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Wednesday, May 25, 2005
 Respite facilities face axe...
“Desperately needed respite care facilities in Wyre Forest are scheduled to close at the end of the June cutting local people with physical disabilities totally adrift” Kidderminster Liberal County Councillor Fran Oborski warned today.
Mrs Oborski said “The news that the Social Services Department of Worcestershire County Council are to close their Freda Eddy Court facility in Kidderminster at the end of June - at a stroke depriving local people who have a physical disability of much needed residential respite facilities - has come as a complete shock to service users, local GPs and partner organisations in the Local Strategic Partnership.”
“I know for a fact that there has been no consultation whatsoever with Wyre Forest Community Housing from whom the County lease the building and whose tenants will be affected by this decision.“
“I have been approached by service users who are desperately worried about what will happen to them when the respite service closes. Beds in OAP residential homes are totally unsuitable to meet the specific needs of physically handicapped people who are not OAPs.”
“It is utterly deplorable that there has been no consultation with the wider community within Wyre Forest. There has been no effort to tell people what is actually going on. I am absolutely appalled at the secretive, underhanded way in which Social Services have handled this very sensitive matter.”
“I am certain that Wyre Forest Community Housing would have been able to provide alternative facilities to tide the County over until permanent facilities could be provided, if only someone had bothered to consult them. This is a sad day for the staff and service users and a sad day for democracy.”
“Rather than simply just abandoning desperately needed respite facilities the County Council should act in a responsible manner and get round the table with service users and everyone else concerned to find a positive way forward to provide adequate and appropriate respite facilities for everyone who needs them.”
Cllr Mrs Oborski added “Apart from its much needed respite facilities, Freda Eddy Court also houses an essential lift used by Housing Company tenants at Orchard Street and Arch Hill to gain access to Kidderminster Town Centre via Church Street. I believe that Social Services have an absolute obligation to ensure that this access remains easily accessible and I will also be seeking assurances on that point.”
posted by Oborski, 22:39 | link | comments
 58,000 visitors!
We've had our 58,000th visitor today! Thanks for dropping by!
posted by Oborski, 10:58 | link | comments (4)
 "Sat Nav" chaos...
Last time their onboard Satellite Navigation system apparently sent an Ambulance heading for Browning Close on Offmore off Chester Road North and along Offmore Lane!!!!!
For those who don't know Offmore Lane is the lane which runs alongside Kidderminster Cricket Ground and goes off Chester Road North opposite the junction with Offmore Road. The first stretch of Offmore Lane is single vehicle width giving access to the Sporting Club / Cricket Ground car park. The remaining stretch which runs along the back of houses on Sheraton Drive and down to Wordsworth Crescent, coming out by Offmore First School, is an extremely narrow footpath with no vehicle access!
Having driven down the footpath the Ambulance crew were faced with three metal bollards blocking their way. Fortunately these are the type that retract into the ground - so by cutting their fastening padlocks they were able to lower them and to get through.
I have no idea how serious the call was that they were answering or just how long this delayed them but what would have happened had it been an emergency and they had been faced with a more resilient form of bollard? Nor was it safe in any case for a vehicle to be using such a narrow footpath!
Satellite Navigation is a marvellous tool - but only if it delivers accurate information. In this case it clearly did not!
Incidentally, Offmore Lane is shown on some street maps as if it provides direct vehicle access from Chester Road North to Wordsworth Crescent (or in some cases onto the bottom of Sheraton Drive!) and we have repeatedly written to the publishers seeking corrections in new editions.
posted by Oborski, 10:55 | link | comments
 Do we want Kat in Kidderminster?
I was phoned by the Express & Star this morning. Last night on "Eastenders" Kat told Mo she was thinking of taking a job in a bar in Kidderminster. What did I think of the idea? At last a really serious political debate in the local media!
What did I say? Kidderminster has many excellent pubs and bars and one of them is bound to have room for another personality bar maid - and Kidderminster is a far better to be coming to than some other places I could mention - like Bromsgrove and Redditch! What will they print?
posted by Oborski, 10:39 | link | comments (2)
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Wyre Forest District Council web site says...
Abandoned Vehicle Amnesty
During May owners of vehicles which are set for the scrap heap are being urged to contact Wyre Forest District Council as part of a month-long vehicle amnesty. The Council is taking unwanted vehicles off their owner's hands for free provided they have the log book.
