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.

WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL

PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE

Wyre Forest District Council has announced that it expects the “Progressive Alliance” of three groups to form the administration following the council’s Annual General Meeting at 6:00pm on Wednesday 22nd May, at Wyre Forest House.. “Following the elections on 2 May, political groups have been formed. I have met the leaders of the Independent Community and Health Concern group and the Independent, Liberal Democrat and Green group, this afternoon. They have indicated that, together with the Labour Group, they intend to support the appointment of Councillor Graham Ballinger as Leader of the Council at the meeting on 22 May. The Leader of the Council (elected on 22 May) will then appoint other councillors to join the Cabinet. A separate announcement will be made in due course about the Cabinet members and their portfolios.” Ian Miller, WFDC’s Chief Executive (07/05/2019) The council’s AGM will be held on 22 May and will be open to the public. It will also be webcast at this link _ https://wyreforestdc.public-i.tv/core/portal/home The council operates the ‘Leader and Cabinet Executive’ model of governance. Under   the   legislation   in   section   9IB   of   the   Local   Government Act   2003   and   the   council’s   constitution,   Councillor   Marcus   Hart   continues in office as Leader of the Council until the meeting on 22 May. The four groups formed in the council and the number of members in each are as follows: Independent Community and Health Concern 9; + Independent, Liberal Democrat & Green 8; + Labour 2  =  19    Conservative  =  14

ComRes poll - (16 May)

‘Brexit Party’   31 %

(+ 4 points)

Labour             23%

(- 2 points)

Lib-Dems         16%

(=  )

Greens

  9%

Tories                 9%

(- 4 points)

Others/Undecided   12%

These results in a GENERAL ELECTION

would give the CONSERVATIVES just

2 SEATS

in the House of Commons

!

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. 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 Claire Barnett   Councillor for Central Ward Nicky Martin 01299 871825 Councillor for North Ward John Thomas 01299 823876 Councillor for North Ward

Kidderminster

Peter Young 01562  750529 Councillor for Broadwaters

Bewdley

Elizabeth Davies 01299 403053 Councillor for Wribbenhall Ward

Wyre Forest District

Claire Barnett Councillor for Areley Kings & Riverside John Thomas 01299 823876 Councillor for Areley Kings & Riverside Peter Young 01562  750529 Councillor for Broadwaters Graham Ballinger 01562 639192 Councillor for Franche & Habberley North Susie Griffiths 0781 4188709 Councillor for Franche & Habberley North Anna L’Huillier 07427 761717 Councillor for Franche & Habberley North Dixon Shephard 01299 826941 Councillor for Lickhill Nicky Martin   01299 871825 Councillor for  Mitton _____________________________ Calne Edgington-White   01299 400 726 Councillor for Bewdley & Rock

_______________________________________________________________________________________ And now for the next round of voting (well, you’re getting used to it by now)

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 FACTS_ • the EU elections will cost the British tax-payer at least £156,000,000 • for that money we will get 72 Members of the European Parliament • they may only be in office until October • £5,000,000 has been put on one side for compensation in case they never get to sit in Europe • while this money is being spent, the Electoral Commission will be spending £436,000 (+VAT) resisting the appeal against their fining pro-Brexit-eer Darren Grimes £20,000 for disputed campaign expenses in addition_ • the 2016 Referendum cost £129,000,000 • the 2017 General election cost £141,000,000

IN THE DISTRICT ELECTION_ The Conservative party put up 27 candidates - 14 were voted in - a 51.85% success rate The Labour Party 21 candidates -   2 were voted in - a 9.52% success rate ICHC (that’s “US”) 14 candidates -   8 were voted in - a 57.14% success rate The Liberal Democrats 14 candidates -   3 were voted in - a 21.43% success rate The Green Party 11 candidates -   1 was voted in - a 9.09% success rate UKIP 10 candidates -   0 were voted in - a zero % success rate Independent candidates 5 candidates -   5 were voted in - a 100% success rate whereas, nationally … PARTY COUNCILLORS CHANGE +/- Conservative 3562 -1334 Labour 2023 -    82 Liberal Democrat 1350 +  703 Green   265 +  194 UKIP     31 -   145 Others 1179 +   662 Nationally; the GREENS gained 89 areas - and LIB-DEMS gained 154 areas and lost just 8. UKIP lost in 45 areas and gained in just 11. Which makes for some very interesting statistics. ____________________________________________________________________________________

