To contact us_

Either e-mail us using talk2us or ring us on 01562 823581 (Answerphone service out of office hours)

Welcome

The Premier Independent political party in Wyre Forest

The Wyre Forest area of north Worcestershire is the home of independent political thought - having been represented in Parliament for two terms (ten years) by the Independent M.P. Dr. Richard Taylor M.B.E.

Representing Wyre Forest people

The party has representatives at Worcestershire County and Wyre Forest District levels as well as Councillors on the Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on- Severn town councils.

Not just a ‘Single Issue’ party

As is reflected in it’s title, Independent Community and Health Concern is NOT just a ‘single issue’ grouping of independent representatives of the people; taking on-board all manner of local problems (and solving them) and local aspirations (and aiding in their delivery). It grew out of the projected closure of Kidderminster Hospital (to which so many had contributed with fund-raising). This prompted mass protest and street parades and, ultimately, the rejection of the sitting Labour MP - a junior Minister. While I.C.H.C. remains fundamentally concerned with the provision of health facilities and the delivery of all that results in ‘good health’ it is associated with concern for all aspects of a healthy community - education for all ages, support for the disabled and the elderly, transport, arts and entertainment, nature and the environment.

Councils

Bewdley Town Council, created 1974, has 13 Town Councillors all of whom are elected for a term of four years. For voting purposes, Bewdley is divided into three Wards which are Bewdley West (4 Councillors) and Bewdley East (4 Councillors) on the west side of the river and Wribbenhall (5 Councillors) on the east side. The Town Council Elections last took place on 22nd May 2014. The next election is due to take place in 2019. Timetable for 2019 meetings not yet available January: 8th   -  Planning 10th - Services 22nd - Events 23rd - Finance 24th  - Town Hall 29th - KEF events planning 30th  - Full Council Tuesday 8th    January   2019 Tuesday 12th  February  2019 Tuesday 12th  March      2019 Meetings will be held in the courtroom of the Coroner's Service, Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn, unless otherwise stated

Stourport-on-Severn

Dixon Sheppard   01299 826941 Councillor for Lickhill Ward Janice Sheppard   01299 826941 Councillor for Lickhill Ward Julie Bennett   01299 827773 Councillor for Central Ward Gill Smith   01299 878067 Councillor for Central Ward Nicky Martin   01299 871825 Councillor for North Ward Neil Thomas   01299 871895 Councillor for North Ward Mike Salter   01299 877382 Councillor for Stour and Wilden Ward

Kidderminster

Peter Young  01562  750529 Councillor for Broadwaters

Bewdley

Linda Candlin  01299 409414 Councillor for Wribbenhall Ward Elizabeth Davies  01299 403053 Councillor for Wribbenhall Ward Calne Edgington-White     01299  400726 Councillor for Bewdley West Ward

Wyre Forest District

Nicky Martin   01299 871825 Councillor for  Mitton

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JOIN Health Concern to be part of Health Concern …

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VOTE for one of our Candidates

If you are not going to be in Wyre Forest on polling day (at work or on holiday) or

are not physically able to go to a polling station to vote in person, you can still

vote. Even if you've moved house since the electoral register was drawn up and

have not yet joined the register at your new address, this is how to exercise your

democratic right.

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If you wish to appoint someone else (a proxy) to vote on your behalf _

DOWNLOAD THIS FORM

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If you wish to vote by post _

DOWNLOAD THIS FORM

Simply print the form out, complete the details and send it to _

The Local Electoral Registration Officer.

Finepoint Way,

Kidderminster, DY11 7WF

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Or you can telephone the Worcestershire Hub on

01562 73292

Be a SUPPORTER  …  … 

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ATTEND our bi-monthly meetings and participate in our Social Events.

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Volunteer to deliver our Newsletters (Pulse) in your street, 

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Help with fund-raising,  

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Man the office phones and talk to people (we have machines to do the printing

and paper-folding).