Residents are also being asked to report any abandoned vehicles they spot. The aim of the campaign is to combat arson and vandalism, which are both associated with abandoned vehicles.
Last year Wyre Forest District Council received almost three hundred and fifty enquires about abandoned vehicles - that's nearly one a day.
Cars collected as part of the amnesty will be disposed of by Kidderminster Car Dismantlers. They remove all the dangerous materials such as petrol, oil, brake-fluid and batteries from the vehicles and recycle them before the car body is crushed and the metal recycled.
Residents can report an abandoned vehicle by calling customer services on 01562 732928 or by filling in an online form on the Council's website. Anyone wanting to arrange the collection of an unwanted vehicle should call Kidderminster Car Dismantlers on 01562 755929.
posted by Oborski, 21:26 | link | comments
Sunday, May 22, 2005
posted by Oborski, 14:52 | link | comments
Friday, May 20, 2005
Yes Cllr Clee, your comments all very well, but how much of the Council Tax payers money did you spend on this?
As you read this article from The Daily Telegraph you might like to think "Yes Cllr Clee, your comments all very well, but how much of the Council Tax payers money did you spend on this course?"
Thought police go overboard
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 20/05/2005)
The phrase "shipshape and Bristol fashion" should not be used because it is deemed to be politically incorrect, a group of councillors has been told.
A training firm told them that the phrase originated from the slave trade and described black people being ready for sale.
However Gerry Brooke, a Bristol historian, who edits a supplement in the city's Evening Post newspaper, said it derived from the good reputation Bristol had for constructing ships.
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable agrees: "The expression derives from the port of Bristol's reputation for efficiency in the days of sail."
Peter Abraham, the city's lord mayor, said: "I have used the term for 60 years and my family has and there is no way it can be regarded as politically incorrect."
Fifteen district councillors in Wyre Forest, which covers Kidderminster, Worcs, and about 70 council staff attended a two-day "equalities and diversity" course this month.
Stephen Clee, the council's Conservative leader, said:
"Part of the seminar concentrated on words and phrases which could be deemed offensive. A lot of the councillors thought this was political correctness gone mad. I am inclined to agree with them. No working practices will change."
Another phrase the training firm considered politically incorrect was "nitty gritty", which it claimed was used to describe slaves in the lowest reaches of ships. But the Oxford Reference Dictionary says its origin is unknown.
The training firm, based in Walsall, West Midlands, could not be contacted.
posted by Oborski, 14:36 | link | comments
Thursday, May 19, 2005
...are one of my all time favourite bands! Find them online here!
Founded in California during 1965, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has lasted longer than virtually any other country-based rock group of their era. Younger contemporaries of the Byrds, they played an almost equally important role in the transformation from folk-rock into country-rock, and were an influence on such bands as the Eagles and Alabama.
posted by Oborski, 18:41 | link | comments
 Nitty Gritty...
Front page of the Express & Star says that phrases including...
..."nitty griity" have been banned at Wyre Forest District Council after politically correct training consultants branded them racist.
The story is that the phrase 'nitty gritty' has slave trade associations. Yet again political correctness goes mad! Actually the term 'nitty gritty' did not emerge until the 1950s!
Here is what World Wide Words has to say...
Q] From Helen Norris: “Any ideas on the origins of the expression nitty-gritty? I heard today a rather horrible suggestion that it referred to the debris left in the bottom of slave ships after their voyages, once the slaves remaining alive had been removed.”
[A] This may belong in the same line of folklore which holds that a picnic was a slave lynching party. There is a slight link, in that nitty-gritty was indeed originally a Black American English expression, and some people guess that nitty-gritty is a euphemism for shitty, which also suggests a relevance. However, it’s recorded in print only from the 1950s, and never directly with this sense.
Dr Jonathan Lighter, in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, records the first example from 1956: “You’ll find nobody comes down to the nitty-gritty when it calls for namin’ things for what they are”. As it is here fully formed, and has the now customary sense of the fundamental issues, the heart of the matter, or the most important aspects of some situation, it had by then probably already been in use for some while (I know of two people who claim to have come across it in the 1920s). But it is inconceivable that it should have been around since slave-ship days without somebody writing it down.
Its origins are elusive. One explanation is that it is a reduplication—using the same mechanism that has given us namby-pamby and itsy-bitsy—of the standard English word gritty. This has the literal sense of containing or being covered with grit, but figuratively means showing courage and resolve, so the link is plausible, and if it is not the direct origin may have influenced it. It has also been suggested (in a 1974 issue of American Speech, the journal of the American Dialect Society) that nits refers to head lice and grits to the corn cereal. None of these are supported by any firm evidence.
posted by Oborski, 18:38 | link | comments (2)
 What's in a name?
