Changes to Highway Partnerships

Nigel Knowles working hard for Wyre Forest.

Next year there will be changes to the Highway Partnerships, led by County Councillors at local level. The Highway service needs to be more receptive to the needs of local people in Wyre Forest and to the local members. I attended a Road Safety Partnership meeting at Worcester Rugby Club last week. Worcestershire County Council puts £1.2 million into this organisation. Other partners include the Police, Fire Service, and the Highways Agency. The issues were the speed limit review (continuing), road safety, drug driving (as big a problem as drink driving).
I want local County Councillors to have a bigger say on road safety and speed issues than is currently the case. I look forward to progress being made and the formation of the new Highway Partnerships.

Linda Halliwell is wfclp Womens officer

Linda Halliwell is Branch Secretary and Womens officer.

I am looking for information about what interests women about belonging to the labour party. Many of you take part in fundraising and/or campaigning to achieve electoral power but as women’s officer I also try to keep an eye on policies that effect women at home and internationally.

The United Nations recognises gender inequality and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is in the process of reporting on the situation in the UK. Our government is commended for sending Barbara Follett MP to the CEDAW meetings, and for adopting a number of measures aimed at promoting gender equality and eliminating discrimination against women.

An Equality and Human Rights Commission report said women are still not attaining top jobs at the rate they should. For example, only 19.3 % of MP’s are women. The Commission said progress is so slow that a snail could crawl around the M25 nine times in the 55 years it will take women to achieve equality in the senior judiciary. The snail could get from Lands End to John O’Groats and halfway back in the 73 years it will take for women to equal men as directors of FTSE 100 companies and almost manage the entire length of the Great Wall of China in the 200 years it will take for women to get equal representation in Parliament.

As a forward thinking constituency it is important we focus on these issues – it’s not good enough to blame women, or the Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) community or disabled people for not being interested in labour politics. We have to make our activities and our policies interesting to disadvantaged groups.

That is why the NEC says each constituency should have a Women’s Officer, a BME Officer and an Officer for Disabled People. I would be interested to hear suggestions of how we conduct our business to make campaigning, fundraising and policy setting – more interesting to women.

Dangerous Dogs

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

I have been in recent contact with the police after reports of attacks on dogs out walking with their owners. The dangerous dogs are also accompanied, by an unrepentant owner. She has been visited by the police. However, the police can take stronger action only if a person is injured. In my view, it is only a matter of time before this happens. I have heard three accounts of dog walkers having to defend themselves with sticks against these dogs. One of these attacks has happened since the police visit. I’m going to ask the police to call again.

New Judo Club Premises

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Planning Application : New Judo Club Premises, Zortech Ave, Kidderminster

The above site is within Stourport, despite its Kidderminster address. It is in the Green Belt.

In a previous blog, I explained why I believed there were exceptional circumstances for granting permission in this case. Stourport Town Council agreed with me and I represented it at the district council’s Development Control meeting on 9th September, at which the final decision was to be taken. The officer report and presentation recommended refusal, but the committee members agreed with me and granted approval.

I believe that the decision will secure the future of this high-achieving judo club, but will not harm the function of the Green Belt here, ie, to maintain the open space between Stourport and Kidderminster.

Macmillan Cancer Support update

Paul Gittins is Labour Spokesperson for Wribbenhall.

Carol Gittins raised £164 during the coffee morning organised for Macmillan cancer support in Bewdley during the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning last week. Carol would like to thank the management of the Bewdley Rowing Club for allowing her to use their excellent facilities, those who donated raffle prizes and cakes, those who helped on the day and of course all those who attended the coffee morning which made it such an enjoyable morning.

Memorial Park

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Although nothing to do with the Credit Crunch, the modest finances of Stourport Town Council have been affected by extraneous factors, leading to uncertainty over its capacity for service developments.

One area affected has been the Memorial Park. However, my suggestion for a Parks Committee site visit there went ahead this week. As I reminded colleagues, I envisaged improvements over the four-year life of the current council, therfore giving us scope until 2011.

The visit generated firm and feasible ideas. The disused bandstand was identified as a potential site for a youth shelter and the tennis courts for a multi-use ball games area. A spot for a picnic area was chosen so as to enable a panoramic view of the park’s magnificent treescape. Happily, improvements to the existing play area, including a slabbed entrance and a hard-standing for the parking of pushchairs, can go ahead under existing budgets. The other items will have to be referred to the Parks Committee and Full Council for authority to proceed.

Residents’ Highways Queries

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Here is the current “state of play” on six recent enquiries.

Stourport Bridge : Dip in the road surface confimed by an inspection on 17th September; remedial work not yet programmed.

Summercroft : Grass verge uncut after recent housing development; programmed to be cut within the next two weeks.

Marlborough Drive : County awaiting action to cut back the encroaching vegetation from its contractors, the district council! I’ll remind the relevant officers.

