I FELT I must respond to last week's letter in the Shuttle/Times and News from former district councillor Nigel Addison.

His statement that Wolverley and Cookley are ignored by both district and county council alike, is nothing but rubbish.

I have only been the county member since May, but in that short period my postbag with Wolverley and Cookley issues has been enormous.

I work very closely with Wolverley Conservative district councillor Malcolm Hazelwood on a multitude of issues affecting residents.

That work also involves working and attending all parish council meetings.

Mr Addison's attack on the parish council is out of line. They are doing a fantastic job with the help of myself as their county councillor.

Some of the issues we are working on range from exploring how the county council can take over the running of the Cookley and Wolverley street lighting columns.

After I raised a petition I persuaded the county council to resurface the Wolverley/Franche Road in large measures. All the overgrowth on the footways from the Lock pub to the Wolverhampton road was cleared back by the district council.

All the overgrowth on the pavements in Highlow Bank, Wolverley, have been cut back and the hedges cut by the county council to give greater access along the footway.

Replacement road signs in Park Gate road and Caunsall have been erected by the district council, thanks to Malcolm's efforts.

We have addressed the issue of fly-tipping in Wolverley following complaints.

At County Hall I have had meetings to arrange a bus service for residents from Westley Court into Kidderminster.

Under the safer routes to school proposals, the county council are spending £35,000 in Cookley on footway improvements to protect children.

We have also arranged for a £50,000 pedestrian crossing to be installed in Bridge Road, Cookley.

In Wolverley the county council are also widening the pavements to Sebright School from Hardwick's to the school entrance, together with improvements to the traffic island outside the school gates.

Wolverley High School will also receive major highway improvements.

The flood alleviation scheme installed by the Environment Agency about six years ago resulted in sewage coming up in residents' gardens in Beechcote Avenue.

I have persuaded the agency to install four French drains which will filter off the surface water and enable solids to settle in the chamber, rather than spill out into gardens.

All these issues should have been dealt with many years ago by my predecessor at County Hall.

GORDON YARRANTON

Conservative county councillor for

Cookley, Wolverley and Wribbenhall

Telford Drive

Bewdley