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.

To contact us_

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

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 17th September 2018 - 7.00pm Community Development Committee Monday 1st October 2018 - 7.00pm Full Council Wednesday 3rd October 2018 - 6.00pm Planning Committee Monday 15th October 2018 - 7.00pm Policy and Resources Committee Tuesday 18th Sept 2018 - Events Thursday 20th Sept - Town Hall Thursday 4th Oct - Services Tuesday 9th Oct - Planning Tuesday 16th Oct - Events Wednesday 24th Oct - Finance Tuesday 9th October 2018 - 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 Sam 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

•

JOIN Health Concern to be part of Health Concern …

•

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.

•

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

DOWNLOAD THIS FORM

•

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

•

Or you can telephone the Worcestershire Hub on

01562 73292

Be a SUPPORTER  …  … 

•

ATTEND our monthly meetings and participate in our Social Events.

•

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

•

Help with fund-raising,  

•

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

and paper-folding).

 

Be a CANDIDATE  …  …

•

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 Gerald Wheeler, our Membership Secretary

National

After a week when the biggest news story was the volume of yellow teddy- bears sold in the gift-shop, the Lib-Dem conference  stumbled to a conclusion with a much trumpeted ‘killer’ punch-line (19/09). But “Sir Vince” fluffed it ! In front of the party ‘might’ of 12 MPs he was scheduled to denounce the Tory position on Brexit as “..an erotic spasm !” and you don’t get too many of them at a party conference .. or perhaps you do .. never attended one .. And here it came .. “For the fundamentalists, the costs of Brexit have always been irrelevant. Years of economic pain .. justified by the ‘exotic spresm .. .. ‘ !!! “Exotic spresm .. ???” But worse was to come .. ‘kowtowing’ became “kowtowing”, ‘Lewisham’ became “Lewicom”, The conference held it’s breath .. the ‘Beeches Brook’ of the speech lay ahead .. and with an “..intolerant cults” description of both Tories and Corbynists, he cleared the last hurdle and cantered onto the sunny uplands of Brighton’s shingle beach (famous for bringing Neil Kinnock to his knees). “Follow that”, other parties. Two such stories in one week ?  (18/09) We are honoured ! Those of us “..of this parish” know that the letters ‘PCC’ stand for ‘Parochial Church Council’, of which there is one for every CofE church in the country .. so that’s a lot of them, and they’re long-established. Then along come these “PCC’s” - as the Police & Crime Commissioners call themselves. Anyway, the ‘PCC’ for Cleveland (it’s ‘oop-north’) will have to find himself some ‘wiggle-room’ as Chief Constable Mike Vale  tries to explain how his mobile phone got run-over by a Police car (as he said) when it was in his golf-bag on the course next to him (as he now admits). Mike is no stranger to the waste of public money having led the abortive enquiry into futile allegations of sex-abuse by the late (and little lamented) former Prime Minister Edward Heath [Operation Conifer]. • For details I refer you to Hansard - 12 July 2018. Volume 792. So Barry Coppinger will probably praise Mike for eventually being forced into a confession and then recommend some “internal advice” (the like of which we will never hear about) as “..the appropriate course of action.” And they call that “ACTION” in Cleveland ? Diane Abbott, that ‘grande dame’ with a head for figures, has given a speech to journalists unveiling her “common sense” new policy on Immigration. Several journalists from significant newspapers were denied access since “..there was simply no space at an over-subscribed event” - but with no thought given to hiring a larger room. It wouldn’t have been needed, since there were 20 vacant chairs. Someone must have mis-counted. Ms. Abbott might have pledged to • cut immigration from 282,000 to 96 million • recruit 2 billion new border staff on salaries of £3.72 each • raise income tax to the square root of a packet of biscuits. We’ll never know. We weren’t there. Neither was a responsible press. And now, but only now, Gordon Brown FRSE, some eight years after he finished being Prime Minister, starts to show the ‘gravitas’ and .. well, ‘statesmanship’ .. of being a senior politician. Might we suggest him as a suitable successor to ‘the sainted Jeremy’ ? For those of us with long memories .. and in the interests of “fairness” (that concept alien to ‘Momentum’) and, of course, accuracy .. let’s cast our minds back (much as Jacob R-M reminded us, “as a fool returneth to his folly”) .. to “Project Fear” (since something resembling it has recently crawled back-out from underneath the stones at The Treasury). Do you remember that, if we had the temerity to vote “Leave”, we would be “visited” (to use biblical language understandable to the J.R-M’s amongst us) with the ‘seven plagues’ ?

