Category: LOCAL POLITICS

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP at her Erdington consituency office / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

One issue I have always been passionate about is building a care system that works for everyone. Growing older shouldn’t mean worrying about whether you can afford the care you need or being forced to sell your family home to pay for it.

That is why I welcome the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to creating a National Care Service, with free personal care based on need rather than ability to pay. I know how important good care is when a loved one becomes older and more vulnerable.

I lost someone close to me in September, so I understand personally how much families rely on a care system that is there when they need it.

The NHS is one of Labour’s proudest achievements, founded in 1948 on the principle of healthcare free at the point of use. I believe social care must work alongside it as an equal partner, particularly as our population grows older.

Locally, I continue to stand up for residents. A new application has been submitted to convert a family home on Tyburn Road in Pype Hayes into a 5-bedroom HMO. I have formally objected and encouraged local residents to do the same.

Paulette Hamilton MP at opening of new nursery facilities at Pegasus School on Castle Vale / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

It was a pleasure to officially open the new nursery at Pegasus Primary School in Castle Vale. The school received £150,000 in government funding, creating 40 new nursery places.

This is the kind of investment our communities deserve, and I will keep fighting to bring more of it to Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale and South Oscott.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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OPINION: Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore – Erdington, Local Conservatives

(L-R) Cllr Robert Alden, Katie Lam MP, Cllr Alex Yip / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Local Conservatives

Words by Councillor Robert Alden

Cllr Gareth Moore and I continue to raise residents’ ongoing issues with the Council’s fortnightly bin collection and food waste pilot.

We continue to demand the City Council scrap their fortnightly collections and reinstate weekly bin collections.

This month we met with Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Katie Lam MP, to discuss issues in Birmingham including the scourge of badly run exempt accommodation.

We explained our campaign calling on the Government to change the law to make exempt accommodation need planning permission so that it can finally be controlled, its growth stopped and local family housing saved.

We also visited Botham House on Orphanage Road to see the completed building project. When the developers looked to sell the block there was a risk an exempt accommodation provider was going to buy it and convert it to exempt accommodation.

Thankfully we have managed to stop that and, working with Birmingham City Council, the block is now going to remain as older person accommodation, as originally intended. The Council is using it to allow older residents to downsize and so free up larger family homes for use by families.

(L-R) Cllr Rober Alden, Katie Lam MP, Cllr Alex Yip / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Local Conservatives

Botham Place is named after the prominent 19th-century Birmingham architect J.R. Botham, who designed the historic Sir Josiah Mason’s Orphanage.

We’ve also chased the Council housing department about the cleanliness of tower blocks in Erdington and the need for the CCTV to be reinstated to keep residents safe.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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OPINION: Councillor Ray Goodwin – Castle Vale, Labour

Cllr Ray Goodwin on Castle Vale High Street, outside Spritfire House / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Labour

Words by Councillor Ray Goodwin

Castle Vale has always been a community that punches above its weight. As we move into autumn, I am reminded once again that our greatest strength is our people.

Our recent community festival was a fantastic example of what makes the Vale special. It brought residents, local organisations and community groups together, showcasing the pride, talent and determination that exist across our neighbourhood.

We should never underestimate the power of bringing people together.

However, there is still work to do.

The household waste collection pilot continues to cause frustration, with residents raising concerns about missed collections and outstanding bins. I want the pilot to succeed, but that means listening to residents, resolving problems quickly and ensuring the service delivers what people have been promised.

As we approach winter, we must also recognise the pressures facing many households. Rising living costs, the challenge of keeping homes warm and the strain on family budgets will leave some residents struggling.

Working alongside organisations such as Spitfire Services, Upcycle Birmingham and Pioneer Housing will be vital in ensuring people know where to turn for help.

Being a councillor is about more than attending meetings or making promises. It is about listening, challenging decisions when necessary and working with residents to find practical solutions. Castle Vale is not without its challenges, but it has something incredibly valuable: a community that cares.