 

Be a CANDIDATE  …  …

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VOLUNTEER to stand for election to represent your area and have the Health

Concern resources behind you

Ring for a ‘Call-Back’

01562 823581

Preparing for the Next Election

 

  This is the ‘Heart In Hands’ - our party logo

You will find it on the Ballot Paper next to our candidate in your ward

Be prepared to Vote - _____________________________________________

GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE

AGGBOROUGH & SPENNELLS

   ARELEY KINGS / RIVERSIDE

 

Keith Robertson

Claire Barnett

 

John Thomas

           BROADWATERS

    FRANCHE / HABBERLEY NORTH

 

 Peter Young

Anna L’Huillier

 

       Susie Griffiths

 

    Graham Ballinger

FOLEY PARK / HOOBROOK

  LICKHILL

 

     Sue Meekings

   Dixon Sheppard

 

  MITTON

   WRIBBENHALL / ARLEY

 

     Nicky Martin

        Liz Davies

 

  WYRE FOREST - RURAL

 

   Adrian Carloss

 

     Harry Grove

 

  Vince Smith M.B.E.

Please Click on your Ward to be taken to the Candidates’ Election Address

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Thursday 2nd MAY is when there are elections for

DISTRICT COUNCIL (WYRE FOREST)

TOWN COUNCILS (STOURPORT & BEWDLEY)

PARISH COUNCILS

Broome Parish Council, Chaddesley Corbett Parish Council, Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council, Kidderminster Foreign Parish Council, Rock Parish Council, Rushock Parish Council, Stone Parish Council, Upper Arley Parish Council, Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council. Though not all of these Parishes may need to hold elections if there are insufficient candidates. They can always co-opt volunteers at a later date. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ You can join Health Concern to become a member of the party. Membership details available from Keith Robertson, our Membership Secretary

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23rd MAY

THE ‘EUROPEAN ELECTIONS’

FOR MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (MEPs)

THAT’S ALWAYS ASSUMING THAT WE’RE STILL IN THE E.U. BY THEN

BROADWATERS WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

PETER YOUNG

AGGBOROUGH / SPENNELLS WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

KEITH ROBERTSON

ARELEY KINGS / RIVERSIDE WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

CLAIRE BARNETT

WRIBBENHALL / ARLEY WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

LIZ DAVIES

FRANCHE / HABBERLEY NORTH WARD

YOU HAVE THREE (3) VOTES and THERE ARE THREE (3) HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATES

ANNA L’HUILLIER

SUSIE GRIFFITHS

&

GRAHAM BALLINGER

ANNA L’HUILLIER

i   live   in   the   Bewdley   Hill   area   of   town with    my    husband,    three    children, while   looking   after   my   parents   and mother-in-law,    who    lives    6    doors away. My   eldest   child   is   working,   one   is   at Bewdley     High     School,     and     the youngest   is   at   Franche   Community Primary     school     -     where     I     am involved    as    Deputy    Chair    on    the PTA. I   truly   believe   in   Community;   in   all   of us   supporting   those   less   able   than ourselves     and     in     ensuring     our community   is   a   place   where   we   want to live and raise our families.

SUSIE GRIFFITHS

I   am   passionately   committed   to   the town   I   grew   up   in   and   care   so   much about   its   people   -   with   a   particular interest    in    homelessness    and    the impact    of    people    forced    to    sleep rough,    their    education    and    mental health. I   am   a   proud   Mum   to   3   children   aged 27,   22   and   20.   My   daughter   has   had health    issues    for    9    years    and    we have    always    been    indebted    to    the NHS     for     the     care     given     local hospitals and those further afield. I   believe   in   services   being   available close    to    home    and,    if    elected,    will work    tirelessly    to    try    and    improve health   services   in   our   area   and   am again   proud   to   stand   in   the   area   in which I live.

GRAHAM BALLINGER

I    am    currently    party    chairman    of  ICHC   .My   incentive   for   joining   was concern    about    the    quality    of    local health     care     and     supporting     Dr. Richard      Taylor      and      his      earlier initiative   to   bring   more   services   back to    Kidderminster    General    Hospital. This    is    still    a    very    live    issue    and ICHC    remain    committed    to    fighting for    improved    health    services    both locally and county-wide 20 years on. Having    had    a    varied    career    with Barnados,   Scope   &   Heart   of   England Care    I    have    been    blessed    with    a loving   wife   -   Dianne   -   for   54   years, and    5    children    and    their    extended families.

LICKHILL WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

DIXON SHEPPARD

FOLEY PARK / HOOBROOK WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

SUE MEEKINGS

MITTON WARD

OUR HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATE IS

NICKY MARTIN

WYRE FOREST - RURAL WARD

encompassing Chaddesley Corbett, Cookley and Wolverley

YOU HAVE THREE (3) VOTES and THERE ARE THREE (3) HEALTH CONCERN CANDIDATES

ADRIAN CARLOSS

HARRY GROVE

&

VINCE SMITH M.B.E.

