VIEWPOINT FOR 25 JUNE 2009
FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR

Thank goodness the weather held for the Kidderminster Carnival last Saturday and huge crowds lined the route and flocked to the field for a full programme and many stalls. 
After last year when the huge articulated lorries had difficulty negotiating the town centre by old Woolworths I had hoped that better arrangement would be made to accommodate the market traders and the procession this year. The Woolworths corner was better but the delaying point this year was outside the Town Hall. Surely this must be addressed for next year. 
However it was good to see so much interest and participation again this year. I was especially impressed with the imagination, ingenuity and creative skills of the Guides and Rangers who came as peacocks and jelly fish. 
Walking round with a collecting tin was fun as usual and the generosity outstanding. I wait with interest to see the profits for local good causes.
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I have had a meeting with a representative of the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, on a fact finding mission to find out views on the help we are obtaining from the Agency. 
I thanked them for the help with the restoration of one of our vital tourist attractions, the Severn Valley Railway, after the devastating floods. 
They have helped with developments in Bewdley and Stourport also. 

I stressed the need for help with our manufacturing businesses that are in such difficulties with empty buildings rates, financing short time working as a preferable alternative to redundancy and cash flow problems because of the banks refusal to give the credit that companies need to obtain the raw materials before they can produce the goods to achieve their income. Despite Government assurances that they are making it possible for banks to continue to lend, this is not the experience of some of the small and medium size businesses that come to me.
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People have raised with me difficulties they have had when booking patient transport to hospital. 
The Acute Hospitals Trust has apologised to me for patients who have experienced problems and, more importantly, have taken on an extra member of staff in the transport department who hopefully will improve access to this service.
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Carers Direct (formerly known as the Information/Helpline for Carers) is a practical and comprehensive information, advice and support service for carers set up by the Government at www.nhs.uk/carersdirect or freephone 0808 802 02 02, 7 days a week. 

It covers topics such as young carers, financial and legal matters, work and study and information about local support groups and services.
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In London we have seen the unprecedented departure of Speaker Martin and the election of the new Speaker. 
People want us to move forward from this and the sordid expenses row to address the problems of our constituents. 

One long standing serious concern is that of the failure of Equitable Life and the awful cost to more than 1.5 million members when it was forced to close to new business in 2000. 
A forceful Ombudsman’s report on this has been almost disregarded by the Government and I hope to speak in another debate on this report which will have taken place after my deadline for this article.

R.T.

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