This is the latest leaflet for the General Election. What it does not say is that I believe that MP's have become too remote from constituencies in many cases. They are all elected to represent the people of their constituency and fight against policies which have unfair impacts on their electorate. Rural areas are being hit hard at present - things like housing - very expensive in a low wage area, school funding cuts, NHS funding,Adult social care funding and even attracting and keepng carers, business rates in our small towns etc. etc.It is time that these real issues for many across the constituency had a real and vocal champion.

Former Leader of South Shropshire District Council and Shropshire Councillor Heather Kidd has been chosen to take on Philip Dunne in the General Election. Heather is well known for her campaigns for the Health Service, Schools and better Broadband and mobile phone signal in our very rural constituency. She also pioneered affordable housing policies which delivered affordable housing to rent an buy in South Shropshire.

Lib Dems in our part of Shropshire are celebrating a strong performance in our area on 4th May 74% of the holding all 7 Shropshire Council seats they were defending, most with increased majorities.

These include:

Chirbury and Worthen - Heather Kidd 78% of the vote

Bishops Castle - Jonny Keeley 74%

Clun Division - Nigel Hartin 56%

Heather Kidd has demanded that the Council comes clean about its intentions on the car park near the bog centre after months of prevarication Heather said "I made clear to Council officers months ago that charging on this site was unacceptable and could cause a whole range of problems to both local people and the Bog Centre. Since then we have heard nothing until a digger turned up recently to improve the Car Park surface.
" I have made it plain again to them that charging for this site will only drive people to park on the roads and could hit the income of the Bog Centre. Cash would not be used for payment on site and a phone charging system would be the only other option. That may well not work because the phone signal is so poor! .
" I agree with most resident's preference - for an honesty box like at Snailbeach village Hall "

Shropshire Tory manifesto cheats with photo of mental health workers from Oz

You couldn't make this story up. If it hasn't already arrived, you might soon be getting a copy of the Shropshire Conservative manifesto through your letterbox. Most of us would think that the banner photograph on the front page of the manifesto is of thirteen Tory activists or supporters. But look carefully. It took me a while to spot what is wrong with the photograph. Then it clicked.

Norman Lamb MP, Lib Dem spokesman on Health, visited Ludlow on Friday (31st March) to discuss good practice on health care in rural areas.

Ludlow Councillor and practice nurse, Tracey Huffer, said: "Norman was Health Minister between 2010-15 and currently represents a very similar rural area to Shropshire. We had an excellent session discussing health issues in Shropshire and in Ludlow and South West Shropshire in particular."

Two Councillors who have played a significant role in the community campaign to save the SpArC leisure Centre in Bishops Castle have welcomed Shropshire Councils decision to include it in 6 centres it will support under its new leisure strategy.

Johnny Keeley. Shropshire Councillor for Bishops Castle said: "Up till now the Council has been working on the premise that they would only be supporting three 'Leisure Hubs' in the County. None anywhere near Bishops Castle. This has now been extended to six centres including SpArC. This is in no small way due to the superb campaign run by many across our community raising SpArC's profile and around £80,000 of funding to safeguard SpArC. I am delighted that the County has responded to our efforts."

HEALTH CHIEF VISTS BISHOPS CASTLE AND CLUN

Initiative for radical new healthcare system for rural Shropshire.

Simon Freeman, the new CEO of the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, can to visit South West Shropshire yesterday (Thursday 14^th March) to see for himself the problems of delivering health care in rural Shropshire.