Adrian Carloss

A   Cookley   resident   with   a   wide experience   of   industry   who   has strong        feelings        for        the protection   and   future   well-being of     our     RURAL     communities, wanting   to   guard   them   against     encroachment    from    excessive development.     Adrian     is     also Chair   of   a   residents   group   set up    in    readiness    to    fight    the proposed     quarry     ear-marked for Lea Castle Farm. For (much) more, visit https://www.adriancarloss.co.uk/

Harry Grove

A     Chaddesley     Corbett     resident and   former   Parish   Councillor   who is     a     Trustee     on     several     local charities     awarding     grants     and bursaries.    He    has    experience    of teaching   and   in   education   matters, having        been        Chairman        of Governors        at        Kidderminster College    and    on    the    Diocese    of Worcester Education Committee.

      Vince Smith M.B.E.

A        long-term        Wolverley resident      and      a      founder member    of    Health    Concern who   has   a   proven   record   of commitment   to   the   welfare   of Wyre    Forest    residents    and the    disadvantaged    living    in Eastern Europe.

National

Perhaps they should have followed our example ? Look elsewhere on this site for evidence of our ‘Heart-in-Hands’ logo. It is the new (Labour) Independent Party who should have followed us .. (and one wonders how welded to their former ideals they might yet remain) ? They have managed to get themselves onto the MEP ballot paper (should those elections yet be held) but .. the space next to their name will remain empty .. void .. blank .. So ‘trendy’ and ‘on- message’ are they that their idea of a ‘party logo’ - a sign and symbol that sums them up - included a hashtag ! (That’s the # sign to the bottom right of the keyboard which looks very much like a sharp sign .. to those of us who can read music). Anyway, those in charge of authenticating these things have thrown it out (leaving some very confused millennials) since such a device relates to an ever- changing - and so unverifiable - reference. Are we consequently to determine that the (new) trendy, ‘on-line’ Independent (Labour) party is either blank (void, empty) .. or clueless ? _____________________ In the United States  .. (Capital: Washington DC), they have a name for the little dance that politicians perform as they decide which way to vote. It’s called the ‘Potomac Two-step’ (after the river which flows through their Capital). An apt name for the dance of our politicians ought to be “The Hokey-Cokey” ? You know the lyric .. “You put your right wing in, Your left wing comes out, In, Out, In, Out, They can’t carry a vote !” Still, it’s Spring, and there ARE signs of BREXIT in the air ! The new (red) British Passports being issued (post March 29) bear the legend .. ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” .. without a single mention of the European Union ! ___________________ Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear ! Apparently, in London,  it’s been “.. a long week .. ..  of fast-moving developments.” (30/03) Well, I never. Amazing that. Well, that’s the excuse that Channel 4 have come out with after their ‘anchor- man’, veteran broadcaster Jon Snow (and now, perhaps, showing too many signs of being a veteran) went ‘off script’ and let his prejudices show when describing the assembled pro-Brexit multitude in Westminster as .. “.. never seen so many white people in one place!” Is it significant or just ironic that he gave his “..unscripted observation” from COLLEGE  GREEN ? Anyway, when he got home and started relaxing after his oh-so-tiring week of looking at other people, perhaps Jon Snow might spend some time in front of a mirror .. and remember that Snow is White ? ___________________ And now the hard-pressed Police Forces - of two different Constabularies - spend 21 weeks investigating … ? A pro-noun .. in a Tweet !! Anything on the Internet is transitory and illusory (and you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to). Yet the Surrey Police have been on the case of a “mis-gendered child” for 5 months - with no end in sight - even when the person who objected has now changed her mind ! Can WE not charge the Police with wasting Police time ? ___________________

