Tribute to John Simmonds

John Simmonds was respected on all political sides as the truly Independent member for Rock on the Parish and District Councils.
He was at the heart of his local community on all issues political and social.  John represented Rock for many years. I remember him particularly as a fellow member of  WFDC Planning Committee. How did the issue affect Rock? Were local people in favour or against? He did his best to get the right result, sometimes being virtually the sole voice on a difficult application.
John was always willing to discuss any political issue – particularly about Rock and the countryside in Wyre Forest. He had a very good knowledge of all issues agricultural in our local area. I liked John and will miss his gentle nature and steady approach to council business. He will certainly  be missed and remembered fondly as a dedicated councillor who served his local community with pride.Our thoughts are with Pat and their family.

Political Headlines (Never Published)

“SHOCK LABOUR (544 Votes) WIN IN STOURPORT WITH A 123 MAJORITY – RECOUNT DENIED – IS THIS A DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP?”
- beaten Health Concern (421) says he should have stayed Tory,
- beaten Tory (394) says he should have stayed Health Concern,
- UKIP (63) says  – what happened?
Shuttle says, even our front page Election Day Special for Dr Taylor didn’t work this time. But as we speak, our editorial team (based in Siberia) is working on a story so foul, so grim, so anti – Labour, that come the General Election, local electors are bound to demand the Doc is Knighted and made a Saint (Failure to achieve this result will mean 10 years penal servitude in the Gulag or being transferred to The Daily Mail)

Wyre Forest District Council By Election, Areley Kings Stourport – A Win for Labour’s Jamie Shaw – Hoorah!

Nigel Knowles and Jamie Shaw

Thank you to all of our Labour supporters who voted for Jamie on Thursday 10th December and ensured his election to serve on Wyre Forest District Council. The Turnout was 30.9%, the result was as follows- Jamie Shaw – Labour 544 votes, Health Concern – 421 votes, Tory – 394 votes, and UKIP – 63. Labour took the seat from the Tories. Vi Higgs, our Labour Candidate for Stourport Town Council came third in that election in West Ward, where Labour had only won once before in 1992. To have Jamie back on the District Council is good news for Labour and for the people of Areley Kings. His reputation is first class, a fact acknowledged by all local political parties. So we end the year on a high note – Tories and Health Concern do not. We take nothing for granted, but Jamie’s win puts the Labour Party in good heart for District Elections next May and the General Election also. Thankyou!

Equality and Social Justice – Why the Tories fail on both

Gordon Brown has reminded the British people that Government must take every action in the “credit crunch” to protect jobs, working families and public services. That is why £175 billion has been put into the Banking and Finance sector. Certainly, public debt has increased, but this fact has to be weighed against the alternative – high unemployment, more factory and work place closures, cuts to public services which directly affect patients, students, social service users etc. Brown also mentioned Class! We do still have classes in this country. Dozens of Tory MP’s are multi millionaires (and a few Labour). But Cameron, Osborne, and his Front Bench are majoritively of the rich Eton/Public School Class. So what? Well what it means is that Cameron’s Tory Eton clique live different lives from millions of British people. They majoritively prefer the private option for education, health, pensions etc.
Cameron gives the impression of being a desperate man with a very mean streak, looking to take power and fast running out of patience. Never trust the Tories. Remember Thatcher! They haven’t changed. Say anything to get in, then class interest is unmasked – after the election.
If you believe in Public Services, the NHS, Comprehensive State Education, and the right to work – support the Labour Party. I know things are tough and we were let down by some greedy MP’s, but remember all the good things Labour has achieved such as the Minimum Wage, Sure Start Nurseries, more patient choice and shorter NHS waiting times,higher standards in education (more students going to university) bus passes for the over 60’s/disabled to name but a few. Remember it was Labour who created the NHS and believe in a society in which merit and hard work get you further than inherited wealth and the assumpion that  Tory Toffs have the right to rule!

Campaigning for more services at Kidderminster Hospital

The Labour Party is committed to bringing new services to Kidderminster Hospital and welcomes the decision to bring a permanent MRI body scanner to Kidderminster Hospital next summer. On Saturday 28th November, we collected another 65 signatures  on my Petition for  a Radiotherapy Unit, Palliative Care Bed Unit, and a Birth Unit for Kidderminster Hospital. We now have over 10,000 signatures and will continue to turn this democratic demand into reality.
On the Birth Unit issue, I note this weeks Shuttle front page article telling readers how a young woman gave birth to her baby daughter, helped by her own mother in the car park of  The Lock Inn, Wolverley. I am very glad that all is well with them. If any single case underlined the need for a Birth Unit at Kidderminster Hospital, this is it! One thousand women each year in Wyre Forest have to go Worcester to have their babies. Let’s get this service established quickly and permanently at Kidderminster Hospital. The latest batch of Petition signatures will be given to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust and PCT this week.

The Future of the Lea Castle Site

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

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.

Wyre Forest Economy Holding Its Own

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.

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

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.

Remembrance Sunday – 8th November 2009

Lest we Forget

Jenny and I were privileged to attend today’s Remembrance Ceremony and Church Service held at St Anne’s Church in Bewdley. We were joined by hundreds of other local people to remember the sacrifice made by our Armed Forces. We mustered on the Wribbenhall side of Bewdley Bridge with dozens of service people, Scouts, Guides, Boys and Girls Brigades, Police, Fire, Ambulance personnel, civic and community representatives. The parade marched into Bewdley and assembled outside St Anne’s Church to wait for the service proper at 11am, and the two minutes silence with the Vicars Team and Mayor of Bewdley.
I laid a poppy wreath on behalf of Bewdley Labour Party. The Flag Standards were presented in Church and the service lasted until midday.
Everyone is very well aware of the service given by our Armed Forces, particularly now in Afghanistan. Like many other people, I sold poppy’s in Bewdley and Kidderminster (Franche Co-op). People have given generously.The welfare of our Armed Forces personnel is paramount.