RICHARD BURT - NEWS

BURT BACKS CALLS TO SAVE SHEFFIELD HOUSE

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has added his voice to the campaign to save Sheffield House in Malvern as a step up/step down facility for mental health service users in Worcestershire.

Richard met members of MIND in Malvern to listen to their arguments before writing to Worcestershire Mental Health Trust Director, Mick Mather during the consultation period to decide on the future of the centre, which the Trust want to close.

Richard Burt said:

“I decided to back the campaign after listening to Bob Leverett and others at MIND describe how important the services on offer at Sheffield House had been towards aiding their recovery.

Does Malvern Hills District Council have any idea what it is doing?

Dear Editor,

Having just announced their intention to spend more money exploring the provision of a new Council HQ outside Malvern town centre, we hear that the Council Leader is talking to her counterpart in Worcester City about merging the two council’s services.

Can you ever imagine a greater mismatch between service provision for the city and the deepest rural parts of Worcestershire?

CANDIDATE JOINS FORCES WITH COMMUNITY ACTION FOR MOVE TO NEW MALVERN HOSPITAL SITE

West Worcestershire’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has joined forces with Malvern and District Community Action to press for a new headquarters on the site of the new hospital to be built at Seaford Court in Malvern.

Richard held discussions with Community Action officers and attended a consultation on the draft plans for the hospital site held yesterday (Wednesday) at Malvern Rugby Club with Community Action Chairperson, Jen Boyer.

Support may not save social club

Catherine Phillips 25 April 2008 Worcester Standard

CAMPAIGNERS battling to save a troubled social club in Malvern believe the closure will go ahead despite their best efforts.

Richard Burt, the Liberal Democrats prospective parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, said that it seemed likely the closure of Malvern Civil Service Sports Club in Spring Lane will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, April 30.

BURT HIGHLIGHTS PLIGHT OF COUNTY PIG FARMERS

West Worcestershire Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt today visited Lawn Farm in Welland to highlight concerns about the plight of the pig farming industry in Worcestershire and across the UK.

Due to feed costs DOUBLING in the past eighteen months, Worcestershire farmers are currently losing an average of £26 per pig, forcing many into financial difficulty and pushing some out of pig farming all together.
Commenting, Welland pig farmer, Roger Cousins said:

"The British pig industry is on the verge of vanishing. Feed prices have doubled and farmers are losing money for every pig that is raised.

Social club receives overwhelming support

By Robert Hale Comment Malvern Gazette

NEARLY 300 Malvern residents completed a petition about the future of the Civil Service Social Club in Spring Lane, which is due to close next week.

There was overwhelming support for retaining the club, and opposing the idea of another large supermarket in the town.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Richard Burt said: "I have been in discussions with the chief executive of the Civil Service Association and made it very clear how strong local feeling was running.

YORK CAFÉ NOMINATED FOR BEST BRITISH BREAKFAST AWARD

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has entered his local ‘greasy spoon’, the York Café for a national Great British Breakfast Award.

Richard, who calls in regularly with supporters after campaigning on the doorstep, decided to enter the York, in Worcester Road, Malvern Link, after he saw the competition advertised in The Sun newspaper on his last visit.

“I turned the page as I was tucking in to my usual sausage, egg, chips and beans, and there was a coupon inviting nominations for prizes of £1,000 for the top ten British breakfasts.

OVER 10,000 LOCAL PEOPLE AT RISK OF BLINDNESS AS PCT FAILS TO MEET TARGET

New figures obtained by local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt show that Worcestershire PCT is failing to screen nearly half of all local diabetics for diabetic retinopathy*.

All 21,788 people with diabetes in Worcestershire should have been invited to attend a free retinal screening eye test by the end of December last year, and by the end of March this year, 80% of local diabetics should have received their free scan. However, only 50.1% of local diabetics have so far been offered and taken up the screening.

Mr Burt, who is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Health Spokesperson for the West Midlands, said today:
"These figures are seriously worrying. Diabetic retinopathy affects up to 80% of all diabetics who have had diabetes for 15 years or more, and in many cases leads to blindness. Research shows though that at least 90% of new cases can be reduced if there is proper and vigilant treatment and monitoring of the eyes.
"Worcestershire PCT needs to take responsibility for this shocking neglect of local diabetics. Retinal screening must become a priority.

CIVIL SERVICE CLUB RESCUE SEEMS UNLIKELY

Nearly 300 Malvern residents completed and returned and petition about the future of the Civil Service Club in Spring Lane, Malvern which is due to close on 30th April. There was overwhelming support for retaining the club as a community facility, and opposing the idea of another large supermarket in the town.

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt said all but a handful of people backed the campaign to keep the club open.
Mr Burt said:

“I have been in discussions with the Chief Executive of the Civil Service Association and made it very clear how strong
local feeling was running over the proposed closure.

BURT CALLS FOR LOCAL LOTTERY FUNDING

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt is urging community groups in Worcestershire to apply for grants from Groundwork UK to improve local green spaces.

£50 million is available across the country in grants of up to £450,000 for groups who want to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. The funds are being allocated to create and support play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas, ponds, courts, and village greens.