‘I’m late for work due to appalling bus service’
THIS bus ‘service’ is a complete farce. The buses – when they decide to turn up – are dirty, uncleaned and most of the time beeping because of some fault in the engine.
It should also be noted that Diamond has literally made the most of the government cap as the price for single ticket before the cap was only £1.80.
As a life-long resident of Redditch, I feel frustrated by the bus service, the council and every other service (including the NHS).
Yet we are asked to pay again for something that is clearly broken.
I’ve sat next to the same discarded sandwich wrapper for the last two weeks and have been late for work as they simply can’t run a bus service around what is effectively a loop.
What is going on?
Adam Burrows
‘Labour’s done a good job so just keep it up’
IT IS now nearly four months since the town voted in a Labour council and, although it is still early days, perhaps we as residents are in a position to make a preliminary assessment of how they are doing.
I am by inclination a Conservative and initially, rather reluctantly, voted Labour only because of the appalling nature of the Dormer regime.
Subsequently I was impressed by the plans put forward for the town when Labour was in opposition and the calibre of some of their councillors so voted for them again in this year’s local elections.
Rather to my surprise I feel they have, so far, hugely exceeded my expectations. Saving our purpose-built library was obviously good but more or less incumbent on them as it was a central plank of their campaign.
In addition, they have halved the cost of Dial-a-Ride and made provision for restoring an outdoor market. Coun Baker’s talks on the Labour Party Facebook page explaining what they are doing and why demonstrates their commitment to a more open style of governance.
That their councillors, at least in the Matchborough and Woodrow areas, and I am confident elsewhere, are as accessible as could be reasonably expected is a further illustration of this. It was not just a hollow claim made while in opposition.
I now read, in a post from the Environment Portfolio holder, Coun Harvey, that having found space for three years more of burials it gives them ‘time to thoroughly explore the other options on the table. I can assure you that Ipsley Meadow will not be one of these options’.
This is fantastic news and, though I accept there is still a way to go before the meadow is definitely saved, gives the many of us opposed to siting the cemetery on densely-populated Matchborough’s ‘little bit of countryside’, as a prominent campaigner called it, real cause for hope.
One also feels the council now has the best interests of the town at heart, that they actually do pay heed to what the residents’ hopes and aspirations are, that the borough is going forward.
They are still listening and responsive even when they don’t need our vote for a while.
To the Labour councillors as a group, I express my sincere gratitude for what they have done so far, especially regarding Ipsley Meadow, and can only hope they keep up the good work.
K Wass,
Matchborough
‘Tories’ tax cuts have left a huge pile of debt’
REGARDING Rachel Maclean’s letter concerning the GPs’ action, I think she needs to book an appointment for short- and medium-term memory loss.
First let’s note the GPs are not on strike, only working their contracted hours, which would not have been a problem if the Conservatives had invested sensibly in doctor training over the past 14 years, instead of causing shortages throughout the NHS with cutbacks in doctor training finance.
Second, there have been more than 25 NHS staff strikes in the last 10 years of Tory government, not to mention rail disputes disrupting the economy of the whole country, and of course, the GPs cannot get the pay rise they require.
This is only because of the enormous debt racked up by the Tories promising tax cuts they hadn’t a hope of covering, with the interest on the bad debt snowballing from £1,000 per taxpayer under Cameron, to over £2,000 per tax payer when the party of incompetence was voted out in July.
It will take time to sort the mess. I for one will be trying to be patient…as in prepared to give the Labour Party time.
Margot Bish,
Abbeydale
‘Energy costs pledge sounds hollow now’
A TYPICAL household’s annual energy bill will rise by £149 in October under the new price cap.
Just as the Labour government is pulling the rug from 10million pensioners by axing winter fuel payments.
In the election, they promised energy bills would go down. But they are now going up.
In stark contrast to the Conservative government’s support for vulnerable people for fuel bills and cost of living – after bills spiralled thanks to the Ukraine war.
OFGEM also announces that bills will rise by 10 per cent this winter.
As Paul Lewis says, this is about nothing else except saving money.
Rachel Maclean
EDITORS COMMENT
IT IS GREAT to see that the Kingfisher 10k will be returning to the streets of Redditch next month.
As well as raising funds for two good local causes – Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank and Safeline – it will also give people the chance to get fit and take on the course.
Well done to the organisers Raceway Events CIC and Redditch BID for putting on the race and good luck to everyone who is entering.
We hope it raises as much as possible for the charities.
We welcome your letters….
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