Hanstone Road : Engineer confirms my recent blog; highways drainage functioning to full capcity.

“Radburn”, (Walshes pedestrianised area) paths : “Routine inspection” to discover extent of re-surfacing necessary.

Princess Way cul-de-sac : Engineers still “monitoring” a re-surfacing job; residents know by simple observation that the tar granules have not bonded correctly. I’ve fired off another email.

Cedric Smith is Labour Spokesperson for Lickhill & North

Cedric Smith is Labour Spokesperson for Lickhill and North.

Cedric served as a Wyre Forest District Councillor from 1980-84. A Lay Minister (Reader) in the Church of England, he has been a governor for nearly 30yrs, 11 as Chairman, of the Windmill First School. He was also on the Temporary Governing Body of the new St Bartholomew’s Primary School, which opened on the Windmill Schools’ site in September 2007.

Gary Watson is Labour Spokesperson for Mitton

Gary Watson is Labour Spokesperson for Mitton.

Gary lives with his wife and two children in the ward. He works at West Midlands Safari Park. Gary has been an active Labour Party worker for a number of years and is now ready to use his undoubted energy for the wider community.

Coffee morning in support of Macmillan Cancer Support

Paul Gittins is Labour Spokesperson for Wribbenhall.

My wife Carol has organised a coffee morning in support of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning. It is being held at the Bewdley Rowing Club on Thursday 25th September between the hours of 10.30am – 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome to call in for a cup of coffee or tea with biscuits and cake and a chat. Parking is available opposite the Rowing Club which is along Riverside North.
Further details from Carol Gittins: tel 01299 404113

Highway Chief’s Stourport Visit : Further Details

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

When Highways portfolio holder, Cllr Derek Prodger, met Stourport councillors, (see last week’s blog), I asked him whether any of the seven improved-traffic-flow scenarios, drawn up in 2003, were likely to be implemented in the near future. These scenarios ranged in cost from £200,000 to £48m. (They are quite distinct from road surface repairs cash.) Unfortunately, despite the “gridlock” predicted by the county council’s own consultant engineers, if nothing is done in Stourport, Cllr Prodger could not definitely commit any money to resolve the town’s traffic problems. This promises to be a major local item in next year’s county council elections.

Areley Kings update

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Witley Way : The items I requested Community Housing officers to inspect are now to be subject to examination by the Tenant Consultative Committee members on their next walkabout, on 23rd September.

Betty Dawes Hill : I will be meeting on site with a Street Lighting engineer next week, to identify the precise spots at which greater illumination is needed.

Dunley Road : A further cut-back of tree branches overhanging the pavement near the junctions with Areley Lane and The Rough has been requested.

Blocked Drains and Puxton Marsh

Nigel Knowles working hard for Wyre Forest.

I had a request from County Highways to report any blocked drains or road flooding. I have reported problems in the lower part of Puxton Drive where garages and gardens were flooded.Residents gave me photographs of this and also the flooding on Puxton Marsh.
If any other residents in Wyre Forest have flood problems, please let me know and I will forward them to Highways. Many people, including me, have reported flooding of the underpass in Mill Street, Kidderminster. I expect comprehensive action to be taken to stop this problem for pedestrians and shoppers who need to be able to walk into Kidderminster without being confronted by streams of water.

Building Schools for the Future

Nigel Knowles working hard for Wyre Forest.

Very good news for High Schools and Special Schools in Wyre Forest. Partners have agreed to commence the PFI programme for complete rebuild to ensure students learn in the very best environments. At full County Council on 11th September, it was reported that Worcestershire was one of eight Authorities selected for inclusion in the programme and we will be placed in the first four to start re-building.
Also, £55 million has been spent on schools in 2007/2008 in Wyre Forest with more to come, in the re-build/refurbishment programme required to meet the challenge of adopting a two tier entry instead of the previous three.
I publicly congratulated Heads and Staff for their tremendous efforts in ensuring that new schools opened on time.

This whole programme is about raising Education Standards – still Labour’s priority and we are Delivering!

NHS Surplus Funds

Nigel Knowles working hard for Wyre Forest.

THE NHS has a surplus of £1.75 billion and some of that money is sitting in NHS Trust Board accounts in Worcestershire. Why will they not put a Radiotherapy Unit at Kidderminster Hospital as a satellite from Wolverhampton? (I presented a petition signed by 6,000 local people).

Why will they not put a palliative care bed unit at Kidderminster Hospital? (Petition signed by 2,171 local people). Why will they not put a birth unit at Kidderminster Hospital? (Petition signed by over 1,000 local people). All of these petitions are still on-going.

My point is this – provide our local hospital with local services that local people want.

Hopefully, next year the county acute trust will gain Foundation Trust status. Four governors will be elected from Wyre Forest to serve non-paid as part of the new status.

