Wyre Forest Labour Party’s Spring Dinner – Guest Speaker Sylvia Heal MP

Sylvia Heal MP and Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons was the guest speaker at Wyre Forest Labour Party’s Spring Dinner held at The Brassiere, Kidderminster on Friday 27th March. Ms Heal who has been MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis since 1997 said she was delighted to have been invited and reminded supporters of some the achievements of the Labour Government over the last 12 years, which included the minimum wage, improvements in standards in education, the NHS and anti-discrimination. It was a very enjoyable evening and Sylvia said she was extremely pleased by the hard work of the Wyre Forest Labour Party in raising the profile of key issues.

Tories scrap their commitment to abolish Inheritance Tax on Properties sold for under a £1million

Telegraph readers shuddered over their porridge and grapefriut this morning on being told Cameron’s Big Deal is a gonner! The threshold was due to rise from £300,000 to £1million or  £2milllion for couples. Ken Clarke now says the policy is an “aspiration”. Obviously, in the present pro-Conservative mode, their media backing is based on “aspiration” – but lets call it what it is – a false promise which at the time, appeared to turn the Tories popularity upwards when they were in the doldrums during Autumn 2007. So – let’s run the video-tapes back to their Party Conference, stop it just after Osbourne makes his phoney announcement, and then surplant the next moment with Ken Clarke now saying the policy would not be a “priority” only an “aspiration”. I’m looking forward to the next Opinion Polls!!

Labour calls for improved Bus Services

Nigel has been working very hard at County and Bus Company level to i) improve bus services to and from Habberley and Franche Estates and ii) for an integrated ticket system between bus companies. He has also called for more buses serving Kidderminster Hospital and Kidderminster Railway Station.

Nigel says, “We need 15 minute services on more routes to enable commuters and shoppers to get around easier. Regulations must provide for companies to work together and improve their services. It is unacceptable that First Bus admits that they do not use Kidderminster Bus Station because of “problems”. Passengers must have a properly lit and safe bus station. Our bus station is not user friendly.”

Improved Cancer Treatment at Kidderminster Hospital

New cancer checks for Wyre Forest women are being provided at Kidderminster Hospital thereby saving them a journey to the Worcester Royal for treatment. The new treatment is given to women patients to identify if they have breast cancer. It’s called “sentinel node biopsy” and is a surgical procedure which makes health checks less problematic. It will mean that patients should spend less time in hospital and the treatment is an improvement on the old procedure. Consultant Surgeon Michelle Mullan is leading this new initiative.  I am delighted about this development, particularly having met so many women suffering from breast cancer who I know will benefit very much from this this local new service.

Kidderminster Driving Test Centre

I am in favour of keeping the Driving Test Centre open. The meeting I attended and spoke at in Kidderminster Town Hall a few weeks ago was unanimously in favour. I properly acknowledged the campaign and its organisers and was disappointed by the response of the civil servants who didn’t seem prepared to consider proper alternatives put forward, such as other accomodation for a Centre, provided by WFDC (by mutual agreement). It’s not good enough to have allowed the Test Centre accomodation in Kidderminster (Castle Road) to have fallen into disrepair. A local authority would not have allowed that to have happened.

Tory Cutters

One of the strong reactions I’m getting on the doorstep is that of elderly people losing their right to use their Bus Pass before 9.30am. This comes into effect on 1st April 2009. The Tories have taken £40,000 out of the Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme and thereby penalising 18,500 local people. We need to tell the public exactly which political party did this to them and our Labour Party leaflets are naming and shaming the Tories.

We are also naming and shaming those Tories plus Fran Oborski who voted to cut 4 Fire Fighters from Kidderminster Fire Station. The ‘cutters’ are Clee, Hart, Holden, and Yarranton. There is every reason for us to fight as hard as we can to get Labour Councillors elected on 4th June who will put services before ridiculous Tory schemes such as the proposed new Council HQ for Wyre Forest. What an unnecessary and absurd policy! Just as crazy as the Tory policy to rent out County Hall to gain revenue and then pay money to Worcester Rugby Club (for example) to hold some of our meetings! Perhaps because some of the Tories are on 3 Councils, they get policies mixed up or perhaps some of them think they actually play for Worcester Warriors!

Road Safety Campaign

I am very pleased with the public response to my local campaign in favour of road safety.I’m sure that the proper authorities will be able to take action over the next twelve months, with Government support for reducing speed, particularly on non-motorway roads. The people who contact me want to see real change on road safety. Certainly drivers have a responsibility to themselves and to others to drive sensibly, doing their best to avoid accidents. I think that non-political road safety campaigns should be stepped up.

Bewdley author’s bookreading to raise funds for ‘Millbrook Appeal’

Nigel Knowles will read out extracts from James Joyce’s Ulysses on Saturday, March 28, for one hour from 11am.

Mr Knowles, who has released a series of short stories set in Wyre Forest, will stand outside Bewdley Town Hall and hopes to gather a crowd to listen to his reading.

Any donations made to Mr Knowles will go straight to the Millbrook Suite.

He explained: “I’ve read Ulysses twice but not for a while, so I’m looking forward to reading it again.

“The book is a challenge but I think it is a fantastic piece of work and hopefully I can get some people interested in it while raising money for the Millbrook Suite.”

The epic novel chronicles the passage through Dublin of its main character, Leopold Bloom, during an ordinary day in 1904.

Reference: Milllbrook Appeal

Reference: Bewdley Author fundraising idea

In memory of John Gretton

John Gretton remembered

Nigel Knowles remembers John Gretton who died on 15th March 2007

It has been two years since John Gretton passed away. He is greatly missed, as a man and a very strong supporter of the Labour Party. John took a great interest in politics, nationally and locally. He was a force for the good, always active, always working on some political item or another. John always looked for the angle, the attack, the defence, the way forward. And if Aston Villa were involved, so much the better. He was very sharp and astute, and invariably was able to figure out the direct route of most political problems. I remember very well how we had his first (and last) leaflet “in the can” for his Wolverley election campaign. I had taken half a dozen photographs of him around Wolverley. During one such sojourn, he said he was hungry and wanted some pork pies from Kinver, so we drove on to find the Butchers Shop closed. No matter, we went back to his house and John said he would get something from the fridge. I miss John Gretton, but thanks for everything John.

Tribute to: John Gretton

Coffee morning in aid of Millbrook Apeal

Cllr Nigel Knowles is inviting people to his house for a coffee to raise cash for the Millbrook Appeal.

Nigel Knowles is opening the doors to his home at 18 Welch Gate, Bewdley, on Thursday, March 19.

All are welcome to the event, which runs from 10am to 11.30am, and there will also be a tombola.

Nigel said: “I’m a hospital volunteer through the League of Friends and I can see how the money would benefit the patients at the Millbrook Suite.”