John Wardle MBE

Whether people agreed with John or not, he always commanded respect for his determination to stand up for local interests, at Parish, District and County level.

I remember the immense pride he felt when he became the first chairman of the Labour led County Council after over 100 years of Tory control.

He was an individual, a character, who will be missed but long remembered for his work for the Labour Party and the Wyre Forest area since the second world war.

Our thoughts go to his wife Margaret and family on their loss

Lee Wright - Vice chair Wyre Forest Labour Party

Cllr Mike Kelly

Mike Kelly Labour District Councillor for Habberley & Blakebrook

Mike Kelly has been privileged to serve as a Labour District Councillor for the Habberley and Blakebrook Ward for over 30 years. Over the period Mike has gained a vast experience in the workings of local government.

Mike lives in the heart of the ward with his wife Chris at 6 Brook Street Where they have lived all their married life. Mike feels it is as important now as it has ever been that the ordinary man or woman in the street should have a strong voice on the Council.

Mike has championed many causes over the years particularly on leisure and Housing. Mike served as Chairman of both these committees helping to bring much needed play areas and organised sports facilities to our District. As the first chairman of the Wyre Forest community Housing Company Mike was instrumental in setting the Company up to serve the housing needs of our community.

Mike was privileged to be Mayor of Kidderminster and Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council as well as holding many chairmanships of organisations both at local level and at national level.

Barry McFarland is Labour Spokesperson for Habberley & Blakebrook

Barry McFarland is Labour Spokesperson for Habberley & Blakebrook

Barry McFarland has lived in Kidderminster for thirty six years.

He is married to Irene and they have four daughters, all educated at local state schools. Being an ex school teacher and college lecturer, Barry has a great interest in and understanding of Education. Until recently he worked as a national manager for trade union education.

Barry has been a District and Parish Councillor and has a great deal of experience of both local and community issues.

Paul Mills is Labour Spokesperson for Oldington and Foley Park

Paul Mills is Labour Spokesperson for Oldington and Foley Park.

Paul says,
“I am 47 years old and married with three children, who all attended local schools. I have lived in Wyre Forest all of my life and worked at Brintons for 30 years which I believe is where I built my reputation as a senior trade union representative, helping real people with real problems.

The residents of St Mary’s saw fit to elect me in May 2005 as their County Councillor, i would very much like to be given the opportunity to represent Oldington and Foley Park on Wyre Forest District Council.”

Lee Wright is Labour Spokesperson for Franche

Lee Wright is Labour Candidate for Franche.

Lee has lived in Kidderminster for over 30 years. He is a consulting engineer and a School governor and knows the specific needs of the area.

Lee says, “My priorities in fighting for better services include Education,  Training, Transport and Highways.”

David Prain is Labour Spokesperson for Sutton Park

David Prain is Labour Spokesperson for Sutton Park.

David Prain was born and educated in Manchester. He joined a national legal practice after qualifying as a solicitor. Rose through the ranks to become the senior managing partner. Retired from the profession in 2005 with 30 years legal experience. He is interested in current affairs, national & world politics, wildlife, photography and travel.

Barry: working for Habberley & Blakebrook

Barry McFarland has been working alongside councillors Lynn Hyde and Mike Kelly and County Councillor Nigel Knowles for some time.
Barry says, “ I will continue to talk to residents and fight for what they want.”

Your Labour Team will work for:

► 20 mph speed zones outside our schools.
► Improved safety at the junction of Crane St and Mason Rd.
► Improved safety at the junction of Canterbury Rd and Habberley Lane.
► A pedestrian crossing in Habberley Rd.
► Weekly collection of wheelie bins in the hottest months.
► Employment of an additional street cleaning crew.
► More modern, vandal-proof bus shelters.
► Improved bus services in our district.
► More affordable housing in the district.
► Greatly improved surfaces for our roads and pavements.
► A programme of new public toilets throughout the district.
► The abandonment of the multi-million pound expenditure on new council offices and to use the millions of pounds saved to improve and extend services for all.

How do we meet tomorrow’s health challenges?

Paul Mills is Labour Candidate for Oldington and Foley Park.

In the future, health care cannot be just about treating the sick but must be about helping us to live healthily. The alternative will be a future in which the capacity of the NHS to treat everyone simply won’t keep pace with the state of the country’s health.

Increasingly the health challenges people are facing are brought on by lifestyle choices – alcohol abuse, binge drinking, an unhealthy diet, and smoking are all contributing to demands on the health service that are otherwise avoidable. While vaccination and preventative medicines play an important role in ensuring we stay healthy there is also a clear role for individuals to improve their own lifestyles.

By promoting healthy lifestyle choices to children at a young age we will ensure our young people grow up understanding the importance of a good diet and regular exercise. Through Sure Start we are working with parents to ensure they have the support and information they need to get their children off to the best start in life.

The National Health Service celebrates its 60th birthday this year

Paul Mills is Labour Candidate for Oldington and Foley Park.

Far from showing its age the service has demonstrated in recent years it has the ability to adapt and reform to meet today’s demands. The NHS remains Britain’s most cherished public service and the fairest system of healthcare in the world. Ten years ago commentators and health experts were asking whether the NHS was a suitable mechanism to provide healthcare in a modern, prosperous nation. Today, thanks to Labour’s investment and reform, the concept of a National Health Service publicly funded through general taxation and free at the point of delivery stands unchallenged. We have got to this position through massive investment in the NHS backed up by vital reforms to make the service relevant and more accessible to patients. Waiting lists are at the lowest level since records have been kept. The maximum wait on the in-patient list is down from 18 months to six months and by the end of 2008 each and every patient will be treated within 18 weeks of their GP referral.

Palliative Care Centre

Lee Wright is Labour Candidate for Franche.

Lee Wright and Nigel Knowles collecting signatures for the Palliative Care Beds for Kidderminster campaign outside the Town Hall. You can sign up on the website or call us for petition forms.

The Tories and Health Concern support the new Radiotherapy unit at Worcester Royal Hospital as “second best for Kidderminster”. This ignores the over 6,000 people who signed the Labour petition to bring the unit to Kidderminster where there is space. This would have helped the many local people who currently have to travel to Wolverhampton, Coventry or Cheltenham.
So No Change, No Concern as usual.

You can sign the Petition online Kidderminster Hospital Petition