Street stall outside Bewdley Town Hall, Saturday 28th November

Nigel Knowles Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest.

You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog

Wyre Forest Labour Street stall outside Bewdley Town Hall, Saturday 28th November, 11.00 am – noon

Themes, new services at Kidderminster Hospital and action against cruel sports.

Come along and sign the Petition.

Wyre Forest CLP Guest Social 2009

Nigel with Ian Austin MP

David Prain is Chair of Wyre Forest Labour

David Prain

Judging by the number of members and friends in attendance, it was a popular decision to return to the Brasserie for the autumn guest social evening of 2009.

The evening commenced with the presentation of long service awards to both Lucy and Roland Terode by our guest of honour, Ian Austin, Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government and Minister for the West Midlands.
Mike Kelly, who had known the Terode’s for nearly 40 years, spoke of the inspirational accomplishments they had achieved since 1954 when they first became active in the party in Kidderminster. This was the era, Mike reminded the audience, of Bill Haley & the Comets, and Aneurin Bevan!
After some fine food, Ian Austin spoke of his early years as an advisor to Gordon Brown at the Treasury and mentioned his involvement in cutting taxes affecting working people, including cutting the excise tax payable by small brewers!
More poignantly, he spoke of the economic crisis and Gordon Brown’s unique ability to lead the world’s economies through turmoil and near collapse during the last 12 months
More recently, as Minister, Ian has been helping small and medium sizes enterprises in the West Midlands, and helping the region not only to protect existing jobs, but to be one of the first regions to create jobs in a difficult economic climate. This was made possible by making use of grants available from the government. The West Midlands, he said, had also reacted quickly to another aspect of the recession – the increased demand for education and training. The West Midlands has, in fact, been the most proactive region in the country to maintain skills for the future.
Despite these impressive reactions to the recession, Ian accepted that there was a challenge for the WM for future growth, but stressed that the recent announcement about the high speed rail link (High Speed 2) should ensure many more employment opportunities in the region.
The Tory approach to the economic crisis would have led us from recession to depression. Their judgement cannot be trusted and it is vital that we all pull together to ensure that the Tories do not win the forthcoming general election.

Jamie – Getting things done

Jamie - Getting things done

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Here Jamie examines one unfinished job on the footpath linking Linden Avenue with Hermitage Way. Ten weeks after his initial request for action, this drain remains blocked, but Jamie won’t let the matter drop. Jamie’s recent track record here shows just how active and effective he is; two new street lights installed, footpath cleared, vegetation cut back, trees lopped and litter removed.

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

In the by-election campaign to elect a new district councillor for Areley Kings, (election day, Dec 10th), my campaign will focus on these issues :

Restoring all-day free bus passes for residents aged 60+. Just £40,000 will do the job.

Restoring pride in Stourport town centre. The resurfacing of the High Street remains the number one priority.

Opposing the construction of a new civic centre. At a time when the very existence of district councils is being questioned, capital expenditure of millions of £s is a nonsense.

Pursuing achievable “green” goals. Local councillors can cut carbon emissions through Planning policies, such as requiring geothermal heating systems for new housing developments.

Further blogs will deal with these priorities in detail.

Jamie

Stourport Bridge Graffiti – Job Done!

Stourport Bridge Graffiti Clean up.

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Just one of the many tasks in Areley Kings taken on by Jamie in his current role as town councillor. Jamie drew attention to the graffiti in September 2009 and it was removed in October.

See Kidderminster Shuttle 16th September 2009

Queen’s Speech 2009

Today’s Queen’s Speech has set out the next steps in Building Britain’s Future.

Central to the speech was that government can be a force for good – to secure the economic recovery and build a fairer society.

Our vision of the future for Britain is optimistic – Britain has great reserves of strength and talent which can be unlocked.

On the economy we will bring in measures to strengthen economic growth and lock in the recovery, laying the foundations for the green, digital economy of the future, as the same time as we take the tough choices necessary to halve the deficit.

We will also ensure responsibility from bankers and secure financial stability, so that greed and risk taking can never again damage the living standards of Britain’s families.

We will reform and renew our public services – building on the achievements of the last 12 years to guarantee that people across the country get the high standards of health and education they deserve.

A new National Care Service will be built, securing for older people – who have given so much to their country – the right to be properly looked after in old age.

Our Democracy will be renewed. By pushing on with political and constitutional reform we will rebuild trust in a modern, democratic Britain.

Britain faces a choice between a Labour government with an optimistic view of the future of the country – believing that government can be a force for good in securing prosperity, caring for the vulnerable and building public services for everyone – and a Conservative vision for Britain which is fundamentally pessimistic – about a Britain that is broken and with only an age of austerity to look forward to.

The Conservative approach is to abandon the responsibility of government; to let the recession take its course; and to leave people to sink or swim.

The Future of the Lea Castle Site

Nigel Knowles Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest.

You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog

I have called for action on the Lea Castle site near Kidderminster after the land and buildings were vacated and transferred to English Partnerships which is now part of the Homes and Communities Agency. (national housing and regeneration) I am calling for the development of the Lea Castle site and for it to be kept in Public Ownership. We could take advantage of this exceptional site. A University Campus could be developed with Worcester University, Wolverhampton or Birmingham. It could be a specialist and research facility related to the beautiful natural flora and fauna of Wyre Forest and the River Severn. Environmental and eco-logical research and practice is where the future lies.
My second proposal is to see the development of a national centre for research and medical advancement of cancer treatments. A University Medical College could have the most wonderful opportunity to lead the world and attract the best academic and medical students and practitioners. The advantage to our area would be immense, with extra jobs and finance generated. At this time of economic difficulty the progressive way out is to develop our resources, health, educational and environmental. Investment into jobs and new services is the key. I have alerted Government Departments of these proposals and await a positive response.

Mortgages helped by low interest rates and improving job market

Nigel Knowles Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest.

You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog

In September of this year, loans for house buyers increased by 2% on the figure for August and were up by 43% on September 2008. The Housing Market is more sustainable and Labour is providing help to Local Authorities for more Social Housing. The economy is being helped by Government investment into the Banking sector and this is helping people buy homes.

Great News -£2m MRI Scanner for Kidderminster Hospital in summer 2010

Nigel Knowles Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest.

You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog

Labour’s campaign for more services at Kidderminster Hospital is being acted on! The diagnosis of cancers and tumours will take a significant step forward with the installation of a permanent MRI Scanner at the Treatment Centre. The MRI body scanner was approved by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Patients seeing a Consultant in Outpatients will be scanned that same day instead of having to wait for another appointment to have the scan.
The MRI scanner will be the most advanced technology anywhere, giving better resolution and quicker scanning times. This is good news for patients!
I am delighted with this NHS service provision. It certainly fits in with our campaign for a Radiotherapy Unit for Kidderminster Hospital. It can be achieved. Our Petition has over 10,000 signatures. Local people in Wyre Forest need more services at Kidderminster Hospital and the MRI Scanner is a fantastic result. Thank you all concerned, particularly our Labour Government for properly funding the NHS better than ever before.

Wyre Forest Economy Holding Its Own

Nigel Knowles Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest.

You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog

Unemployment in Wyre Forest is stable month on month, standing at 4.5% of those entitled to work, totalling 2,627. Although this figure is still high, the trend banks to make loans to businesses. Labour is also ensuring investment into Public Services – the NHS, Education, and the Police. Unlike the Tories, we believe in direct help for those in work and we help others back into the job market. Without Labour’s intervention into the banking system, unemployment would once again rise as in the 1980’s under Thatcher and Major and be a terrible scar on our economy.