Bridgnorth Pages August 2016 by Kay Garrison

Bridgnorth Pages

AUGUST 2016

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

p2 ››› Phillip Dunne Update

››› 2 Week Trial at Stagecoach

p2 ››› Visit Ironbridge

››› Get Your Eyes Tested Locally

p3 ››› Garden Furniture Sale Now On

››› Local Upcoming Events

p4 ››› Savings & Investments Advice

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Bridgnorth Business Index: Home & Garden

Classes, Groups & Events

Alarm /CCTV

D ance Classes

Cleaning Services

1,7

Events

Decking & Fencing

3,11

Theatre & Perform ing Arts

2,7

Electrician

4,10

Tuition

External Cleaning

Lifestyle, Leisure & R etail

Flooring

Beds & Mattresses

Garden Centre

D riving School

Kitchens

Finance

4,8

Lighting

Opticians

Oven Cleaning

1,6

Places to Go

Painter & D ecorator

Soft Play & Anim al Encounters

Roofing

7,12

Taxi Hire

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

1,11

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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LOCAL EVENTS: BRIDGNORTH

10th August: Summer Holiday activities at Dudmaston Hall – Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the school holidays: trails and crafts with different themes. 12th-13th August: Shrewsbury Flower Show – Quarry Park with live music and fireworks Tickets available online or call the box office on 01743 234050. £24/£22 in advance 14th August: Alveley Donkey Derby – Alveley Recreation Grounds: Family Fun Day – Craft stalls, childrens entertainment, wild animal encounters, donkey rides, live music, BBQ and more – free entry and parking 15th August: Delightful Dreamcatchers at Bridgnorth Library call 01746 763358 also other summer activities inc Dizzy Drumming (27/8) and Scented Painting (31/8). 17th August: Wild Woods Adventure Trail Presthope Car Park Wnlock Edge – 11am-4pm - £2 – explore the woods and search for clues 01694 725000 19th-29th August: Bridgnorth Arts & Music Festival 2016 at various venues see www.bridgnorthfestival.org.uk 28th August: Food Fair – High Street: 07929 290465 Various Dates in August: Severn Valley Country Park are hosting a range of activities inc Back to the Iron Age, Dinosaur Day, Orienteering, Rocket Day, Mini Beast Olympics - see website or call 01746 781192 for information TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD YOUR EVENT PLEASE CALL 07734 461934

Letter from Westminster – August 2016 : After the political turmoil of recent weeks, it feels a good time to reflect briefly on the state of politics today. I

shall try not to be partisan so I do not try the patience of the Editor. The referendum result came as a shock, I think to both sides. While I campaigned actively to Remain, the public, the county and the constituency voted to a leave. The government was elected on a manifesto to deliver an EU referendum and respect the result. So the Government and Parliament will now focus on securing the best for Britain in leaving the EU. The morning the referendum result was known, David Cameron announced he would resign as Prime Minister. I was not surprised, but was sad that his premiership ended so abruptly. I remember leading his campaign in South Shropshire to become Conservative Party leader, after I was first elected in 2005. I am clearly biased, but believe he has been an excellent leader of the country. It is more than a role or a job to be Prime Minister, it requires a dedication and devotion to duty which is all consuming, for any politician of any political persuasion. Conservative leadership contests are clinically brutal affairs, in this case mercifully swift. I have every confidence Theresa May, as only the second female Prime Minister of the country, will prove to be an excellent leader. She offers sure footed experience and strength of character, just what the country needs as we look to heal divisions following the EU referendum and provide stable government for the challenging negotiations ahead. The Prime Minister invited me to serve as Minister of State at the Department of Health, having been at Ministry of Defence for the past four years. This is already presenting new challenges for me, but having got to know the health system in Shropshire for the past eleven years, I feel this experience stands me in good stead. I was privileged to work with some excellent people in defence, who I am sorry to leave, but I am proud of our achievements to reform defence procurement. I am now getting stuck into my new role. I am under no illusions about the interest in healthcare and the potentially polarising nature which health concerns can raise. As an MP, I receive messages every day which can sometimes cross the line from concerned citizen to inappropriate anonymous abuse. Moving into a health brief, which touches almost every single person in the land, I do not expect these messages or the advice offered to decline. But I hope the tragic death last month of my colleague Jo Cox will prove a wake-up call to those who seem disdainful of others in public service. No matter what type of public service people do, whether engaged in delivering services or standing for elected office, I believe everyone strives to work to improve the lives of others, whether neighbours or strangers. This does not of course mean we are unaccountable, especially us politicians. We do so by being accessible to our constituents, whether by holding advice surgeries, responding to correspondence, and by voting for what we believe in. Ultimately under our democracy if we do not live up to your expectations every five years, you can remove us via the ballot box. Anyone who thinks our political system is too entrenched to change, or that the outcome of voting is negligible, need only look at the way Scottish seats in Westminster changed hands at the last election – your vote matters, and no MP is assured of victory. We are all accountable to you, the voter. The drama of the referendum vote has been swiftly followed by subsequent change in leadership, not just of the Conservative Party and with it the nation, but also the current contests under way to lead UKIP, the Green Party, and Labour for the second successive summer, as well as a new deputy leader for the SNP. It has been a truly tumultuous time. I defy anyone to claim politics is boring. But I do look forward to a quieter spell over August. I hope readers enjoy a pleasant summer.

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

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In a post Brexit world we need to be prepared to plan for our futures and above all lets be sensible, why panic there’s really no need!!! Despite all the negativity and may I say, appalling rhetoric being spouted by politicians who either were In or Out, the facts seemed to be buried for the sake of political point scoring and one-upmanship. So at the risk of being sensible lets look at some of the facts. For nearly 10 years the Bank of England Base rate has been at an all time low of 0.5% per annum. There’s no point in harping on about “oh I remember when I could get 6% per annum from my building society accounts- (that was a generation ago!!). We now live in 2016 and things are not the way they used to be. Unemployment is at the lowest its been for nearly 6 years, Inflation is at a very low point., mortgage interest payment rates are at all time lows. There is a reason for this, the economy of the UK specifically, and the rest of the World generally, is totally neutral and balanced and there is a high degree of economic stagnation going on. This decision by the UK to exit the European Economic Community has dropped an absolute bomb into the pond. Quite honestly its probably the catalyst that’s been needed to “get things going’. If we draw some historical facts out of the fire, then its worth mentioning that the reason for this flat lining of the economies was due to the complete miss management of the lending books of the American, British and certain European Banks, they were all greedy for market share, they wanted to play ‘I’ve got more customers than you have’, they lent money out for mortgages irresponsibly, they saw Bricks and Mortar as the only asset class that was worthy of lending money against. They under invested in businesses and entrepreneurs, where historically they made more money than they ever did from mortgages!! In 2012/13 the Banks pretty well realised they were incapable of running compliant and trustworthy Financial Services divisions and there was a near total capitulation of Bank Assurers. (thank god for that !!, leave it to the professional IFA’s thank you very much!!!). It is now the time to look at how you have structured your finances. Look outside of the Banks Cash ISA’s or Building Societies. I’d even go as far as to say National Savings and Income NS&I are not too clever an investment either. Professional Wealth Management via an Independent IFA is going to give you a proper appraisal of what is available to you, your IFA should monitor developments and position your money into the most appropriate places as and when the market conditions dictate they should. You get peace of mind; lower taxation and you should make more money. What have you got to lose???

Frank Cochran - Managing Director & Independent Financial Adviser FSC Investment Services Limited. 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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