& Cookley The Newsletter of your Local Conservatives Editors: Cllr Gordon Yarranton & Cllr John Hart Summer 2012

New School for Cookley

County Councillor Gordon Yarranton , Gordon says “As you will have noticed work has working with his County Council colleagues & MP already commenced and is due to be finished Mark Garnier, is delighted to announce that the next year. Works consist of completing the first funding for the new build of Cookley School has stage of the development which will incorporate been secured. Gordon has made many visits to the new classrooms to the rear of the school. On the school with his county colleagues to argue completion of these works, the second phase will the case for this essential build to be brought be implemented immediately.” forward. Gordon has successfully argued that he felt that Cookley school was the most needy As Gordon was a member of the planning school for improvements. committee when considering this application, he was able to persuade officers to address a Gordon would like to thank his colleagues for couple of issues that were raised by residents their support in progressing the issue and having regarding congestion of Lea Lane at school the funding granted from the capital programme times. Gordon asked officers to review the travel at County Hall. Continued on page 2

Contact your Cookley & Wolverley Team Together If you have a problem concerning local issues, please contact: nables us to Gordon or John on: E 01562 823820 Achieve County Wolverley Mark [email protected] Cllr More Cllr Garnier For national issues, please contact Mark on: Gordon John 01562 746771 Yarranton Hart MP www.wyreforestconservatives.com Printed and promoted by J Campion on behalf of G Yarranton, J Hart & M Garnier all of WFCA, 35 Mill Street, , Worcs, DY11 6XB New School for Cookley Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Continued from page 1 Commemorative Benches County Councillor Gordon Yarranton was plan, and while doing that liaise with the delighted to allocate funding from his social club to address drop off and pick up at Divisional Fund to support the provision of their car park for children from outside the three benches which will help mark the village. Queens Jubilee. Gordon can confirm that officers are in negotiations during the duration of the new The Friends of Wolverley have been working build regarding any screening that may or on this project for some time to provide may not be needed to address residents’ benches in the village. The Friends have met concerns. Gordon says “I am delighted that many times with British Waterways and the children attending the new school will suppliers. have a well deserved school fit for purpose. As your County Councillor I have been Gordon says “The benches are ready for working hard to get the best deal for our delivery and installation. Two will be placed local community.” on the canal side between the Lock Inn and Wolverley Forge bridge, and the third in the Gordon works closely with his parishes, pea field by Church Bank.” councillors and other organisations in order to achieve what is required for local residents. Wolverley District Councillor John Hart says “I He believes in working as a Together am really pleased that we will have a lasting TEAM to obtain the best Enables us to tribute to mark the Jubilee year, Gordon has results for his constituents. Achieve been very supportive with his Divisional His motto is: More Funding.” Repairs to Canal Bridge & River Stour

County Councillor Gordon Yarranton has been British Waterways and County Council working with County Council to contractors Ringway will be carrying this work allow the closure of Caunsall Road Cookley out simultaneously in order to cause as little from 3rd September to 5th October 2012 in disruption to local residents and businesses as order for urgent repairs to be carried out on possible. The only property between the two the canal bridge and the bridge over the River bridges appears to be a field gate. Stour. He added “We have agreed with our contractor Gordon says “Parapet repair works will be that they will allow access to this field should carried out on one of the bridges. On the other the need arise. I have argued for this work to bridge the arch ring bricks which have fallen be carried out for some time and I am away need to be replaced as these are crucial delighted that a confirmed date to carry out to maintaining the strength of the bridge. these vital repairs is now in place”. Lea Lane Re-Surfacing & Railings Replaced

Cllr Gordon Yarranton is delighted that the funding that he has lobbied for for many years was found to enable Lea Lane to be re-surfaced along its whole length from Cookley to Wolverley and the railings replaced on the canal side. Gordon has continually reported the many potholes along Lea Lane, and had always argued that the preferred and most cost effective solution would be to patch underneath and then re-surface completely.

Gordon says “I have also insisted that the replacement of the railings along the canal side that had been knocked down some years ago should be replaced at the same time as the road was re-surfaced, as he felt that had they not been done together they may have been delayed for some considerable time. He is pleased that this has also been completed. I continue to report road defects across my Division and I will continue to lobby for further funding.” County Council Divisional Funding

Cllr Gordon Yarranton is delighted that he has been able to support the Cookley Social Club Highlow Bank applications with funding over the last 2 years with £1500 this year on top of the £2000 he Road Repairs allocated last year. This funding was to support the works to provide amenities on the After many months of lobbying the County second floor of the social club for the benefit Council, Cllr Gordon Yarranton, with the of the children of Cookley. support of Cllr Anne Hingley who represents the neighbouring ward of Franche, was He has also allocated £1800 to enable Cookley successful in getting improvements completed school to buy planters to encourage children to the section of road on Highlow Bank to grow vegetables and flowers. This money is Wolverley Road. with the school now and will be implemented on completion of the new school build. Gordon says “The state of the road was causing traffic to move into the centre of the Gordon says “As local Conservatives we have road to avoid the potholes which extended fought hard to have money devolved down to approximately 1 metre from the pavement. a local level that enables us to support The work has now be completed and both community projects such as these.” Anne and I are delighted that the road has been made safer.” Gordon Supports High School Transport

Wolverley Primary School Lollipop Lady Cllr Gordon Yarranton has allocated £1000 to Wolverley High School from his County Retires Council Divisional fund. This money is to be used for assisting with the travel Cllr Gordon Yarranton would like to thank the arrangements that the school has with the School Crossing lady who has been protecting the coach company to transport children to and local children for a number of years enabling them from school. to get to and from school safely. Gordon says “I wish her well in her retirement and Gordon says “This issue has been ongoing thank her for her commitment and hard work for for some time as the volume of coach the safety and care of local children.” movements in the village became a problem to the villagers. In order to deal with this With the retirement of the Lollipop Lady, Gordon issue, the number of coaches entering the went direct to the Director of the service to make village in peak periods has been reduced representations on behalf of Wolverley to protect and some were replaced by a shuttle service the funding for this position. Gordon would like to picking up children from other areas.” re-assure parents and the school that funding has been made available to continue this vital service. He added “I would also like to thank Cllr Anne Hingley, who represents Franche The vacant position will be advertised both in the ward, for donating £1000 of her divisional press and on the website. Due to the restricted funding in support of this as children in her delivery of the local press in the Wolverley area the area were also affected. She was delighted details of the vacant position may not be known. that I had brought it to her attention and Anyone interested in applying for the position that we were able to work together to should contact Tina Green, Line Manager, at County address the issue. We will continue to Hall Spetchley Road Worcester on 01905 766826. monitor the situation.” Additional Funding for Parish Lengthsman

County Councillor Gordon Yarranton has allocated on average £2000 per year to Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council over the years to match fund grants from the County Council to support the Lengthsman scheme which enables some highway work to be carried out locally.

Examples of the Lengthsman’s work are drain cleaning, sign cleaning and vegetation cutting back. Gordon has also obtained additional funding to address issues like Castle Hill where diggers were employed to clean culverts John and Gordon; Working together and drains to prevent flooding. for the local community