Super fast Broadband - or lack of!

This issue is second only to the inappropriate planning applications dumped on the ward in terms of complaints.

High speed broadband requires network upgrading from copper to opical fibre connections. Telford & Wrekin as a Borough is one of the worst served in this regard, thanks mainly to the current Labour administration's failure to adopt BDUK support for upgrading.

The result is that many areas of the ward are left with cabinets which BT deem to be not economically viable for upgrading.

In the absence of Council support the only resort is for affected residents to directly lobby BT, in the hope that their perception of market demand might be positively swayed.

I have raised this issue at Scrutiny and will be working with Shadow Cabinet Colleagues to attempt to influence change.

November Advice Surgery

This month's advice surgery is on for the third Saturday of the month as always, this time 16th November, 10.30-11.30 in the Community room, Horsehay Village Hall. All ward residents welcome, no appointment required. Look forward to seeing you there!

August Advice Surgery

This month's Advice Surgery is coming up next Saturday 17th August 10.30 - 11.30 as usual at Horsehay Village Hall in the Community room. All residents welcome to come along with any queries or issues about life in Horsehay & Lightmoor Ward (incorporating the top end of Lawley). You don't need an appointment. I look forward to seeing you there.

Advice Surgery for July

This month's Advice Surgery will be on Saturday 20th, 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. in the Community Room, Horsehay Village Hall.

If you have a question or concern about any aspect of living in the ward please do come along and I will do my best to help. No appointment necessary.

David Wilson Homes at Doseley Pipeworks

Last night's (Wednesday 3rd July) Plans Board passed outline planning for 460 homes on land off Doseley around the site of FP McCann pipeworks.

Despite widespread local opposition to the scheme all six Labour councillors voted in favour of approval.

Councillors had earlier heard of the numerous problems which attach to the plans including:

• At least 344 houses to have only one point of vehicular access via St. Luke's Road, a narrow lane with numerous pinch-points and a history of collisions caused by excess traffic
• Destruction of habitat for Bagders, rare birds, bats and reptiles
• Loss of employment (fifty-one direct employees of FP McCann), plus untold others at sub-contractors and suppliers
• Inclusion of contaminated land within the site

This is not the first example of the Labour adminstration riding rough-shod over local opinion. At the very same meeting they passed an application for eighty-five homes on green-field land in Newport.

So much for a "Co-operative" council.

May Advice Surgery

Advice surgery for May wil be the third Saturday of month as usual, this month Saturday 18th.

10.30 to 11.30 at Horsehay Village Hall.

All ward residents welcome. No appointment necessary. Hope to see you there.

Changes to bin collection days

Telford & Wrekin Council is currently negotiating new waste / recycling contracts and as a result will be instituting changes to regular bin collection days with effect from June this year.

The alterations will affect approximately two thirds of the Borough, but as yet they are not releasing any details, nor providing any justifcation for keeping us in the dark!

Households should look out for a message fixed to their grey waste bin advertising a change of collection date. Messages will start to appear on 3rd June and changes will take effect on 24th June.