Two local problems have arisen and both are potentially serious for many of us. 

• The first is the proposals for the development of Wolverhampton Business Airport. This has gone far beyond a reasonable small scale development for business use and is now proposed to become a major international airport handling millions of passengers per year with a flight path and stacking zone over Wyre Forest.

I am joining with MPs from South Staffordshire, South Shropshire and Stourbridge in strongly opposing this. To raise the profile locally I am inviting local Councillors from the most affected wards to a meeting to discuss a local action plan. After this meeting we will organise a plan of objection with wide publicity.

• The second problem, only of limited local concern at the moment, is that Network Rail appropriately for increased passenger safety plan to erect more than 5000 enormous telecommunications masts by railway lines across the country. The first one locally is proposed to be by Blakedown railway station where it will tower above the trees and cause an eyesore in this lovely village.

Network Rail realise the resistance to the siting of this particular mast and to give them their due are investigating alternative less obtrusive positions.
However, because the development will be on railway land the law at present does not require Council planning permission.

I have met local people and am in touch with other MPs whose constituents will be affected in the future if they are not already.

At the Health Committee we recently questioned David Lammy, MP, the junior Health Minister who is responsible for patient and public involvement in the Health Service among other things. We questioned him on the inevitable gap between the closure of Community Health Councils on 31 August and the formation of Primary Care Trust Patient Forums. He gave us an absolute assurance that the local Independent Counselling and Advocacy Service will be operational from 1 September. This sounds over optimistic but it is on record and I hope the Committee will hold him to this.

My wife and joined a large number of guests at the Kidderminster Harriers and Kemp Hospice Ball last weekend.

The guests’ generosity was superb as was the entertainment and I am waiting to know exactly how much money was raised for Kemp Hospice, the splendid local charity which helps one of the most deserving groups of local people and is also totally under local control and so is safe even from Government interference!

R.T.