Madeley Matters

July 2004

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Councillor Profile

I was born in Dawley and have lived on Woodside since 1977. During that time I have seen many changes. I became a Parish Councillor last year having been a member of the Conservative Party since 1957.

It seems to me to be a sad state of affairs that local and parish councillors can’t work together without putting party politics first. They should work for the good of the community. The Borough Council and its leaders try to ride roughshod over any opinion contrary to their own without stopping to consider whether that opinion is to the good of the community as a whole.

I want to see more action against drug pushers and child abusers who live amongst us and harm our community. There are many many decent law abiding people who are above such behaviour. I am a grandmother and governor of two local schools – I share the anxieties of parents who are bringing up our young families.

Cllr Phyllis Usher - Councillor for Woodside

Letters

Dear Madeley Matters

It has recently come to my notice that Telford and Wrekin Unitary Authority are going to attempt to extract further funds from the local population by introducing car-parking charges. This is unfortunate considering how hard it is to make a living in the towns around Telford centre; one of the only things that bring people into the old towns to shop is the fact that parking is free.

My major concern is Madeley centre, owned by the authority this centre has been systematically neglected for years with nominal funds being spent on the centre ‘because it was to be redeveloped’. At the moment I doubt that the income from Madeley’s car park would help to balance the budget, as even on market days the car park is not full. If the authority wants to completely finish the traders in the centre, the introduction of car parking charges could well be the straw that breaks this camel’s already feeble back.

I will make one further point, to introduce car-parking charges will require investment, if the centre is to be sold as the current rumours suggest a return on the investment is unlikely. Also if the development goes ahead, the car parking area could well be changed so any barriers along with their controls would be scrapped. Thinking about it though when you consider some of the stupid things the local authority has spent money on over the years, it would not be surprising for them to do it again.

John P Birtwhistle
Chairman – Madeley Business Association

Dear Madeley Matters,

Local residents have been plagued with vandalism especially this particular BT Payphone at Meadow Close, Springhill.

These children, fed up with the vandalism, have taken the problem in hand. Adults were responsible for smashing the glass panels during the night and it was these youngsters who cleared up afterwards.

Mrs Dianne Foxall, Madeley

Editors Note: SUCCESS … After this picture was taken, BT were told of the problem and action was taken in the form of new polycarbonate panes being installed.