NEWS: Pype Hayes parks to get £100k through Future Parks Accelerator Programme

Words by Liam Smith / Pics supplied by Erdington Local and Cllr Mahmood

Pype Hayes residents met with Councillor Basharat Mahmood (Pype Hayes, Lab) on Tuesday 2 May to discuss funding secured for three parks in the area: Pype Hayes Park, Paget Green, and Sorrel Park.

A handful of local residents were present at Pype Hayes Park to hear the Councillor, who was joined by members of Birmingham City Council’s parks team, speak on the potential plans for the parks as part of the Future Parks Accelerator Programme.

Cllr Mahmood told Erdington Local: “I am delighted to have secured £100,000 of funding from Birmingham City Council as part of the programme to be spent on improved our much loved parks and open spaces in Pype Hayes.”

Councillor Mahmood was elected to the Pype Hayes Ward in Birmingham’s local election on 5 May 2022, beating the Conservative candidate, Clifton Welch, by 92 votes.

Mr Mahmood campaigned for Labour with objectives to tackle “crime, and antisocial behaviour. Improve youth provision” and to ensure “our parks and green spaces are maintained and well resourced.”

At the meeting this week, one of the main talking points among the residents in attendance was on Pype Hayes Hall.

Pype Hayes Hall was built in 1630 by Henry Bagot, whose family lived there for over 250 years, and eventually sold to Birmingham City Council in 1920 for use as a convalescence and children’s home.

In 2014 the Council then sold the Grade II listed building to Bromford Mill Properties for only £25,000, after the private developers outlined £11,000,000 plans for a 60 bed luxury hotel, spa, and swimming pool.

Although since being sold, the hall and its multiple buildings have remained off limits within the park – slowly decaying, whilst development on the site still yet to commence.

One resident described the hall as “an absolute blight on the park.”

Other residents suggested how it could be repurposed into facilities such as a café with toilet access as well as a community centre.

The gardens next to Pype Hayes Hall, which park visitors can still use, were also mentioned, with Danny Squire of the Sutton Coldfield & Erdington Park Rangers saying: “we would like to get the community take a more active role in the management of the gardens, and to encourage people to grow and maintain these spaces.”

Other suggestions included involving the schools in the local area to get more involved with the park, with gardening projects and groups seen as a potential solution.

Councillor Mahmood added: “All points raised at the meeting will be forwarded to the relevant departments, including the concerns raised about Pype Hayes Hall.

“These meetings give residents the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns with me.

“They help bring about change and I would encourage everyone to get involved to make Pype Hayes cleaner, greener and safer.”

Residents are to be encouraged to attend further meetings about the parks and their funding.

For more from Cllr Basharat Mahmood visit www.facebook.com/PoliticianLabourParty

NEWS: Join the Erdington Community Volunteers for a free ‘Erdy Cuppa’ on the Lyndhurst Estate

Words by Ed King / Pics supplied by Erdington Community Volunteers

On Wednesday 21st April, the Erdington Community Volunteers (ECV) are inviting everyone for an ‘Erdy Cuppa’ on the Lyndhurst Estate – hosted on the park behind the tower blocks in the middle of Abbey Way, Rowden Drive, and Gabriel Drive.

Click here for a Google Maps link to the ‘Erdy Cuppa’ location.

Totally free of charge, the volunteer group will be offering local residents the chance to meet up under Covid safe conditions for a cup of tea, coffee, and a natter with their neighbours.

Running from 2pm to 4:30pm, so families can join in after school, this week’s inaugural ‘cuppa’ will be the first of many events that organisers want to see pop-up around Erdington – encouraging people to get to know people in their community whilst utilising the area’s parks and green spaces.

ECV founder and Erdy Cuppa organiser, Jo Bull, told Erdintgon Local: “We want to give people a good way to get to know their neighbours, whilst celebrating all the beautiful parks and green spaces we have in the constituency.

“Even in a strong community such as Erdington, people can feel isolated and alone – especially during the coronavirus crisis and lockdowns. But now restrictions are being eased, the ‘Erdy Cuppa’ events will give people a chance to get back into the community and start sharing life again.

“The park at the back of the Lyndhust Estate is a beautiful green space with play areas for children and great places just to sit and connect – with enough room to do so under Covid safe conditions.

“We hope to hold more pop up ‘Erdy Cuppa’ events across the constituency and encourage people to get to know their neighbours with a friendly chat over a nice cup of tea.”

Founded as a response to the first coronavirus lockdown, the Erdington Community Volunteers has been a prominent community support group throughout the pandemic – sitting on the Erdington Covid-19 Task Force and supporting much of the food distribution across the area.

As lockdown restrictions ease, the group are now looking at ways to encourage community engagement and help people safety come out of the coronavirus crisis.

Other local groups are being invited to leave information for Erdington locals at the Erdy Cuppa events, highlighting further community activity in the area.

Also available at the Erdy Cuppa will be creative ways to encourage meditation and relaxation, such as free mindfulness pebbles made by Jo Bull.

To help raise funds to support the Erdington Community Volunteers there will also be original arts and crafts on sale.

For more on the Erdington Community Volunteers visit the Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/625073991557017

For a Google Maps link to ‘Erdy Cuppa’ location on Wednesday 21st April visit: https://goo.gl/maps/xSES1yZZKFKjCL238