Karen recently had the pleasure of visiting the Langdon Group’s new depot site at Studley Road, Park Farm, Redditch.

The new facility replaces a rented site just two miles away in Redditch which they have outgrown. The company have invested in excess of £8m to buy the site, demolish a disused factory and then build a much larger purpose-built facility which includes storage capacity for over 5000 frozen and chilled pallets. With 16 loading bays, the new depot will have significantly larger pallet throughput capacity.

Managing Director Arran Osman said, “Our depot at Heming Road has served us well for seven years, but we have known for some time that the throughput capacity restraints at that site could not be addressed and so we had to seek a new solution. As a location for our Midlands depot, Redditch has proved very satisfactory and so I am delighted that we are staying in the town” .

Redditch is one of eight depots operated by Langdons throughout the UK, all of which are linked by dual temperature overnight trunk vehicles carrying frozen and chilled pallets, enabling next day delivery to and from almost all mainland UK. As the Midlands depot, Redditch handles a large number of “transit” pallets overnight which are destined for final delivery by other depots in the network.

Langdons is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nagel Group of Germany.   Karen is pictured with Arran Osman, MD  and Wayne Bridges, Depot Manager.

Karen  had the recent pleasure of opening the new business site for the family run company, Heartbeat Manufacturing, which is successfully going from strength to strength. The company, who specialises in one-stop design, manufacturing and fitting of shop space has recently purchased a new purpose-built warehouse in Target Park, Lakeside to accommodate its expansion.

Mrs Lumley said she was delighted to open the new warehouse and congratulated staff on their continued success during the current economic climate.

Karen is pictured with James Pritchard, Charles Stubbings, David Stubbings and Robert Cave from Heartbeat.

A spot of afternoon tea was served at the Winyates Oasis Charity Shop to celebrate and thank volunteers for all of their hard work in the community during the recent CSV “Make a Difference Day”.

Organiser Ann Sowton said: “It was an excellent day and it was really good to get people together and say thank you to the volunteers, including those who work at the Oasis as the shop would not function without them.”

Mrs Lumley added: “It was great to see so many young people enjoying themselves. I managed to spend some time with the volunteers and see how the shop is going from strength-to-strength.”

Karen Lumley MP is pictured with Ann Sowton, Bromsgrove and Redditch Network Chief Officer, and volunteer Valerie Soden.

This has been the most difficult week of my life as an MP.

There was a vote on Monday for a referendum on the European Union and – for the first and hopefully last time – I voted against the Government.

I had received many letters, emails and phone calls asking me to do so. On Friday I met with my local party executive to talk over my views. On Saturday I knocked doors in Redditch to gauge local opinion.

This was not an easy decision to make but I hope I made the right one.  Having spent a few difficult days in London I so looked forward to returning to Redditch on Friday.

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On a happier note, I had a great day last Friday in the constituency. I visited Your Ideas in Matchborough where I joined local residents making a pumpkin lantern.

I also got to meet Natural England and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust at Feckenham to look at one of their projects.

Finally before my surgery (no pun intended!) on Friday I celebrated the 25th Anniversary at the Alexandra hospital. It was great to be able to attend and I really enjoyed myself.

Also this week I had the opportunity to ask a Prime Minister’s question about education funding and the pupil premium which is so important for schools in Worcestershire.

Karen met with Lucy Prever, an NHS speech and language therapist at the Commons recently.

2011 has been the National Year of Communication and to celebrate this the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists organised a visit to parliament on the 18th October to raise awareness of the profession and the valuable work done to improves the lives of people of all ages with communication difficulties.

After hearing from Lucy, who lives in Redditch, Karen’s plans to visit the local speech and language therapy unit in the town.

Karen Lumley MP was put on the spot by Whizz-Kidz.  Karen got more than she bargained for at the Conservative Party Conference, when Max Sampson, 17 year old Ambassador for the charity  Whizz-Kidz, turned interviewer.

Whizz-Kidz – which provides vital wheelchairs, life skills, and work opportunities for young disabled people – quizzed MPs to see how in-touch they are with popular culture. Questions included, what is the most played album on their MP3 player, and how often do they search for themselves online.

Ms Lumley commented; “It was great to meet Max and Whizz-Kidz at Conference and be put on the spot! It was refreshing to see a charity use fun and good humour to break the ice with politicians.  “Beneath the mischief, the charity underlined the importance of every child having the opportunity to be themselves, and have a childhood like any other.”

Max Sampson added, “All the MPs were great sports, and answered my three minute quiz honestly. All the interviews are hosted on our audioboo website – and we even got picked up in The Guardian! The right wheelchair and mobility equipment is not automatically provided on the NHS, and it is virtually impossible for a young disabled person to get a powered wheelchair. Whizz-Kidz’s FastForward campaign is calling on Government to reform young people’s wheelchair services.”   (www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/fastforward)

Listen to Whizz-Kidz’s audioboo interviews at http://audioboo.fm/Whizz-Kidz
For Karen’s interview, click on the photo or go to http://audioboo.fm/boos/491473-quick-fire-questions-with-karen-lumley-mp

(Courtesy Redditch Standard)

Karen met Princess Anne at CSV on Monday (September 19) when the Redditch centre greeted the Princess Royal at the charity’s base in Lakeside.

CSV primarily provides training and employment for 16-19 year olds.  Staff and users were delighted at the royal visit.

The Princess herself chose the charity from a list of options offered for her time in Worcestershire and unveiled a plaque to mark the visit.

Karen met Nick Gibb, Minister for Education, with some of the county’s MPs and Head Teachers to talk about issues facing Worcestershire. The main issue was of course the introduction of a National Funding Formula.

Worcestershire is one of the worst-funded authorities in the country and Karen has long pressed for a national formula.

Karen said she “Was delighted to hear the minister say that the National Funding Formula would be delivered” and she pressed for this to be sooner rather than later. “Young people in Redditch deserve the best education we can provide and this will certainly help them achieve that along with other government measures” she said.

Karen is pictured with Nick Gibb and Marion Barton, Head of Trinity High School.

Karen Lumley and Trinity High School student Harry Bishop are shown at the Acorns Charity Concert he arranged earlier in the year.  It was held at the Rocklands Social Club in Redditch.

Fantastic acts performed: Summer Price, supported by Saffie Elliot, Chloe Larner, Rosie Stone and Adam Haylor and Dom Hawthorn.  Bands were: Powerbeat and STAKEOUT!

Well over £1,326 was raised for Acorns Children’s Hospice – well done Harry!

Karen Lumley is pictured with Trudi Albrecht and Mandy Childs from NHS Trainers along with the Town Mayor, Anita Clayton, during a visit to the Redditch Library to take part in the Health MOT Program.

Redditch locals are being invited to sample the new health and wellbeing opportunities at Redditch Library.

Karen said: “The trainers do a great job and have had real success with people who want to make healthier choices with friendly support, but without the finger wagging approach.”

The town centre library is now hosting weekly health MOTs with NHS health trainers, who can advise, support and motivate people in making small changes leading to healthier lifestyles.

For more information, visit worcestershire.nhs.uk/healthtrainers