Bewdley & Arley

The newsletter of your local Conservatives

Editor: Cllr Julian Phillips November 2011 Stumbling Block for Library & Medical Centre Project

Your local Conservative team was disappointed to learn that the project to replace the medical centre and library has had to be suspended in the pre-planning stages. Council has been a partner in this project since it began eight years ago. This project is separate to the St George’s Hall refurbishment. As the Local Planning Authority, the Council has a duty to preserve and enhance the character of Conservation

Areas. When estimations came forward for Above: Cllr Julian Phillips at Load Street Car Park the project, it became apparent to the planning team that the scale, massing and height of the proposed development was going to have a huge impact on the historic core of when viewed from all angles in the vicinity of the site, particularly when viewed from Telford’s Bridge and Beale’s Corner. The Council sought advice from English Heritage who believed that the scheme would have an unacceptable impact on the historic character of Bewdley. Your local Conservative Team will ensure the Council’s Planning Team will continue to work with the developer to see how the development needs of the health centre can be fulfilled. We firmly believe that any new health centre and library for Bewdley should be located in the town centre as the footfall it attracts is essential for the town’s economy.

Contact your Local Conservative Team If you have a problem concerning local issues please contact the team on 01299 402889 Town & Or Email: [email protected] Town & District Town Town Cllr District John Mark Or Write To: Bewdley & Arley Conservatives, District Cllr Cllr Cllr Cllr Campion Garnier 35 Mill Street, , Cllr Stephen Dr Jan Roger Jenny Worcs MP Worcs, DY11 6XB Julian Clee Adams Coleman Phillips Greener County www.wyreforestconservatives.com Council

Printed and promoted by J Smith on behalf of J Phillips, J Greener, S Clee, J Campion, J Adams, R Coleman and M Garnier all of WFCA, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Worcs DY11 6XB Gypsy & Traveller Consultation Residents will be aware that the District Council held a meeting at The Bewdley School on 20th October to discuss whether the land behind Blackstone Picnic Area in Wribbenhall be allocated for Gypsies, Travellers or Travelling show people. The meeting was attended by over 150 people, several of them submitted com- ments verbally, many more took consultation response forms. Bewdley Town Council hosted a further meet- ing on 27th October in order to canvass public opinion on which to base its own formal response to the consultation, several planning reasons were given for not allocating this site.

At this stage there are seven sites that are being consulted upon. Between these seven sites there are 65 potential pitches, the council is committed to allocating 28 additional pitches between now and 2017. There may be the need for 15 further pitches after 2017, however this will be dependent on the outcome of a re- gion-wide survey which will be carried out in 2013. Members of the public may suggest sites outside of the list of seven as part of the consultation.

Julian Phillips, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Forward Planning said “there are a lot of rumours fly- ing around at the moment, but I can assure residents that none of the seven sites have been selected at this stage. The final allocation of sites will not be until February 2012”.

More details about this issue are available on the council’s website: www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk Roger Coleman Helps Avert Public Health Disaster On 29th September, a sewer on Cleobury Road began to leak and raw sewage be- gan so seep down the road to Winbrook and Welch Gate. Living on Welch Gate, Roger Coleman quickly phoned Severn Trent and Environmental Health to ask them to attend to the problem. Whilst waiting for the services to arrive, Roger directed pe- destrians on to the pavement across the road to avoid contamination. Unfortunately your local Conservative Team has concerns about the response of Severn Trent during this incident, con- cerns that Roger is taking up with managers at Severn Trent on behalf of residents. Severn Trent report that the blockage has since been cleared and that the sewer has been cleansed. WFDC Enhances Online Communications Bewdley & Arley residents can now sign up to WyredIn - its online magazine for residents. You can sign up at: www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/wyredin

The council has also recently created social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, Your can ‘Like’ Wyre Forest District Council on Facebook and follow it on Twitter (@wyreforestdc) to get mes- sages about important changes to services as well as all the latest Council news and events.

