Amtrak update

I spoke to one of the administrators at Amtrak today who confirmed to me that 400 jobs have gone in Aldridge. He has assured me that HR staff will be kept on next week to help get the relevant paperwork sorted for staff. This completed paperwork will enable them to sign on or search for other work.

I have also spoken to the Chief Executive of Walsall Council and requested that they co-ordinate the many agencies who are able to help the staff affected. The Council are going to work on this and something will be announced next week. Hopefully some sort of one-stop-shop session can be set up to help people enrole with the Jobcentre, look for reskilling and meet employers in the Borough who require staff. This will hopefully help some people out.

Also on September 10 there is a jobs fair at Darlaston Town Hall with companies from the public and private sector in attendance. People can get information about job opportunities, practical advice on how to apply for jobs and handle interviews, advice on training opportunities and advice on how to handle their finances during what can be a difficult time. This had been set up prior to the Amtrak news but anyone can go along.

A sad day for Aldridge and we’ll try and do whatever we can to minimise the impact on the town and help those affected.

Jobs to go at Amtrak

I was bitterly disappointed to hear the news today that 400 jobs are to go at Amtrak, including a large number in Aldridge.

This is a serious blow to the town and my thoughts go out to my constituents who are affected. It is also going to be a blow to the businesses that rely on custom from Amtrak workers. I hope the Council will offer any support it can to those workers and those affected.

This comes on the back of news that Shire Oak quarry has been mothballed as I reported earlier. Sadly it looks as if the impact of the economic situation has only just started.

If you are a business and need advice there is more information on services such as economic regeneration here: http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/business.htm

What do YOU want Conservatives to do for YOU?

Elections are held every year in Walsall – except every fourth year – when European elections and county council elections are held. Of course we don’t fall into a shire county so unless Gordon Brown is feeling daring the only opportunity for you to vote this year is in the European elections. I’m sure i’ll post more on those next year.

Just because there are no local elections it doesn’t mean that councillors, MPs and activists stop working. It is actually a great time to get around the ward door knocking without people thinking you’re after their vote! It’s also a great time to reflect on how our Conservative policies are working in Walsall. I want to use the next year to shape ideas that the Conservatives can implement to make your life better.

So here is my invitation to you – what would you like your Conservative run council to deliver? What would be your policy priorities? What matters to you? I’d be interested to hear what you would like Conservatives to deliver for you.

Is your priority a low Council tax increase? Perhaps something local like a rebuilt leisure facility at Oak Park? Perhaps introducing a policy of reviewing all speed limits on roads in Walsall?

This is your chance to help me to form Conservative policy. If you don’t tell me what you want – I won’t know! Post in the comments or email to mike@mikeflower.com

It doesn’t have to be restricted to local comments – any national comments I will pass onto the Shadow Cabinet.

Post Office update

Good news for Aldridge North and Walsall Wood. As far as i’m aware both of our Post Offices are not subject to the closure consultation. So thats a relief.

I also had Development Control tonight. A few controversial items on the agenda with common sense prevailing in most cases. Seems like ages since we’ve had some applications from Aldridge North & Walsall Wood.

Time to review speed cameras

I support my colleague’s call to review all of the speed cameras in Walsall Borough. I only wish every Council would do the same! If you missed the story you can read it here: http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/08/18/speed-cameras-axed-in-overhaul/

I do think that properly placed speed cameras work – they reduce accidents and save lives. For example in a residential area with a straight section of road – where speeding is common place – it makes sense to put a camera. However there are other cameras I just don’t get – they don’t seem to be aimed in the right way. Take the one outside Walsall Wood School. It’s facing away from the school, whereas logic would say it should face the school so people slow down when approaching the school. Whilst it might have served a purpose once, I just don’t get what it does now. Likewise there are many on the Chester Road where there are hardly any houses and people once quite safely did the national speed limit. People who drive on this road speed, break and speed and break again. It’s dangerous, uses more petrol and just pointless.

The Borough is full of these sorts of camera that maybe served a purpose once and now offer nothing more than a cash generator.

My second bone of contention is that the money from these things – as far as I understand – goes straight back to the Treasury. I quote from the Government website: “All fines go to HM Treasury. Neither the police nor local councils profit from fines.” Why? Why is it not ringfenced to spend on improvements in Walsall Wood or even Walsall?

And thirdly – why do they put up speed camera signs in areas where there are no speed cameras? It just causes people to suddenly break until they realise they have been conned.

I’d much prefer to see those flashing speed signs stuck all over the place instead. They seem to have loads of them in Wales and rural districts. I know they make me think – so why don’t the Government buy us a few out of the speed camera cash we’re giving them? That’d be logical I guess.

So if you know of any speed cameras that you think don’t do what they are supposed to do – reduce speed and save lives – then do tell Anthony. I know he’s keen to hear.

Are taxis causing you a nuisance?

I have a meeting this Thursday with a local taxi firm in Walsall Wood and the other councillors. We have had lots of complaints from residents about their parking close to junctions and using the lorry park on Beechtree Road. This has made it difficult for lorries to use safely from time to time. If you have any information or thoughts please email me in confidence: flowermd@walsall.gov.uk

People do read this blog!

I’ve been flicking through some of the stats on my blog. This is just since I moved this to WordPress and so doesn’t include the time around the by-election in November 2006 – so I guess about 18 months worth.