In the beginning there were Council houses and the tenants knew that their landlord was "the Council".
Then the housing stock was transferred from Wyre Forest District Council to an independent company in the shape of "Wyre Forest Community Housing". As far as I can make out very few tenants ever refer to their landlord as "the Company"." Most still refer to "the Council".
Now "the Company" has reorganised itself into "a group". In financial and business terms this is emminently sensible. Name wise, however, it deepens the confusion.
Sure enough in one story today The Shuttle refers to the new "Community Housing Group Limited" which it says has changed its name from "Wyre Forest Community Housing". However "Community Housing Group Limited" embraces a new subsidiary company helpfully named - "Wyre Forest Community Housing Limited". Please note that "Wyre Forest Community Housing Limited" is not to be confused with their other new subsidiary companies namely "Wyre Forest Sheltered Housing Limited" and "Wyre Forest Land Company Limited".
"Community Housing Group Limited" also has "directorates" - Chief Executive, Resources, Operations and Property Services.
That's sorted then. Meanwhile most tenants will happily, but totally inaccurately, continue to refer to their landlord as "the Council"!
posted by Oborski, 17:02 | link | comments
 "High Hedges" legislation...
Under new legislation faced with "high hedges" or Leylandii blocking your light you can now go to the Council for help. Under the new legislation the Council has to recoup the costs so for a fee of £300 (£100 if you are on Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit) in Wyre Forest the District Council will investigate your complaint and, if appropriate, prosecute the offending land owner.
It will be interesting to see how it works in practice. Obviously it is a last resort if your neighbour will not see sense. My guess is that it will do the job in really extreme cases where people are absolutely desperate. It is harder to imagine the scheme being taken up in more marginal cases and the size of the fee is certainly going to deter all but the most desperate.
posted by Oborski, 14:36 | link | comments
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
 Liz Mills...
Our press release...
Even as Wyre Forest District Council voted to create the office of “Honorary Alderman” to recognise the contribution of long serving past-Councillors Liberal Group Leader Cllr Mike Oborski strode across the Council Chamber to present Conservative Leader of the Council Cllr Stephen Clee with a letter proposing ex-Conservative Councillor Elizabeth Mills as the District’s very first Honorary Alderman!
Cllr Oborski explained afterwards “Liz Mills is one of the real greats! She was a long serving member of the District Council and held the offices of Chairman and Leader of the Council and in her time held just about every senior office on the Council.”
"More than that she always fought her corner with sincerity, honesty and total commitment.
“You can disagree with Liz but you can never ever dislike her.. She’s the best. We all love her and I guess that goes for everyone on the Council – member and officer – who has ever known her!”
The nomination will now be fast tracked through next week’s Wyre Forest District Council Cabinet Meeting and will then go for formal and ceremonial ratification to a full Council Meeting in June. Cllr Oborski said “I hope it will be a really great party. She deserves it”.
Cllr Oborski added “the drive and initiative for the creation of the office of “Honorary Alderman” has come from Conservative Leader Cllr Stephen Clee. The drive to recognise the enormous contribution of Liz Mills comes very much from Stephen Clee. He wanted this to be not just a Conservative initiative but rather a full Council initiative to honour Liz and so he invited us to get involved and to make the formal move. We are absolutely delighted to join with Cllr Clee and his colleagues in honouring one of the very finest Wyre Forest Councillor we have ever seen.”
“Liz, we love you!”
posted by Oborski, 23:19 | link | comments
 Safer Routes to Schools...
In the post today received plans for the crossings and associated roads works on:
- Birmingham Road outside St. Ambrose RC Church - fine they've moved it slightly so it's no longer proposed to be smack bang outside the Church door! Next stage is consultation in the neighbourhood.
- Tennyson Way opposite the Community Centre - siting of crossing looks O.K. but there are some bollards that would cause problems. Site meeting tomorrow morning (earlier than previously expected) will hopefully sort out bollards and other minor points and get the proposal into shape for neighbourhood consultation.
posted by Oborski, 12:14 | link | comments
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Tennyson Way Crossing...
