Blackheath Tree of Life appeal raises £800

The Blackheath Tree of Life Christmas charity appeal has raised £800  which will be going to the Bridges Support Service which helps people with cancer and other palliative care needs and includes benefit advice.in Sandwell.

Now in its 11th year, the appeal allows people to sponsor a light on a cherry tree at our local St Paul’s Church, Long Lane, in memory of loves ones for a minimum £5 donation.

Organiser and former councillor Mary Docker secretary of the Blackheath Community and Business Association, said she was delighted with the amount raised,


Well Done Mary

Labour Tax the Dead

I see Dudley Labour Council have slapped a No Council Tax exemption rule on properties where and old person may have died and the property has not been sold, in another move they have stopped the exemption on empty properties undergoing renovation to make them habitable. 



Blogger said

Labour now tax dead grannies, do Labour want all your money dead or alive ?

see more details

http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/local/10078443._Tax_on_death__slammed_by_Tories/

Sandwell's big parking announcement

I see in the local paper that Sandwell is giving free parking on Saturday & Sunday in the three weeks run up to Christmas.

One little problem Sunday's have always been free, or is that about to change?
Oh and the cost for parking will double.

yes up to 80p/hour to park, with talk of up to £4 per day in some of our towns !


Blogger said
I can only think that out of town shopping centres and local supermarkets car parks will be packed with Sandwell residents enjoying free parking all year round with some open till 10 pm, in the run up to Christmas.


Well done Sandwell  !!

Thanks for nothing, yes nothing is what the traders and people have got for Christmas
How many more will follow WBBS and close before Sandwell see the light

see also
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/10/29/free-parking-for-shoppers-in-west-bromwich/

Blackheath Tree of Life

I see the regular Blackheath tree of Life as been turned on in all its glory, now in 

its 11^th year and third year at  St Paul's Parish Church in Long Lane.

Its founding organiser, former Councillor and
Secretary of the Blackheath Community and Business Association Mrs Mary Docker said

“ People can sponsor a light in memory of a loved on for a minimum £5 donation and the names listed in a roll of honour and displayed on 

the four information boards”

Proceeds raised will go to Bridges support Service which helps people with Cancer 

and specialist care needs within Sandwell

Well Done Mary 

See also

http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/local/10027763.Blackheath_launches_Tree_of_Life_appeal_to_remember_loved_ones/

Labour and your Petrol

Just in case you forget

When Labour came to power in 1997 the fuel duty on unleaded petrol stood at 36.86p per litre. When they left office in 2010 it had risen to 57.19p per litre

(HMRC, Hydrocarbon oils: historic duty rates, link).

Now Labour jump up and down at the pump price

but this is what Labour idea of a stabiliser did to the price of petrol when they were in office

12 rises, with plans for another 6.

1.02/07/97 – fuel duty rose to 40.28p per litre

2.17/03/98 – fuel duty rose to 43.99p per litre

3.09/03/99 – fuel duty rose to 47.12p per litre

4.21/03/00 – fuel duty rose to 48.82p per litre

5.15/06/01 – fuel duty rose to 48.82p per litre (having briefly been 46.82p)

6.01/10/03 – fuel duty rose to 50.19p per litre

7.07/12/06 – fuel duty rose to 51.52p per litre

8.01/10/07 – fuel duty rose to 53.65p per litre

9. 01/12/08 – fuel duty rose to 52.35p per litre (having previously fallen to 50.35p)

10. 01/04/09 – fuel duty rose to 54.19p per litre

11.01/09/09 – fuel duty rose to 56.19p per litre

12.01/04/10 – fuel duty rose to 57.19p per litre

Labour also planned for six further fuel duty rises after the election.

Labour's March 2010 Budget, delivered by Alistair Darling set out six further rises

(HM Treasury, Budget March 2010, p. 8, link).

13. 01/10/10 - 1p rise

14. 01/01/11 – 0.76p rise

15. 01/04/11 – 1p rise in real terms

16.01/04/12 – 1p rise in real terms

17. 01/04/13 – 1p rise in real terms

18. 01/04/13 – 1p rise in real terms

We have scrapped most of Labour's rises, But ask yourself would Labour really scrap them?

See our original posting at

http://sandwellconservatives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/labour-and-petrol.html