Local

Local ? Well, Castle Bromwich is ‘just up the road’ if you motor on the M42. And Jaguar has just announced a 3-day week (18/09) and, no doubt, the “doom-and-gloom” merchants amongst us will attempt to blame it on ‘BREXIT’. Really not so; since the reduction coincides with decreased sales of Diesel models - caused by ‘green’  taxes. So .. “greens” .. if you want a healthy economy capable of supporting the burden of taxation; and a work-force also contributing fully to the exchequer; be careful what you wish for. Be very, very careful. Reading Stephen Brown’s all-too-accurate criticisms in The Shuttle (13/09) of our Police Commissioner’s claim to be introducing some 100 new Police Officers does pose us with a mathematical conundrum. So .. “let’s do the maths” (and quiet at the back, there !) .. “The force is also facing another £23m in cuts – so how will he find the £3.4m that this will cost ?” Think about it .. ! Now, it’s probably as clear as custard to Stephen (a man able to grasp many of the Labour party’s policies) but, to the rest of us .. ? Of course, it might just be a slip of a reporter’s pen but, if that were to be the case, how can we place any reliance upon the major thrust of the statistics – that this will still leave us 253 officers fewer (so much better than ‘short’) than in 2010. Anyway, John-Paul* reassures us that “ .. Policing is not just a numbers game.” So that’s all O.K. then ? But now the National Police Chiefs Council  report finds some PCCs • 'difficult, • unhelpful & • unprofessional', • 'eccentric’ & • ‘having lousy judgement' and that • 'There are six or seven really good PCCs... and about 22 who are absolutely bleeding hopeless.' This surely can’t be our own J-P? • John-Paul Campion Elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia - 5th May 2016 https://www.westmercia- pcc.gov.uk/about-your-pcc/  I’m sorry, but doesn’t that title suggest that he’s the man responsible for actually commissioning crimes ? Now this makes FOUR Chief Executives in FOUR years ! What is happening at Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust ? Other, of course, that none of the four, despite salaries  of some £155,000 p.a., have made a jot of improvement to the “INADEQUATE” and “FAILING” trust ? And now Michelle McKay says “Farewell” to return to the sunnier climes of Northern Territory, Australia. How’s that old song go .. ? “We don’t want you to leave us .. BUT WE THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO !” I even remember a bumper sticker on the back of a ‘Ute’ in Northern Territory .. “I love living in Northern Territory .. me .. and 400 million flies !” Best wishes, Michelle; but is it going to take another £20,000 “re-location fee” to see the back of you ? Now we know that there is still one man of principle in the Labour Party .. FRANK FIELD .. No longer prepared to tolerate the • “CULTURE OF INTOLERANCE, NASTINESS AND INTIMIDATION” .. • “UNFORGIVABLE ABUSE”, and of • “HUGE AND SUSTAINED INTERNAL ATTACK” within his local party, he remains an M.P. .. though he expects to be expelled from ‘his’ party within two weeks. Well, Frank .. you’d be assured of a warm and sincere greeting, here, at Health Concern. Not only do we have a fine tradition of supporting an Independent M.P. .. but we can assure you that you would be free of ‘all of the above’ bullying tactics and • “THUGGISH BEHAVIOUR” which you have experienced within the organisation to which you have dedicated so much of your career. “Come on over to our place .. hey Frank .. we’re one hell of a Party !”

