At the recent Audit & Risk Meeting of the City of Wolverhampton, I raised the question of weedkiller with the Committee. Clearly I want to be sure that the use of these chemicals are providing little or no risk, to operatives and the general public.

Here is the written response I have received.

“In response to the risk management query raised at Audit Committee on Monday 10 June I’ve identified the following;The Health and Safety Team have confirmed that there have been no incidents reported to them with regards to the use of weed killer in the City. 

I’ve spoken to the Head of Environmental Services who has confirmed the following with regards to the use of weed killer in Wolverhampton;

Herbicides are used for the control of unwanted weeds and it is effective in the control of vegetation.  The chemical glyphosate is used around hedge bases, lamp columns and other obstacles, this is a cost effective way of reducing maintenance and potential damage or injury to machine operatives, the public and property (from flying debris caused by strimming).

Glyphosate is safe to use.  However, we have noted that some issues regarding glyphosate have been raised in some quarters (mainly manufacturing) and therefore efforts to identify possible alternatives are being made.  There have been issues in the past with damage to both property and vehicles due to employees carrying out strimming.  Chemical usage is also more cost effective as it reduces employee time and the need for ongoing maintenance.”

I am pleased to receive this response and will continue to ask the appropriate questions moving into the future.

Let me say that I am saddened that the BBC are to charge Pensioners over 75,  for their TV Licence. It is a shabby decision.

Gordon Brown gave the concession to OAP’s when he was Prime Minister.

The Conservatives George Osborn the then Chancellor and David Cameron the Conservative Prime Minister at the time, ordered the BBC to take this issue on board. The current Governor General Tony Hall of the BBC agreed to the decision.

There is a real issue now as those Pensioners over 75, many of them whom are  War veterans, some who are amongst the most vulnerable. All will have a major part of their entertainment taxed by this rotten decision, taken by a rotten Government, and a BBC management that gifts its own stars –  huge public money backed salaries.

I want to say that I want this lame duck  Government to say ” We have made a mistake, and we will reverse the decision”

The ten Tory hopeful’s who want to be Prime Minister, should all be asked what they would do to reverse this awful decision. After all many of them are still offering tax cuts for the rich, as a bonus for the Conservative Party to pick them!

I hope that Wednesfield North residents raise their voices of protest against this awful decision.

David Cameron started this off, and just like the Referendum. Isn’t about for the aftermath. Remember as you get older , become infirm, cannot get out of the house. The TV becomes a crucial part of your life. This Government want’s to mean test those senior citizens for their benefits, creating even more decisions. Means testing for goodness sake!

That’s what this Government wants for our senior citizens, who by their toil, their bravery, and their life, have turned Britain into the fifth richest Country in the World. Reverse this awful decision!

Readers of my Blog in Wednesfield North have been very upset about the quality and the performance of Virgin Media services in this part of Wolverhampton.

When this issue was first raised with me. It was  through  some 55 individual comments from customers. These comments  were received by myself across social media pages. I promised those disgruntled customers that I would write to Virgin Media’s Chief Executive – which I did.

I wrote to the Chief Executive of Virgin Media  Mr Tom Mockridge last week, about the problems that you my constituents in Wednesfield North were facing with the Virgin Media service, and the poor WiFi and media performance in particular.

This is the response I have received today. I am pleased to say that the matter has been placed with The Regional Affairs Manager Nigel Richardson.

Mr Richardson is asking for me to provide a detailed response with specific examples of the problems, that you face.

My advice is that you write by email to Nigel.richardson@virginmedia.co.uk and quote this reference number.  [Complaint]Complaint of Poor Service – Wednesfield North – City of Wolverhampton  (KMM45336472V86693L0KM) -made by Cllr Phil Bateman.

In that way you can tailor your problem direct to the man that matters. Please email the company with the complaints you have. Please leave your name and email address/royal mail address, so that they can address your problem for you.

Also copy me in on the email(email@philbateman.com) so I can monitor your complaints and the number of complaints that are made to Virgin. Please make your complaints, this man can make a difference to your service.

