Horsefair Community Safety Group

Despite the awful weather several residents turned out a lunchtime today (Saturday) for a meeting of the new Horsefair Area Community Safety Group at the Radford Ave Resource Centre.

This group, Chaired by Cllr Howard Martin, brings together Police, Council Officer, WFCH Neighbourhood Wardens, Councillors and local residents who want to improve life in the Horsefair Area.

There were plenty of complaints but also a lot of progress to report. Everyone agreed with Shazu Miah when he said that we have to reclaim the area, particulary the Parks from local yobs!

It looks as though the safe dog walking area will soon be up and running in Baxter Gardens and St. George's Park will have a huge investment with a Multi Use Games Area. There seems to be considerable support for reviving the St. George's Park, Parkwatch Scheme which operated some 15 years ago.

It was nice to see, at the end of the meeting, the local Bangladeshi Forum guys arriving to set up for the Cultural School they run on Sundays. It was particularly nice to be able to show Mushahid that I have managed to get some extra chairs for the kids!! Now for the tables!!

It really is great to see the Bangladeshi Community running this school for their youngsters on Sundays. Young people need to learn about their own cultures as well as becoming fully literate in English. The Polish Saturday School, which does the same job in the local Polish Community, was having its "end of term" party today!

OOPS!! Now you see it, Now you Don't

First of all it was John-Paul Campion's blog that went. Now the whole Tory Website has vapourised off into the ether!! 

First meeting of Children's Centres reference group

This morning we had the first meeting of the County Council Children's Centres Members Reference Group.

We visited the excellent WANDS centre at Westlands in Droitwich. It was great to hear the news of all the new centres to open in Phase 2 across the County. I was particularly pleased to hear that siting and carparking problems for the new Borrington rd. Centre have now been ironed out!

A weekend in Warsaw!

I flew to Warsaw on Friday to attend Tadek Jarski's funeral and to represent all his friends from the old Wyre Forest Polish Solidarity Campaign.

The drive to Luton Airport at 4 a.m on Friday was foul but Warsaw was bathed in brilliant sunshine.

Friday afternoon found me attending Michal's Primary School end of year celebrations! Prizes for the best performing kids, a book and a goody bag for every kid in the class and everyone presenting flowers to their teachers!

Saturday morning started by Gosia and I going to the Brodno cemetery and getting wreaths made on the spot to take to Tadek's funeral I got a huge (3'6" )wreath of red and white flowers with loads of greenery and a personalised "sash" for £20!

On the way to Milanowek there was a cracking thunder storm but when we arrived at Sw.Jadwiga's Church the sun was shining. Solidarnosc standards from the Mazowiecki Region and from Lokomotiwowania Lublin (Tadek's home city) led the family into church.

At the cemetery their were speeches on behalf of NSZZ Solidarnosc and from Solidarity with Solidarity. We then went back to Basia and Tadek's lovely home for a reception held in the garden. It was a sad occasion but it was great to see so many old friends from Poland and UK.

After a very late breakfast Sunday morning saw the family in the Old Town in Warsaw toasting Mike's memory at his favourite outdoor bar.

Then over to Hamourabi in Praga for lunch before Wojtek took me back to the airport for the evening Wizz flight to Luton. And of course, I landed in Luton in pouring rain!!

Sad news from Poland

I heard on Friday that Tadek Jarzembowski (known in UK as Tadek Jarski) who flew from Poland to speak at Mike's funeral, died in hospital in Warsaw on Thursday. I will be flying to Warsaw next weekend to go to his funeral and will be representing his friends from Wyre Forest Polish Solidarity Campaign who got to know him well in the 1980's.

I didn't realise that he was 74 yrs old; I thought he was in his late 60's! He was a tower of strength and contributed enormously to the UK Solidarity support network with his Chairmanship of Solidarity with Solidarity.

I am currently trying to contact Anthony Coombs, former Tory MP for Wyre Forest, Lord Alex Carlile and Simon Hughes MP all of whom knew Tadek well and worked with him.

Farewell to a Tory blogger!!

We are sorry that John Paul Campion has ceased blogging. There won't be much internet Political debate in Wyre Forest now!

Must be the pressure of office!!

OOPS!! Boys in Blue are geographically challenged!!

As local Councillors we are getting a huge volume of phone calls about the West Mercia Police Service's latest boob!

Rather a lot of OUR money has been spent to produce the latest glossyA4 "Policing West Mercia" booklet.

Unfortunately some geographically challenged geek has decided to deliver the SOUTH Worcestershire version across large parts of Kidderminster. For those people who live in Offmore and Comberton who are passionately interested in Policing in Malvern Hills it's fine. For the vast majority who would rather know about OUR local Policing it is worse than useless and will go straight into the recycling bin!!

Super Friday Night!

Yesterday evening was great.

First off a visit to the Civic Reception for Stourport's new Mayor and Mayoress, Mike and June Salter; one of the highlights was Cllr John Holden's speech and slightly risque joke about a meeting on the banks of the River Severn between Mike Salter, Stephen Clee and Our Lord!!

It was great to see Liz Mills, Vi Higgs and many other Political colleagues, some from way, way back!

Then off to the Polish Club where Mike Price and Paul Simpson were hosting a party to thank all the Liberal members, friends and helpers from the local elections. With typical generosity they organised a raffle to help pay for DDA adaptations needed at the club.

Also great to see a load of the new Polish community in the bar, we need their support to keep the club going.