Tonight there was an exempt report to Cabinet about the cottages.  All members of the Council, including the two Liberal Cllrs from the ward would have recieved a copy.  So how many of the local ward Cllrs were present to argue their point? None.  They must be really bothered.

Below is a Council Press release in relation to the matter:

Weaver’s Cottages, known as 20, 21, 22 Horsefair, Kidderminster
A series of recent building inspections, including one from English Heritage revealed that No. 22 Horsefair, one of these three Grade 11 Listed Buildings, was structurally unsound at the lintel above the shop doorway, prompting Wyre Forest District Council to take action to protect the structural integrity of these buildings. To ensure safety for both the Public and Council workers on the site, protective fencing was erected.

Specialist structural engineers have now inspected the cottages following a suggested technique from English Heritage which provides a safe working environment for the repair works to be undertaken. Repairs include the rebuilding of the frontage of No. 22, which is presently structurally unsound.

Wyre Forest District Council has been in discussions with The Community Housing Group to enable them to enter the Weaver’s Cottages site under licence to carry out the repairs as a matter of urgency.  The Community Housing Group already has plans to re-develop the wider Horsefair site (which includes the Weaver’s Cottages) later in 2006.

Councillor Anne Hingley, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Rural Affairs said,

“I am pleased that a suitable solution has been found which will protect these important listed buildings and enable them to be included as originally planned in the wider regeneration of the Horsefair area by the Community Housing Group.”

Perhaps if they spoke to the Local Councillors for the area (of which two are Liberals) then perhaps they would know why we cant publish the details.  I would have thought that the local Liberal Leader with his long experience in Public Office would know better, but then it is silly season and common sense seems to go out of the window.

The Weavers Cottages will be subject of a report at Cabinet tomorrow, from which there will be a public minute.

"Local Council services in Wyre Forest may be affected by National Industrial Action being taken across the UK on Tuesday 28th March.

It is not possible to identify the level of distruption, but local Council services cannot be guaranteed on the above day.

All Council services including customer services, payment offices, refuse and recycling collections may be affected. Full services may not be available on the above day at any of the Council's offices.

If your refuse/recycling day is Tuesday, please leave your wheelie bin and recycling boxes out as usual. If your wheelie bin is not emptied, leave it out and it will be emptied the following day, Wednesday 29th March. If your recycling boxes are not emptied on Tuesday or Wednesday, please store them safely and put them out for collection on your normal collection day the following week.

Any trade waste collections that are unable to be completed on Tuesday 28th March will be collected on Wednesday 29th March.

Thank you for your co-operation. "

It really is an example of how District Councils can work with a County Council to provide better services for the electorate.

The Famers Market and Art exibitions today, were just some of the attraction on offer.  Now the EA have finished all will hopefully return to normal.

James is now back home, and recovering well.  We all wish him a speedy recovery.