International

Fancy a ‘good read’ ? And you know its going to be a ‘good read’ since its written by Bob Woodward  who, with Carl Bernstein, brought down President Nixon in 1972. Remember “All the President’s Men” ? Here are some quotes, to whet your appetite (or to horrify you) ! # 1 Mr Trump told the Daily Caller that Woodward "has a a lot of credibility problems" .. fabricating quotes and information in his new book, Fear: Trump in the White House  # 2 “To stop things, I just take the paper off his desk”  - Gary Cohn, advisor. # 3 “Don't testify. It's either that or an orange jumpsuit”  - John Dowd, the president's personal attorney, during a mock interview with the president. # 4 “Let's ****ing kill him! Let's go in” - Donald Trump telling Defence Secretary James Mattis to assassinate President Bashar Assad. "Let's kill the ****ing lot of them." # 5 “We're in Crazytown. I don't even know why any of us are here.” White House Chief of Staff John Kelly on working for Trump: “He’s an idiot. He’s gone off the rails.” # 6 Trump on Attorney General Jeff Sessions: “This guy is mentally retarded. He’s this dumb Southerner. ... How in the world was I ever persuaded to pick him for my attorney general?” # 7 Trump after making a speech condemning white supremacists over violence in Charlottesville: “That was the biggest ****ing mistake I’ve made ... “ # 8 “Those idiot raghead mullahs.” describing Irianian leaders to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. # 9  “I’m Ernest Hemingway in 140 characters.” ..‘The Donald’. Yep .. seems like a ‘horror story’ ! How nice it is to hear that Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi H.I. P.P., former international cricketer and now 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan (and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf political party), is now to live “a simple life.” So simple, indeed, that the £33,000,000 millionaire  announced he would live in a small three-bedroom house instead of the palatial prime minister’s residence, have only two servants instead of the 524 reserved for a sitting premier, and sell a fleet of bulletproof vehicles to help Treasury shortfalls.   Sell the bulletproof cars ? That’s brave ! How would you feel if “a disgruntled former employee” told the world that you were_ “a racist” … “a con-man” … “found it difficult to process complex information” … “were in mental decline” … “masquerading as someone open to engagement” .. “truly a racist” …  ?   So, after the publication of “Unhinged _ an Insider’s Account” by Omarosa Manigault Newman about her time working in the White House, you will probably appreciate just how President Donald Trump must be feeling ! If we put this article in the “International” section, then Alex Salmond  (or “Mr. Scoland” as he was once known) can continue believing that he’s still “someone” in politics. Faced with the ‘Po….liss’ confirming that they had opened an investigation into two separate claims that in December 2013 he sexually harassed two female members of staff, believed to be civil servants, (and while recognising his inalienable right to be considered innocent .. until he is possibly proven guilty) he surely does his case no favours by making the statements .. “..I have made many mistakes in my political and personal life ..” “..I have not been a ‘paragon of virtues’ ..” “..I have never ‘engaged in criminality’ ..” (remind anyone of Bill Clinton ?) “..Some of these allegations are ‘patently ridiculous’ ..” “..I have ‘no animus’ towards the two people who have complained ..” And then he goes and takes the Scottish Government to court claiming that the new procedures by which the allegations came to light (it took to January 2018 before the complaints were lodged) are both unfair and unlawful. Strange, too, that the guidance procedures about which he complains are the handiwork of his former protégé - and successor - Mrs. Murrell (a.k.a. Ms. Nicola Sturgeon) who stated .. “The Scottish Government refutes his criticisms of its process and will defend its position vigorously.” Such a shame, Alex. All those years of nurturing her career and now you’re presented with .. a vigorous refuter !

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 in Wyre Forest

I.C.H.C. Skittles Evening on Saturday 20th October at Stourport Bowling Club

A prompt start at 7pm or we won’t get through the game.  The facilities allow for a maximum of 40 people so it will be “first come ..  first served” basis. There will be a fish and chip supper served around 8.30pm. Then we will have the raffle and continue with the game.  The cost will be £13 per person - which includes supper and £2 of raffle tickets per person. We need 1 or 2 strong youngsters to put up the skittles and someone (tall) to do the board. Without these 3 people the game cannot be played - so if anyone has a grandchild (Yes, it’s a bit short notice for that one) who would be willing to do the skittles for us, we could give them a supper or pay them ? Please could we have some raffle prizes ? Could you all get your cheques to me, or cash, whichever you prefer, as soon as possible. Contact details: 01562 850470 and my address is 16 Fairfield lane, Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcs  DY11 5QH.  My e.mail address is bobby.smith@uwclub.net

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

SATURDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2O18 FROM 19:3O - 23:3O CARIBBEAN NIGHT Join   us   this   summer   for   a   fantastic   night   of   live   entertainment   and music… The   evening   will   consist   of   a   quality   Caribbean   steel   band,   excellent dancers   and   amazing   vocals,   singing   popular   Bob   Marley   and   UB40 hits, just to name a few. Don’t   forget   to   practise   your   limbo   skills   for   a   chance   to   be   crowned Limbo King or Queen! Entry Ticket – £18 per person (over 18s only) Arrival: 7.30pm Food available from: 7.30pm Bar closes: 11:00pm Event ends: 11:30pm

