News that Tory run Staffordshire County Council have decided to restrict road gritting to just A & B class roads during this current spell of cold weather is a further "nail in the coffin" for rural services says Barry Stamp.

Barry Stamp said he well understood that the current prolong spell of cold weather had depleted the Council's stocks of road salt, but this should not mean that the lives of residents living in more rural locations should be put at risk.

Villages such as Bradley, Church Eaton, Derrington and Morton are linked to the main highway network by a "C" class road, which under the new plan will now not be treated.

Not only are these lanes used by private motorists but they also carry heavy delivery lorries, public buses and taxies, emergency vehicles, and even more worrying school buses

In frosty weather without salting these lanes will be treacherous and could be best described as an accident waiting to happen.

IThe County Council must rethink this plan and look at other ways of increasing their salt stocks. Perhaps they should talk to the Highways Agency, who have large stocks of salt for gritting trunk roads and motorways. They have aready said that they would be willing to talk to local Councils to see if they could help out.

Abandoning rural communities is short sighted and not a plan Barry can support.

Has the County Council abandoned the roads in this area is a question Barry Stamp has been asked a number of times over the past few weeks. It seems it doesn't matter where you drive it's not long before you come across floods. The situation is especially bad in Church Eaton Lane where a few days ago the road was only passable if you had a 4x4!

Barry is getting sick and tired of contacting the Council about the problems only to be told something will be done. It does seem if there is no one willing to take the blame for this situation and everyone involved with the County Council are prepared to let local residents suffer!

Four out of the five post offices in this area have been saved from closure. Those unaffected are Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley, and Derrington. However the Post Office have decided that the one at Great Bridgeford is to shut.

Barry Stamp has been actively involved with the Liberal Democrats campaign to save rural post offices. At the beginning of March Liberal Democrats handed a 50,000 name petition into to Downing Street calling on the Government to end the closure plans.

"What we need now is a concerted effort by all political parties to work together to fight these closure plans, instead of trying to score political points in the hope of winning votes. Locally the County Council are seeking ways of using their power and influence to either stop the closures or if this is not possible ensuring replacement services are available. I will be urging the Borough Council to work with the County Council and other organisations to ensure this happens," said Barry Stamp.

Everyone should be proud of the wonderful facility at Stafford Hospital. However management failures have let down the hardworking staff and as a result in the public has lost confidence in the organisation. It is now important that an open, full and frank enquiry is held so lessons can be learned from past mistakes.

Illegally dumped rubbish is becoming a problem in the Haughton, Bradley, and Church Eaton areas. Changes of rules, and increased charges made by Stafford Borough Council means that more and more people are dumping their rubbish in quiet country lanes rather than taking it into Stafford and the Council tip. Barry Stamp says something must be done before the rural areas are turned into one large rubbish tip. If you see anyone dumping rubbish or know of some that needs removing give Barry a ring on 01785 822723.