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 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

“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? No doubt ‘the sainted Jeremy’ is looking forward to a better week than the last. (06/11) Having stood at the Dispatch Box and criticised a Budget policy .. only to be  reminded that a fellow shadow front-bench Labour politician had just endorsed said policy; than he then discovers that one of the major planks of his party manifesto has been shredded by one of his principle advisers. The uniquely named Dr. Calvert Jump, writing in ‘Economics for the Many’ (so, presumably, even ‘the sainted Jeremy’ can understand it ?) warns that Labour’s plans to nationalise swathes of British industry will cost the country an unprecedented fortune. His shadow Chancellor (that’s a John McDonnell, by the way) has said that “Nationalisation .. will not cost anything.” Dr. Jump  reminds him that, at the very least, there is a legal obligation to compensate foreign investors and foreign governments who have invested in our infrastructure. He gives Royal Mail as an example where Nationalisation will cost far more in recompense than  the government received in Privatisation. Shame that. Perhaps John McDonnell ought to read ‘Economics for the Many’ ? After all, HE EDITED THE BOOK ! It says it all. It says it all ! When plain-speaking, ex- Afghan vet. former Army Captain Johnny Mercer MP (Plymouth - Moor View, 5,000 majority) says it (19/10) .. you believe it .. and he says _ “Theresa May’s government is a s***- show” ! “There’s no doubt about it, I would not vote Conservative in a general election !” “It’s very clear that this current administration, under this Chief Whip (Julian Smith), under this Prime Minister .. there is no role for people like me!” It says it all Ever since “T.M. the P.M.” sashayed* in Brum, politicians seem to have been developing a musical idiom. The latest person to indulge themselves of this habit is .. J.B. (a.k.a. “Mr. Speaker”). Having presided over a period where, in the House of Commons, there was_ “a culture of deference, subservience, acquiescence and silence which had allowed the bullying and harassment of the staff in the Commons to thrive !” So what is the record he should take with him when he’s marooned upon a desert island (and not soon enough) ? Why ! (From ‘Combat Rock’ by ‘The Clash’) .. “It's always tease, tease, tease, You're happy when I'm on my knees, One day it's fine and next it's black ! So if you want me off your back .. Well, come on and let me know .. Should I stay or should I go? To Sashay - to walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders. Do you remember, from “Yes, Minister”, Sir Humphrey Appleby’s classic admonishment of Jim Hacker .. “That, Minister, would be a very brave thing to do!” .. which words immediately sends shivers down Jim’s neck and turns him into a bumbling idiot ? Well, it would appear that bravery comes in two distinct types - physical and moral - and they are both present in all persons - though in varying amounts. Take one Scott Kelly, former NASA astronaut (very brave) and a UN ambassador for space (possibly less brave) who rescinded his lauding of Sir Winston Churchill just because some people have criticised him on-line and who apologised. saying .. “I will go and educate myself further on his atrocities !”” (A change-of-heart distinctly ‘un-brave’, as Tweeters might say). Then, on the same day (09/10), we hear of Sir Craig Mackey, former acting Met. Police Commissioner who followed advice and locked himself in his car and was driven away from PC Keith Palmer being stabbed to death at Westminster. (‘Un-brave’ ?) It must be so very reassuring to know, with confidence, that you are so important that your life must not be put at risk ? Was ‘H’ the last of the heroes ? Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones, VC, OBE (14 May 1940 – 28 May 1982) Wait !   Was that it ? After all that expectation .. will she jump or wait to be pushed ? (04/10) And all we got was a muddy, river Thames version of the ‘Potomac Two-step’ ? So Theresa May arrived in Brummagem, relaxed, confident, and (for the first time) funny .. and still utterly out of ideas .. inspiring the cartoonist ‘Matt’ to the caption – “..and on television tonight, in response to Mrs. May’s conference performance, Anton du Beke will set out his plans for Brexit !” Abba’s “Dancing Queen” ? Hmmm. What else might she have chosen ? How about Bowie’s “Put on your red shoes and dance the blues?” .. then she could have “Swayed through the crowd to an empty space.” Or maybe, “Shake, shake, shake your booty” by  K.C. & the Sunshine Band ? or “Shake a tail-feather, baby” by Ray Charles ? Why don’t politicians stick to what they’re good at ? Even if that meant sharing her hotel room with Ann Widdicombe and practising being a “Private Dancer” ? Then it would really have been “Ladies Night” (by Kool & the Gang) !