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

SUNDAY 2ND SEPT 2O18 SAVE UP TO 30% ONLINE We   will   once   again   be   open   late   every   evening   for   our   SUMMER NIGHTS EVENTS   until  2nd September 2018! This   is   a   fantastic   opportunity   to   visit…   Extended   opening   hours means   there’s   even   more   time   to   experience   our   four-mile   Safari Drive-through & encounter incredible animals! Park Open: 9.30am – 8:30pm Theme Park rides open: 10.30am – 8.00pm Last Entry to Safari: 6.00pm African Village close: 7.00pm Each   week   during   Summer   Nights,   we   will   have   activities   focused   on a    different    conservation    charity.    We’re    raising    awareness    about bumblebees, tigers, penguins, zebras & elephants! Adult (16-64yrs)£24.00 Child (3-15yrs)£19.00 Child (Under 3)£0.00 Senior (65+yrs)£22.00 Student (Student ID Required)£22.00 Carer£0.00

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

join   us   for   our   first   Psychic   Night    on   SATURDAY   8th   September , with   the   popular   Spiritual   Medium,   Steve   Holbrook.   The   evening   of clairvoyance   will   be   held   in   Spring   Grove   House   and   be   a   unique experience   for   all   guests.   Don’t   miss   this   emotional,   compelling   and moving night – it will be one to remember! Complimentary prosecco & canapés will be served upon arrival. Entry Ticket – £20 per person (over 18s only) Arrival: 7.30pm Event ends: 11:30pm

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

SPOOKY SPECTACULAR Join   us   from   29th   September    until   4th   November   2018   for   witches, wizards   &   werewolves   (after   dark)   in   our   Spooky   Spectacular   event! Full   of   family   fun,   spooky   shows   and   a   Trick   or   Treat   Trail   –   it’s   the perfect way to brighten up the spookiest of seasons! •   NEW   FOR   2018   –   Legend   of   the   Love   Lost   Witch   –   Meet   Belinda the   Witch,   who   has   been   jilted   at   the   altar   by   Walter   the   Wizard. She’ll    be    patrolling    the    Discovery    Trail    to    ensure    Walter    doesn’t escape   his   Wizard’s   Workshop   without   the   curse   she   has   planned   for him! •   NEW   FOR   2018   –   Wizard’s   Workshop   –   meet   Walter   the   Wizard, make   your   own   wizard’s   wand   and   help   him   cast   an   invisibility   spell so he can escape! •   Trick   or   Treat   Trail   –   Glenda   the   Good   Witch   is   trying   to   make   a love   potion   to   restore   peace   in   the   coven,   but   it’s   tasting   rather   bitter. Help her find the missing sweets and earn a tasty treat yourself! •   NEW   FOR   2018   –   Ice   Age:   Legend   of   the   Dire   Wolf   –   Strange things   are   happening   and   there   have   been   reports   of   howling   coming from   the   new   Ice   Age   exhibit!   Enter   if   you   dare!   (Spooky   evenings only. PG rating) OPENING TIMES WEEKDAYS  (not including half term): Open   from   10.00am   –   5.00pm   Rides   open   from   11.00am   –   5.00pm Last entry at 3.00pm Safari Drive-through & African Village close at 3.00pm WEEKENDS  (not including half term): Open   from   10.00am   –   9.00pm   Rides   open   from   11.00am   –   9.00pm     Last entry at 8.00pm Safari Drive-through & African Village close at 4.00pm HALF TERM (27th October – 4th November): Open   from   9.00am   –   9.00pm   Rides   open   from   10.30am   –   9.00pm     Last entry at 8.00pm

WORCESTER MUSEUM

Ice Age at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum Celebrate   half   a   million   years   of   Worcestershire's   history.   Come   face to   face   with   a   Neanderthal,   crawl   inside   our   Ice Age   shelter   and   meet Fluffy the Woolly Mammoth. Ice Age,   at   Worcester   City Art   Gallery   and   Museum,   celebrates   half   a million   years   of   Worcestershire's   history,   from   the   time   our   ancestors arrived until the end of the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago.  The exhibition runs until 8 September 2018. Ice Age is free and open Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm. For more information contact the Art Gallery and Museum on 01905 25371 www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk follow@worcestermuseum

HARTLEBURY MUSEUM

Family Sunday @ Hartlebury Castle Museum September 2 : 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Heritage Open Day September 14  : 11:00 am - September 16 : 4:00 pm 'A     Rummage    Through     Our     Wardrobe:     the     costume     collection revealed'            Fascinating    talks    by    our    team    of    Museum    Curators including   a   chance   to   get   up   close   to   some   of   our   collection.   Tickets are   £4   and   must   be   pre-booked   on   01299   250416.   Talks   begin   at 1pm and last for an hour. Repair a Sash Window September 22 : 10:00am-4:00pm £60    per    person.    Construction    and    repair    of    a    sash    window    with Richard Hayes Hall.

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