Wolverhampton-The Debate!

"Local politics you either are interested or you are not!
Most people seem happy to ignore what is going on in their locality unless it affects them" says Councillor Phil Bateman.

He went onto say " That is half the trouble with what is happening in Wolverhampton. There is not enough people who are genuinely interested in how we are shaping the place we live and work and have fun in. The new Area Forums designed for residents are spluttering along. There is luke warm interest in what they are trying to achieve. People seem to be happy to grumble at home over a cup of tea, or in the pub over a pint. But no real effort is being made by the public to shape new policy. It is very demoralising. The City has a very pessimistic medium term economic review that suggest that more jobs will be lost and manufacturing industry will once again bear the major brunt of that decline.

We do need new policy objectives to be realised. One of the reasons that I support the growth of Wolverhampton City Airport is that it will prove an outlet for Wolverhampton Business and Commerce. It could stimulate the whole local Black Country economy,and provide new jobs in both the tourist and service sectors.

These are big issues that need to be debated . Not in the sort of hysteric way that is coming over at the moment. I have longed believed that transport is very much the key to providing a better economy, and there really does need to be a lot more effort injected into the transport infrastructure of the conurbation.

The Western Orbital road is looking to be a must, as is the need for the City's boundaries to be re-drawn. Before anyone leaps in the air at this issue...This is not City or Labour Party policy. It is my own views and views that I believe are worth airing.... Wolverhampton's boundaries are drawn much too tight and the City needs to expand, to provide land for leisure,burial,industry and homes.

We do have a good vibrant City,it is not the slum that a recent correspondent in the Express and Star recently tried to paint. Wolverhampton is a City that has energy,has potential,and has opportunity. I hope that we can realise these opportunities over the next decade."