Bridgnorth Pages April 2016 by Kay Garrison

Bridgnorth Pages

APRIL 2016

MONTHLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY: INC: EVENTS ▪ GROUPS ▪ CLASSES ▪ NEWS ››› Find & Search Local Businesses

p2 ››› Local Jobs

››› Bridgnorth Sunday Market

p3 ››› Ironbridge Museums

››› Lighting Special Offer

p4 ››› Phillip Dunne Update

››› Local Domestic Cleaner

p5 ››› FSC Investment Update

USE LOCAL : SHOP LOCAL : EAT LOCAL : SPEND LOCAL : ENJOY LOCAL

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Bridgnorth Business Index: Home & Garden

Eating & Drinking

Alarm /CCTV

Restaurants & Take Away

Bathrooms

Cla sses, Groups & Events

Cleaning Services

3,5

D ance Classes

Decking & Fencing

7,12

Events

3,10

Electrician

Theatre & Perform ing Arts

External Cleaning

Lifestyle, Leisure & R eta il

Flooring

Com munity Care

Garden Centre

D riving School

Kitchens

Finance

Lighting

Opticians

Oven Cleaning

Places to Go

Roofing

1,10

Soft Play & Animal Encounters

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

1,12

Taxi Hire

Tuition

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Letter from Westminster – April 2016: With Easter falling early this year, spring is still very much in the air. It’s a wonderful time of year to appreciate the natural beauty of the Ludlow Constituency, and to celebrate new life – both through the resurrection of Christ and the seasonal reawakening of plants and animals. Leaves are greening hedgerows and trees and lambs leaping around the fields. Next month, this will be celebrated at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Malvern Spring Festival, from 5 th-8th May. I am delighted to be attending as this year’s President of the Royal Three Counties Show. I hope to see some familiar faces from South Shropshire exhibiting at the Spring Festival, and others at the agricultural Royal Three Counties Show from 17 th-19th June. As England's largest livestock and equine show, the Royal Three Counties celebrates the best of rural life and farming. This sector has been at the heart of the Marches counties’ economic and cultural heritage for centuries. Farmers have faced some tough times recently, so these Shows provide welcome opportunities to demonstrate the best of British rural life. As a farmer myself, I am acutely aware of the current challenges facing many in farming communities. We have just had two cows test positive for Bovine TB recently, the seventh time in recent years. Any farmer will tell you of the distress caused by Bovine TB, but it affects us all, not only piling pressure on British producers, but also adding to costs in the shops and costing taxpayers £100 million each year. The Government is working through a 25 year multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the disease. This is essential and momentum needs to be maintained. It is worth making clear that it is not just livestock farming that is facing pressure. Statistics from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show that in the last five years, incomes in horticulture have fallen by 43%. Arable farms have been hit by falling global prices, as incomes from cereals and general cropping have more than halved since 2010. To alleviate pressure on farming, the Government is taking action to enable a productive, resilient food industry by further cutting red tape (there have been 34,000 fewer farm inspections a year since 2010), as well as working to create more apprenticeships and grow our skills base. Since 2010 more than 600 new export markets for UK food and drink have been opened, nearly three a week, growing sales by over £1 billion. From this month tax changes come into effect to enable farmers to average their incomes for tax purposes across a five year period, rather than the previous two, reflecting seasonal differences and volatility in food prices. This should also help farmers in South Shropshire. While industry pressures need to be tackled, there are plenty of encouraging things going on in the countryside. I am pleased that my Parliamentary Private Secretary is leading the campaign to restore hedgehog numbers, working with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, whose Chief Executive leads this organisation from her home on Clee Hill. I am taking a close interest in their progress.

