To contact us_

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

Theresa May WINS the vote !

And the result is_

VOTES FOR

200

VOTES AGAINST

117

317   Tories   had   the   opportunity   to   vote   in   the   ‘no-confidence’   contest.   With   Mrs   May whisked   away   to   await   their   verdict,   they   had   two   hours   to   secretly   cast   their   ballots before being counted. The premier learnt her fate at around 9pm. The next question is .. HOW DOES ANY OF THIS HELP ? LOCAL MPs WITH KNOWN DECLARATIONS FOR Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire Margot James, MP for Stourbridge Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch Robin Walker, MP for Worcester Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford Mike Wood, MP for Dudley South LOCAL MPs WITH KNOWN DECLARATIONS AGAINST Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury Owen   Paterson,   MP   for   North   Shrops

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. Monday 5th November 2018 7.00pm Full Council Wednesday 7th November 2018 6.00pm Planning Committee Monday 19th November 2018 7.00pm Community Development Committee Monday 3rd December 2018 7.00pm Full Council Wednesday 5th December 2018 6.00pm Planning Committee Monday 17th December 2018 7.00pm Policy and Resources Committee Nov. 6 - Events Nov/ 7 - Town Hall Nov. 13  - Planning Nov. 15 - Services Nov. 21 - Council Dec. 4 - Planning Dec. 5 - Finance Dec. 13 - Town Hall Dec. 19 - Council Tuesday 6th November 2018 - Tuesday 4th December 2018 - 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

Mary Rayner   01562 748564 Councillor for Broadwaters 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

Worcestershire

County

Mary Rayner    01562 748564 Councillor for Kidderminster - St Georges and St Oswald

Wyre Forest District

Mary Rayner   01562 748564 Councillor for Broadwaters 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 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 Elections

Join Health Concern to become a member of the party. Membership details available from Keith Robertson, our Membership Secretary

National

OK, OK.       So what happens next ?    (13/12) Well, obviously, no change in Prime Minister, no matter how badly she cocks thing up (or succeeds, if you’re of that persuasion). Will it change YOUR mind ? Will you suddenly come screeching to a halt and realise that you were wrong about nearly everything for the past two years ?      Hardly likely. Will a sudden realisation (by 27 hardened politicians, all of whom have shined their way to the top of their respective ‘greasy poles’) that this is a Prime Minister “in command” and leading united ranks of supporters and so cause them to capitulate, abjectly, to her?     Impossible to conceive. Are we all of one mind and endorsing ‘her’ plan as the one, and only one, way forward “towards sun-light uplands”.     Nope, not a chance. And as for our politicians in Westminster .. and not just the ones on the side of the House who voted in yesterday’s “No Confidence” motion .. well, does anyone, anywhere, have any confidence in THEM ?       