Malcolm Guest

I have lived in Bromsgrove all my life and before retiring worked on electrical and electronic control systems for over 40 years. I take a keen interest in matters affecting the town and district of Bromsgrove and the rest of Worcestershire on issues such as bus services but particularly projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the countryside and I was a member of the ‘Droitwitch Canals Trust’. Being a keen rambler I know Worcestershire’s countryside well, having for instance walked the complete Malvern Hills Ridge walk, the full length of the Birmingham Worcester Canal and the 22 miles around the Droitwich Canals and River Severn. Living in the 50s, before television and the motorways transformed our lives, I have witnessed many changes within Worcestershire. While because of the need to constantly update my skills and interest in science and technology - which includes involvement in radio communication before the Internet – has also given me the opportunity to both increase my contacts and now the opportunity to write about the changes that interest and concern me today.

I have lived in Bromsgrove all my life and before retiring worked on electrical and electronic control systems for over 40 years. I take a keen interest in matters affecting the town and district of Bromsgrove and the rest of Worcestershire on issues such as bus services but particularly projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the countryside and I was a member of the ‘Droitwitch Canals Trust’. Being a keen rambler I know Worcestershire’s countryside well, having for instance walked the complete Malvern Hills Ridge walk, the full length of the Birmingham Worcester Canal and the 22 miles around the Droitwich Canals and River Severn. Living in the 50s, before television and the motorways transformed our lives, I have witnessed many changes within Worcestershire. While because of the need to constantly update my skills and interest in science and technology - which includes involvement in radio communication before the Internet – has also given me the opportunity to both increase my contacts and now the opportunity to write about the changes that interest and concern me today.

Latest articles from Malcolm Guest

The ‘Foxhunting Ban’; who should decides its future?

If foxes are shown to be a genuine problem, there are humane ways to control their numbers, which does not require resurrecting foxhunting in the form it took before the ban was introduced over ten years ago. The latest ‘YouGov’ findings show that, apart from the foxhunting fraternity and the Conservative MPs backing them, the majority of people in England still support the present ban.

Is Birmingham’s continued expansion inevitable?

Will Birmingham, which was once a medium-sized market town in medieval times that now contains over one million people spread over 103 square miles, evolve next into ‘Greater Birmingham’ by absorbing its neighbours territory once again? Will it follow in the steps of Manchester and be run by a powerful ‘Metro Mayor’? Is it necessary, will it happen, and could we avoid being swallowed up by Birmingham?

Pensioner Problem for MPs

It looks like big pay rises for MPs and big benefit cuts for Pensioners will happen in 2015. Apparently our MPs are so poorly paid in comparison to top doctors and teachers that it’s seen as the best way to discourage them from continuing to work the system - with at present 27 MPs still letting one home while claiming for another and with not all MPs having lucrative sources of other income; except perhaps from some generous lobbyists. Whilst at the same time Chancellor George Osborne is being told that pensioners’ benefits must be means-test in order to help reduce the deficit – which would also help fund the large pay rise recommended for MPs.

Worcestershire’s Councils: Time for changes!

If Worcestershire’s Councils were reduced and restructured, this could save thousands of pounds and give far greater local accountability. The Shire Counties surrounding Worcestershire have already been restructured and rationalised, with far less Councillors, and recently even the leader of Bromsgrove District Council has stated his support for the idea of a North Worcestershire Unitary Authority. In this era of ever more austerity measures to get public spending under control, we can’t now afford the luxury of having all these highly paid Councillors and Council Officers, with mega-salaries and massive pension provision, paid for by families now struggling to pay their ever-rising energy and food bills and at the expense of cuts to necessary services to balance the books; in a period where the government is now constantly cutting its contribution to local council funding.

‘Local Television’; do we want it and will we watch it?

The Culture Secretary has said that there’s a huge appetite for local news and information in communities the length and breadth of the country; so the Government is giving several cities and towns the opportunity of getting ‘Local Television’ transmitted.

Libraries and books; what’s their future in the electronic information age?

Super libraries, multi use libraries, or community run libraries; what is the future for our libraries? Will plans for library provision in Worcestershire provide the level of service we expect, or what can be afforded? Electronic books and online research can lessen the reliance on bulky outdated books but libraries and books can provide other benefits; such as social interaction and the tactile satisfaction that handling books bring to many people; especially young children.

Manufacturing is our best route to recovery.

Britain can’t borrow and build its way back to prosperity; if this was the answer Spain would not be in the financial mess it’s in today. Greece - Europe’s weakest economy - manufacturers no premium products for export; while Europe’s strongest economy, Germany, designs and manufactures modern hi-tec products for export, with a reputation of engineering excellence, under well known names such as Mercedes and BMW. Therefore manufacturing should be the main route to recovery of the British economy, rather than the unrestricted building of thousands of houses on green belt land and unutilised industrial sites, which the Government is embarking on.Mistakes in manufacturing have been made in the past through the wrong people being in charge, such as with ‘MG Rover’, but manufacturing is still our best hope for the future.