WE clearly live in an age of misinformation. B Kirby’s letter from 12/03 is a prime example, because it claims the council is not investing in parks – it’s just not true.
You only have to visit the Arrow Valley Country Park and use your eyes to see the brand new playground, complete with the country’s first nine metre slide tower.
Look a bit further and you’ll see a brand new open air amphitheatre that’s ideal for Covid-secure performances, just a few steps away from the newly refurbished cafe bar being operated by Rubicon, who also operate the newly refurbished cafe at Pitcheroak, reopening soon.
In the budget just passed by the council I managed to secure additional investment in upgrading the entrance to the park, which aims to improve the roadway down to the visitor centre, as well as investment in the footpaths around both main parks.
This is all on top of the proposed new cafe and toilets at Morton Stanley and the investment in upgrading National Cycle Route 5.
The list of investments into our parks can go on, and is plain for all to see.
My record of ensuring all investments for our parks are what the progressive majority of people want is strong and won’t be held back by misinformation and negativity being spread by the few.
Councillor M Rouse, Portfolio holder for parks and open spaces, Redditch Borough Council
I WELCOME the news that Conservative controlled Redditch Council has had its Section 24 notice lifted however we must remember why the notice was there in the first place and consider the impact of those ‘difficult decisions’ to balance the books.
Redditch Conservatives made the decision to not raise council tax to the required levels, a political decision aimed at winning seats in the 2019 local elections.
They also voted to give themselves a pay rise despite the council being on the brink of bankruptcy.
As a result charities in Redditch had their funding slashed and services have been cut.
The people of Redditch lost out because of poor decision making by the Conservatives.
Their promise to unlock Redditch has been held back for nearly two years because of it.
A Thompson, Liberal Democrat candidate for Matchborough and Arrow Valley East.
I WRITE with reference to your story about my friend Maria Hodgetts’ Covid related hospitalisation and her accurate description of the nurses’ pay rise offer of one per cent as ‘disgusting’ (Redditch Standard).
The Government maintains it cannot afford more.
Theresa May did however find £1billion down the back of the Government sofa when she realised she needed to buy the ten votes of the Democratic Unionist Party to prop up her minority Government.
In the light of Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit difficulties, they must be rueing the day they agreed to this.
The current Government has managed to find £37bn to allocate to failed internet boss Dido Harding (whose husband is a Tory ex-minister), Serco and various other private companies and Tory donors to ‘run’ the test and trace system.
The system which has, to quote the Government spending watchdog, ‘made no measurable difference to the progress of the pandemic’.
It seems the magic money tree does exist, but its fruit is only for consumption by friends of the Conservative Party.
M Clayton via email
WE have sent this letter to Councillor Dormer regarding Ipsley Meadow (Redditch Standard).
We are disappointed that you have failed to address several issues which we have raised.
We note that you have replied as leader of Redditch Conservatives, rather than as the Leader of the Council. This is important because it indicates that you are avoiding accountability.
You have refused to consider our suggestion of extending and improving Edgioake Cemetery, only stating there is less than 12 months’ provision across Abbey Cemetery and Edgioake Lane.
However, the 2019 report “Initial Site Assessment” included in the planning proposal documents clearly states that at Edgioake Lane there is “over 10 years’ provision based on using it as the main cemetery.” This report does not discount the Astwood Bank location, simply stating that investment is needed.
Could you please explain the discrepancy between your assertion and the officer’s report?
As the costs associated with developing Ipsley Meadow are estimated at £897,000 for the initial phase, what consideration has been given to costing options to develop and improve an existing provision?
We welcome your promise that 26 sites are to be reassessed. What are the addresses of these sites and when were they assessed as being potential options?
We would also be interested to know what alternative sites your administration has put forward over the past three years.
You say you are concerned that stopping the planning proposal at this stage would waste taxpayers’ money. Therefore, why did your portfolio holder for environmental services, Councillor Brandon Clayton, instruct officers to instigate the change of use proposal for Ipsley Meadow without bringing the issue to the executive committee of councillors for proper scrutiny?
Who decided that Ipsley Meadow would be the only option put forward?
Labour candidates A Bevan, S Harvey, J Kane
I READ with amusement about County Council bosses to invest millions of of pounds in protecting Worcestershire’s environment over the next year.
The authority has already agreed to plant 15,000 trees.
I would like to ask County Councillor Tony Miller why are they cutting down the trees on the land off Far More Lane in Winyates Green?I’m looking forward to his answer.
D Ewings, Winyates Green