No. Not a jot. Not an ounce, not a gramme, not a jiffy. Nothing, Zilch. Nada. So what do we do (apart, that is, from selecting a stout wall to line them up in front of) ? If we are (at present – and for the past 40 years) “good citizens” of the EU, why don’t we take lessons from our ‘fellow followers’ of the Star-y flag, the French, and do some ‘protesting’ – see column to the left. This is the way to get noticed and instigate 180- degree changes in policy from a ‘strong and determined’ leader (apparently). Once again, in a career stretching from way back to 1970 (probably before the ‘snowflake millennials’’ parents were born ?) “The Beast of Bolsover” gets it right. (11/12) “FRIT” a.k.a. ‘frightened’. Dennis Skinner MP uses this word to describe the Prime Minister of GB & NI (a.k.a. ‘TM, the PM’) .. but not forgetting, that he could equally well use it for the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition (a.k.a. ‘The Sainted Jeremy’) .. who has reacted as swiftly as one of his allotment’s marrows to the opportunity to bring ‘The House’ crashing down about May’s head, catapult him into ultimate power .. and for the electorate to realise that he can’t do a damned thing to improve the situation into which we have been dug. Dug at a cost .. a cost of £500,000,000 per week on the BREXIT negotiations .. and with a ‘tip’ to the EU of £39,000,000,000 to say ‘Thank you’ for everything they have done for us. What ‘value-for-money’ ! And there’s more ! If that wasn’t enough, SAJID JAVID looks like throwing his hat into the ring to replace May. Notwithstanding his credentials .. do we really want ANOTHER Home Secretary at the helm of state ? And all this from a government formed from a political party which had a different policy in it’s manifesto ! Not for nothing did John Stuart Mills said “Though not all conservatives are stupid people, most stupid people are conservatives,”..  and that was back in 1866. When you consider the outcome of negotiations with Brussels, the shilly- shallying and posturing of the politicians, the absence of leadership from government or opposition, and the standard of “debate” in Parliament on the Brexit issue (06/12); didn’t Eric Morecambe  (and Wise) say it best ? “What do you think of it so far ?” Clever move, that; Terri ! I mean, of course, “T.M. the P.M.”’s use of the ‘Irish Backstop’ to curtail “N.S. the F.M., not P,M”’s nationalist ambitions ‘north of the border’ by adding cement to the “.. one country, united, indivisible, under God” mantra. Puts “Little Nicki” in the uncomfortable position of seeming to argue for border-posts ‘tween her and England (much in the manner of Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus - who was Spanish, by-the-way). “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,  it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …..” Now, one wonders, just what the Dickens was Charles writing about (in 1859) ? Was he being prescient about Brexit ?   I mean, has there been anything more divisive in the last half century ? But, thinking back before that_ Was he writing of the abolition of the Corn Laws  – and the rebellion between rich and poor ? Or maybe the Jacobean Rebellion – and armed Scottish troops advancing through England (as far as Derby) ? Or maybe the English Civil War(s) – with armies of relatives and former-friends traversing the countryside, blowing up castles and burning down towns (for nine solid years – 184,000 dead in England + even more in Scotland + and many more than that in Ireland) ? Or the Revolt of the North  (1569) to depose Elizabeth 1st – and her retribution and suppression “left no village in Yorkshire without a hanging” ? Or perhaps the Wars of the Roses – Yorkists vs Lancastrians, with the throne at stake – lasting 32 years, and leaving 50,000 dead ? Or Wat Tyler & the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 – which included the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury (Simon Sudbury) and the death of some 1,500 others ? So .. is Brexit THAT bad?

