Editor’s Comment
THE Money Advice Service’s decision to maintain its funding for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s debt support in South Worcestershire represents good news all round.
For many the CAB is a shining light which provides many with hope that their life debilitating problems can be solved.
Credit should go to Les Kinmond from the South Worcestershire branch for acting so quickly and alerting local MP’s who in turn should be commended for relaying the concerns.
But the MAS should also be applauded for doing what many organisations are failing to do in this current climate; listen to local people.
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I WOULD like to respond to the letter from Christine Jones in the 23rd July issue of the Malvern Observer, titled “Houses are not a threat to our safety”. She makes five valid comments about poor behaviour of motorists including not keeping to speed limits and various poor parking issues. She concludes that Lower Howsell would be safer if drivers’ behaviour improved, a view with which I would agree. However, unless the police provide a permanent presence in the area motorists behaviour will not improve and people will continue to flout the law and Highway Code. Hence, the proposed development of around 110 houses with access onto Lower Howsell Road will surely lead to at least another 200 cars and actually increase the risk of accidents already enhanced by current drivers poor behaviour.
Also, those living on the Leigh Sinton side of the proposed development will probably see less difference in passing traffic levels compared to those living towards the Link and in particular Summerfield Road. Our safety will be compromised when the proposed extra traffic uses these roads to access Malvern and Worcester.
Chris Harris
Via email
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WHILST I applaud both the decisions to purchase defibrillators and to roll out a CPR training programme, I am nevertheless concerned. The units are to be sited on council property, which is closed to the public. Further, two of the properties are quite close together and so one at least would appear redundant. I wonder if the council would reconsider their siting and perhaps consider buildings where there is a much greater public presence – the library and the Cube being very obvious alternatives.
I congratulate those who have campaigned to have these life saving machines purchased.
Geoffrey Carver
Crown Lea Avenue
Malvern
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ANTHONY Warburton’s letter of last week is both accurate and amazingly timely. The ruling Tories on MHDC have several undesirable characteristics; they conceive plans in private which only espouse a single course of action, they refuse to discuss alternatives, they ignore their own constitution, they decline constructive advice, they paint ludicrously exaggerated scenarios of what might happen if their warped vision is not enacted. I could go on, but I feel that your readers should be spared any further pain. There was a time when councillors were looked up to and in turn proudly championed the best needs of their constituents. Oh happy days.
Francis Whiston
Worcester Road, Malvern
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I AM constantly amused by the writings of certain individuals who regularly appear in your letters column.
Their sole purpose seems to be to criticise the actions of the Conservative led administration within Malvern Hills District Council.
If they are really so well informed and knowledgeable as to be able to always know better than the elected members and at times the officers of the council and clearly have plenty of time on their hands I wonder why they don’t step forward and put themselves up for election, there is always more chance of influencing something from within than from without.
Could it be that there is more to it, perhaps they are not merely concerned members of the public and are acting as the unofficial voices of the opposition parties albeit thinly disguised?
Tony Baker
Queens Road, Malvern
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ACROSS Britain the Internet is on the rise and the high street is in decline, over 80 per cent of independent shops have closed, but Barnards Green shops totally bucks the national trend. The traders are thriving because they offer quality, range, value and personal service.
They also enhance our community with festivities like the carnival and community hospital fundraising, despite harsh trading conditions, the recession and shoplifting.
It is estimated that half of the turnover of an independent local retailer goes back into the local community. The traders have every right to expect that the community that they serve and support will do everything possible to protect their premises and livelihoods through monitored vigilance.
In 2013 there were several break-ins at retail premises in Barnards Green resulting in CCTV cameras and reassuring words from MHDC’s Street Scene Team. Recently, another spate of burglaries highlighted one of the CCTV cameras installed in December had been reassigned. That is an absolute scandal.
As a Neighbourhood Watch group coordinator I am appalled the numbers of portable CCTV cameras are so limited. They not only help to protect out of hours premises, they also protect residents and their property.
The blame for this open goal does not lie with our excellent police team, neither is it the fault of MHDC Street Scene. The three district councillors responsible for Malvern Chase have failed to draw attention to the funding required for adequate CCTV cameras.
If they do not ask the council to finance portable CCTV cameras specifically for Barnards Green, I will speak at the next district council meeting and demand attention to the issue.
Martin Lawrence
Neighbourhood Watch coordinator
