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An update from Philip Dunne, the MP for Ludlow
MP to be War Graves Commissioner
Disability access funding for Ludlow Station
Philip Dunne MP with Nicky Kershaw DL, James Cooper and Stefan Laird
Furniture scheme workshop South Shropshire’s Furniture Scheme has relocated its furniture finishing workshop from the Mascall Centre to a building adjacent to its shop in Tower Street where it sells renovated furniture. The workshop offers a furniture repair service for local people seeking general repairs and is where it makes up oak house signs with craftsmanship from the team of professional staff and volunteers to help raise vital funds to support work with those at risk
Tenbury Wells
Ludlow MP Philip Dunne with Rail Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, welcoming the announcement of funding to improve access to Ludlow station
of financial and social exclusion in south Shropshire. Local MP Philip Dunne was on hand to officiate at the formal opening. Mr Dunne said “I have long supported South
Ludlow
Shropshire’s Furniture Scheme based in Ludlow - now part of Wrekin Housing Group. It provides an incredibly useful service for vulnerable people looking to get back on their feet”.
Leominster Bishops Castle
£13
Offers to May 1st include:
£10
funds to improve disability access. I met Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani on several occasions to press home Ludlow’s case for inclusion in this scheme, as I had been contacted by both local residents and visitors to our town concerned about poor access between platforms for those with mobility issues. I am grateful to Shropshire Access Group, Ludlow Rail Users, Marches Rail Users Alliance, Ludlow’s Mayor, and Shropshire Council and Councillors who supported my campaign.”
Philip Dunne has welcomed this month’s announcement of government funding to improve disability access at Ludlow Railway Station, following his successful campaign. Mr Dunne coordinated the campaign to help Ludlow receive funding through the Access for All scheme, which helps install accessible, step free routes at railway stations, in addition to access improvements the rail sector is required to deliver. The Government made up to £300m available to extend the Access for All programme across the next five years from 2019 to 2024. The Ludlow MP was spurred to action following concerns raised by local residents and visitors to Ludlow suffering from poor access from the ticket hall on the northbound platform to the southbound platform at the station. Figures from the Office of Rail and Road had shown that Ludlow is the busiest station between Hereford and Shrewsbury, yet suffered from poor disability access and no lift. Over 300,000 people started or finished their journey at Ludlow Station in 2017/18. Mr Dunne said: “I am delighted Ludlow has been successful in the Access for All programme, and will benefit from
Carlsberg Pilsner 10x330ml
£10
Fosters 10x440ml
£9
.50
Jagermeister 50cl
Offers April 25th to May 8th include: Utterly Butterly 500g
£1 Walls Slices (VAS)
£1 Don’t forget your milk!
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has announced South Shropshire MP, Rt Hon Philip Dunne, will become one of four new Commissioners. Mr Dunne takes up his four year (unremunerated) post alongside Dame Judith Mayhew-Jonas DBE, Vasuki Shastry, and Diana Johnson MP, succeeding Keith Simpson MP, Kevan Jones MP, Robert Fox and Professor Sir Hew Strachan, on the completion of their terms. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, and ensures they will never be forgotten. Mr Dunne said “The commemorations of the First World War centenaries over the past five years have brought the sacrifice of our forebears through the horror of the First World War sharply into focus for present generations. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission exists to commemorate those who were lost and tend over 23,000 cemeteries and memorials in more than 150 countries to the men and women of the Commonwealth who were killed during the First and Second World Wars. Many people around the world have sought information about their family members lost in the two world wars. The CWGC is continually updating and improving its remarkable website with online archive and database to help people find information about loved ones and others who died, to ensure they will never be forgotten. As a former Defence Minister, I take particular pride in being able to assist the work of the Commission, and look forward to contributing in whatever way I can.”