Local

“Confused” ..              .. of Wyre Forest. No sooner are the local Tories “out on the election trail” than they’re busy distancing themselves from the Conservative Party ! “Think local .. Vote local” So far it sounds like an old- fashioned Irish exhortation .. “Vote early .. Keep voting !” Then comes the ‘punch-line’ .. THIS IS WYRE FOREST - NOT WESTMINSTER .. !! Confused ? They obviously are. This is Kidderminster, not Westminster - that’s 127 miles away. Are they actually ‘Tories’ ? Or just pretending ? So who are they ? Do they even know ? And who were those ‘suits’ at Head Office giving them instructions about ‘Austerity Planning’ ? And why did they obey them? What a shame that its only now, when their precious seats are on the line, that they appear to have any ….. ____________________ Everyone was so happy the other week to see Cllr. (and ‘Blue Leader’) Marcus Hart busy keeping his hand in  with his tractor-driving skills in Wolverley They might come in handy should there ever be a quarry planned for that area ! He might need to up-grade to an excavator (‘No problemo’ to a man of his abilities) - rather than a more conservative (small ‘C’) dump truck. ___________________ “Cack-‘onded” indeed ? Our erstwhile MP steps down from his Olympian heights and, speaking in the vernacular of ‘the man on the Cradley omnibus’, states this week that  “.. I’ve consistently backed her deal because it delivers Brexit, in a controlled way. Not the best deal, but not a bad deal either,” but it is “..entirely understandable that people are utterly frustrated by the cack- handed way that this process has been handled.” An honest appraisal and given using honest, old- fashion, ‘four-letter’ English words. Cac (Old English) meaning excrement or dung – as in Cachus (cac house) a privy, Cacken (Old Dutch) from the Latin Cacare – to defecate You know, I didn’t know our MP was so erudite. ___________________ Would those of a nervous disposition (i.e. the local Conservative party) kindly look away, now. Published under the banner “May well be Britain’s worst prime minister”  (ho-ho) .. is this letter in a national daily_ Theresa May is now well- established as Britain’s worst ever prime minister. Every day she stays in office makes it more difficult for any future leader to challenge her position (to this title). D**** J**** Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs. Once again, ho-ho-ho; and its re-assuring (for some) that those living in the ‘rural, leafy climes’ of Wyre Forest (East) are possessed of firm opinions (and aren’t afraid to express them). ____________________ We live in a Matriarchal Society  but haven’t we always ? Not only is Wyre Forest DC  constituted • 71% women (senior managers) / 29% men, and • 60% women (Corporate leadership roles) / 40% men but • women earn 9% to 14% more than the men. So that’s all the ‘glass ceilings’ shattered then ? “Let’s all go down the pub, lads, and leave ‘em to it?” ____________________

International

Seen on the Internet .. .. ‘French Police investigating the recent fire in Paris have issued a description of someone they want to interview .. “A short, rounded man, prone to dribbling, with a shuffling gait, and a distinct curvature of the spine !” ____________________ Like the song says .. “What a difference a day makes .. 24 little hours !” And the day of Julian le Bras (the man who owns construction company Le Bras Freres that won the  5 million euro contract to repair the spire of the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris) has changed somewhat. According to Le Point Culture and French site The Repulican Lorraine, the small company Meusienne and Jarnysienne of the city of Jarny expressed euphoria when their family- owned company won the contract in 2017 against large international competition. Oh, and a subsidiary company was responsible for the scaffolding (which did a remarkably good job of surviving the heat and the flames and the collapse of everything around it). Now, a confirmation that none of his 12 workers were on site at the time that the fire broke out or were injured is the best he can hope for (since it’s highly unlikely that his liability insurance can cover the cost of the damages - should they be proved to be his fault.) Might we suggest that something similar to Coventry is tried .. with the old and the brand new standing side-by-side - after all, ‘Gothic’ architecture was the very latest fashion when it was built initially ? Anyway; at least “Mini-me Macron” has something to take his voters’ minds off the ‘gillets-jaune’ war being waged on the streets of his Capital. And an ‘oh-so-tangible-goal’ set for him to reflect in - when the Olympics swan- into-town ? ___________________ The Heads-of-State banquet menu the last time Mrs. May was in Brussels_ A La Carte For EU Heads of State: • Butternut gnocchi and smoked haddock with parmesan emulsion, • Pheasant supreme with pan fried cep mushrooms and half a pear with a cranberry filling • Fresh pineapple desert. Plat de Jour For visiting prime ministers: • Ordered-in pizza (honestly) • Thin sliced cold- shoulder • Humble pie • Career in tatters • Frozen(out) Coventry pudding closely followed by • Indigestion • Heart-burn • Tears-before-bedtime ___________________ And we think we’ve got it bad here in the UK ? In the Netherlands  (the ‘laid-back’ home of the last-of-the-hippies) the Forum for Democracy party are now the largest party in their Parliament. This (as in France) is a 2- year-old party - which numbers amongst it’s policies_ • ‘Nexit’ • Anti-Islam • Anti-imigration • Anti-Euro Good to know that they stand for something .. and then stick to it. Lessons to be learned ? ___________________ The ‘Electoral Regulator’ (and I bet you didn’t know we’d got one of those ?) has just told the major political parties to prepare for the European elections ! And issued 23 pages of guidance ! Apparently we go to the Polls on May 23rd. I wonder what those ‘major’ parties will put in their manifestos (that the public will believe) ? So put that in your diaries .. and smoke it ! __________________

