WELCOME

This website supplements my Ward Newsletters, ‘Tom’s Mini Wychavon Round-Up’, copies of which can also be found on subsequent pages of this site.  It is my intention to keep all Fladbury Ward residents informed of relevant district news on a regular basis. I do hope, however, to do more than just transmit, I also seek to listen and to take your views on board. If you wish to speak or write to me my contact details can be found on the left-hand side of this page.

I am a family man, a grandfather, a retired Chartered Engineer and Business Systems Executive, a conservationist and a holder of the Campaign to Protect Rural England national Countryside Medal for services in Wychavon.  I am also a Fladbury Parish Councillor and a past Parish Council Chairman.

I stand for local Interests

I believe in local decision taking. Local people have a good idea of what is right for their area and how best to preserve, protect and promote it. District councils that involve people in their decision processes do give local people a high advantage, and I work to play my part in that.  

Politics - A Conservative Mandate

As a Councillor and Executive Board member my local involvement is high. Whatever skills and strengths I bring to the Fladbury Ward, I serve all the residents under a political mandate and to me, my work is best supported through a conservative view of life.

            Success in Flood Alleviation, Waste Collection and Planning

Without doubt my biggest success has been supporting victims during the period following upon last summer’s floods and I note with thanks the kind letters and comments received from across the Ward.

The Waste Collection decision to move to an alternating (14 day) weekly collection of food waste was not what Fladbury Ward wanted. I consistently advocated that view at Council meetings, local opinion was listened to and a weekly collection of food waste is to be maintained.

Planning applications play a major part of my Ward casework, I maintain a close and professional working relationship with officers and I can report success in the majority of those local applications in which I have been involved.

A Climate of Change in South Worcestershire

Worcestershire is at a crossroads as the West Midlands Regional Assembly, through their Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), process a move to introduce 365,000 homes into the region, possibly up to 32,000 in Wychavon. The RSS has identified Worcester City as a sub- regional area for growth and additional infrastructure. The Worcester area has also been designated by the Government as a New Growth Point. The challenge for this district and the ward will be in how we reconcile the competing social, economic and environmental pressures upon land use that will inevitably reshape our countryside.

I have advocated the production of Supplementary Planning Documents such as Parish Plans to ensure Planning Officers are aware of our local aspirations. I am particularly pleased to see more of these plans taking shape within the Ward and to support them with both written inputs and with financial assistance.

Supporting Rural Communities

I continue to strive for better services and planning strategies for rural communities. I work for much needed local hospital services, better transport, and sensible speed limits through our villages. I support the farming community, they have suffered much. To them falls the front line task of protecting and enhancing the countryside and I thank them for it.

Fladbury Ward placed its trust in me, as their District Councillor, to handle the present demanding agenda - I never forget that.