MP ‘humbled’ by vote victory
MP Philip Dunne, who successfully contested his Ludlow constituency seat in the General Election, says he is truly “humbled and surprised” by the resounding endorsement given to him by voters.
Triumphant Phillip Dunne with his wife Domenica
And as parliament heads into uncharted territory with an historic coalition between the Conservatives and Lib Dems, the Tory MP says:
“This was essential in light of the overall election outcome, for the country to have a Government with a stable and clear majority to allow it to take the tough and decisive action needed.
“The Prime Minister now has the support of all Conservative MPs and all Liberal Democrat MPs. I am delighted to have been appointed a Government Whip to help make this coalition work in the national interest.”
Looking back at the election Mr Dunne said the turnout of 73.1% was amongst the highest in the country and much more than the national average of 65.1%.
“This mainly reflected the vigour with which the two parties most likely to win, the Conservatives and Lib Dems contested the seat,” he said.
Target
“The Ludlow constituency was a top target for the Lib Dems and a key seat for the Conservatives to retain. But the number and diversity of candidates, with both a BNP and Monster Raving Looney for the first time, as well as a former local MP standing for UKIP, all had some impact on turnout by offering voters more choice,” he added.
He said the television debates, the like of which we have never before seen in this country, captured the imagination of many voters and raised excitement within the media.
But he added: “I admit being surprised and puzzled by the national opinion polls, since our canvassing on the doorsteps did not reveal any swing towards the Lib Dems. This was borne out by the result locally.”
Winning an absolute majority, 52.8% of votes cast, was still a great surprise on the night, he said.
The result marked the largest vote share of any MP in Shropshire and amounted to a swing of 7.8% to the Conservatives from the Lib Dems, compared to 1.4% nationally. The winning majority of 9,749 was 20% higher than the second placed candidate, and the sixth largest majority of any MP in the Ludlow constituency in the last 125 years.
“All this may seem very parochial,” he said. “But it matters to me. I want especially to thank all who supported my positive campaign and all who voted for me.
“One thing I have learnt from being your MP for the past five years, as was endorsed to me on the doorstep every day of the campaign, is that
I take great pride in representing everyone in the Ludlow constituency, whether you vote for me or not.”
Building boom battle looming
BRIDGNORTH area residents are being urged to have their say on a controversial planning blueprint which is designed to earmark sites for new homes across Shropshire over the next 15 years.
In the county as a whole, excluding Telford & Wrekin, there will need to be around 27,500 new homes constructed in a bid to meet growing demand, and up to 1,000 more in the east of Shropshire for servicemen and women.
In a bid to ensure a “vibrant economy” about 290 hectares of land will be also required for employment development, provision of retail and town centre uses and sites for sand and gravel quarrying.
The council has set the deadline for public consultation on the draft plan, the Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev), by June 25.
Planners are already stating that there is a need to identify sufficient land in Bridgnorth and east Shropshire’s other towns to deliver between 1,600 and 2,100 new residential dwellings.
In Bridgnorth, the plan sets out the option for providing between 500 and 1,000 homes. So far 630 have been built or currently have planning consent. There are no unused allocations.
‘When finally adopted the plan will allocate sites for residential and commercial development across the county up to 2026.’
Sites for consideration are to the south and south west of the A548, and to the north west of the road.
Currently there are eight hectares of employment development land with planning consent and a further 3.1 hectares of unused allocations.
The planners say there should be sufficient development land available to achieve a broad balance between housing and jobs and to “avoid constraining” the economic prosperity of Bridgnorth, Albrighton, Broseley, Highley, Much Wenlock and Shifnal.
When finally adopted the plan will allocate sites for residential and commercial development across the county up to 2026.
Documents have been made available at 18 consultation events being staged across the county.
These drop-in sessions will give residents the chance to speak to planning officers and make comments.
A short video has also been produced to provide people with information about the proposals and how they can have their say which is available to view on the council website and has also been sent to parish and town councils as a DVD.
Plans to build 200 extra homes in the village of Highley as part of the overall plan sparked a call for an extraordinary meeting of the parish council.
Councillor Dennis Bache has questioned the need for such a high level of development in the village.
Residents in Much Wenlock and Alveley have already expressed their disapproval of the scheme and the proposed developments for their areas.
The documents can be found on the council website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/planning.nsf, at all libraries, at each of the council’s customer service points and the authority’s area headquarters.
• Can Bridgnorth cope with development on this scale? What do you think? Let us know your views
End of an era for historic school
ONE of Shropshire’s oldest charity-funded schools looks set to close it doors, despite a battle by parents and staff to save it from the axe.
Lessons will be taught for the final time at Quatt’s Dower House School, near Bridgnorth, at the end of this academic year in July, unless an eleventh-hour rescue package is put together.
Parents of the 45 pupils at the school were informed at the beginning of May that the private institution would have to close unless extra revenue could be raised, or more students enrolled.
Now in a shocking new twist Stuart Hough, writing on behalf of the trustees, said that unless an additional or new patron could be found, it would be the end of the road for the Dower House.