Best Regards

Cllr Phil Bateman.MBE

——-

Dear Councillor Bateman,

Thanks for contacting Virgin Media on behalf of your constituents. Your email has been forwarded onto me to look into the issues raised.

In order for me to fully investigate them would it be possible for you to provide specific examples of issues or specific addresses so I can provide a detailed response?

Regards

Nigel

Nigel Richardson | Regional Affairs Manager – Midlands, Wales and South West

Last night Mary and I and our friends Ian and Elaine attended the Broadway Public House in Wednesfield for an evening meal. As usual it was a first-class night. We spoke to the Manager of the PH. As we usually do.

I like Gavin he is a nice man, and I like to remind him that he was our paper boy many years ago.

Gavin has run the Broadway for many years now, I think it is getting on for 20!

I was explaining to Gavin how impressed I had been yet again with the meal, the staff, and the ambience.

It might shock people to know, but this Greene King Public House must be one of the biggest businesses in Wednesfield North. Both by employment, and in business terms. Its right on the boundary with Walsall, and is perhaps the first or last Pub that visitors use, as they cross the Local Government boundaries!

Gavin and his Staff are often Award winners.

I was saying to him how proud Mary and I were as the local City Councillors, and that the Public House always looks good. When the Britain in Bloom competition comes around. The Broadway is such a prominent PH on the main road.

The Wednesfield Volunteers who work so hard for Wednesfield in Bloom, are always pleased to see The Broadway resplendent in vibrant, colourful   Hanging Baskets when the ‘In Bloom ‘Judges are due in Wednesfield in July.

It was at this point Gavin informed me that The Broadway based on its performance last year (2018) has been nominated as a finalist for the Green King ‘Winning Ways Awards Ceremony’.

Both Mary and I wished Gavin his staff and The Broadway, Good Luck in the competition which is being held at the Whittlebury Park Hotel Towcester on the 26^th June 2019.

We both feel that this well-run Public House reflects well on the Ward of Wednesfield North in which it stands, and on the City of Wolverhampton within which the business operates.

‘Good Luck Gavin’ We wish you and your business every success in this latest Awards competition. Great business, giving good quality service is much appreciated here in Wednesfield and the City of Wolverhampton!

Today I have written to Virgin Media’s Chief Executive out lining the fact that so many residents of Wednesfield North are experiencing connection difficulties in this part of the City of Wolverhampton. I have told Mr Mockridge that –

“Many of my constituents and residents in the locality are complaining bitterly on social media about the alleged poor service they are receiving from Virgin

I have told him that his customers are openly discussing the poor state of service. Many feel that the service is poor and expensive for what it is providing. Others point to the unreliability of the platform, and some consider and comment on the allegation  – that the infrastructure is failing customers in Wednesfield North.

I am hopeful that the Virgin Media Chief Executive and his team will respond with a recognition that outlines, what the exact problem is here. Plus what they will do as a company to address the disgruntled Virgin customers here in this part of the City.

I will keep readers informed when a response is received.

If you are walking and you intend to use the Nicket Foot Path W6 which links the Ashmore Park with Essington High Hill and the Rugby Club.

Just be careful as currently the Path is overgrown with stinging nettles. The Public Right of Way is in Essington/Staffordshire jurisdiction.

I have contacted the Parish Clerk, and requested some remedial action be taken to make it safer.

When I have a response i will place the information onto my social media pages.

Recently I had a constituent contact me about a waste bin that was overflowing and had not been emptied for several weeks. (See the photo) It was simply stinking and my resident was concerned that it would attract rats. 

Plus, the smells were not pleasant. 

I contacted the waste disposal team at the City Council and this is what they informed me. 

“The waste team have now visited the address in question and emptied the contaminated bins, during the visit there was no evidence of rats, so the issue should now be resolved.” 

The spokesperson also told me that – “ Officers cannot empty any contaminated bins and I am informed by officers that some of these bins were contaminated.   The contaminated bins have been emptied today as a one-off.” 

This particular bin is in a communal bin in a block of flats. Would residents please do their best like other domestic waste users, and stick to placing the right waste in the right bins.

In this particular case I have managed to resolve the issue.