Write to us at the Malvern Observer, Webb House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8BP or email [email protected]
Letters are welcome on most subjects but please do try to keep them brief and preferably no more than 350 words. Letters may be cut for reasons of space, decency and the law.
Editor’s Comment
IT’S GREAT to see the men at Malvern Splash fully embracing the Movember campaign – going further than most would to raise awareness and cash for the cause.
Throughout the month seeing men having varying success in growing their ‘tache is great and hopefully serves as a reminder to women (and any men not sporting facial hair) to donate towards the cause.
However I hope everyone taking part ensures they raise money alongside having a little bit of fun. With the increasing numbers of high profile charity events such as the ice bucket challenge it must be tempting for some to take part in the enjoyable side of it without promoting the serious underlying message.
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IN RESPONSE to the article ‘Council urged to use outside investigators’ in the Malvern Observer (November 5), Coun Adrian Ward is completely wrong.
At no point was it agreed by the town council’s Governance Working Party, which I was a member, that the Mayor should have the sole power to suspend the town clerk.
It was discussed at one of the group’s meetings, which Coun Ward did not attend, but we all felt it would be wrong.
Councillor Ward, who was also a member of the group, only attended the first meeting and the last and he agreed to every single one of our recommendations. It was only when the proposals came to Full Council on October 1, 2013, he stood up and proposed several amendments and warned we may face legal action if we did not approve them.
When a complaint came forward it was looked at by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and chairs of Policy and Resources, Operations as well as Strategic Planning committees.
They made a full report to Full Council who agreed to bring in a HR expert to investigate. The conclusion was that disciplinary action should be taken and the Mayor would inform the town clerk he was suspended.
But again, he was never given the sole decision-making power to suspend and it was never formally proposed.
Patrick Mewton
Malvern Town Councillor
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THE MALVERN Observer (November 5) contains an article on the subject of rural superfast broadband in which County Coun Simon Geraghty trumpets about the arrival of upgraded services in the sticks.
It would be wise of those resident or working in such far-flung areas to do their homework and check that they will actually be offered a connection.
Recently, it was announced that my village of Hanley Swan was to be ‘connected’ and there was much delight locally at the prospect. However, it transpires that only two of the four cabinets in the village are included in the scheme meaning that at least 25 businesses are to be disadvantaged and will become uncompetitive compared to their neighbours a few hundred yards away.
Effectively, businesses – the local wealth and job producers – will continue to struggle while other folk just down the road can order their grocery delivery at an unnecessary 80Mb/s. The situation has been raised with the county council by many villagers but has been met with a cool, stock negative response which does nothing to reinforce the claim that the county council is doing everything it can to support rural businesses, let alone residents. How is it logical that a village with 100+ businesses should be split in two like this?
If you are in an outlying village and are rubbing your hands at the prospect of increased internet speeds, I recommend that you visit http://www.superfastworcestershire.com/cabinet-status to find out which cabinets are to be upgraded in your area and then visit http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/ to discover which cabinet serves you.
It’s strange that you have to dig for this information – it’s not all in one place! Then, if your village has been ‘broken up’ like Hanley Swan and you are on the losing side, contact Simon Geraghty via the county council website and express your concern.
Ian Thompson
Via e-mail
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I READ, with interest, your article in the Malvern Observer (October 29) reference the enquiry that the current Mayor has stated that will be held.
Whilst I will be interested in the outcome of this, as a rate payer, I am more interested in what this is going to cost us in increased rates.
Your article states that the cost to the council will be only £60,000. I find this figure hard to believe. Surely the council incurred other costs such as their legal costs, the payment to Angela Roberts and salary to Richard whilst he was on ‘gardening leave’.
I feel that these costs need more light shedding on them, so that we know how the rates will increase to cover then, and the cost to us
M Sneath
Via email
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UKIP is sometimes criticised for not having ‘green’ policies so it is good news to hear Sir Simon Jenkins, who is just retiring as head of the National Trust, say that UKIP is the only party which recognises the threat to the rural countryside from unwanted building projects.
The grassroot supporters of other parties may recognise the threat but their leaderships in their Westminster bubble are determined to build more and more houses on greenfield sites.
In this area UKIP and the Independents have opposed various housing planning applications whereas the Conservative run council goes ahead with developments all over the area regardless of local opposition.
Even Conservative councillors are cashing in, selling their land for development and hitting the jackpot!
Richard Chamings
PPC UKIP