I shall certainly run for a position. Why? Because I shall argue strongly for more services at Kidderminster Hospital.

Birth Unit – September Update

Nigel Knowles working hard for Wyre Forest.

The Petition now has more than 1,000 signatures. On 15th September at County Hall, I shall ask members of the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee to support the policy option for a Birth Unit to be returned to Kidderminster Hospital. Members of the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust will be in attendance and their Strategy sees no role for Kidderminster Hospital. We really do need advocates for new services at Kidderminster!

Stourport High Street Update

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

As reported last week, I had the opportunity to question Cllr Derek Prodger about the road surface in this, the most important single location in our town. He agreed that it looked unsightly and did undertake to bring the subject up with officers. I think the best we can hope for is county budgetary provision in the next financial year, 2009-10.

Road drainage passes rainfall test

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

Two areas which gave cause for concern about localised flooding in heavy downpours, in Hanstone Road and Redstone Lane, and therefore subsequently brought to the attention of Highways, coped with Friday 5th’s water volumes. Good news, but I will continue to monitor both sites throughout the coming months.

Pavement proposal turned down

Jamie Shaw working hard for Stourport and Areley Kings.

There is no pavement serving no2 Areley Common, nor the pedestrians emerging from the public footpath from Heightington Place. Immediately adjacent, at what was no4 Areley Common, a development of five houses is underway, including an upgrade of the pavement. However, after my enquiry, I can reveal that County Highways officers do not intend to take the opportunity presented by the present works to complete provision for pedestrians to what I would consider to be a minimum standard.

Cllr Mike Kelly

Mike Kelly Labour District Councillor for Habberley & Blakebrook

Mike Kelly has been privileged to serve as a Labour District Councillor for the Habberley and Blakebrook Ward for over 30 years. Over the period Mike has gained a vast experience in the workings of local government.

Mike lives in the heart of the ward with his wife Chris at 6 Brook Street Where they have lived all their married life. Mike feels it is as important now as it has ever been that the ordinary man or woman in the street should have a strong voice on the Council.

Mike has championed many causes over the years particularly on leisure and Housing. Mike served as Chairman of both these committees helping to bring much needed play areas and organised sports facilities to our District. As the first chairman of the Wyre Forest community Housing Company Mike was instrumental in setting the Company up to serve the housing needs of our community.

Mike was privileged to be Mayor of Kidderminster and Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council as well as holding many chairmanships of organisations both at local level and at national level.

Barry McFarland is Labour Spokesperson for Habberley & Blakebrook

Barry McFarland is Labour Spokesperson for Habberley & Blakebrook

Barry McFarland has lived in Kidderminster for thirty six years.

He is married to Irene and they have four daughters, all educated at local state schools. Being an ex school teacher and college lecturer, Barry has a great interest in and understanding of Education. Until recently he worked as a national manager for trade union education.

Barry has been a District and Parish Councillor and has a great deal of experience of both local and community issues.

Paul Mills is Labour Spokesperson for Oldington and Foley Park

Paul Mills is Labour Spokesperson for Oldington and Foley Park.

Paul says,
“I am 47 years old and married with three children, who all attended local schools. I have lived in Wyre Forest all of my life and worked at Brintons for 30 years which I believe is where I built my reputation as a senior trade union representative, helping real people with real problems.

The residents of St Mary’s saw fit to elect me in May 2005 as their County Councillor, i would very much like to be given the opportunity to represent Oldington and Foley Park on Wyre Forest District Council.”

Lee Wright is Labour Spokesperson for Franche

Lee Wright is Labour Candidate for Franche.

Lee has lived in Kidderminster for over 30 years. He is a consulting engineer and a School governor and knows the specific needs of the area.

Lee says, “My priorities in fighting for better services include Education,  Training, Transport and Highways.”

David Prain is Labour Spokesperson for Sutton Park

David Prain is Labour Spokesperson for Sutton Park.

David Prain was born and educated in Manchester. He joined a national legal practice after qualifying as a solicitor. Rose through the ranks to become the senior managing partner. Retired from the profession in 2005 with 30 years legal experience. He is interested in current affairs, national & world politics, wildlife, photography and travel.

Save our Shuttle

Chris Nicholls working all year round in Wolverley, Cookley and Caunsall

Chris is campaigning for the re-instatement of free delivery of the weekly Kidderminster Shuttle to households in Wolverley and Cookley. Newsquest ceased delivery in August without notice or explanation.

Chris has written to the Shuttle and a petition is available in Loinfields Store.

Chris says: “On behalf of Cookley and Wolverley residents I wish to express our deep concern and disappointment at Newsquest’s decision to cease distribution of the Shuttle in our villages. The Shuttle is a vital means of communication for us and plays a major role in keeping us informed of events in the Wyre Forest area. I urge Newsquest to re-consider their decision and re-instate deliveries immediately.”