National

And, on the other hand … With even the Public Accounts Committee throwing cold water over the HS2 project .. although hope springs eternal in the Rudd-y Amber breast .. one wonders what we want (what we really, really want)?  In 2010, for £32bn we were promised ‘speed’. In 2014, for £56bn we were promised ‘capacity’. In 2017, for £89bn we were promised a ‘northern power- house’. In 2018, for £100bn we were promised ‘long-term investment’. In 2019, for £200bn, we are promised ‘forward thinking’. Whitehall has a mantra: “megaprojects .. over budget, over time, over and over again.” But for £100bn, we could have • 1,000 brand-new specialist hospitals • every train in the country replaced - AND 750 brand-new hospitals • every train in the country replaced - AND 250 brand-new hospitals - AND 2 new north / south motorways. Taxes are Your Money. What would YOU spend Your Money on ? ____________________ Have I got news for you, old chum ! I DO HOPE that ‘Auntie’ BBC can see the irony in their “pulling” the comedy / panel show ‘HIGNFY’ a.k.a. “Have I got news for you”,  just in case arch-Remoaner Heidi Allen had any influence upon us in the forthcoming EU elections .. and then replacing that show with an edition of … “Would I Lie To You” ??? Heidi is the Leader of ‘Change UK’, the party who are campaigning to avoid any change to the UK’s status in Europe. Why, … their very title is a .. how shall I put it .. FACTUAL VERISIMILITUDE  ! ____________________ “What a tangled web we weave .. when first we practise to .. retire ?” Though they don’t know it, many retired folks, living in Four Seasons Health Care care homes, find their retirement “at risk” as the company calls in the administrators ‘Alvarez & Marsal’. At risk are 17,000 elderly patients and 20,000 staff. And the ‘tangled web’ ? Well that’s the corporate structure of Four Seasons - owned (nominally) through Terra Firma (led by City ‘dealmaker’ Guy Hands,) under the control of H/2 Capital (run by secretive US tycoon Spencer Haber). CQC chief - Debbie Westhead - advises local councils .. “we do not believe there is a risk of care services being halted, at this time!” Risky business ..             this growing old !! ______________________ It is with relish that one returns to “good writing” .. and that of Messrs. Jay and Lynn when they penned “Yes, Minister” is particularly fine. The recent fiasco (one of so, so many) to do with 5G / China was so aptly summed-up when Bernard (Jim Hacker’s otherwise oh- so-inept Private Secretary) defined the verb ‘to leak’  as “.. one of those irregular verbs; I give a confidential briefing .. You ‘leak’ .. He gets charged under Section 2a) of the Official Secrets Act.” All still so true. ____________________

Local

“Don’t shoot the pianist .. he’s only trying his best !” is the well-known phrase and expression. We should be asking ourselves “.. what tune is he playing ?” given the number of newly-elected councillors who are playing Musical Chairs on the Town Councils ! It used to be the prerogative of great and serious politicians who had their ‘crisis of confidence’ moment to change party (including) .. William Gladstone in 1859, Joseph Chamberlain & John Corbett (of Droitwich and Chaddesley Corbett fame) in 1886, Winston Churchill in 1904, Oswald Moseley in 1920, & again in 1924, & again in 1931 (!) (strange to see those two names in close conjunction), Oliver Baldwin (Bewdley lad) also in 1931, and father and son Ramsey and Malcolm MacDonald also in 1931. (What a year that was !) Whether those taking the decision to ‘cross the floor’ have the political acumen and ‘clout’ of their illustrious predecessors .. well, time will tell. _____________________ “Election Communication” For those of us who have received our ‘Election Communication’ from the Brexit Party (deep joy indeed) .. and residing and voting in the West Midlands .. just about as far from the salty sea as you can get (apart, that is, from the brine baths at Droitwich) .. it is interesting to learn that what we want from Brexit (“what we really, really, want”) is ‘to restore our coastal communities’. Now, while acknowledging that places like Rhyll and Hastings (particularly with the Rudd-y Amber hanging onto the white cliffs by her elegantly manicured fingernails) are in need of urban re-generation .. of what significance are they in swaying the massive West MIdlands conurbation  towards Nigel’s boyish charms ? _____________________ Re: Printing Errata “The quickness of the hand deceives the eye” say the magicians of this world .. it’s how they make a living; and it’s strange how you can look at a page and not see mistakes. Particularly if you’re Australian, it would seem. This week saw a printing blunder of magnificent proportions when the entire morning print run of Rupert Murdoch’s Daily Telegraph contained pages from its rival (and political opponent) the Sydney Morning Herald! Apparently, for reasons of economy, both papers are printed at the same plant in north-western Sydney and there’s a reciprocal deal in Queensland. Presumably there are still Cobbers and Sheilas spluttering into their Vegemite at the views expressed at their breakfast tables. It was a big mistake but then, Australia’s a big country. “G’day, Bruce !” _____________________ Re: ‘Feedback’ _ “Yer now .. s’awerfully noice whan peoples read wot yow’ve writ .. evan if they’s readin it fur the wrang raisins. Afta al the ardwok thinkin abart wot ter rite, an thin putin pen ter pap-per (as-it- wor) .. yer, its bostin good of sum foks ter achewally reid the thee-ings. Min yow, tem tay-chers ave so much oli-days, them day no wat-ter-do wid tim-selfs wi-ut a clas-a-kids sin-fron- tar-dem ! Ta, a-bit !” _____________________