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Offers April 25th to May 15th include: Pork Farm Pork Pie 295g or 4-pack (pork/ pork & pickle)
£1 Cathedral City Cheddar Mature/ Extra Mature 350g
£2 .75
£3 .50
Pepsi 2-litre Max/ Max Cherry/Diet
Whiskas casserole selection 12 pouches
£1 .50
Nescafe Gold coffee sachets (8) (VAS)
£1 Galaxy 107g - 135g (VAS)
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E&OE
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TEME VALLEY TIMES
All Change in Malvern Renovation work to the Council Chamber means that Malvern Hills District Council is currently holding Council and Planning Committee meetings at County Hall in Worcester. In recent years the Council has carried out a lot of work in Malvern, including refurbishing Council House. The staff used to be split between Brunel House (also in Malvern) and Council House, but a decision was taken to house everyone in one building, and that this would be the Council House. Consequently Brunel House became redundant, allowing the Council to plan its sale. Portland House, across the road from Council House, also once housed a number of the Council’s staff, but this building was vacated some years ago. However, recent times have seen a buyer come forward. In addition, it was decided to market a redundant site on Priory Road, which also hadn’t been utilised for a number of years. The effect of this rationalisation is a significant boost to the Council’s coffers. A more recent change is the creation of a reception facility at Council House. For years this building has not been directly open to the public, but the new reception will enable residents to readily visit the Council at its offices - a change many will welcome. In addition, bringing outsourced telephone services in-house is expected to save a substantial sum. This change will also help ease pressure on the Council’s finances, which are under substantial pressure due to reductions in funding from central government. Another public-facing change is the relocation of Malvern Tourist Information Centre (TIC), from its
Volunteers needed!
Tourist Information Centre current location on Church Street to Lyttelton Well, just a short stroll away. Work is underway to convert the former Great Malvern Priory Parish Office at Lyttleton Well to become the TIC’s new home, with an opening date scheduled for Friday 17 May. The TIC will continue in its current location until Sunday 12 May, when it will close for a few days to allow the move to take place. Two TIC staff are taking voluntary redundancy.
The Kyre Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) are seeking volunteer helpers to get horses ready and lead riders during their coaching sessions. The group meets every Friday in term time 12.30-3pm at Bockleton, near Tenbury Wells. Whether you would like to lead a horse and rider or would be interested in training to become a coach, you can phone 07866 681165 for more information.
Portland House
Council Chamber
Lyttelton Well
Vet Surgery for Great Witley? A planning application has been submitted for the demolition of an existing barn, the erection of new two storey veterinary surgery with overnight staff accommodation, and associated site works. The plans show that the ground floor would include three consulting rooms, two waiting areas (cat waiting and dog waiting), and facilities including X-ray
New Reception Facility at Council House
and dental. The first floor would include offices, a staff room, bedroom and living room/kitchen. The proposal would involve creating a new access to the site, on the main Worcester Road, and the provision of 21 parking spaces. Public consultation ends on April 24th so anyone who wishes to make a comment, whether supporting or opposing the application, should do so by then.
Skills To Help Save Life Herefordshire Heartstart is a voluntary organisation, established in 1996 to teach the people of Herefordshire emergency life support skills. These skills are the actions needed to keep someone alive until the emergency services arrive. The goal is to train as many people in Herefordshire as possible in basic emergency life support. The instructors are volunteers from all walks of life, all with the same notion - to save lives. To date over 24,000 people, of all ages, have been trained. When someone suffers a life-threatening emergency their life may depend on a bystander. That bystander could be you! Would you know what to do? The aim is to save lives in the community by strengthening the ‘chain of survival’. A free 2 hour course teaches the skills you may need in an emergency situation. It could be one of the most valuable things you’ll ever learn. Your skills may mean the difference between life and death for a friend or family member. The courses are open to the general public but groups such as The WI, church groups, sports clubs and community groups are also taught. Courses are free but there is an opportunity to make a donation at the end of the course. The courses cover: how to call for help, dealing with an unconscious casualty, suspected heart attacks, choking, severe bleeding, how to administer CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Public courses are scheduled to take place at Leominster Library on Saturday 27th April, 10am-12noon and at Leominster Golf Club on Monday 29th April, 7-9pm. To book a place contact Sarah on 0845 6060654 or email info@ herefordshireheartstart.org - booking is essential.
