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February 2006

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06 February 2006

Mining Memorial Plans Move Ahead – And Closing Date For Buy-A-Brick Applications Announced

Tony Wright MP met with CHAPS colleagues on Friday and is pleased to report the progress with plans to erect a monument in Hednesford to local miners.

Planning permission was granted in December and now the detailed work by CHAPS (Chase Arts in Public Spaces) is going ahead.

Tony Wright , Chairman of CHAPS, said:

“We are pleased to be able to report that good progress is being made with the memorial, but we still have some way to go in ensuring all of the detailed stages are covered.

Our first priority is to make arrangements for the individually inscribed bricks to be produced. This requires some lead-in time and so we have now set a deadline for applications for this first phase of the memorial.

Anyone wanting to order a brick is asked to apply before the end of this month and forms are available from the NUM office in Chadsmoor or by calling my office – 01543 467810.”

Jack Sunley, Vice Chair of CHAPS, said:

“We have had a wonderful response to the buy-a-brick campaign but this is now the last chance for people to commemorate their loved one on the first stage of the memorial.”

Bricks will be inscribed with the names of individual miners who worked in collieries in the area. A minimum donation of £10 per brick is requested.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 28^th February

13 February 2006

Search is on for UK’s Top Manufacturer: MP Urges Cannock Chase Firms to Join Race

Chase MP Tony Wright is urging local companies to join the opening round of the annual Manufacturing Excellence (MX) awards, which closes for entries on 1^st March.

The competeion is free to enter and aims to identify “best practice” among UK manufacturers. It is conducted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) with the support of Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Each company is asked a series of some 200-plus questions. In return, all companies (regardless of size, type or location) are given a free, indivdividually-taiolored benchmarking report worth over £10,000 recommending ways of improving their performance. All participating companies are also entitled to a free on-site “helath-check” visit from the DTI’s advisorty service, providing further advice and feedback.

 Tony Wrigt said:

“This award scheme is internationally recognisd as the pinnacle of UK manufacturing. Not only are winners widely acknowledged for their best practice but, for the local economy it can result in increased sales and employment.

I know from first-hand experience that we have some outstanding manufacturing companies in thw Cannock Chase area, and I would encourage them to put tgheir hat in the ring for this award scheme.”

Companies wanting further information are asked to visit www.mx2006.org.uk or contact Kate Jones at IMechE on 020 7973 1287 or by email k_jones@imeche.org.uk.

24 February 2006

MP Receives Reassurances about NHS Dentistry in Cannock Chase

Tony Wright MP has welcomed the reassurances he has received from Cannock Chase Primary Care Trust about NHS dental services in the area.

PCT Chief Executive Jean-Pierre Parsons has told the MP that the Trust has contracts with 18 practices in the Cannock Chase area, with 34 dentists continuing to provide NHS services following the introduction of the new contract for dentists on 1^st April.

Although one dentist has decided to reduce NHS work, others are seeking to take on additional NHS patients and are working closely with the Primary Care Trust to increase dental services.

Tony Wright said: 

“There is some disquiet in the area that NHS dental services are being reduced but I am reassured to know that this is not the case.

I am also reassured to learn that if a dentist does decide to privatise, the NHS payments they would have received will not go back into the general NHS pot but will be used to provide additional NHS dental services elsewhere.

Although it is unsettling for patients to feel they have to move to a different practice, anyone who is currently an NHS patient should be able to continue to enjoy NHS provision in this locality.”