Local

"Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH) in Shropshire is no longer trusted to run itself alone" says the BBC. (09/11) Already having been reported to a watchdog over maternity and emergency services care at both Royal Shrewsbury and The Princess Royal hospitals, the hospital trust is being investigated over baby deaths and has been subject to repeated warnings over patient safety across two sites. It has been put into special measures. SaTH has said it faced a "huge challenge". You bet it does. Health Secretary Matt Hancock, writing to local politicians informing them of the move to special measures, said _ "In light of ongoing concerns about the trust's quality and performance and recent concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission, I believe that this is the right decision to take to ensure safe services for patients." SaTH will be receiving "support" and "enhanced oversight" from NHS Improvement (NHSI). And, eventually, if past experience is anything to go by, they'll all "learn lessons", "move on" (to other well- paid jobs in the NHS) .. and bury the dead. Access. There just isn’t enough access .. apparently. “They” are moving the HUB to Green Street .. but there will be no public transport to access this location, in either direction ( to and from the new hub) So how are people going to access the place ? Transport needs to be provided - along with safe pedestrian access for people with mobility and visual challenges at what is a difficult (dangerous) corner. Getting access to a Doctor  requires the amalgamation of ‘Doctor services’ between the out-of-hours (CCG) and minor injuries(WAHT) so that there is a doctor available to see patients in both facilities 24-hours-a- day. Even getting access to the old CEMETERY is going to be a problem, since “They” are thinking (?) about restricting entry  (!) Perhaps they’re wanting to remind us of that hoary-old- chestnut .. ‘The old cemetery ? Why, people have been dying to get into there for years !’ In moves which Wyre Forest can remember all too well, a protest march is planned next Sunday (04/11) and around 29,000 people have backed a petition against the proposal of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust to close their A&E Dept. overnight for a period of at least six months. Ben Reid, the chair of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, says the decision which has been brought about by staff shortages will be “signed off” next month; leaving patients without local A&E access from 22:00 until 08:00, as of 5th December. Health chiefs in Wolverhampton have joined a campaign to stop the temporary closure amid fears it will lead to hundreds of extra admissions to other hospitals every month. Telford & Wrekin Council says that more than 700 people per month would have to travel to other hospitals n emergencies. Some 270 adult and 60 child admissions might be diverted to New Cross every month. Campaigners are organising a protest march in Wellington next Sunday, November 4th; and Cllr. Roger Lawrence, the Leader of Wolverhampton Council will be joining the march. “The closure of Telford A&E overnight for at least six months has major implications for health care provision in Wolverhampton – on top of the winter pressures we will be inevitably facing. I would call on residents who are concerned by this ill- conceived decision to join the campaign to prevent it happening, both by signing Telford & Wrekin Council’s petition and by joining the protest march next month.” nhs4all.co.uk Just published (22/10), the latest version of the Local Plan, which sets out how the area will be shaped up to 2036, to be presented to an Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting next week. It details where the council thinks new homes should be built; ambitious plans which include the development of 1,400 homes at Lea Castle, as well as “significant housing development” on the eastern side of Kidderminster at sites in Offmore and Comberton, Husum Way and Stone Hill North. Government has set Wyre Forest a target of 276 house-builds per year and council bosses are warning there will have to be a loss of green belt to meet requirements. Thousands of worried residents (presently Lib-Dem but potential Tory  voters ?) protested when the authority consulted on the ‘Preferred Options’ last year and, because of this, major housing development adjacent to Spennells are not being progressed further. Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing has said: “We need to make sure that we have enough homes in the district to meet our current housing need as well as for our children and grandchildren,“ though obviously oblivious to the conflict of the destruction of our countryside with his portfolio title of “Wellbeing”. “In an ideal world we would only ever look to develop on brown field land,” but then, under Cllr. Hardiman, we obviously live in a less-than- ideal-world, since he estimates that before 2036 some 5,500 houses “need” to be built. ‘Now, jus’; you hold-on jus’ a cotton-pickin-minute there, Cllr.’ – surely when you went to school 276 (houses per year) times the 18 years (until 2036) multiplies to only 4,968 .. so that’s 532 EXTRA houses YOU want to build on local productive fields and green ‘breathing spaces’ around our towns ? Let’s hope that, in 2036, enough Wyre Forest residents will be able to afford to buy ‘The-Houses- That-Hardiman-Built’; or is he contemplating housing B‘ham commuters ? So many already find the price too high for them. Some find the price we will have to pay for the ‘Hardiman-Homes’ too high already. A public consultation on the document is set to be launched on November 1 and will run until December 17th, while eight drop in sessions will also be held across the district. The Local Plan and information on how to submit comments will be available at http://www.wyreforestdc.gov .uk/localplanreview  from Thursday, November 1st .  Make it your civic duty to attend a consultation and submit your comments. This website will be reminding you ! WFDC (that’s Wyre Forest District Council) have still got their perennial problem of Crown House - Kidderminster’s “blot on the landscape”. The Tearel Trilion (which we believe to be the name of the leaseholders) have withdrawn from the negotiations to demolish the eye-sore building. Instead, ‘The Grange’ is going .. and who, in their right mind, would consider these two options to be correct ? The Grange is a well-used facility which will be sorely missed. As for the ‘line’ that (like the Leisure Centre) it’s too expensive to refurbish .. as our ‘wild colonial cousin’ might tweet - “Fake News!” Least folk fall into the misconception that we pen nothing other than ‘doom and gloom’, let us praise the winners of the “Kidderminster Heroes” awards (10/10) .. Michelle Medler & the ‘Pick-Up Artists’, Susan Owen, Spike Betterton, Graham Knight, Dave Griffin, Dave & Ann Denton, Nicole Ford. “Good-on-yer, all !”

