March 2009 - Newsletter from Margot James

March newsletter
Keeping you up to date with my latest activities in Stourbridge. The latest campaigns, letters to the press and events in and around Stourbridge


March 2nd 2009

Dear Supporter,

One of the worst hit sectors in this recession is retail and one company’s results struck me in particular last week. Westfield, the mall owner who owns Merry Hill, posted a $2.2 billion loss. Retail landlords across the country are suffering so perhaps they will be forced to reduce rents further. And about time too as they have been on an upward spiral for years at the expense of specialist retailers, many of whom have gone under as a result.

This is of particular relevance for Stourbridge where 16% of our shops lie empty.  This problem is by no means unique to Stourbridge. According to marketing and consumer consultancy Experian, 90,000 shops across the UK were empty in February, up from 63,500 in December. But Stourbridge is among the worst affected areas. However some of the towns surrounding Stourbridge are still doing well, see my report on Wollaston below, where just 6% of outlets stand empty and the whole area seems to be thriving despite the recession. 

 Campaigning

• Results are coming in from two surveys, one in Dudley Wood and another across Pedmore, Lye and Cradley & Foxcote. In Dudley Wood the vast majority of people were concerned about the lack of police presence and in the other survey council tax ran immigration and anti-social behaviour a close second.
• We produced a new leaflet for Pedmore and have almost finished delivery.  We have also canvassed hard in Pedmore in advance of the European elections. My thanks to everyone who has supported these efforts. From next week onwards we will be focussed on Wollaston.
• Theresa May visited and spoke at a tea party hosted by Shirley Anne Knowles. We celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of Wollaston and Norton Ladies branch in the presence of two founder members. A big thank you to Shirley Anne whose parties are legendary and this one was one of the best.
• Good news for the campaign to protect the glass collection at Broadfield House.  Dudley Council has agreed that the collection will not have to move before suitable, purpose built accommodation has been identified for this world renowned part of our heritage.
• Following a press report that dogs and cats found dead on the roads were not automatically tested for a microchip I got on to the council and they have now agreed to purchase a microchip scanner so that at least owners of micro-chipped pets will know what happened to their pet, awful to lose your pet but worse not to know what happened to them.  By the way, the government shifted responsibility for stray dogs from the police to local authorities last year and as is always the case provided funding that was grossly inadequate. Dudley Council has at least made up the difference (approximately double the amount awarded by central government) which is more than some other councils have done. Thanks to our environment lead member Cllr. Karen Shakespeare.
• Residents around Gauden Road and the Queensway were pleased with the results of my work on roads in that area. Resurfacing was brought forward and the pavement is now being inspected. Read more

 Out and About

• I attended the Pedmore Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting and reported back on my work to improve parking on Church Road and Priory Road plus my bid to get the station car park enlarged at Stourbridge Junction.
• A highlight of my month was the launch of the Wollaston Traders Association at a meeting I attended organised by Paul Whitehouse, owner of a nice new café on Wollaston High Street. Attended by over 40 people including a large number of traders it was a brilliantly organised event. I can really see the potential for Wollaston to become a destination shopping centre. I am working to help the new association and my first project is to try and secure a farmer’s market. Read more
• I visited the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton – the centre provides excellent services to visually impaired people in Stourbridge and I was very impressed.  Read more 
• The Stourbridge Business Breakfast Group, run by Talbots Solicitors invited me to speak and I spoke on my background and the economy. Read more

• I also spoke to Humanities students at King Edward’s College. The students were very well informed and later I sat in on a politics A level class which was fascinating. The staff I spoke to were concerned about the government’s new diploma for sixth form students, I believe that this is yet another development that will undermine academic standards. 
• Along with Councillor colleagues I attended the public meeting organised by my opponent on the future of Stourbridge Town. There were some good presentations, in particular from Cllr. Malcolm Knowles, Lynette Cutting (Principal Stourbridge College) and John Parry.
  

Feedback

Please forward this campaign update on to any fellow Conservatives in our area who you think would be interested.