Total hits: 21,741
Posts: 264
Comments: 148

The busiest day was the day after I was re-elected – May 4th 2007 with a respectable 151 hits.

I try to blog as often as possible – although I have had some time out from time to time. Ok these figures aren’t thousands and thousands but if I was offered the chance to talk directly to 30 people everyday then I would. So I guess blogging to an extent is worthwhile.

Would anyone have any thoughts either way on video posts? I don’t particularly want to put my ugly mug on camera but would anyone have an interest in video on some of my stories from time to time?

Consultation will be online

I also understand that the consultation will be available to access online here: http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/regeneration/community_consultation.htm

Posters are being produced and will be put up shortly. If you want a poster please let me know. The Council press release can be found at: http://www.walsall.gov.uk/news/have_your_say_on_walsall_wood_scheme.htm

Public consultation on High Street plans

Details of the public consultation on Walsall Wood High Street have been published in the Express and Star tonight (I know not everyone buys the Star so the Council have press released it to all the local free weekly papers too).

You can read a copy of the article here: http://mikeflower.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/es-regeneration.pdf

The dates will be: 8/10/12 September between 10-1pm and 2-6pm. Also Saturday 13th September 10-1 and 2-4 – at Walsall Wood Library. If in doubt give one of the three local councillors a call.

Free intercom spy holes

Walsall Centre for Independent Living has a number of intercom spy holes free to disabled people or people over 50 living in Walsall. If you know of anyone who would benefit from one please let me know.

Fitting of the spy holes can be purchased from Age Concern at £7.50 if required. If not and people can fit their own or make their own arrangements they are free. Note the intercoms only fit wooden doors NOT plastic.

Surgery this Saturday

My surgery this Saturday will be 10am to 11am at Walsall Wood Library. Please come and see me if you have any questions or queries or just need some advice.

I will have to leave promptly at 11 o’clock though so I can get home in time to watch West Brom give Arsenal a footballing lesson!

At the heart of the Wood

Myself, Keith and Anthony spent a good hour and a half walking around the Walsall Wood High Street regeneration area this afternoon. We wanted to really visualise what people have proposed and bounce ideas off people we met. I have to say it was really worthwhile.

We went down to the underpass while it was raining to find a lot of young people congregating under there so we thought we’d have a chat with them. They were really open to talk to us because we weren’t the police! They wanted the underpass repainting. Why I asked. “Because we don’t like WS8 tags, this is our WS9 area” said the one. It turns out that Walsall Wood refer to themselves as WS9, whereas Brownhills are WS8. Apparantly WS8 enjoy coming down and taking over their wallls with their tags which causes fights. You learn something new every day!

So I asked them what they would do if we shut the underpass and where would they go? They were horrifed at the thought. “We’d get wet, there is no where else to go” said the one, whilst another just wanted to paint their tags.

So I suggested a youth shelter which they could have, not far from the underpass, which they could tag to their hearts delight. Their eyes lit up and they declared that sounded cool and they’d ditch the underpass for that.

Interestingly the police have got back to me to suggest that crime stats down at the underpass aren’t an issue at the moment but that the “ideal scenario I would say block off the underpass and install a pedestrian crossing on the Lichfield Road” because the underpass is not easy to police due to “little natural surveillance” (under the road!)

So perhaps the answer after all this is to brick up both ends of the underpass (installing a door for inspection purposes) and building a youth shelter with the engagement of the local young people that they can own and use as their own. That can then be monitored and the area can then be upgraded. As Del Boy would say “everyone’s a winner”. Now lets see if we can make this happen.

This is just one reflection from today. I’ll post more tomorrow with an update on the next phase for the project.

Do I really look that young?!

A contact of mine in the local press has accused me of looking “frighteningly young” which reminded me of the by-election I won back in Nov 2006.

I was in Links Side Way in Aldridge and a lady was out in her garden. She took one look at me and cried “I know who you are”. I was delighted. The first time I had been recognised since the campaign had started. Wonderful I thought, someone is reading the leaflets.

“You’re the son of the candidate” she replied.

How difficult is it to fill a hole?!

So far all the responses I have had have been to close the underpass under the Lichfield Road. I’m still waiting for some stats from the Police and some feedback from the Youth Service so the decision is still pending.

However with the pendulum swinging towards closure it makes sense to find out how you close an underpass. Silly me thought a pile of earth at each entrance should be enough. When I asked some external contacts for some advice I was told it’s much more complicated.

“Where there is an open underpass, the underside can be accessed for maintenance etc. etc. Once filled in, this is not the case. Because you are not able to fill from the top and compact as you go, no matter how hard you try to fill from the sides, there will be a small void at the top, which will increase over time as the material settles. Normally, if this is the situation beneath a highway, you would be required to pump in a cemetitious grout to fill the remaining void, which is not cheap.”

So there you go. It could require a military operation to seal off the underpass. Alternatively perhaps we should board both ends up (including an access door for maintenance) and put some public art on both ends. What would people think of that? Does any one have any good ideas or methods?

Post Office closures?

All across the country communities are taking part in the Post Office’s “network change programme” and it’s not long before the spotlight falls on Walsall. I think the date to look out for is the 27th August – more information on the Post Office website here: http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=57600693&mediaId=57600697

We don’t yet know how this will affect Aldridge North and Walsall Wood – if at all. However everyone should be ready to fight should either of our two Post Offices get named for closure. So keep an eye out in the local press and when the time comes make sure your voice is heard.