He paid tribute to fellow trustees and to the school’s main patron for his support over recent years.
One parent, whose child is currently in Year 5, said: “ As a family we are totally devastated by this sad news.
“My son joined the school two years ago, with the aim of providing him with the chance to do well in his preparation for 11+ exams which would give him the opportunity to go on to a top-rate secondary school.
“Now we just don’t know what to do. His crucial final year in junior education has been rocked by the closure,” she said.
“The Dower House School has always been so much more that just a school. The children there are happy and are provided with a fantastic education.
“The pastoral care offered is second to none and the youngsters are bought up to be mature, polite and confident. They know how to behave well and are left with a good sense of morality.
“This ethos has made our son a well-rounded individual and we will miss this school very deeply and have been very proud to have been a part of it.”
Digging in for a festival of flowers...
Plans for the 46th annual Worfield Flower Festival, which takes place on 26, 27 and 28 June, are well under way.
Pat Sedgwick the event’s organiser for the past l5 years, sadly passed away in November and this year’s theme “As time goes by” was deliberately chosen so that those who had worked with her could, if they wished, dedicate their arrangement to the show stalwart.
Tania Baylis, Pat’s daughter, and Ann Raymond, her second in command for many years, are joint organisers this year.
Refreshments will be available in The Madeley Rooms at the rear of the church on Saturday and Sunday, following morning service, and again on the Monday. The bric a-brac, book stall and tombola will be located in the grounds of Lower Hall under the car port.
The Brownies will also be running a cake stall. Admission to these attractions is free, but a charge will be made to look round Lower Hall’s beautiful gardens and Worfield Plant Nursery which will be open on the Saturday and Sunday only. Derek Rowley will again bring his honey stall and New Barns Nursery will be selling plants in the school playground.
Anyone wishing to lend a hand can ring the vicar, Rev Martin Thompson on 01746 716698 and any brica-brac can be delivered at any time to the back of the church. Cakes and produce can be left with Margaret Ball at Worfield school or with Dawn Jennings at the Village Shop in the days prior to the event.
Arts and crafts go on show
Westhope Craft College at Craven Arms is staging its annual open day on 26 and 27 June.
The event, designed to show the public the range of courses on offer, will be open each day from 10am to 4.30pm.
There will be an exhibition area with two large classrooms showing students’ recent work, plus hands-on short taster sessions. A craft fair will feature staff and students’ work, which can be purchased, along with a range of materials.
Visitors are invited to picnic in the large garden or treat themselves to one of the homemade lunches on offer with tea and coffee.
Haydn music centre stage
A host of stars from the world of classical music will take centre stage at Bridgnorth’s 17th annual English Haydn Festival which takes place from 9 to 13 June.
The celebrated French cellist Christophe Coin and the director of the Royal College of Music, Colin Lawson, will join internationally renowned oboeist Anthony Robson, violin virtuoso and leader of the Salomon String Quartet, Simon Standage, and Roger Montgomery, master of the French Horn, for this year’s musical feast.
The theme will centre around the composer’s prolific time in our capital city with performances of five London Symphonies by Anthony Halstead and Anthony Robson. Wind instruments will also feature with the return of the London Serenade, which provides a rare opportunity to hear a performance of Mozart’s Gran Partita.
The festival will conclude with the Requiem Mass as a tribute to Professor Robbins Landon who, together with John Reid, started the festival in 1993. There will also be arias from Haydn’s opera Orlando Paladino, sung by Catherine Bott, Miranda Westcott, Lynton Atkinson and Andrew Slater.
Tickets can be booked in advance by phoning the Box Office on 01952 814734 or 01746 763591.
Hollywood A-lister’s star turn
Hollywood actress Elizabeth McGovern will add a touch of star quality when she appears at this year’s Bridgnorth Music and Arts Festival.
The Oscar nominated star is bringing her band, Sadie and the Hotheads to perform at the town’s Falcon Hotel. McGovern, 49, began her professional acting career at 19 with her screen debut in Robert Redford’s Oscar-winning Ordinary People.
Her latest film roles, both released this year, are blockbuster Clash of the Titans and the controversial Kick-Ass. In 2008 she became a singer-songwriter, fronting the band Sadie and the Hotheads who released their first album, I Can Wait, last year. The band will play The Falcon Hotel on the evening of Friday, 3 September. The festival is also hosting an event at the Castle Hall on 17 July in a bid to raise money to help support Rock Against Child Pornography and Abuse (RACPA ). This show will be bring together Rock and Metal acts from around the UK and will also feature Bridgnorth’s own Shebangg. Tickets cost £4 in advance, or £5 on the night, and are now available from The White Lion, Bell and Talbot and The Bear.
Former members of ELO and ELO II, along with current members of the orchestra, Phil Bates, Mik Kaminski and from the Eleanor Rigby Experience, Tina McBain, will be bringing their Beatles Blues and Blue violin project to the Severn Centre at Highley on Friday, 3 September as part of the programme.