Following our earlier posting (see below) I've now been promised a site meeting next week to look at plans for crossing on Tennyson Way (opposite the Community Centre) as part of Safer Routes to Schools package.
posted by Oborski, 16:06 | link | comments (2)
Friday, May 13, 2005
 Old Victoria Cricket Ground...
The complete application from Victoria PLC and Whitbread PLC for a hotel development on the old Victoria Carpets Cricket Ground is now in. The package proposes a 50 bedroom 'Premier Travel Inn' Hotel with integral 'Brewers Fayre' Restaurant / Public House, plus Car Parking & Landscaping.
We have copies of the plans. If you want to see them (we can bring them round for local residents) get in touch. Alternatively they arte available for inspection at Wyre Forest District Council's Planning Department at Duke House, Duke Place, Kidderminster. The reference number is 154 2005.
Mike has written to everyone in the vicinity. It is important that everyone who is opposed to the plan does in fact register a formal objection.
posted by Oborski, 09:06 | link | comments
Thursday, May 12, 2005
 step up to the mike...
I've launched my own personal blog. It's really a matter a personal therapy but it has the added advantage of taking some of the extraneous material - rock, Polish and plain peculiar - out of here - all of which will probably come as a profound relief to my fellow Liberal Councillors here in Wyre Forest!
posted by Oborski, 22:34 | link | comments
 Simon says...
The Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington is quoted in The Independent as saying:-
"The silent majority is supporting the Prime Minister. The silent majority won't be silenced."
Love it! What does he mean?!
posted by Oborski, 19:23 | link | comments
 Happy days!
I was going to have a nice quiet day "bottoming out" and tidying the house after the Election. First of all Fran went off forgetting that she was supposed to drop me off on Comberton so I walked down and delivered leaflets to households in the Comberton Arms area to tell them that the derelict pub was to be fenced off today and that demolition will start on Monday. Had some interesting chats with shop keepers. What is happening to the old greengrocers shop? We need to find out.
Back to make phone calls about various issues to do with the plans for an attractive green behind St Chads. Phone calls always take longer than expected.
No sooner had one group of Poles who had come to get papers stamped (Polish authorities love having rubber stamps on documents) left than another group of 64 turned up! All wanted letters, papers and documents of one sort or another stamped. Fortunately their "leader" spoke excellent English so we got everything accomplished at high speed.
Fortunately Rachel came over to lend me a hand with the clean up so we made a good start. Having cleaned a "water feature" in ten minutes it took me an hour to reconnect the tubing and I got nicely soaked in the process!
This evening Fran headed off for a meeting on Broadwaters and remembered to drop me at a school for a meeting. As no-one else arrived I assume it was cancelled! Walked home.
On the way down we saw that they have started putting in the posts for the fecing around the Comberton Arms. I would guess there is only a third of the posts in yet. Let's hope that they can get the rest up and install the fencing before the weekend!
Later on I have letters to sort out about the proposal to site a Hotel, Restaurant and Pub on the old Victoria Cricket Ground site.
Another ordinary day.
posted by Oborski, 19:10 | link | comments
Crimestoppers confidential hotline -
 0800 555111
posted by Oborski, 17:54 | link | comments
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
 New e-mail address...
You can now contact Wyre Forest Liberal Councillors via libteam@btinternet.com
posted by Oborski, 19:29 | link | comments
 At last!
At last! Ownership of the derelict and fired Comberton Arms has passed to Wyre Forest Community Housing. That means tomorrow the site should be fenced and demolition should start on Monday! Hopefully we will soon see the plans for the development of the pub and adjacent disused garage site.
There is NO truth in rumours that neighbouring back gardens will be siezed for inclusion in the development!
If you live in the vicinity and have any queries or concerns then please get in touch.
posted by Oborski, 19:23 | link | comments
 Safe Routes to schools....
This mornings post brought the plans that were about to go out for consultation on the proposed crossing on Birmingham Road near St Ambrose RC Catholic Church. Unfortunately the crossing was sited smack bang outside the door of the Church which would have created a small problem over where to park hearses at funerals. By 1.30 I was representing Fran, who is at work, at a site meeting outside the Church with Father Adams and County Council Officers. With a bit of repositioning we may have a scheme that suites everyone. We'll have to see. Actually it was great to see such a fast site meeting to sort out a major problems with a proposal before it got out of control and everyone got hot under the collar. The creation of an adjacent lay-by and extensive road markings also looks very sensible. A slight remodelling of the Leswell Lane - Birmingham Road junction should also help.
