THE Local Government Boundary Commission’s consultation offers the opportunity to give your views about our town’s Redditch Borough council ward boundaries.
There is likely to be a reduction in the number of councillors from 29 to 27.
Therefore, some or all of the wards might be affected.
It’s expected our councillors will be interested in this issue, however any changes will not be implemented before this May’s elections.
Through the Redditch Standard it would be good to read what each of our local political party leaders will be contributing to this LGBC consultation.
One of these leaders (Councillor Matt Dormer) might be reluctant to put his views in writing – to tell us what he thinks.
His idea of consultation is simply an invitation to phone him.
Southcrest Resident
I READ with interest that Redditch Borough Council is facing ‘urgent savings’.
That ‘reserves [are] under pressure’ whilst ‘significant savings’ must be made and the ‘need is pressing’ and ‘a matter of urgency’.
All this resulting, inevitably, in ‘across the board increases in council tax’.
Is this the same council that is set to spend more than £1million on an unwanted cemetery that will take away a vital recreational space – our bit of countryside – as someone put it, from some of the very people from whom they are levying higher council tax?
Carried out by councillors who gave themselves a 6.6 per cent pay rise?
Surely not.
K Wass, Matchborough
I FULLY agree with the comments made last week by the Lib Dem candidate for Abbey Ward (Letters).
The councillors voting on a 6.6 per cent pay rise for themselves is down right greedy and disgusting.
The money should be redirected to adult social care.
Sadly Redditch councillors have a history of looking after themselves and sod everyone else.
Twelve years ago I took an appeal to a body of councillors at the Town Hall.
I was objecting to a 30 per cent pay cut being imposed on all of us within CCTV / Lifeline staff.
It was an ‘innovative plan’ thought up by the hierarchy.
I got no support from the councillors and it resulted in about 10 Redditch based staff leaving posts which were filled by Bromsgrove staff.
Not a lot changes in Redditch.
Name and Address Supplied
I SEE that our MP Rachel Mclean wants to improve road safety in Redditch.
Well I suggest she starts with these badly thought out new Highway Code rules.
Cyclists in the middle of the road, there are a certain fraternity of cyclist that will adhere to this, and this will lead to road rage.
Also stopping to let pedestrians cross the road at junctions.
Coming out of a side road into a main road not a problem, most motorists would stop to let them cross.
But coming off a main road into a side road – how many rear ends is this going to cause?
Also guide dogs that are trained to wait until the road is clear that dog will not go if there is a car there.
C Harbone, Winyates Green
WOMEN are being failed as the awareness crisis in ovarian cancer deepens.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are being ignored – both by those experiencing them and their GPs.
This March, for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Target Ovarian Cancer is urging the public to sign open letters to governments across the UK and tell them what is needed to combat the crisis.
We desperately need to make progress in people’s knowledge of the symptoms.
In 2010 my mother, the actress Marjie Lawrence, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just three weeks before she died.
Had we and her doctors been aware of the symptoms, Marjie might be alive today.
If diagnosed at the earliest stage, 9 in 10 women will survive. But two thirds of women are diagnosed late, when the cancer is harder to treat.
I’m writing to ask readers to take just two minutes of their time to learn the symptoms and spread the word to their families and friends. The main symptoms of ovarian cancer are: persistent bloating, feeling full or having difficulty eating, tummy pain, and needing to wee more often or more urgently.
If you believe in a future where every woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival, please show your support and add your name to the open letter: campaign.targetovariancancer.org.uk/openletter
Sarah Greene, Target Ovarian Cancer Patron
WALKING around Redditch town centre this morning I’m struck by how little looked after green spaces there are in the area.
As someone fond of the natural world, I wonder if more groves where people could sit and contemplate might he an asset to the town?
M Thomas, Alvechurch
A LOT has been mentioned about the rising energy price cap in April for households and what the Government is doing to ‘help’.
Businesses, however, have neither the same cap or assistance.
The impact spiralling energy costs will have on companies – particularly smaller ones with no financial reserves – could be catastrophic and if cuts have to be made to jobs or working hours, it will hit already burdened households.
The Government needs to help – sooner rather than later.
Name and Address supplied