Contact Phillip Dunne on this or any other matters on 01584 872187 or philip.dunne.mp@parliament.uk

The Banks and Building Societies have traditionally looked after us and our investments but many customers have lost faith and trust in them in recent years. The alternative is to seek out a Financial Adviser, which for may will be a scary prospect. All Financial Advisers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and are charged with providing you as the client suitable Financial Advice. Financial Advisers don’t gamble with your money or guess what the markets are going to do, they use their knowledge, experience and skills to research the market and recommend the most suitable areas for investment that they can. Over the next few months we have Local Elections, Police Crime Commissioner Elections and of course the IN / OUT European Referendum. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton may be the next American President and the Oil price may rise to $50 per barrel or more. Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn may even be the next Prime Minister, who knows ! We can’t predict the future but there is likely to be some market uncertainty, whatever happens both here in the UK and in the wider world. Uncertainty may affect the markets in the short term and potentially in the longer term. The question then follows ‘ what should I do with my savings and investments? ‘ You could put your money in the Bank or Building Society, seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser or put it in a suitcase under the bed. Whatever you choose there are risks involved and advantages and disadvantages. We would never advocate putting your money in a suitcase under the bed as inflation, theft or fire could seriously reduce your wealth. If you are going to invest in these uncertain times it is important to choose wisely and make informed decisions about your investments and your future. A Financial Adviser will complete a full factfind, assess your attitude to risk and choose the most suitable investment products and funds for you given all of your circumstances. There are investment products with a variety of different levels of risk, from low, low to medium, medium, medium to high and high risk. The returns on each will differ and your Financial Adviser can advise you on what’s best for you, your family and your future. If you would like an initial free, no nonsense, no obligation appointment with myself, Frank Cochran, Derek Baillie or Mark Mitchell then please give us a call or drop us an email. We will always try to place your money in the most suitable place, at different times to suit your personal requirements. Call: 01902 422333 Email: info@fscinvestments.co.uk Robin Place DipFA - Independent Financial Adviser, FSC Investment Services Ltd. The purpose of this article is to provide technical and generic guidance and should not be interpreted as a personal recommendation or advice. You are not certain to make money - you may suffer a loss. FSC Investment Services Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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LOCAL EVENTS: BRIDGNORTH 9th April: Baby Shower – Bridgnorth Library 10am-1pm – Free Drop in with pre and post natal information & support, fun activities, refreshments and a goody bag. 15th April: Quatt Cricket Club Junior registration evening 6.30-8pm all boys & girls welcome (under 8s free of charge) contact 07581 544217 or quattcc@hotmail.co.uk 16th April: Choir Concert at St Marys Church Alveley 7.30pm £7.50 to inc drink. Tickets at church, post office or call Andrew Crabtree on 01746 780478 22nd-24th April: Wenlock Poetry Festival at various venues for more information see www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org 23rd April: St George's Day Bridgnorth Market & Parade – Castle Grounds 12-5pm. St George's Day will be celebrated in a truly English manner with a parade and market. To participate email events@bridgnorthtowncouncil.gov.uk. 23rd April: Bridgnorth Fun Regatta – Severn Park 29th April: Creatures of the Night – Severn Valley Country Park 7.30-9.30pm, £5 adult, £3 child, £12 family, Learn about and explore nocturnal wildlife – 01746 781192 to book 1st May: EDG Sunfest at the Edgar Davies Rugby Ground 1210pm see info@bridgnorthfestival.org 2nd May: May Fair – Bridgnorth High Street: 07929 290465 TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD YOUR EVENT PLEASE CALL 07734 461934 OR EMAIL CONNECTPAGESONLINE@GMAIL.COM

Useful Numbers: Bridgnorth Medical Practice: 01746 767121 St Leonards House Dental Practice: 01746 763245 Regency House Dental Practice: 01746 766114 Bridgnorth Library: 01746 763358 St Mary Magdelene Church: 01746 761573 St Leonards Hall Church: 01746 767660 St James Hall Church: 01746 767174 St John the Evangalist RC Church: 01746 762348 Cartway United Reformed & Methodist Church: 01746 762315 Bridgnorth Baptist Church: 01746 768129 The People's Hall Church: 01746 763846 Bridgnorth Police Station: 0300 333 3000 MP: Philip Dunne: 01584 872187 Bridgnorth Town Council: 01746 762231 Shropshire County Council: 0345 678 9000 Parish Council Office: 01902 896300 Shropshire Star & Rural Housing: Lettings: 01743 257859 & Repairs: 0333 3212200

If there are any other telephone numbers you think would be useful to the people of Bridgnorth then please contact us on bridgnorthpages@gmail.com

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