Meanwhile consultation on the proposed crossing on Comberton Road to the Spennells side of the Borrington Road junction; minor re-alignments at the Borrington Road junction and the Barnetts Lane junctions with Comberton Road and works at the Somerleyton Avenue, Chaddesley Road, Comberton Road junction all look positive. Work on the ground is still some months away.
Meanwhile I am waiting to hear where we are on the proposed Tennyson Way crossing near Offmore First School.
posted by Oborski, 14:51 | link | comments (1)
transport, roads
 The County Council web site carries this warning...
Watchdogs warn Dairy allergy sufferers following food alert...
Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards Service is warning residents to be aware of a batch of recent food alerts affecting high-profile brands, all of which are available on the high street.
Possible contamination of the following brands has resulted in the affected products being withdrawn from sale, but experts are advising people to check cupboards, as they could prove unsafe for people who are allergic or intolerant to dairy products.
posted by Oborski, 14:31 | link | comments
hospital & health
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
 Oh well!
The Wyre Forest Conservative web site tonight claims...
"Stourport Relief Road will be built in the first term of a Conservative Government"
So we'll have to wait then!
posted by Oborski, 23:09 | link | comments (4)
Monday, May 09, 2005
Police response "truly pitiful"!
A Kidderminster County and District Councillor has described the Police response to phone calls as "truly pitiful".
Cllr Fran Oborski explained, "We received a phone call from a local resident, just before 9.30pm tonight, to tell us that there was a group of youths on the Offmore First School site at the back of the building. This has been the scene of serious vandalism in the past."
"I phoned Police Headquarters at Hindlip and asked to be put through to the Local Policing Unit at Kidderminster. That is what we have been asked to do by the local Police in the case of evening incidents, not serious enough to merit an emergency 999 call, before 11.00pm."
"The call was transferred to the Local Policing Unit in Kidderminster where it was answered by a female PC who said that she was "just walking past the desk" and "answered the phone because there's no-one here". She said she would transfer me back to the Control Centre at Hindlip!"
"I refused the offer and suggested that she might like to consider taking the details and contacting the Local Policing Unit who were, apparently, somewhere around."
"As no-one has been back to me I have no idea if anything happened."
"It is exactly this sort of response when you phone the Police that undermines public confidence in the Police."
Cllr Mrs Oborski said "I intend to find out what happened. This really isn't good enough!"
posted by Oborski, 22:25 | link | comments
law & order
Worcestershire County Council Web Site says...
Campaign to find more foster carers...
Worcestershire County Council’s Fostering Team will have a busy two weeks, promoting this year’s national Fostering Fortnight campaign (May 9th to May 22nd) to highlight the need for more foster carers in the county.
There are vulnerable children in Worcestershire that need someone to care for them while they are temporarily unable to live with their own families. Foster carers look after children so that families have a chance to sort out their problems.
Social workers work with families to help them sort out their problems and to ensure the home is a safe place for a child with the aim being that children and parents can be reunited.
Sara Castro, County Council’s Fostering Team Manager, said: “ Fostering Fortnight is a national event and this is an ideal opportunity for the team to be sharing information about fostering with the local community.
“Foster carers play a vital role in their local areas caring for children in times of crisis and they make a real everyday difference to children’s lives.
“Although fostering can be a challenging role, it is also very rewarding and we provide foster carers with the support of a fostering social worker and the opportunity of regular training and carer groups.”
Worcestershire County Council need more fostering families throughout the county to help them provide children with the foster family that will suit them best. They are especially interested in families who would consider fostering older children, teenagers and brother and sisters together.
In support of Fostering Fortnight (May 9th to May 22nd) dedicated social workers and foster carers will be travelling around the county in dedicated buses, advertising the need to recruit more foster carers in Worcestershire. We are going to be at the following places.
For more information about fostering Free phone 0800 028 2158
posted by Oborski, 17:49 | link | comments
Saturday, May 07, 2005
 Wilf Clarke...
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Wilf Clarke. He was a past Mayor of Kidderminster - totally dedicated to working for the community. He was an outstanding Liberal and a very good friend. He will be very sorely missed and most fondly remembered.
posted by Oborski, 19:48 | link | comments
Friday, May 06, 2005
Worcestershire County Council
Wyre Forest Results:
The number of seats has reduced from 11 to 10. Results (with previous results in brackets):-
Con 5 (2), Liberal 2 (2), Lab 2 (0), Health Concern 1 (6), Lib-Dems 0 (1), Green 0 (0).
