From time to time, local people raise issues that are important to them, or their families or friends. This can range from a simply writing a letter to the local newspapers, through to seeing people like me, all the way to organising big events to rally support.
On Tuesday, June 23rd Mark Garnier MP met with Ed Vaizey MP, Minister of State for the Digital Economy, to highlight several rural areas around Wyre Forest which currently not receiving superfast broadband. Ed promised to work with Mark to raise this issue with BT and force a positive outcome for those residents locally who deserve better.
I usually try to avoid, when writing this column, the self-indulgence of talking about Parliament as an institution. However, the report published last week about the cost of refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster has taken up a lot of column inches in the media, not least because of the scale of the problem.
Councillor Nigel Knowles (Franche and Habberley North) yesterday gave a petition to Wyre Forest MP, Mark Garnier. The petition calls on the Government to reverse their plans for the closure of Kidderminster Territorial Army Centre (TAC). Cllr Knowles handed Mark Garnier MP the petition during a flag flying ceremony on Monday 23rd June 2015, organised by Wyre Forest district council in honour of our Armed Forces.
Year 6 at St. Catherine's Primary School, Kidderminster, wrote to environment minister Liz Truss about saving rainforests worldwide. As part of their project local MP Mark Garnier visited the school to answer year 6's questions.
The number of Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) claimants in Wyre Forest dropped to another historic low in May, according to statistics released today by the Office for National Statistics. JSA claimants now represent 1.7% of the economically active population of the constituency, or 780 people.
After many years of arguing, debating and campaigning, the bill to bring about a referendum on our membership of the EU is finally under way. Already the arguments about who can say what when have begun, and to be honest, I find these rather hollow arguments.
It takes two or three weeks for the new parliament to get properly underway and this week we have the Queen's Speech, the Parliamentary set-piece that sets the legislative agenda for the coming year.
The largest ever survey into crime in rural areas has been launched in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to investigate the true impact of offences on countryside communities.
The 55+ and Retirement Roadshow is coming back to Kidderminster Town Hall on June 13th from 9-30am until 3-30pm. The Roadshow brings together a wide range of local advisors and experts on retirement finance, ageing and health to give free consultations to older residents. It is aimed at people over fifty five and carers of older people but as a drop-in it is open to everyone. Tesco will be giving out tea and biscuits.
