DO NOT ENTER OPEN WATER

Yesterday a brother and sister of eleven and six years old nearly drowned at the weir near the Five Tunnels.

Thank goodness for the brave & swift action of the passers-by, who rescued both children from the water, had it not been for them I dread to think what would have happened.

The message has to be loud and clear to children and adults alike, do not enter open water. Let's learn from this near miss here in Redditch and from the other tragedies that have taken place around the country.  Despite the warm weather, trying to cool off or have fun in lakes, rivers & ponds means you are literally risking your life and endangering others around you.  This incident must serve as a warning to us all.

I know the spot well from childhood and having visited yesterday I could see evidence that the river bank is well used.  Alarmingly, remnants of ropes hang from the trees which suggest children have used rope swings to enter the water.  I've contacted the head of Community Services for an urgent site visit to see how we can make the area more safe.

The local council cannot hope to make open water a completely safe place, however where a serious near miss has occurred involving two children, action is required.  Whether it is a sign warning of the danger which may at least deter some, to cutting back the trees to eliminate the possibility of rope swings directly over the water, I would like to see the best course of action investigated and meaningful, prompt action.

Given that drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death for children, we must raise awareness that open water is a dangerous place.  Even for strong swimmers, the cold, hidden currents and reeds are just some of the reasons that people are drowning.

In addition I take children being able to swim very seriously.  Redditch Borough Council delivers free swimming to under sixteens & over 65's and I hope children and young people especially will come to Kingsley and the Abbey Stadium to swim safely and for free this summer.

 

The weir near the Five Tunnels

 

Read about the passers-by who saved the children

Redditch to the Royal

Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary spokesperson said "When decision makers propose A&E and Maternity Services will no longer be available at the Alex they are condemning tens of thousands of people to supposedly travel to Worcester.  I want to demonstrate to them the difficulties in accessing Worcester Royal from Redditch".

If A&E and Maternity were closed at the Alex, people from Redditch and the surrounding areas are left with the real prospect of making their way to Worcester for the care they need.  To highlight how difficult this will be, Rebecca Blake challenged herself, her Labour Council colleagues and a group of hospital campaigners to use five different forms of transport to get from 'Redditch to the Royal'.

Sixteen people set off from the Alex at 11am to see how long it would take and how much it would cost  from 'Redditch to the Royal'.

Rebecca said "My team travelled by bus, while others travelled by car, train, taxi and bike.  From the Alex Hospital to Worcester Royal it was a long four hours and three buses.  I cannot imagine how stressful that would be if you were trying to get to someone who was poorly or you were heavily pregnant and not forgetting the three to four hour journey home that people without their own transport would have to make.

"Carol Pearce, pensioner from Woodrow, who is disabled did come along and found the direct bus had already left at 9.17 that morning and the next one was not until Monday morning!  It speaks volumes that pensioners and disabled people said they wanted to join us on the journey couldn't manage the ordeal.

"I suggest health bosses try the journey on public transport themselves, however just in case they do not have time I will present our video diary to them for their consideration before they close bread and butter services at the Alex and move them to Worcester".

Cllr Bill Hartnett travelling by taxi said "The final taxi fare was £26.48 for one way – I thought that is about what I spend on a weeks shopping bill. The journey took 41 minutes, Imran the Taxi driver was very efficient, however, who could afford attending regular appointments or visiting family or friends in Worcester Royal for £52.96 return?"

Redditch to the Royal

trailer 

feature length video diary    

 

 

Redditch to the Royal - Redditch Standard    Redditch to the Royal - Redditch Advertiser

 

 

 

We cannot afford indecision for the next four years on Britain's position in the EU

Rebecca said "When you consider that we have had the slowest growth since the Second World War, that we are not out of the woods in terms of a triple dip recession and that the government are borrowing nearly a quarter of a trillion more than they budgeted for, we need stability.  We cannot afford indecision for the next four years on Britain's position in the EU.

"To be credible in fighting for more jobs, investment and growth, we must show business at home and abroad that we do not voluntarily ostracise ourselves from the largest single market in the world.  Our best chance of reforming Europe is from within, not sniping at the side lines and threatening to take our ball home.

"To sum up my concerns I would quote what Lord Hesaltine said this year “To commit to a referendum about a negotiation that hasn’t begun, on a timescale you cannot predict, on an outcome that’s unknown, where Britain’s appeal as an inward investment market would be the centre of the debate, seems to me like an unnecessary gamble.”

 

When I speak to people on their doorstep each week, EU membership is rarely their top concern.  More often they want to speak to me about how we can ensure economic recovery so that the money in their pocket will go further and that their children or grandchildren will have better prospects than currently. 

