LAST week I joined a trip on the Severn Valley Railway to Highley organised by the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark to publicise the rich and varied geological features of the Valley.

Dune bedded sandstone and Permo-Triassic rocks were among terms that gained meaning in a running commentary on the train.

We learnt of the barge that sank in the river taking local stone to build Worcester Cathedral and we could see the cut blocks still on the river bed.

At Highley we saw the site for the planned new engine shed and education centre which will enhance visits to this already popular station.

We walked up through the Severn Valley Country Park to the old mine pit head which is commemorated by one of the winding gear wheels and a coal truck from the gravity powered railway that carried the coal to the river.

There with spectacular views over the valley to the east we heard how millions of years ago the river flowed north but then its passage was blocked and the melting ice had to flow south and carved out the Severn Valley.

To me this added yet another fascination to our area about which I knew very little.

I had a useful meeting with the Chief Fire Officer of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Service and heard about the potential difficulties particularly for retained fire fighters from the European Working Time Directive.

Unlike metropolitan brigades, for large parts of our counties retained personnel are vital.

People have approached me with concerns about the planned regional call system. The CFO was able to give me the pros and cons for this change.

As with so many similar developments success depends on a sophisticated computer system which in theory will allow call centre operators anywhere in the country to know where all fire appliances are in all areas.

I just hope this will fulfil expectations. I was pleased to hear that the planned budget for next year has been accepted and so there is no risk of capping.

In London we had the Second Reading of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill.

This combines English Nature with other countryside bodies and I was going to vote against it until I realised from the excellent House of Commons Library paper that English Nature could see advantages from the Bill.

The National Farmers' Union briefing paper was helpful and a farmer MP from Mid Wales, whose views I respect, did not plan to vote against it. So having listened to the wind-up speeches I voted for the Second Reading but I was then on the losing side voting for more time for review of the Bill.

Votes on Second Readings are less crucial for me as review of local opinion and a change of mind - the privilege of an Independent - is still possible before Third Reading.