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VIEWPOINT
FOR
10 SEPTEMBER
2009
FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR
The
ridiculously long parliamentary summer recess is just over half way
through.
Despite
Afghanistan
and Libyan
affairs there has been no recall to
Westminster
and I think
we sadly miss the routine fortnight return to parliament that we had in
September one year. This was disrupted by the invasion of the House of
Commons by campaigning activists and it was claimed that, as so much
maintenance is done during the summer recess, security cannot be
adequate as it is so easy for unauthorised people to gain entry
disguised as contractors’ workers.
________
I
was in
London
this week to
contribute a session to the annual Parliamentary Schools Education
scheme.
I met about 80 lower sixth form students from
Nottingham
and
Canterbury
for a brief
talk about the work of an MP and then a question and answer session. I
asked them about their intentions to vote when they reach voting age. To
my amazement and satisfaction, as we hear of widespread
loss of interest in politics and elections, not one of this large group
of young people said they were not intending to vote and all clamoured
for the voting age to be reduced to 16.
________
The
Gilgal roadworks in Stourport will commence soon.
I understand how essential these are but I am grateful to
Severn
Trent and the
contractors for listening to so many of us who persuaded them to
postpone and shorten the inevitable disruption that these works will
cause. I have obtained a promise that a through route will be available
at all times for emergency ambulances and fire appliances and I am
grateful to PC Julian Turner for alerting me to the situation.
________
I
was delighted to learn that the restoration of the Stourport canal
basins has won the important title as the
country’s best heritage project at the National Lottery
Awards. Congratulations to all concerned.
The basins are certainly worth a visit and the buildings around the
restored
Lichfield
basin are
taking shape and some are already occupied. When the basins are opened
up more obviously to
Bridge Street
they will
become great attractions to visiting sightseers as well as boaters.
________
Congratulations
are also due to the editor and producers of The Bridge, the small
magazine that is the community voice of Bewdley.
I think it is an exemplary publication and it is delivered free, monthly
to 4,600 homes. This month’s issue, typical of issues I have seen, is
a comprehensive guide to services available in the town from its
extensive advertisements. Plumbers, gardening, nurseries, charities,
church services, holidays are covered with many other useful services.
There are reports on local events with excellent colour photos. The
Bewdley cormorant and a Ribbesford dormouse both have their pictures in
this issue with a wealth of other valuable local information including
details about the Museum, Grow with Wyre, the Town Council, PACT
meetings and, of course, the imminent Bewdley Festival. The amount of
work to produce this free magazine monthly must be enormous but so
worthwhile.
________
Nominations
are being requested for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Promotion by 30 October.
Details are available from my office – answerphone number 01562 75
3333.
RT
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Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern 1995-2009
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