night - a fitting end to a long day.

Earlier in the week I visited two schools (see previous blog) and signed hundreds of letters to people who'd been in touch about immigration - so I was pleased to see David Cameron repeating his pledge to cut immigration in today's Daily Mail. Today we're waiting to see how the people of Norwich have voted - a defeat for Labour in such a 'safe' constituency would be terrible news for the government.

The battle of Eltham Green has been won!  I had a text message before 8am this morning to say that the Council have ordered the huge ditch dug across the ancient open space to be filled in and returned to its former glory.  My warmest congratulations to all those residents who stood with their placards and spoke to bus passengers and passers by since this stupid fiasco started.

Questions remain - why was this allowed to happen in the first place, who ordered it, why was the community not consulted (even notified) ot the plan and who was wasting money on such a project when we are told there is not the money to repair pavements across Eltham?  I shall watch with close interest to see whether or not the Green is returned to its original state and would be interested to know who will foot the bill for this complete waste of time.

I was joined by the Shadow Minister for Communities, Stewart Jackson MP this Saturday as I visited hundreds of homes in Coldharbour & New Eltham with local councillors.  It was interesting to see that despite not meeting anyone owning up to being paid over £100,000 just about everyone agreed the Budget delivered by Mr Darling was a wasted opportunity and a return to the bad old days of Labour mismanagement.

I am pleased to announce that local residents have another opportunity to meet me and their local ward councillors on Thursday 7 May from 6.30-8.30pm at our special Neighbourhood Evening.  It will be held at St Albans Church, William Barefoot Drive and the local police will attend, so it's a chance to feed back to them also.

No need to book in advance, just turn up and have a cup of tea.  We'd love to see you.