When you consider that we have had the slowest growth since the Second World War, that we are not out of the woods in terms of a triple dip recession and that the government are borrowing nearly a quarter of a trillion more than they budgeted for, we need stability.  It's clear to me that the biggest challenge for our country is to kick start the economy not pulling out of Europe.  We cannot afford indecision for the next four years on Britain's position in the EU.  I do not support the backbench Bill because the instability puts jobs and growth at risk, at the worst time possible, that's not to say that I oppose a referendum in the future when we have worked at reforming the EU and we know what is on offer.

Interestingly, we have just had the County Council elections, where people had the chance to show their opposition to EU membership by voting UKIP.  Out of the seven UKIP candidates that stood in Redditch, two were elected.  Out of the eight Conservative candidates, only one was elected.  Yet Labour went from no seats to five.  The fact that the majority of people rejected the messages from Conservative and UKIP was encouraging.

I support our membership of the EU, however, that relationship must be improved.  There are legitimate concerns about our membership, such as the financial cost to us as a nation, which must reduce and immigration which needs to be better dealt with.  Labour's agenda is making the EU work better for Britain, delivering on jobs and growth.  I would like to see:

·         Further reform of the EU Budget.

·         An EU Commissioner for Growth appointed immediately to help tackle the jobs crisis in

Europe.

·         Reform of the transitional arrangements setting the terms for immigration from new 

member states.

·         Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

·         Reform of payment of family related benefits to EU migrants

·         A call on the EU to collect data on EU migration flows

·         The second seat of the European Parliament in Strasburg abolished 

·         More powers for national parliaments to block EU legislation during formulation

 

Most people accept that we live in a more globalised world.  We know so many things cross borders, whether it be business, crime and most poignantly banking - financial markets.  It's in our nations interest to have cross border solutions in conjunction with our own. 

To be credible in fighting for more jobs, investment and growth, we must show business at home and abroad that we do not voluntarily ostracise ourselves from the largest single market in the world.  Our best chance of reforming Europe is from within, not sniping at the side lines and threatening to take our ball home.

In a time where the latest figures for Worcestershire show no noticeable change for economic growth or the numbers claiming out of work benefits or young people who are not in education, employment or training, more must be done to make the EU work for Britain, turning our back on the Union is not the answer.

The UK has 1% of the world's population, we contribute 3% of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product).  It is not in our economic interest to marginalise ourselves from Europe, where 50% of our exports go.  At the same time that we see the rise  of the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, do we really think isolationism is what is best for our future prospects?  

To increase the job opportunities of our 18-24 year olds, for an economic recovery for all,  we need strong leadership in Europe to encourage investment into our country.  None of us need a Prime Minster who is putting the needs of his party before the needs of our country.

Redditch Backing the NHS

 

Yesterday people queued in the town centre to show their support for the NHS on its 65th Birthday.  A total of 380 people signed the giant birthday card during the four hour street stall.

Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson said "From children, parents to grandparents and everyone in between, hundreds of people wanted to back the NHS.  Many people said how their lives had been saved by the NHS and wrote messages stating why the NHS was important to them.

"With the challenges we face at the Alex, it is particularly important that people have the opportunity to show their support for the NHS.  We don't simply want to celebrate the past 65 years, we want to send a message that we still need it in the future.

"There were a minority of people who highlighted the problems they had experienced, whether it was accessing mental health services, a reduction in community services or at the hospital.  Making it clear to me that services need improving not cutting and staff need support, not this uncertainty about their jobs".

As well as signing the six foot birthday card, local residents shared their stories of why the NHS is important to them by writing a personal note to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health.  All responses and the card will be delivered to the Department of Health to show that Redditch not only backs services at the Alex, we also back the NHS - free at the point of use.

 

For more details Redditch Standard Redditch Advertiser

 

 

 



65th Anniversary of the NHS

"The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it" Bevan, 1948.

 

Sign the giant NHS birthday card on  the 65th anniversary of the NHS at the street stall near Three Cooks bakery in the town centre this Friday, 5th July 10.30 - 2.30.

 

Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson said "After 65 years of the NHS it now faces unprecedented demand, A&E waiting times are at a nine year high and nationally 4000 nurses have been laid off.  I'm reminded of Bevan's words in 1948 when the then Labour Government created the NHS.  "The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it".

"We could be forgiven for taking our NHS for granted, however with A&E and maternity services currently under threat at the Alex, we certainly don't in Redditch.

"I am fearful for the future of our NHS and we have to fight for it.  I welcome people to come and back the NHS this Friday on the 65th anniversary by signing the giant NHS birthday card.  Not only is this a show of support for the service we receive as patients, but it's a show of support for the NHS staff".

 

 

Thanks to Harry and Kara, two of the helpers who have made the giant NHS birthday card.