Social Housing and Pension Funds

At a recent Housing Seminar I attended it was suggested that Pension Funds could invest in Housing Associations and Housing Co-operatives to allieviate the national shortfall of social housing. For example, Worcestershire County Council’s Staff Pension Fund has assets of around £1billion. Investment professionals invest funds all around the world including such companies as Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac which made huge losses and were part of the problem resulting in Investment House and Bank closures in the US and UK which had to be bailed out by their Governments. These funds could be diverted in a more ethical way to provide the capital for increasing our much needed housing stock.Chasing the highest returns for short term profit in my view is not ethical, but investing in housing to provide decent accomodation for people is. We need a public debate about why Investment “experts” did not spot the Credit Crunch and the Bank Crisis, and why we might put Pension Fund money into local Housing Groups.

Kamikaze Juction

I met today (24th April) with a Senior Engineer from Worcestershire County Council to look at and sort out the confusing road signs and pedestrian crossing signals at the Crossley Park Juction. In particular, the white arrow road signs telling drivers to turn right in the lane coming down from the Bewdley Road Traffic Island when it is the lane to go straight across into the town centre.  I have received correspondance from several people since I raised this issue who agree with me that it is potentially dangerous, particularly for drivers new to the area. I am told that they have witnessed many near accidents, and that it is sheer luck that there hasn’t been a very serious one so far. I believe  that  it can be made safer with improved signage and that we shouldn’t wait for a serious accident to happen before action is taken to improve it.  Even the arrow on the green traffic light indicates to turn right, when it should be giving the signal to go straight ahead. The other problem highlighted to me is that pedestrians crossing at this juction go to cross the road when the “green man” comes up and yet cars are still driving on the road!! You really do have to have your wits about you at Kamikaze Juction!!

Mill Street Pedestrian Underpass

The issue of flooding in the Mill Street Underpass whenever it rains heavily has caused inconvenience and frustration to pedestrians ever since it was built. This underpass is very busy and a main walk way into Kidderminster for pedestrians. I have raised this matter several times with Senior Engineers at Worcestershire County Council and today (24th April) I raised it with them again on site. I discounted the suggestion made by the Engineers to have a permanent metal walkway costing £15,000  because I believe it would be not have been acceptable and too narrow for pedestrians. The only alternative in my view is to have a drain to take the water away 50 yards into the River Stour. This option will cost twice as much, but will be the best option. The Engineers promised to come back to me with a solution!!

Safer Roads for our Children

I am absolutely delighted that the Government seems likely to extend 20mph Speed Zones outside every school in England and to lower the Speed Limit on most A, B, and C roads from 60mph to 50mph. I have been campaigning for these measures in Worcestershire for several years. There is no alternative to ensure better road safety and fewer accidents. Speed cameras are important, as are Vehicle Activated Signs which tell drivers to slow down, but lower speed limits are the key.

Worcestershire is currently carrying out a Speed Limit Review. I am calling for lower speed limits in Wyre Forest and to have 20mph Speed Zones outside every school.

Stourport Relief Road

Today I wrote to Ian Austin MP, Minister for the West Midlands asking him to support and deliver a Relief Road for Stourport on Severn. Local people and local businesses require an end to the traffic gridlock in Stourport Town Centre. We need to have a Relief Road system around the town linking the Stourport area with Worcester, Kidderminster and beyond that allows traffic to flow freely. Labour continues to support better Public Transport – buses and trains, but we do need an improved local road system.

Land off Puxton Drive – Application by A&J Mucklow and Co Ltd for 73 Dwellings

The Appeal made by Mucklow’s to the Planning Inspectorate has been WITHDRAWN. However, the application is likely to be put to WFDC Planning Development Committee in May. I have led a vigorous campaign AGAINST Mucklow’s hostile application to build on Puxton Marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Nature Reserve. WFDC REJECTED Mucklow’s application in 2008.
This new application is virtually identical to the last one, only minor amendments to road lay-out are suggested. There has to be a limit on the number of times a Company can re-submit an application, else it is an abuse of the planning system. I am confident this latest application will also be rejected. I have now written to Secretary of State - Hazel Blears MP asking for this legal loophole to be closed and also for the Environment Agency (no comments about 73 houses being built on a Marsh!!) to be elected and locally accountable.

Dismay over bus passes

I think it is important to convey to your readers the strong reactions I’m getting on the doorstep from elderly people who lost their right to use their bus pass before 9.30am this month.

The Tories have taken £40,000 out of the Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme and are thereby penalising 18,500 local people living in Wyre Forest.

This will hit elderly and disabled people and will be particularly hard for those who have early medical appointments to attend at Kidderminster, Redditch or Worcester hospitals.

Yet the Tories can still find enough money to pursue a new HQ for council offices which many people in Wyre Forest except themselves believe is unnecessary.

The Tories now also rent out rooms at County Hall to gain revenue and then when the rooms are not available for council meetings they have to pay Worcester Rugby Club or other such venues to hold some of our meetings!

Readers can draw their own conclusions from this decision-making by the Tories!

Reference: Kidderminster Shuttle Letters Page

Welcome Cut to national speed limit on Britain’s roads.

I am absolutely delighted that the government is to cut the national speed limit on most of Britain’s roads and introduce a new generation of speed cameras to enforce the new limits.

Two-thirds of Britain’s roads will be acted upon, including many roads in Wyre Forest.

Single carriage A, B and C roads will have reduced speed limits, down from 60mph to 50mph.

In my opinion, these measures will help save lives on our local roads.

Talking to many people about this issue and doing my own survey for Worcestershire County Council’s Speed Limit Review, they say positive action needs to be taken, for the sake of drivers and pedestrians.

I hope that by early next year, we shall begin to see their policy being implemented.

I am still collecting evidence and opinions on speed limits and if people wish to inform me of their experience, I would be most grateful.

Benefit Increases – April 2009

The Labour Government has introduced more help for families, Child Tax Credit will rise by £150 a year, and Working Tax Credits by £900 a year. A tax cut  helping 22 million people worth £145 each per year is operative. pensions are up by £4.55 to £95.25  a week and Pension Credit is increased to £130 per week for singles and £198 for couples. Mums to be can claim a tax-free payment of £190. Businesses can claim £2,500 and ‘on the job training’ for employing new people. Rights at work are also improved, including flexible working time for parents with children under 16, a benefit to 4.5 million parents.
In Wyre Forest, thousands of people will benefit from these increases and that is a major help in these difficult economic times. Extra money for Working Families and Pensioners is great news and weighs very heavily against the Tories do-nothing attitude to the credit crunch.

Wyre Forest School Building Programme

Nigel Knowles is calling for local Building Companies to be given priority as Wyre Forest Schools Programme gets underway.

“Local Building Companies, County Architects and Surveyors, and local building materials should all be used for our projects” he said at a County Hall meeting on Saturday 4th April to Labour Candidates standing for the elections on 4th June.

“It’s vital first of all that the £180 million building programme proceeds, as it is doing, by taking local communities into the activities and planning of our new school buildings. We will ensure all building materials are locally sourced wherever possible and the same applies to using local Building Companies. I want local communities involved in the Planning Process. As Vice-Chairman of Worcestershire Planning Authority, I realise how important it is to have the full support of local people. This programme will definitely help our local economy out of the recession and provide excellent educational facilities for our children and local communities. Moreover, our School Buildings will be environmentally friendly in all aspects – and that’s something our children in Wyre Forest advocate already”.