THE proposed closure of the Royal Mail Delivery Office at Stourport and its move to Kidderminster would be another blow to local people and businesses if it went ahead.

I have met staff at Stourport and have asked for details from them that will help me in the fight to preserve the service at Stourport.

My contacts with Royal Mail bosses so far have told me that the financial business case is not yet complete. I will make sure I see this when available but I will not write more now as we need to keep our powder dry for the battle to come.

Another unpopular proposal is for an incinerator at Hartlebury. This is not in my patch but here we need to know first, as it will be so near to the concentration of population in Wyre Forest, what is the risk from emissions?

Second, and probably of greater practical concern, what effect will it have on traffic flows?

I understand this will be a major facility coping with unrecycled waste from a wide area. Traffic from the south-west will come through Stourport, already grid- locked at times, and any from the north will add to the problems in Kidderminster.

Surely we should be looking at increased recycling and if every community was responsible for disposal of its own unrecycled waste the incentives for recycling would be greater.

If other areas know their waste can just go to Hartlebury these incentives will be lost.

Lawrence’s plant on Stourport Road in Kidderm-inster is an excellent example of what is possible as it recycles at least 80% of the waste it processes.

I enjoyed a visit to the 25th Birthday Party at the Railway Children Childcare Centre, Station Drive, Kidderminster, and was impressed with their facilities and the numbers and commitment of their staff.

I was particularly interested in their apprentices who do four days at the centre and one at Kidderminster College during an 18-month course that prepares them well for child care work.

I was told that these apprentices earn £40 per week while hairdressing apprentices earn double that amount. I need to check that as it seems very unfair.

This half term week is a constituency week for MPs so I was able to attend the Hospital League of Friends Comm-ittee meeting on Tuesday.

The success of the Millbrook Suite Appeal has been amazing and thanks are due to all who have contributed and to the Shuttle for tremendous support.

As the work approaches completion discussions are taking place about an Open Day and extra facilities that could be affordable.

I wrote last week about the future of the Worcestershire primary care out-of-hours service that is so important for all of us.

The contender favoured by Take Care Now (TCN) to buy the remaining years of their contract was divulged by The Guardian on February 12.

Unfortunately it is not the contender favoured by 80% of the county’s GPs and I hope the Primary Care Trust will listen to our GPs before accepting TCN’s decision that is based on value for their shareholders.

This may not be the best for the next three years for the people of Worcestershire who must be the PCT’s prime consideration.

DR RICHARD TAYLOR MP