Local

Matthew Hopkins is to be Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust's new chief executive.     (13/12) He comes to us from his last job at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals which earlier this year saw a worsening financial performance. These circumstances apparently don’t worry the chairman of the Acute Trust - Sir David Nicholson - who said the circumstances leading to Matthew’s decision to leave were well known before he was invited for interview. “Matthew’s willingness to accept accountability, his attitude and his determination to learn from these setbacks helped to confirm to me that has the insight, commitment and resilience to provide the leadership that our hospitals need." So, having to rely on Sir David’s glowing endorsement, may we turn the power of our candle on Sir David (who is acting much in the manner that a ‘guarantor’ would for a pay- day loan and, for those of us who watch “Can’t Pay, They’ll Take It Away”, it’s the guarantor they come after when things go pear- shaped .. ‘pears’ .. Worcester .. get it ?) Sir David Nicholson, KCB, (not KGB) CBE has done well for himself since leaving Bristol Polytechnic with a 2:1 in History and Politics, going on to hold NHS appointments as Chief executive of the Doncaster and Montague NHS Hospitals Trust, at Trent NHS Regional Office as the Regional Director of Performance, and as Director of Health and Social Care for the Midlands and East of England. In 2003, he was appointed Chief executive of Birmingham and The Black Country Strategic Health Authority (BBC SHA). He was then asked to take on the additional roles of Chief executive of neighbouring West Midlands South SHA and the Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA, - during the period of the Stafford Hospital scandal. From April to July 2006 he was Chief executive of the newly formed London Strategic Health Authority before changing horses to take up the role of NHS Chief executive in September that year. Fair rattles through jobs, does David; hardly seems to have time to warm the seat of his chair-(manship). He’s had his ups-and- downs having, as chief executive to apologise for the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust high death rates; had 21 MPs call for his resignation; and been embroiled in newspaper articles during the MPs allowances scandal. And now he transfers his oversight abilities abroad .. to sunny Cyprus .. as many do as they approach retirement, and probably looks forward to working (as many have to do after retirement) as chairman of the newly-established State Health Services Organisation in Cyprus (2018). Let’s hope he gets some time off to enjoy a little sun .. and is still able to keep a close eye on what’s going on, closer to his home. Who would have thought it ? That the residents of Bewdley – that beautiful Georgian river-side town – would be such a fractious lot ?  (07/12) If they’re not cavorting around “Patrick’s Field” defending badgers, foxes, reptiles and butterflies .. then  they’re hot-on-the- heels of poor old Lucy Hodgson (county-council representative for Malvern Chase and cabinet member for ‘communities’) at, of all places, the Library !! Well, they’ve got a lot to lose. If that land is included in the ‘Local Plan’ it’s “bye-bye” mother nature and “hello” to 86 houses; if Lucy’s “consultation” goes awry then it’s “bye-bye” leisure and learning and “hello” to a long bus-ride to a neighbouring town (and what self-respecting teenager is going to put down their i-pad to do that?). Lucy defends her corner saying ..“This consultation is about how we run our libraries,” and then spoils it all by adding ..”..if we do need to close a library, it will be at a later date.” Who would have thought it?  Anyone who knows Wyre Forest people well enough, that’s who ! Things are worse than we thought. The report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the NHS’s care regulator, is the latest blow to hit Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trust (the hospital trust at the centre of an inquiry into dozens of baby deaths and injuries) declaring it worse than ‘inadequate’ – “unsafe”. The trust runs two hospitals in Shropshire and midwife- led units in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry, with 715 beds and 5,000 staff caring for 420,000 people. Prof Ted Baker, the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said “While we found staff to be caring and dedicated, there is clearly much work needed at the trust to ensure care is delivered in a way to ensure people are safe. Particular concern about the emergency dept. and maternity services mean we have taken urgent action to protect people.” Staffing shortages in particular mean that action has had to be taken to protect the people of Shropshire from harm ! Harm caused by their hospital ! His 79-page report has revealed a large number of problems at the trust – one wonders why ? The A&E unit at the Princess Royal hospital in Telford was threatened with overnight closure but, like Kidderminster, public outcry has caused those plans to be shelved. The watchdog has downgraded its rating of the trust from “requires improvement” to “inadequate” – its lowest ranking.  A series of failings were uncovered by inspections, some involving serious lapses in patient safety standards, including • 8 breaches of the trust’s legal duties • 81 other minor breaches. The CQC has told the trust to ensure it has enough properly qualified and trained staff are on duty at its hospitals in order to care for and protect people from the risk of harm; and to review its maternity services, “to improve midwifery staffing levels to meet the needs of women and babies and keep them safe”.