International

Sorry folks .. it’s official ! We’re at war ..   .. with Germany! Fortunately, it’s in the Courts. ‘Deutsche Bahn’ (German Rail), who own ‘Arriva’ (which sounds Italian) have filed papers against the DfT secretary Chris Greyling  and his department, in a confrontation between two “friendly” EU governments. Apparently they’ve taken against his decision to award the new East Midlands franchise to ‘Abellio’ (which sounds Italian) but is Dutch (and also state-owned). All of which rather blows the wind out of the sails of the ‘Sainted’ Jeremy’s idea of nationalising the railways. They’re ALREADY State- owned .. just not by OUR Government ! ___________________ Re: Printing Errata 46 million of Australia’s new $50 notes (known as the “big yellow”) have been printed with a typo, the Reserve Bank has confirmed. 2.3 bn $’s-worth of the “new and improved” $50 banknote was rolled out in October last year, with a host of new technologies designed to improve accessibility and prevent counterfeiting but the (predominantly yellow) note also contains a typo that misspells the word “responsibility”. The note features the Indigenous writer and inventor David Unaipon  on one side, and Edith Cowan, Australia’s first female member of parliament, on the other - as it has since 1995 – but the small type in a document in the background spells ‘responsibilty’ no less than three times. They sure do things “big” down-under. ___________________ This is being posted here .. because it’s what the SNP want to be .. foreign ! Anyway, Nicola was heavily defeated over the weekend .. by her own party. At her conference she was roundly told to “drop the £  Pound” just as soon as they were quit of us. Now, whether it’s a good thing for a nation of under 2.5 million households .. and that’s less than the West Midlands, let me remind you .. joined to (and dependent on) the 6th largest economy in the world, with an internationally-traded currency .. to instantly switch to pretty pieces of paper backed by RBS .. whether that is a ‘good’ thing, I leave to you. _________________

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.

BREXIT

“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)

WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL

Areley Kings & Riverside

CLAIRE BARNETT

 

JOHN THOMAS

Broadwaters

PETER YOUNG

Franche & Habberley South

GRAHAM BALLINGER

 

SUSIE GRIFFITHS

 

ANNA L’HUILLIER

Lickhill

DIXON SHEPHARD

Mitton

NICKY MARTIN

BEWDLEY & STOURPORT TOWN COUNCILS

BEWDLEY - Wribbenhall

LIZ DAVIES

STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Central

CLAIRE BARNETT

Lickhill

DIXON SHEPHARD

North

NICKY MARTIN

 

JOHN THOMAS

MANY THANKS …

TO OUR 2,853 SUPPORTERS IN THE TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS,

AND OUR 9,763 SUPPORTERS IN THE DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

“And you can quote me …”

“The  

results  

of  

this  

election  

are  

an  

opportunity  

to  

take  

a  

fresh  

look  

at  

the  

way  

things  

are  

done  

in

Wyre Forest and create a unity across all political divides.”

“This  

is  

a  

tough  

time  

financially  

for  

the  

Authority  

but,  

together,  

we  

can  

improve  

services  

-  

in  

the

interests of the public.”

“The title “Progressive Alliance” sums up what we aim to be.”

“The public are fed-up with party-political ‘spats’ on social media.”

 

Graham Ballinger

“The   

Conservatives   

have   

‘stepped-aside’   

to   

allow   

a   

coalition   

of   

other   

parties   

to   

form   

an

administration and I think it is the right thing to do.”

“I  

look  

forward  

to  

engaging  

with  

the  

administration  

-  

the  

first  

time  

I  

have  

worked  

with  

a  

council

which is not Conservative.”

“The interests of our community must come before party politics.”

 

Mark Garnier

“The Progressive Alliance will be a re-focus that can only be for the betterment of the district.”

 

Stephen Brown

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

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

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