October 2008 - Newsletter from Margot James
October 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
October 7th 2008
Dear Supporter,
September was dominated by our campaign to save Post Offices in Quarry Bank, Oldswinford and Pedmore. At the time of writing it is the deadline for the public consultation phase of the Post Office (PO) closure – I mean ‘change’ programme locally so we are now on tenterhooks to see what if anything we have achieved for our residents with our campaign.
We had a successful party conference in Birmingham. It was good to have this event in the Midlands and so near to Stourbridge. See Highlights of my conference on the website . Read more
Campaigning
“Save our Post Offices”
- We collected nearly a thousand signatures for our petition to keep our POs and submitted them to the Post Office.
- We held street petitions outside Quarry Bank and Oldswinford POs
- I wrote to more than 800 petitioners and urged them to write in to the consultation enclosing a specimen letter for them to use prepared by Mike and Les.
- I wrote a detailed letter in to the consultation myself. Read more
- We distributed approximately 7,500 leaflets in the areas around the POs under threat.
We distributed 3000 full colour A3 leaflets in Wollaston, letting residents know what I and the Wollaston councillors have been doing in the last few months.
Media
- Picture and coverage in the Express & Star for the Black Country Chamber event
- Met with journalist on the Stourbridge Chronicle
- Interviewed for ‘Drive Time’ on BBC Radio WM Listen
Out and About
InI attended a meeting of the Stourbridge Area Committee.
I attended a meeting of the Stourbridge Township Council. I congratulated our Norton Councillors and members of the Township Council on the excellent progress made towards a bid for funding restoration of the wonderful gates to Mary Stevens Park.
I spoke at a breakfast meeting of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. I was delighted to find members doing very well; in all the gloom we can celebrate some Black Country companies who are exporting vast amounts of product to Germany and the Far East.
I attended the 50th anniversary of the Thomas Pocklington Trust which provides wonderful care and services for visually impaired residents in our area. The latest project which gets my support is the bid to fund a ‘sensory garden’ at the back of the Mary Stevens Centre on Hagley Road. Read more
I attended the party to celebrate the expansion of John Milner’s House of Magic in the old quarter. John is a friend of our association and it is great to see his business doing so well. Read more
I commenced my role as advisor to the Stourbridge College Young Enterprise (YE), meeting the team twice and attending a training session organised by YE in Wolverhampton. Read more
I attended a briefing on the future of the railways given by the Office of Rail Regulation.
I visited the Stourbridge Children and Family Centre, learned a great deal and was very inspired by the work they do there.
Website
www.margotjames.com
Do visit my website again, there is quite a bit of new content and best of all we now have video. I intend to add new video cuts from time to time. My partner Jay very kindly came up and filmed me out and about a few weeks ago, filming is her business so we got a good result thanks to her. The website has also been revamped and thanks go to Jon Mole at Buttermountain for the new look.
Feedback
Please forward this campaign update on to any fellow Conservatives in our area who you think would be interested.
If you would like to help the campaign in Stourbridge then please do contact me: margot@stourbridgeconservatives.com. We are always grateful for support.
Best wishes
Margot
