24 August 2011

After the riots, Government should think again on police cuts.

The appalling violence and vandalism that killed members of the public, injured the police and destroyed people's homes and businesses earlier this month shows just how short-sighted the Tories' plans to cut the police budget by 20% are.

The bravery and hard work of the many thousands of extra police on the streets of Birmingham, London, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton during the riots made a big difference in restoring calm. The numbers of officers available to quell the disturbances clearly have a serious impact.

In the West Midlands 1,250 police officers are due to be cut in the next four years. Nationally, there are 4,625 fewer police than March 2010. Worse still, more than 2,000 of the most experienced bobbies are being forcibly retired. It's hard not to conclude that the Government is taking a risky gamble.

That's why I'm calling for an immediate review into police spending. You can have your say too. On my website I have put up a short survey about policing because I want to get your take on this important issue. The web address is: ianaustin.co.uk/surveys or call my office on 01384 342 504/5 and we'll post one to you.

Blow as Government turns Dudley down for enterprise zone

Last week the government announced 11 new Enterprise Zones - areas to get tax breaks and investment to boost growth and create jobs.

Earlier this year they had said the Black Country would get one and they also set out the areas that would benefit. Like anyone else in the Black Country, I'm pleased they've given the green light to sites in Wolverhampton and Darlaston, but they turned down local business leaders' bid to include a site in Dudley.

Instead, the areas backed by the government include Wantage in Oxfordshire, Gosport in Hampshire and Huntingdon in Cambridgshire.

The town centre urgently needs help, but we lost out on funds for regeneration and job creation when the West Midlands regional development agency was abolished and now we've got no funding to boost the economy at all.

Residents voice concern at NHS plans

The NHS has been told to make savings of over £20 billion over the next four years. I am sure savings can be made but it's hard to imagine cuts on this scale won't affect services and the care of patients. There is already evidence that waiting times are creeping up. Doctors, nurses and all the staff at Russells Hall work really hard, but new figures show the number of people in Dudley waiting more than 18 weeks rose by over 60% on last year, and in some places doctors and nurses are losing their jobs.

A couple of weeks ago I invited hundreds of local people to have their say by filling in a questionnaire.

Residents rated clean hospitals and fast results for diagnostic tests as most important to them. Hardly anyone (2%) believed the reorganisation will help keep NHS costs down - 70% thought we will end up with more administrators and pen pushers.

I am not against reform or change but I can't help feeling we risk wasting the progress made by years of investment.

Clean up at Millennium Point

An impromptu community clean up took place just down the road from my Wrens Nest office on Monday. Residents fed up of all of the rubbish, vandalism and anti-social behaviour at Millennium Point got together to clean up the site.

Led by Jemma Grice, residents hope to turn it into an area that local kids can use. Along with local councillor Ken Finch, they want the council to put up a fence and keep out yobs. They are short of gardening equipment and litter pickers, so if you have anything that you can lend or donate please call Jemma on 07792 059 737.