Bewdley & Arley The newsletter of your local Conservatives Editor: Cllr Julian Phillips Autumn 2011 Gypsy & Traveller Sites Consultation Right: Cllr Julian Phillips, Representative for Bewdley & Arley and Cabinet Member for Place Shaping, WFDC Wyre Forest District Council recently tasked consultants with researching sites throughout the District with a view to their potential use for situating gypsy and traveller caravans. Residents may be aware that the suggested ‘best’ possible sites have now been short listed and are due to be consulted upon starting in late October. None of the suggested sites are located within Bewdley & Arley ward. The allocation of pitches is a commitment the council has made when it adopted the Core Strategy in December 2010. The policy is designed to lessen the likelihood of travellers turning up randomly, like they did at Spennells earlier this year, and also arm the council better to resist unlawful encampments becoming authorised and avoid long drawn out appeals similar to those experienced in August at Dale Farm in Essex. Julian said “I must stress that none of the sites are set in stone. 43 pitches may need to be established in a phased period over the next 11 years (30 by 2017). They could be established on as little as four of the sites or local land owners may suggest other sites which aren’t included amongst the list during the consultation process. The final sites will not be proposed until after the public consultation has closed and all the evidence brought forward has been examined”. The consultation will be carried out through the newspaper, separate pamphlets, council website, library and Worcestershire Hub. Every member of the public will be able to have their say on this issue and we encourage as wide a debate on this issue as possible. It will be a long process, but the tighter control of this issue we will have at the end of it will be worthwhile – i.e. Dale Farm will never occur in our District. Log on to www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk for up to date information on this issue. Contact your Local Conservative Team If you have a problem concerning local issues please contact the team on 01299 402889 Town & Town & District Town Town Cllr Or Email : [email protected] District John Mark District Cllr Cllr Cllr Or Write To : Bewdley & Arley Conservatives, Cllr Campion Garnier Cllr Stephen Dr Jan Roger 35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Julian Jenny Worcs MP Clee Adams Coleman County Worcs, DY11 6XB Phillips Greener Council Conservatives in Action! Three of Bewdley’s Conservative councillors recently spent their Saturday morning tackling some of the weeds that have been growing on the riverside on Severn Side South. They do not receive regular attention because they are on the river side of the railings, rather than the foot- path and thus are not the responsibility of the County or District Council. Jan, John and Julian removed weeds for over 2 hours however there is still much more to be done. If residents would like to help us finish the rest of it, please let us know using the contact details on page 1. Right: Bewdley Mayor Cllr Jan Adams and Cllr Julian Above: Cllr Julian Phillips, Cllr John Foulkes and Phillips, hard Bewdley Mayor Cllr Jan Adams after two hours work at work Road Repairs on Woodthorpe Drive After years of lobbying by County Councillor John Campion and District Councillor Julian Phillips, the Highways Authority has recently carried out major repairs on Woodthorpe Drive. Although this is a huge improvement to the situation, John and Julian are still pushing for a full resurface of this road because, in the long term , a good quality surface is better economics than multiple call-outs to repair potholes. Green Flag Award for Jubilee Gardens You local Conservative team is pleased to report that QEII Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley recently received the Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that it is well maintained and well managed, with excellent facilities and a high-quality green space. Jubilee Gardens and Brinton Park in Kidderminster are among a record number of parks and green spaces receiving the Green Flag Award this year, ensuring that even more of us now have access to well managed, high-quality green spaces. Jubilee Gardens is e a fantastic asset to the town and District offering a friendly and welcoming place for local communities to enjoy. There are always events going on, like our free series of summer outdoor concerts. This award highlights the great work of the Council’s dedicated parks team and all the The Award Winning Jubilee Gardens partners who work alongside them., many of them volunteers. Conservatives: Working Hard For You Mark Garnier MP Congratulates Wyre Forest Pupils Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, is delighted to send his congratulations to the students of The Bewdley School and Sixth Form and Wyre Forest for another year of improved AS and A Level results. At the Bewdley School, 35% of all grades were A* to B and 70% were grade C or above. 93% of Year 13 students were successful in achieving their university place. Mark said “Huge congratulations to all students in Bewdley and Wyre Forest for achieving such excellent grades. Good exam results are a clear signal to employers that Wyre Forest offers a fantastic workforce. By attracting employers to the district we are ensuring an even brighter future for our hard working students. Well done!” Enterprise Zone Decision Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, is deeply disappointed that Wyre Forest has missed out on becoming a Business Enterprise Zone in a recent announcement made by The Chancellor and the Prime Minister. Having been in contact with Wyre Forest District Council and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Mark said: “I am bitterly disappointed at the recent announcement confirming that Wyre Forest will not be one of the first to get Enterprise Zone status. This is after huge amounts of work by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), WFDC and my efforts in Parliament to secure this. However, this should not be seen as the end of the road for the South Kidderminster Business Park (former Sugar Beet site). The work that has already been done is still relevant and important. The job of securing business and investment will continue in order to secure nearly 4000 extra jobs for Wyre Forest and North Worcestershire. “The commitment of the LEP for Wyre Forest has not been diminished by this announcement; the local plan and commitment has not changed at all; the important work of Rewyre will continue unabated. I will continue to support the work being done on the South Kidderminster Business Park. I will support the LEP, the District Council, Rewyre and all other interested parties through my work locally and in Parliament. In the meantime, I will speak with ministers who considered the applications to establish why were not successful.” Christmas 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 Festival 70 stalls, entertainment, a fun fair and a parade as well as other festivities. Volun- teers 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 Volunteers 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 Needed other volunteers a hand?! Phone Maggie on 404065 if you can help. Shatterford Planning Application Diamond Jubilee Your local Conservative Team is fully aware of the A cross-party group of Bewdley Town concerns of residents of Trimpley Lane, Shatterford, Councillors, including Roger Coleman and regarding the planning application at one of the sites Jan Adams, has been set up to prepare that is within the Greenbelt. All letters of celebrations within the town for next year’s objection that have been received have been Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. If presented to the Chairman of the Planning you would like to volunteer to organise the Committee. The Planning Committee will consider events, please contact the Town Clerk on the application on 11th October. 01299 400157. Useful Contact Details Can You Mark Garnier MP Constituency Office: 01562 746771 (for constituency issues Help Our and to book surgery appointments) Westminster Office: 02072 197198 (for policy issues, admin Winning Team? matters and invitations to events) [email protected] Bewdley & Arley Conservatives produce and distribute newsletters like this one West Mercia Police six times per year. All of the folding and 03003 333000 [email protected] delivering of them is done by volunteers. Julian and Jenny voluntarily take up a Worcestershire Hub great deal of their spare time to keep you Service Desk for all County and District Council services, informed of their work on your behalf. remember to ask for a job number to quote should you wish to track your request. 01562 732928 Can you help us do a better job by [email protected] delivering a few leaflets near where you live? Wyre Forest Community Housing Contact the office on 01562 823820 or Neighbourhood Warden: 08001 694002 fill in the form below if you can help in Repairs Hotline: 08001 695454 any way . [email protected] Do You Need Help From Your Local Conservative Team? Dear Julian, Mark, Steve, Jenny & John, Something should be done about..