PEOPLE in Tenbury are being urged not to miss out on the chance to have a vital say in the future of the town and surrounding area.

Mark Willis, Mayor of Tenbury, is urging people to take the time to make their views known in a series of consultations that would affect the future of the town for decades.

His plea follows on the heels of a similar call from Harriett Baldwin, the MP for West Worcestershire whose constituency includes Tenbury.

Two of the consultations relate to health services and the future of Tenbury Hospital and the in-patient beds could be on the line.

The other consultation is about proposed new laws that would mark a major change in how the problem of dog-fouling is dealt with in the town where it has been regarded as a major problem for many years.

“Malvern Hills District Council has one on public space protection orders across the district,” said Mark Willis, who has been leading the charge for tougher action against people who allow their dogs to foul in public places.

His attention was drawn to the problem when watching a rugby game on Palmers Meadow that had to be stopped on a number of occasions while officials came on to the pitch to clean up.

Mark Willis believes that the proposed new protection orders could make a major difference in the fight against anti-social dog owners.

“These have replaced what many of us would refer to as bylaws,” said Mark Willis.

“Introduction of these orders would give far more power to deal with the issue of dog-fouling, committed by a very small percentage of dog owners in the town.

"Please have your say on this, particularly all you responsible dog owners.”

He also wants people to get involved in consultations that could have a major impact upon the future of local health services and Tenbury Hospital.

“The NHS has two public consultations in progress,” added Mark Willis.

“I urge you to have your say. You can access both via NHS Worcestershire websites.”

Cash-strapped health chiefs have put out a plan for consultation that would see a slashing in the number of community beds in Worcestershire.

The transition plan from the Worcestershire NHS Trust envisaged a reduction in the number of community beds in the county from 324 at present to 182.

It is not clear how or if the cut of almost 50 per cent would affect Tenbury Hospital.

Harriett Baldwin, the MP for Tenbury, is urging people to take part in a consultation and not to miss out on the chance to have a voice.

She says that figures show that that there is a more than 90 per cent occupancy rate for the beds at Tenbury Hospital.

They are used for a range of purposes including palliative care and also as a bridge between patients who do not need to be in an acute hospital such as Worcester Royal but are not well enough to return home.