West Mercia Police also has accounts on Facebook and Twitter (@wmerciapolice). Shatterford Planning Application Refused Wyre Forest District Council’s Planning Committee considered a planning application for a static caravan/mobile home on land at Trimpley Lane on 11th October. The committee refused this applica- tion because it is in the Green Belt and it was felt that there were no special circumstances to warrant this development. Your local Conservative Team would like to thank resdients for their patience whilst the council dealt with this application and also for the 35 letters of objection that were received. Conservatives: Working Hard For You Mark Garnier MP Pushes Regeneration Agenda

On 20th October, Mark Garnier MP organised a meeting between board members of the LEP, officers of Wyre Forest district council, and Local Government Secretary of State the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP. The meeting was initiated by Mark after the bid for the Kidderminster Business Park failed to achieve Business Enterprise Zone status.

Eric Pickles has promised to help WFDC with a number of issues that will give the South Kidderminster Busi- ness Park much of what a BEZ would provide. Importantly, he has agreed that he will help with the Local devel- opment Order, that will provide blanket planning permission for new business premises and extensions for existing ones; will provide help with local infrastructure bottlenecks; and will make his officials available to WFDC officers to help with any other issues that may arise.

Speaking after the meeting, Mark Garnier said: “I am incredibly grateful to Eric. It was a business like meeting and we came away with a great sense of optimism. We achieved everything we wanted from this and when tak- en into account with the fact that both BT and Virgin are providing superfast broadband for Kidderminster, we are getting very close indeed to having everything that a BEZ can provide, but without any of the restrictions. This is a good day for Kidderminster and the wider Wyre Forest and I am delighted that we are making progress. This provides more opportunity for existing businesses, and a viable and attractive venue for new businesses to relocate to.”

The South Kidderminster Business Park covers around 200 Ha of brownfield and industrial space along the Stourport Road corridor and the Worcester Road corridor.

Christmas Festival Volunteers Needed

This year’s Christmas Festival will be held on Saturday 26th November and will involve the switching on of the town’s Christmas Lights by the Mayor, Cllr Jan Adams. The festival involves a street market on Load Street and Severn Side of over 70 stalls, entertainment, a fun fair and a parade as well as other festivities. Volunteers are needed to help erect stalls, marshall the parade and the road closures. If you have any free time on the 26th November, even if it’s for an hour, why not help make this event for the town something special? Julian has helped organise the Christmas Festival and set it up on the day for three years, why not give him and the other volunteers a hand?! Phone Maggie on 404065 if you can help.

Road Repairs Update

Your Local Conservative Team are pleased to report that Cleobury Road, Winbrook, Welch Gate and Yew Tree Close have finally been resurfaced and a defect on the footpath on Welch Gate has been repaired. However we are still pushing for further repairs to be carried out on Park Lane and Lax Lane. We are still pushing for a renewal of the road markings and double yellow lines along High Street and Severn Side South.

Are there other areas you want us to push for repairs in? Let us know using the return slip on page 4. Useful Contact Details Can You

Mark Garnier MP Help Our Constituency Office: 01562 746771 (for constituency issues and to book surgery appointments) Westminster Office: 02072 197198 (for policy issues, Winning Team? admin matters and invitations to events) Bewdley & Arley Conservatives [email protected] . produce and distribute newsletters like this one six times per year. All of the West Mercia Police folding and delivering of them is done 03003 333000 [email protected] by volunteers. Worcestershire Hub Julian and the team voluntarily take up Service Desk for all County and District Council a great deal of their spare time to keep services, remember to ask for a job number to quote you informed of their work on your should you wish to track your request. 01562 behalf. 732928 [email protected] Can you help us do a better job by delivering a few leaflets near where Wyre Forest Community Housing you live? Neighbourhood Warden: 08001 694002 Repairs Hotline: 08001 695454 Contact the office on 01562 823820 or [email protected] fill in the form below if you can help in any way

Do You Need Help From Your Local Conservative Team? Dear Julian, Mark, Steve, Jenny & John, Something should be done about...

Can You Help Us to Keep In Touch? Your Bewdley & Arley Conservative Team would like to keep in touch on a regular basis and, as with all Conservative newsletters, they are delivered and paid for by volunteers. Can you help them to keep in touch by delivering just a few leaflets in your road? If so please either call the Team on 01562 823820 or complete and return this slip.

Yes, I can deliver just a few leaflets in my area. Name...... Address...... Email...... Tel...... When completed please return to Bewdley & Arley Conservatives, WFCA, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6XB Printed and promoted by J Smith on behalf of J Phillips, J Greener, S Clee, J Campion, J Adams, R Coleman and M Garnier all of WFCA, 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Worcs. DY11 6XB