Wolverley and The Newsletter of your Local Conservatives Editor Cllr Gordon Yarranton February 2013 County Council Cabinet Proposes Council Tax Freeze proposing taking the Government’s Council Tax grant enabling the Council to freeze council tax for a third year in a row. At a time when household budgets are being squeezed I feel it is vital that we support as many families as possible by not increasing their council tax.”

Other proposals include investing an extra £3,000,000 in adult social care, and even further investment into highways. Gordon added, “I am delighted additional money is going into these two vital areas. This shows Worcestershire County Council launched it’s a clear commitment to safeguarding budget consultation at the 8 th January residents most vulnerable within our Cabinet meeting. society.”

County Councillor for Cookley, More details can be found at and Wribbenhall Gordon Yarranton says, “I www.worcestershire.gov.uk . If you do not am absolutely delighted that the have access to the Internet please do get in Conservative led County Council is touch with Gordon for more information.

Contact your Cookley & Wolverley Team If you have a problem concerning local issues, please contact: Gordon or John on: 01562 823820

For national issues, please contact Mark on: 01562 746771 County email: [email protected] Councillorr Wolverley Mark Councillor write to: 35 Mill St, , DY11 6XB. Gordon Garnier MP Yarranton John Hart www.wyreforestconservatives.com

Printed and promoted by P B Harrison on behalf of G Yarranton, J Hart and M R T Garnier all of WFCA, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6XB. Wyre Forest Conservatives Propose Freezing Council Tax & Parking Charges Your local Conservative team is delighted Cllr Gordon Yarranton says “We know that that both Conservative controlled Wyre our communities are still feeling the effects Forest District Council and Worcestershire of the continued national economic County Council have both announced their downturn, hence we have been doing all intention to freeze their elements of the we can to limit the costs through council Council Tax for the third year running. tax. We have taken many steps to reduce Both Councils are planning to take part in the costs of local government to protect a scheme with Central Government that the communities. It is important to has helped them freeze Council Tax over remember we saw council tax double the last few years. nationally under the last Labour Government. We are taking action to Council has taken make sure this never happens again.” steps to ensure its costs are kept down, including centralising its administrative Cllr John Hart added “I am delighted that staff to one site at Wyre Forest House, we have also been able to propose to save £500k per year, as well an innovative freeze the parking charges that were due projects with the private sector such as the to increase in October. This is another new Crematorium and Cemetery. Without step we are taking to support our local these projects services would have to be traders.” cut.

Do You Need a Postal Vote? For an application form, contact Gordon Yarranton on 07791 950088. Speeding on the A449 Gordon Yarranton has been working with the Cookley District Councillor and Parish Councillors to address issues relating to speeding along the A449 Wolverhampton Road between the traffic lights and the junction. Meetings have been held with the County accident study engineers and a petition was handed over by Cllr Yarranton that had been collected thanks to Cllr Chris Nicholls.

The accident study engineers have visited the site where the fatal collisions occurred and have designed improvements that include the existing bend warning signage, and add verge marker posts that will help delineate the bends and new road markings to emphasise the message to drivers. A full speed limit review carried out by the accident studies team has identified this section to be reduced to 50 mph.

The formal road traffic order consultation procedures will be advertised for public comment in due course and your support is appreciated . Public Realm Improvements for £500,000 to Kidderminster Starter units for new businesses Support Local Free Parking Schemes in the Town Centres over Christmas Businesses The money will help ensure Wyre Forest Local Conservatives have proposed businesses are best placed to trade in investing a further £500,000 from April this these tough economic times. year. This investment will come on top of Cllr John Hart says “Supporting our local £1,000,000 that was invested last year. economy remains our number one priority. The money has been used on a wide This ongoing investment ensures we can range of initiatives including: directly help local businesses.” Business Rate Relief on empty Wyre Forest District Council will be shops holding a Public Meeting on Thursday 7th Apprenticeships for local young March, talking about our local economy. people See www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk for more details. Cookley Primary School Councillor Gordon Yarranton is delighted to the site and landscaping works all being inform you the new classroom block at completed by December 2013. Cookley Primary School is progressing well with the building due to be completed and Finally Gordon would like to add that the handed over to the school on Friday 8 th land acquisition has not yet been pur- February 2013. chased by the County Council but officers are Preparations are in hand for the school to negotiating the purchase with relevant land move into the building between 7 th and 12 th owners. Councillor Yarranton has a meet- February. With regard to Phase Two of the ing in the diary to receive a progress report development Gordon has been assured later this month. that the funding has now been signed off at County Hall and the development will commence on 18th February 2013 with the demolition of the two classrooms to the rear of the existing building. The two new classrooms and link block will be completed during the summer holiday period with the contractors then moving into the existing building to start the refurbishment works.

The final phase of the project is the demo- lition of the two classrooms to the front of Next PACT Meeting The next Wolverley and Cookley PACT Meeting will be held at Wolverley High School at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday 19 th March 2013. You are all welcome to attend and meet local Councillors from the Parish, District and County together with representatives. Castle Hill update County Cllr Gordon Yarranton was delighted that he was able to call a meeting at the Church Hall on 15th Gordon Yarranton would like to update you on October to discuss the problems with the footpath at issues raised in our last Wolverley and Cookley Castle Hill. Matters newsletter. As you will recall Castle Hill is in need of a footpath. Following meetings with County Officers and himself he has been able to secure funding to provide a footpath to help local Cllr Yarranton on Castle Hill residents access their properties via their right- of-way more securely. Signs Councillor Yarranton is delighted that the new Welcome to Blakeshall Signs has been erected and 3 horse warning signs have been strategically placed through the village.

Do you need help from your local Conservative Team? Dear Gordon, John and Mark Something should be done about ...

Can You Help Your Local Conservative Team? All Conservative Party leaflets are paid for and delivered by volunteers. Can you help your local Conservatives to keep in touch by delivering a few leaflets?

Name ...... Address ...... Email ...... Telephone ...... Return to Wolverley & Cookley Conservatives, 35 Mill St, Kidderminster, DY11 6XB. Printed and promoted by P B Harrison on behalf of G Yarranton, J Hart and M R T Garnier all of WFCA, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6XB.