International

‘Fake News’, old chap ! ‘Fake News !’     (08/11) Trump; you lose control of 50% of your legislature and pontificate that you have “won” ? That sort of attitude kind-a goes with sacking your foremost legal council just because he doesn’t give you the advice you want to hear; behaviour that reminds one of the legal stricture that “the barrister those client doesn’t take the advice he’s bought and paid for has a fool for a client.” All re-enforced by the P.R. disaster of an intern (but then, when were Presidents ever able to control their interns?) trying to grab the microphone away from a reporter who was asking you an ‘uncomfortable’ question. ‘Wiggie’, you then have the audacity to make disparaging remarks about the journalist. But that’s where we might start to agree with you, ‘Wiggie’ .. and “embrace” you (as you’re given to Tweet) .. We, too, know what a “RUDE AND TERRIBLE PERSON” looks like !  Did she jump .. or did we push ? (31/10) So .. (the current vogue word with which to begin every sentence) .. after bringing the trials and tribulations of Europe’s “strong woman” to Wyre Forest’s attention, ‘Frau Angela’ has announced she is standing-down as CDU party-leader this November .. and quitting her post as German Chancellor in 2021, when her term of office expires. Neither, she says (and we believe her) will she stand for other positions in the EU hierarchy .. though some tipped her for a future Commission President (and how “Dazzling Tony” - he of the ‘Pepsodent smile’ and ‘Kiwi tan’ - would have loved that  !) Even worse news … … the 2018 mid-term elections in the United States will be held on Tuesday, November 6. Still more bad news for Frau Merkel .. and more good news for Germany’s Independent parties. Her CDU party suffered heavy losses in the weekend’s elections  (29/10) in the state of Hesse (which includes Frankfurt, Germany’s financial powerhouse). Her main coalition partners (SPD) faced major losses too, putting her government majority ‘at risk’. Unfortunately, the far-right AfD also won seats, giving them a presence in every state legislature. “This has been a heavy and bitter evening !” was the CDU response. And “Mutti’s” possible successor ? Why, none other than Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (no, we didn’t make that up). She will certainly leave some newsreaders tongue- tied ! And now a ground-breaking  break-through for Independents - this time in Australia ! In a stunning result in Wentworth (former seat of ex-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull) against Liberal incumbent Dave Sharma (former Ambassador to Israel) Dr. Kerryn Phelps  rode a 22% swing against the ‘establishment’ parties. Her victory denies Scott  Morrison’s Liberal-National Coalition of an overall majority in the 150-strong House of Representatives and changes the face of Aussie politics - already notorious  as the “coup- capital” of the world having deposed four prime ministers in eight years. Oh that Britain could do likewise ! What an encouraging election result for ‘Independents’ ! (14/10) How interesting to scan through the election results from Bavaria (Germany’s ‘third’ state in terms of economic success) and the ‘homeland’ for “right- thinking” right-wingers. It’s such a Catholic (“big” C) area that they’ve voted to make a crucifix a legally required element in all public buildings. The ‘Free Voters’, the independent, local- interest party came in third (11.6%) unexpectedly ahead of the AfD party (‘Alternative für Deutschland’), the ultra-right group who were anticipating making in-roads into western German states from their eastern powerbase (and needing to) but who only achieved 11.1% of the vote. The ‘Green Party’ also doubled its vote. Although the CSU  (‘Christian Social Union’) party registered 35.7% of the poll, this was down from 47.7% five years ago and marks a steep decline for the party which has governed Bavaria since the war – and been Frau Merkel’s staunch supporters in coalition. Remember that .. ‘weak’ Theresa May governs with a majority (Tory and DUP – but then it always was/is the Conservative and Unionist  party) .. whereas ‘strong’ Angela Merkel hangs on to power in a coalition of ‘her’ CDU (Christian Democrat Union) and the centre-left SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) .. and they came in fifth with a disastrous 9.5% !! The biggest loser of the night (European countries often hold their elections at the weekend to boost voter turn-out) was Horst Seehofer, the SPD national leader who, as Interior Minister, took Frau Merkel to the brink of collapse in the summer with demands for changes in migrant policies. Interesting that, in Germany, its considered ‘normal’ to have the words ‘Christian’ and ‘Social’ and ‘Democratic’ in the names of political parties. I wonder how such changes might go down this side of the Channel ? So .. ‘big guns’ – losers .. ‘independents’ – winners.  There’s something for our political rivals to consider? “Turkish authorities believe Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi  was killed inside his country’s consulate in Istanbul last week,” Turkish sources are quoted as saying by website DAWN. The Saudi ‘magicians’, who know little about openness and transparent government, have not come up with any credible explanation for the disappearance of this unfortunate individual . There is video footage of him entering the embassy but, magically, no video recording of his leaving; and he has not returned to his Turkish fiancee . In politics, he was an advisor to Prince Turki al-Faisal  (the former Saudi intelligence chief) and was ‘close’ to billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The Saudi ambassador to the UK declined an invitation to appear on Radio 4 yesterday (11/10) to put his side of the event; and even failed to appoint a spokesman (well, it wouldn’t have been a ‘spokeswoman, would it ?) As a journalist, Jamal served twice as editor of ‘Al Watan’ newspaper and gained a wide following with his appearances on Arab satellite television networks. In his columns in The Washington Post,  Khashoggi had been escalating his criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: accusing him of repressing the Saudi people, creating a mess in Lebanon and prosecuting a cruel war in Yemen. A year ago, Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia after he said the authorities had instructed him to stop tweeting. “It anguishes me to speak with other Saudi friends in Istanbul and London who are also in self-exile. There are at least seven of us, are we going to be the core of a Saudi diaspora? We spend endless hours on the phone trying to understand this wave of arrests that have included my friend, businessman and thoughtful Twitter personality Essam Al-Zamil. It was just last Tuesday that he returned home from the United States, having been part of an official Saudi delegation. That is how breathtakingly fast you can fall out of favour with Saudi Arabia. It is all quite shocking - but this has not been ‘business as usual’ in my country.” Peace and Blessings be upon him.

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

LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION

GIDDY-UP AND GET-ALONG TO http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/localplanreview PLENTY PRONTO, TONTO, AND PUT IN YOUR 2 CENTS WORTH (BEFORE THE ‘COWBOYS’ DO SOME THING STUPID). SEE THEIR SUGGESTIONS (AND THEY’RE ONLY “SUGGESTIONS” UNTIL YOU APPROVE THEM) _ Friday 16 November 2018 3pm – 7pm Cookley Village Hall Saturday 17 November 2018 10am – 2pm Offmore Evangelical Church Hall, Kidderminster Tuesday 20 November 2018 5:30pm – 8pm Heronswood Primary School, Spennells, Kidderminster Friday 23 November 2018 3pm – 7pm Areley Kings Village Hall Saturday 24 November 2018 10am – 2pm Stourport Civic Hall Tuesday 27 November 2018 3pm – 7pm St Georges Hall, Bewdley Thursday 29 November 2018 3pm – 7pm Kidderminster Town Hall Friday 30 November 2018 3pm – 7pm St Oswalds Church Centre, Broadwaters Drive, Kidderminster

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