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TEME VALLEY TIMES
Ice Age Ponds Training Day
ECHO and Blue Penguin at Brimfield Newly-opened Blue Penguin Antiques, run by Jo and Paul Hobson, recently welcomed the creative team from Studio Mirai, whose furniture they will now be stocking. Studio Mirai is part of ECHO, a local charity that provides support and services for adults with disabilities. The studio offers work-based opportunities to learn skills and develop design ideas. It is an upcycling project, saving pieces from landfill or scrap and giving them a new lease of life. Jonathan Stevenson, Project Leader at Studio Mirai said “We wanted to find a suitable retail outlet and the team are very excited that Jo and Paul want us to be part of Blue Penguin. The team here work to a high standard and have tremendous pride in the pieces they create. Knowing that someone will buy our furniture and give it a new home is what it’s all about.” Jo Hobson added “This new location at Brimfield is ideal for us being between Leominster and Ludlow - towns already wellknown for antiques and collectables. The new site means we have been able to expand our collection and the pieces from Studio Mirai fit very well. We are delighted to be working with them.”
Jo and Paul Hobson from Blue Penguin Antiques together with staff and the team from Studio Mirai
What a Fiddle!
Nigel Caldicott let us have these words about a recent concert at Clows Top. Clows Top Victory Hall was the venue for a recent evening of music from The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc. A near capacity audience was given a truly memorable demonstration of the group’s remarkable fiddling skills and musical expertise. Hailing from Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Isles the trio entertained the audience with examples of traditional fiddle music from their homelands and further afield delighting everyone who attended. Olav Mjelva from Norway played the Octave and Hardanger Fiddles whilst Anders Hall from Sweden performed using Fiddle and Viola and Kevin Henderson from Shetland played the Fiddle. Their performance (made without any sound enhancing equipment) was so harmonious and well matched that the Chairman of Clows Top Victory Hall, Roger Dyer, said “Everyone here tonight has enjoyed a truly wonderful performance: so much so that we will certainly be looking forward to inviting The Fiddlers Bloc back to Clows Top sometime in the next year.” His remarks received the unanimous support of the audience who had braved the rather wintry weather to enjoy the genuine warmth, humour and dedication of the musicians.
The Fiddlers Bloc in performance
Would you like to learn about Ice Age Ponds, their wildlife and geological origins, and how to help keep them for future generations? ‘Conserving Herefordshire’s Ice Age Ponds’, funded by the Heritage Lottery, is running a one day training course for volunteers. Working with geologists and ecologists from the project you will learn about how Ice Age Ponds were formed, why they are unique and how to record the geology and find and identify wildlife. The training day is on May 11th at Pembridge Village Hall. The indoor morning session includes an introduction to the Ice Age in Herefordshire and the landforms it left behind, an introduction to Pond Ecology and an introduction to field survey techniques for Ecology and Geology. The outdoor afternoon session will give a practical demonstration and chance to have a go at doing Geological recording, substrate core samples using augers, GPS recording of water levels and water quality testing plus a practical demonstration of Ecological recording techniques, habitat mapping, and dipping for invertebrates. No previous experience of ecology or geology is necessary, full training in the use of GPS, water quality meters and pond survey techniques will be given. The aim of the training is to provide volunteers with the skills necessary to complete pond surveys to collect data for the Ice Age Ponds project. Training lasts from 10am - 4pm and all equipment, plus hot drinks and biscuits, will be provided. You will just need to bring suitable outdoor clothing and lunch. The training session is free but places are limited and booking is essential - email project manager David Hutton: d.hutton@herefordshirewt.co.uk