St. Chad’s...
Mike Oborski (Lib) 1971, Con 1058, Lab 961, HC 455, Lib-Dem 324
St. George & St. Oswald...
Fran Oborski (Lib) 1479, Lab 1081, Con 904, HC 754, Lib-Dem 379
Chaddesley...
Con 2189, Lib-Dem 1093, Graham Ballinger (Lib) 758, Lab 715
Cookley, Wolverley & Wribbenhall...
Con 1834, Lab 1563, HC 812, Rachel Lewis (Lib) 369, Ind 303, Green 240
St. Mary’s...
Lab 1279, Con 1206, Lib-Dem 1076, HC 732, Mike Price (Lib) 235
Bewdley...
Con 1803, HC 1115, Lab 1056, Ind 1036
St. Barnabas...
Lab 2031, Con 1534, HC 1531
St. John’s...
Con 1938, Lab 1228, HC 917, Lib-Dem 540
Stourport-On-Severn (2 seats)...
HC 3339, Con 3266, Con 3060, HC 2624, Lab 2670, Lab 2649, Green 539, Green 507
The composition of the Worcestershire County Council is now:
Conservative 29 (26)
Labour 17 (14)
Liberal Democrat 8 (8)
Liberal 2 (2)
Health Concern 1 (6)
Independent 0 (1)
posted by Oborski, 20:01 | link | comments (2)
Wyre Forest Result...
Richard Taylor (Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern) 18739
Mark Garnier (Conservative) 13489
Marc Bayliss (Labour) 10716
Fran Oborski (Liberal) 2666
Rusty Lee (UKIP) 1074
Bert Priest (Monster Raving Loony Party) 303
"I would like to thank everyone who voted for me" - Fran
posted by Oborski, 03:43 | link | comments
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Thursday 5th May....
Worcestershire County Council Election...
VOTE...
Mike Oborski for St.Chads!
Fran Oborski for St.George & St.Oswald!
Graham Ballinger for Chaddesley & Spennells!
Mike Price for St.Mary's!
Rachel Lewis for Cookley, Wolverley & Wribbenhall!
The Liberal Team...
...a strong voice for Wyre Forest!
General Election - Wyre Forest Constituency...
VOTE...
Fran Oborski
...a strong voice for Wyre Forest!
posted by Oborski, 05:53 | link | comments
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
As far as I know Messrs. Blair, Howard & Kennedy have failed to mention...
Potholes....
...our roads and pavements are a disgrace!
Motorised Scooters...
...little kids are riding these menaces at speed on roads and pavements!
They may seem like small issues to Party Leaders. They are big issues here!
posted by Oborski, 22:57 | link | comments
roads
Monday, May 02, 2005
Warmest greetings to Wyre Forest's Polish Community on both
May 2nd - The World Day of Polish Diaspora and Poles Living Abroad and also The Day of The Polish National Flag.
- & -
May 3rd - Polish Constitution Day. Europe’s first ever written constitution, created in Poland on 3 May 1791.
Konstytucja 3-go Maja
(Constitution of 3rd May)
posted by Oborski, 16:20 | link | comments
posted by Oborski, 10:07 | link | comments (2)
Kidderminster Chronicle reports...
Pull blaze pub down, urges councillor
A Kidderminster councillor has demanded that a derelict pub be pulled down after vandals set it on fire.
Mike Oborski, ward councillor for Offmore and Comberton, has called for the demolition of the Comberton Arms pub, on Coronation Way, after arsonists set it ablaze last Wednesday night.
Fire crews from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service took 20 minutes to bring the flames under control.
The pub has been boarded up since it closed about a year ago.
Wyre Forest Community Housing is currently in the process of buying the site with a view to bulldozing the pub, along with a disused garage next door, and redeveloping the land for housing.
Councillor Oborski said: "We have been warning for weeks that this would happen; it's been a disaster waiting to happen. Unfortunately the owners would not permit demolition until legalities are finalised and the site formally transfers to Wyre Forest Community Housing.
"We want pressure put on to get the building down now before there is a further incident with more serious consequences."
Kidderminster station officer Dave Williams said fire crews from Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley attended the blaze. "It had the potential to be a serious fire because there was a quantity of furniture . . . but fortunately the blaze did not penetrate the roof space. Because someone raised the alarm early we were able to contain it," he said.
Wyre Forest Community Housing declined to comment.
posted by Oborski, 00:44 | link | comments
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