Barbara is 56.  From the age of 15, she has worked every day of her life, apart from a few years when she stayed at home to care for her disabled husband until his death in 2003.  Since 1995, she thought that she would retire in 2018, when she will be 64. She based all her plans for the future on this.  But the Government have moved the goalposts, so that people like Barbara will have to wait two additional years to retire.

Valerie has today expressed concern that Walsall Borough Council chiefs are confused about parking charges and are “out of touch” with local people on the issue.

On Friday  27 May 20111 Alan Carter the ICT coordinator told Valerie that Palfrey Juniors, Class 10 won the West Midlands Region of the competition and are through to the Final. The  awards ceremony will take place at the Houses of Parliament and the finalists will be awarded £1,200. 

On 24 May 2011 Valerie secured a debate in the House of Commons on the controversial new parking charges in Walsall town centre and presented a petition of over 700 names to Parliament from businesses and customers in Ablewell Street.

Valerie was delighted to hear that two local primary schools have made it to the Regional Final of a national IT competition. Palfrey Junior School and Chuckery Primary School have made it to the short listing stage of Make IT Happy, which includes six schools from the West Midlands. They now stand a good chance of winning the regional prize of £1200 and being invited to the Houses of Parliament on 28th June.