You will all have noticed that all over Wyre Forest our schools are being rebuilt to bring us 21st century education facilities for our children and young people. Some schools have been completed, some are well on the way to completion and others are awaiting completion of plans.

The Tories would have us believe that the new schools are funded by the Tory run County Council – they are not.

They are funded by the Labour Governments ‘Building Schools for the Future Programme’.

Our Labour Government has allocated Wyre Forest the following funding:

- £180 million for rebuilding/re-furbishing all of our local schools
- £7 million for Special Educational Needs in Wyre Forest
- An addition £150 million for our High Schools.

Wyre Forest has received a staggering £337 million for our schools programme. Here in Habberley and Blakebrook we can look forward to a new St Johns primary school and a new Baxter College high school. Our children and grandchildren deserve the best, Labour are ensuring that they will get the best.

The Labour Government has given Wyre Forest District Council an increase of 1% for the financial year 2010/11. This increase amounts to £86,000 bringing the total Labour Government Grant to £8.67 million. Despite what others may have you believe the Government has not cut our money they have increased it.

Let’s not forget that the Council invested £9 million of our money in Icelandic banks, £2 million has been recovered. Instead of spending this money on services and protecting jobs this Tory Council appear to have salted away the £2 million of our money towards the cost of an unnecessary and unwanted new Civic Centre.

Labour has proposed the following budget items, they have been properly costed and they would be paid for out of existing funds:

Labour will reintroduce the use of concessionary bus passes before 9.30 am – cost £40,000
Labour will bring back taxi tokens for OAPs and the disabled- cost £20,000
Labour will re-instate the subsidy to ‘Dial-a-Ride – cost £17,000
Labour will re-instate the full grant to Town and Parish Councils – cost £28,500.

Barry McFarland says, “The total cost to restore some of our service is a mere £105,000 and the Council has the money. Many residents of Habberley and Blakebrook continue to be affected by the restricted of use of bus passes, by the lack of taxi tokens and by the reduction in service of ‘Dial-a-Ride’. It seems that this Tory Council just do not care.

The District Council Elections in May give us all a simple choice – Tory Towers or Restoration of Services.”

Barry McFarland with Potholes in Wyre Forest

Tory controlled Worcester County Council are responsible for road maintainence. They claim it is a seasonal problem as a result of the bad weather. WCC claim they have 11 teams out filling potholes. The real problem is due to poor maintenance and repair. Potholes are cold filled with rubble and a thin layer of asphelt. The repair is not sealed with bitumen and the pothole is again eroded in a matter of days or weeks. Many potholes have evidence of previous repair. The road surface after repair is often so uneven the road is just as dangourous when the work is completed.

Barry McFarland is outraged at the apparent lack of action being taken by our Tory county councillors with respect to potholes in our Ward. From Bewdley Hill to Broomfield Road and from Blakebrook to Canterbury Road the roads in Habberley and Blakebrook are riddled with them. Below are just a few examples.

These potholes require immediate attention.
Is this yet another examples of the Tories just not caring enough?

You can report potholes by contacting:

Your Habberley and Blakebrook Labour Team, 01562 822097

The Worcestershire Hub, 01562 732928 (Town Hall)

www.fixmystreet.co.uk

Remember don’t blame the Council Officers, blame Tory controlled Worcester County Council and Tory Councillors.

Barry McFarland is delighted with today’s (9th February 2010) health announcement.

Labour will guarantee that if your doctor thinks you need a specialist cancer test, you will have it, with results, within just one week. This guarantee will save up to 10,000 lives each year

Barry says, “Some things are just too important to be left to chance, and cancer is one of them. Only Labour will guarantee the future of the NHS as a free at the point of delivery service.”

Andy Burnham announced the Labour Cancer Guarantee at a Press Conference today:

Andy said:

“This morning I held a Press Conference at Labour HQ to outline our new NHS guarantee.

Some things are too important to be left to chance, and cancer is one of them.

So we want to guarantee that if your doctor thinks you need a specialist cancer test, you will have it, with results, within just one week.

Help me Target Cancer at VoteNHS.com now

This guarantee will save up to 10,000 lives each year.

On VoteNHS.com you can see how targets and guarantees have cut waiting lists in your area. And read how fast and effective diagnosis played a key part in peoples’ own battles with cancer.

Support Target Cancer at VoteNHS.com now

With so much at stake, it is time for the Tories to drop their stubborn opposition to NHS guarantees and admit that the quicker we can diagnose and treat cancer, the more lives we can save.”

Sign up to Target Cancer today

Thanks

Andy Burnham
Labour Health Secretary.

Kidderminster West Labour Team

Barry 01562 822097
Lynn 01562 683063
Mick 01562 751683
Nigel Knowles 01299 402 343

or email: habberley@wyreforestlabour.co.uk