National Politics – Mike Rouse

COVID-19 Local Alert Levels 1-3 – what they mean and how they are triggered

October 12, 2020 by mikerouse

Local COVID Alert Level – Medium This is for areas where national restrictions continue to be in place. This means: All businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs. Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to … Read more

Redditch e-Scooters answers to FAQs

October 5, 2020 by mikerouse

As Deputy Leader of Redditch Borough Council please allow me to answer some of the frequently asked questions about the e-scooter trial and hopefully address some of the concerns some people might have. Why don’t they cover the whole town? The zone is restricted as part of the trial. The council and the Department for … Read more

Welcoming the suspension of the ‘get back to work’ campaign

September 3, 2020 by mikerouse

I welcome the postponement of the ‘get back to work’ campaign the government was looking to launch, which sought to encourage workers back into the cities. The news comes as research reveals as many as 4 in 10 people who used to drive into work are still working from home. Amongst senior management that figure … Read more

Pavements could be made safer for people with disabilities, and families, under new proposals to ban antisocial parking unveiled by the government

August 31, 2020 by mikerouse

New plans set out to boost safety and make journeys more accessible for disabled people and parents
Review found third of people with visual impairments and almost half of wheelchair users were not as willing to go out because of antisocial pavement parking
Consultation will set out proposals to make transport more accessible and help more people to choose active travel as part of UK’s green recovery from COVID-19

A-Level & GCSE Predicted Grades to Apply

August 17, 2020 by mikerouse

I was pleased to hear that Ofqual has listened to public opinion on the issue of A-Level and GCSE results and issued a statement, which includes: We understand this has been a distressing time for students, who were awarded exam results last week for exams they never took. The pandemic has created circumstances no one … Read more

The Conservative Case for Active Travel

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020 by mikerouse

sportive woman with bicycle resting on countryside road in sunlight

Background and Context

The government has had what might be argued as a road to Damascus conversion to the benefits of active travel. Others might argue Boris has always been keen on cycling. Either way, Boris wants us all to get fit and he likes cycling as a means to get about.

Statement to clarify confusion regarding Morton Stanley Park

June 11, 2020 by mikerouse

I am aware this is a very sensitive issue, but I do have to correct campaigners who have incorrectly named Morton Stanley Park in Redditch on a ‘hit list’ for toppling of statues, which was then published by the Metro and The Sun newspapers and others. Efforts are being made to correct these sources. I … Read more

A CLEAR WARNING ON REDDITCH PARKS – ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

May 10, 2020March 22, 2020 by mikerouse

RISK OF CLOSURE

If there’s evidence of continuous failure to comply with public healthcare guidance I will not hesitate to ask for an urgent decision that all public parks across Redditch be closed.

CCA Board Elections

January 29, 2020 by mikerouse

If you are a Conservative Councillor you should have received an email from the CCA about elections for the CCA Board. I would be grateful for your support to become its Deputy Chairman. I believe it is time for a new generation of Conservatives to step forward into these roles so that our party, at … Read more

Rachel Maclean returned as Redditch MP with over 16,000 majority – more than doubling her 2017 figures.

December 23, 2019December 13, 2019 by mikerouse

Delighted to have managed the campaign here in Redditch that has seen Rachel Maclean returned as MP with a doubled majority. Here’s the numbers from Wikipedia …