Mill Street Subway

I have asked the County Council to carry out emergency work on this Pedestrian Subway to alleviate flooding. County admit the work should be done!
In reply to my question at the full County Council meeting on 20th November, the Cabinet Member gave me a written answer which in part read,
“A scheme has been indentified as a high priority. It requires further investigation and design, as this is not an easy problem to resolve. We hope to have a solution and be starting works on site as soon as practicable.”
I shall monitor the situation with active interest. On 10th November after heavy rain, the subway flooded again. Pedestrians were stopped from walking through it and many had to use the pedestrian through way between the many railings and traffic lights on St Mary’s Ringway. “Kamakazi Junction” is not at all good or  an  easy place to cross on foot, or worse still, in a wheelchair. Come on County – time to act!!

Nigel’s 10K Santa Run for Kemp Hospice

A festive Nigel completed the Santa Run in aid of Kemp Hospice on Sunday, 23rd November starting and finishing from Brinton’s Park.

If you would like to make a donation to this worthy cause email: nigelknowlesbewdley@hotmail.com

Pre-Budget Statement

Naturally, I shall be extremely interested to gauge the views of the people of Wyre Forest when the Government’s Pre-Budget Statement is announced next Monday. However, equally important will be their reaction to the Tories response. At the moment, I am getting the message that Labour is on the right side of the argument  and the Tories are not. Osborne and Cameron have already been accused by Brown and Darling of “talking the Pound down”, and the Government’s “nationalisation” of several of the major High Street Banks has been seen as necessary and the right action to have taken. Labour’s committment to borrow to spend our way out of the economic down turn is also approved of.
The fact that inflation fell last month from 5% to 4.2% has helped Labour’s case. Job losses are not good, but every country in the G20 is experiencing this same problem. But this partly is about personal debt and I look forward to next weeks Statement when I expect Tax Cuts and new commitments to Health, Education, and Public Services, coupled with increases for the Winter Fuel Allowance for the elderly and other fiscal measures to help business and working families such as increases in Tax Credits. Tough times demand a tough resonse which favours working people and business. Labour has the Team to succeed.

Spend to put end to subway risk

I am absolutely amazed at the response of Worcestershire County Council to my request to bring forward vital drainage work at the Mill Street pedestrian subway. The coverage in the Kidderminster Shuttle and the answer from County Hall illustrates the problem perfectly.

There is a substantial risk to pedestrians using the subway when it is raining heavily but it’s not enough for the county to do anything about it!

When I visited the subway with a ‘Shuttle’ photographer, three employees of Wyre Forest District Council were doing a good job in pumping out the water. This is a regular undertaking and I was grateful for their help.

However, the county council really must spend the money to ensure the subway doesn’t flood.

The attitude seems to be “It’s only Kidderminster , it doesn’t matter. It’s not a prime site like somewhere in Worcester or Malvern”.

Come on county, it’s our council tax payers’ money that keeps you all ensconced in the palatial headquarters at County Hall. Let’s have some action on this now.

Road safety evidence

I AM still collecting evidence and comments from the public about road safety and speed management in Wyre Forest.

I have received many written and verbal contributions from residents concerned about the risk of speeding traffic and some of our current statutory speed limits.

Alas, we still suffer fatalities on our local roads and we need to address many safety issues.

If anyone would like to contact me about road safety and speeding traffic in Wyre Forest, I will include their comments in my report which I will be submitting to county council.

Poppy Day – Time to Remember

This year, Poppy Day falls on 9th November, the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day. I have been selling poppies in Bewdley and Kidderminster. People of all ages donate what they can, and one is touched by their generosity of spirit as well as with their donations. For the record, I have not served in the Armed Forces. My father did between 1939 and 1945 like millions of others. Money raised from the British Legions Poppy Appeal is spent on the welfare of service men and women and their families (and ex-service personnel). The services across the country this Sunday will be moving and important for local communities. A time to remember – todays service personnel and those who have served – conscripts and volunteers. My own particular thoughts will be for those local men and women who served us in the two world wars in the last century and those who are serving today.