RUGELEY FORUM SHOCK

Hagley Ward District Councillor Tony Williams, makes the following observations in relation to the Town's latest Community Forum meeting.

Well on Monday evening at the Rugeley and Brereton Forum I was amazed to see that the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate had finally decided to make an appearance at this long standing community event, he came along with his entourage of local Tories ( It must be election time) but then when we got to the most important item on the agenda, policing issues and anti-social behaviour, he stood up and walked out!

Bad Manners or Lack of Interest

He didn't even have the courtesy to give an explanation for his early departure to the chairman, and to the best of my knowledge had not said a single word to anybody at any point during the meeting, he also failed to make any comments in relation to any of the issues being discussed. This obvious lack of interest in the matters being raised by residents was also supported by the Tory County Councillors who came with him, as not one of them could be bothered to make a contribution either or simply didn't know about or understand what was being debated, and some of them were also Rugeley Town Councillors!

How can you represent the people if you're not even prepared to interact with them? I certainly would not want to elect anyone who will not talk to me, let alone speak up for me! It's time the Conservatives got a reality check, its people that matter.

By the way, I think his name was Aidan Burley, but as he did not bother to introduce himself to anyone I can not be sure!

New Threat To Pear Tree Drains

Liberal Democrat Councillors Neil Stanley and Tony Williams would like to inform all Pear Tree estate residents of the latest attempt by a developer to build on the former garage site at the rear of Hislop Road.

Councillor Neil Stanley

Councillor tony Williams

Following their failure to obtain clear planning permission for the garage sites on the Pear Tree Estate, the landowner has sold the sites to a "Local Developer. This developer has submitted an application to build houses on the derelict garages site behind Hislop road, on this small site with very restricted access they are hoping to build three terraced houses.

They have also clearly indicated in the application their intention to connect to the existing sewerage and drainage system, which is owned by all the residents of the estate. In 2006 a planning appeal inspector said that a drainage clause would have to be included in any planning application, and that no new development can connect to the current system unless it had been improved or had been adopted by Severn Trent. The developer is also trying to force existing tenants to give up their garages that they are renting by placing notices on the garages saying that they have 14 days to contact the new owners or the locks will be smashed off the garages and the contents disposed of, even though the tenants have been paying their rent to Boot & sons, the agents for the previous owners.

Tenants have told Tony that even Boot & sons have been shocked at the notices and had no idea that ownership had changed hands. Tony & Neil will represent residents interests at the Planning committee when the application comes before the committee.

RAIL SERVICE CUTS ABANDONED

Councillor Ray Easton - Pressed the County Council to take action to prevent cuts.

"London Midland and Centro have issued a statement withdrawing the earlier threatened reduction to passenger rail services along the Chase Line from Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock to Walsall and Birmingham. This welcome news means that the half-hourly daytime service and the evening services along the line will continue. With high city-centre car-parking charges, other motoring costs and road congestion, these service have been well used. Liberal Democrat led Cannock Chase Council and Liberal Democrat controlled Brereton and Ravenhill Parish Council were among the bodies that lobbied to maintain the service; while recently elected Liberal Democrat County Councillor Ray Easton actively lobbied Staffordshire County Council, raising the matter at its last full council meeting."