Blog

Comments about what’s going on in political life …  … Please note that views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Health Concern or of it’s Councillors or members - so enjoy them - or ignore them (!) It’s your choice.

News

“O TEMPORA  …  O MORES”

which, being translated from the original Latin, is..

‘Alas, the times, .. alas the customs”

Cicero, Roman statesman, orator, lawyer and philosopher, deplores the viciousness and corruption of his age. (63BC)

The I.C.H.C. position on Brexit

So divisive has this issue become that simply quoting the facts and figures of the Referendum and subsequent Polls has given some people the impression that Independent Community and Health Concern is a ‘Brexit party’ AND (at the same time) a ‘Remain party’ (?) The truth is (and “truth”s nasty word to some politicians) that we are Neither AND Both. And before that starts to sound like politician-speak, let me explain … We are an amalgam of Independent people. As such, we have our own, individual views and opinions on most issues - and we hold them strongly. We sometimes reflect both sides of some issues - and Brexit is amongst them. We demonstrate that it is possible not to be angry with each other and to work alongside each other in a positive manner to gain objectives which are within our reach. We’d love ‘world peace’ and food and water for all - but those are things slightly beyond our capacity to deliver .. though we can try to influence those who might. We are a ’broad tent’ and we reject no-one. Come inside and have your say. Vote for us to put your point of view.

Thursday May 2nd.

YouGov Poll - 16 April - MEP Election 27% - Declared intention to vote for   Farage’s Brexit Party 22% - To vote for Labour candidate 15% - To vote for Conservative candidate

ComRes Poll   16 April - General Election

33% - Declared intention to vote for   Labour candidate 23% - To vote for Conservative candidate   [Only 53% of Tory voters prepared to   back the party] 14% - To vote for Brexit Party candidate   “Theresa May has become an absolute   ‘Vote-Loser’ on the doorstep.”   ‘Senior Tory MP’ Previous Polls - Canvassed Support Brexit Party:  82 percent [after 3 days !] UKIP:  six percent Change UK:  four percent Labour Party:  four percent Liberal Democrats:  one percent Conservative Party: one percent Other: one percent Green Party:  one percent SNP:  less than one percent Plaid Cymru:  less than one percent

ComRes Polls of Conservative party membership

Q: “What should happen if Britain has not agreed a   deal by April 12 ?” A: Leave with ‘No Deal’ _ 76% Q: “Seek an extension to negotiations” A: 10% Q: “How would you vote if there was a second   Referendum ?” A: ‘Leave now’ _ 70% Q: “Was Britain right to vote for Brexit ?” A: ‘Yes’ _ 67%

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LIES, DAMNED LIES AND ‘STATISTICS’

IN THE LOCAL ELECTION_ The Conservative party are putting up 27 candidates The Labour Party   21 candidates ICHC (that’s “US”)   14 candidates The Liberal Democrats   14 candidates The Green Party   11 candidates UKIP   10 candidates Independent candidates     5 candidates

Contact

Health Concern

I.C.H.C. office Station Approach, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster. Worcs. DY10 1QX Tel: 01562 823581 Fax: 01562 77 00 11 e: talk2us@healthconcern.org.uk

Seen our Advert in the Shuttle ?

HOW CAN YOU MISS IT ?

How to find us

Directions

Google maps

Our office is located on Comberton Hill, next to the Severn Valley and West Midlands railway stations. There are a number of Pay & Display car parks in the immediate vicinity. There is a bus service along the main road.

Hours of Business

Please ring to make a weekday appointment. 01562 823581

THANK YOU for visiting