International

Sorry ! The ‘game’ has appeared to have gone into ‘extra time’ .. as the ‘yellow vests’ haven’t left the ‘pitch’ .. sorry, streets of France. Hundreds of thousands out protesting, 1220 arrests, cars torched, hundreds in hospital (hand blown off/eye poked out), stun grenades, tear gas, water cannon .. and now ‘le petit President’ is due to inflict himself on the nation in a televised appeal for calm (and more tax concessions) (10/12) .. and all from the man who, on November 27th, “.. would not be pushed into changing policy by 'thugs'.” ‘La Rage du Peuple’ has resulted in some incongruous Christmas photographs – • A Guillotine in the centre of a roundabout • Burning cars under Christmas lights • Women with shopping bags crying from tear- gas • Shoppers walking past boarded-up shops • Squads of Police (brought up from the country-side) posing on the Champs- Eysees – in full riot- gear And in Holland ‘les gilets jaune’ protest in a typically Dutch ‘laid-back’ fashion .. riding bicycles decorated with Christmas tinsel .. ‘Love and Peace (on earth) – man’. Just think what things would be like if they had FREXIT to protest about ! And the Final Score (06/12) in the ‘Gillets Jaune’ (that’s ‘yellow vests’ in French- speak) vs  ‘Le Petit President’ contest just across La Manche (literally ‘The Sleeve’). Gillets Jaune – EVERYTHING they asked for; no tax increases on January 1st (so it’s “Goodbye” to France’s ‘environmental credentials) Le Petit President – NOTHING - null points - (other than his credibility in tatters). Just goes to prove, the French know the proper way to ‘negotiate’ with European governments. And the score .. so far ? Here’s the latest up-date ! The third weekend is upon us (01/12)and .. now there’s rioting in Brussels and, yes, there’s.. Water canon patrolling Belgium’s capital city.. Police cars set alight.. The EU Commission buildings being in ‘lock- down’.. Scores taken to hospital.. And the ‘Yellow Vests’ are keen to export their brand of protest to Holland, Germany and, yes, you guessed it, England ! And then there’s the ‘silly- season’ scenario of ‘Le Petit President de France’ setting-up an round-table discussion with the ‘Yellow Vests’ .. and just 2 turn up - and one immediately walks out because he isn’t allowed to film the talks ! VIVE LA FRANCE ET VIVE LA RÉPUBLIQUE. The second weekend (25/11) of the ‘Yellow Vests’ rebellion in France (named after the compulsory florescent jackets those driving in France MUST carry), and .. Firemen extinguishing burning cars on the Champs-Elysees .. Police firing tear-gas in Paris .. Water-cannon patrolling the streets .. Shop-fronts torn-out .. Policemen in hospital .. And all because Diesel prices have risen 23% in 12 months - and that’s BEFORE the planned increases by “Le Petit President”. The third day of “protest” (20/11) and, so far,  one dead, four hundred injured, 280,000 people out on the street, 13,000 manning 300 road- blocks with lorries forced away from ports, cars carrying officials stoned and smashed and their occupants dragged from their cars, punched and kicked !  And there’s over a month to go before the petrol prices are due to rise .. in FRANCE .. our friendly, local, European neightbour. “Aux Barriers, Mes Amis!”

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

What’s On for ICHC in Wyre Forest

“The Advent SLEEPOUT Challenge”

at St Georges Annexe, Friday night (14th Dec.)

It is to support the Church Urban Fund and help transform the lives of homeless people.

I am part of a newly formed group at St Georges Church which includes members of

St Georges Church, Salvation Army, Swanswell, the Police, Cllr Fran Orborski and myself.

 You can sponsor me via  http://www.everydayhero.co.uk/event/SleepoutChallenge2018

I must be mad as it is going to be so cold tomorrow night; however, I am trying to help the homeless

in our community and I feel as a county councillor I should be leading the way.

Best wishes to you, and good luck to me,   Mary Rayner

Christmas Party Lunch

A   most   enjoyable   lunch   was   held   at   Le   Brasserie   in   Kidderminster   -   Sunday   25th   November   (I   know   it   was   a   little early but we need to get in practise for all the Christmas Dinners ahead). We   enjoyed   the   music   of   a   fine   guitar   player   as   we   assembled   (please   pass   our   appreciation   on   to   the   performer, Mary)   and   then   dined   ‘right   royally’   -   at   modest   expense   (please   pass   our   appreciation   on   to   the   restaurant,   Mary)   - and our thanks should also go to the organiser of the whole event (so, ‘Thank you’, Mary). Afterwards,   our   Life-President   (and   there’s   many   a   President,   world-wide,   who   would   like   to   be   in   office   for   their   entire life)    Dr.    Richard    Taylor    M.B.E.    gave    a    stimulating-ly    (short)    address    to    the    assembled    multitude    in    which    he congratulated   the   government   (!)   for   (eventually)   implementing   the   Wyre   Forest-led   scheme   for   ‘MART’   (Multi-Agency Response    Teams).    He    concluded    by    recommending    “A    Merry    Heart”    as    being    the    best    medicine    he    could recommend! £127 was raised in the raffle. The   Team   from   Table   Two   (Graham   &   Harry,   joint   team-leaders)   won   the   Quiz   (and   a tube of ‘Smarties’) leading me to suggest this as the Health Concern Christmas-Cracker joke ..

“What do brainy people eat at Christmas ?”

“Smarties .. !”

‘Brainy people’ .. ‘smart’ .. get it ?

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

THANK YOU for visiting