My commitment remains simple: to keep listening, keep speaking up and keep working to make Castle Vale a better place for everyone. 

For more on Councillor Ray Goodwin www.facebook.com/thisiscastlevale

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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OPINION: Councillor Jex Parkin and Councillor John Lambert – Kingstanding, Reform UK

(L-R) Cllr John Lambert and Cllr Jex Parkin at Local Elections count at Utilita Arena, Birmingham in May 2026 / Photograph by Ed King, Kingstanding Local

Words by Cllr Jex Parkin (Reform UK, Kingstanding) and Cllr John Lambert (Reform UK, Kingstanding)

£20 Million. Your Neighbourhood. Your Say.

Politicians have a remarkable talent for telling communities what they need. Asking first? Apparently, that’s the radical bit.

Kingstanding South-East could receive up to £20 million over ten years through Pride in Place. Better parks? Safer streets? Somewhere for young people? Bringing neglected buildings back to life?

But whose priorities should come first?

And here’s something important: you don’t have to live here to have a view.

Live in Kingstanding? Work here? Run a local business? Shop here, enjoy a pint at the pub, use local facilities or visit relatives? If you have a connection to Kingstanding South-East, we want to hear from you.

Kingstanding Together, an independent community association, is running a five-minute survey for people who live in or use the area.

Because when the projects are announced, we already know the complaints:

“Nobody asked us.”
“What a waste of money.”
“Why didn’t they fix what matters?”

Well, you’re being asked now.

The survey isn’t a vote on individual schemes. Kingstanding Together doesn’t control the funding. But your answers will be shared with the Neighbourhood Board and Birmingham City Council to help inform their decisions.

And we’ll be asking what happens next: who decided, why, and did it actually improve our neighbourhood?

Twenty million pounds is too important to leave to guesswork.

Have your say: www.kingstanding.org/pride-in-place/survey

For more from Cllr Jex Parkin (Reform UK, Kingstanding) and Cllr John Lambert (Reform UK, Kingstanding) click here.

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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LOCAL POLITICS: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP visiting Digby Manor Care Home / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

Protecting our high streets and keeping our neighbourhoods safe are among my top priorities.

Residents have told me that Erdington High Street, Slade Road and Hawthorn Road deserve thriving local businesses that serve our community, not a concentration of betting shops, vape shops or rogue operators.

That is why I welcome the Government’s plans to give councils and local people a stronger say over what opens on our high streets, alongside tougher action against criminal businesses.

Locally, I met Sergeant Millard to discuss the action needed on Erdington High Street. The recent closure of a shisha shop found to be selling illegal vapes shows what can be achieved when police, Trading Standards and the community work together.

But one closure is not the finish line. I will continue pushing for more visible policing and sustained action to make our streets safer.

I also want to hear from you about off-road bikes and quad bikes. Too many residents are affected by dangerous and antisocial riding. Please tell me where it is happening and what further action you want to see by completing my survey at www.paulettehamilton.org.

Paulette Hamilton MP at her constituency office in Erdington Town Centre / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Throughout the summer, I have been out across our constituency, hosting a Kingstanding coffee morning, visiting Digby Manor Care Home’s Summer Fayre, and holding street surgeries in Stockland Green and Erdington.

Now as children return to school, I’m pleased the government is supporting families with cheaper uniforms, more free breakfast clubs and expanded free school meals. Eligible families could save up to £1,200 a year.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Jex Parkin and Councillor John Lambert – Kingstanding, Reform UK

Reform candidates on campaign trail in Kingstanding, ahead of May ’26 Local Elections / Photograph supplied by Reform UK Erdington Branch

Words by Councillor Jex Parkin and Councillor John Lambert

We’ve been digging into the condition of Kingstanding’s roads after regularly hearing from residents about potholes and poor road surfaces.

Our Freedom of Information request has revealed which Kingstanding roads generated the greatest number of highways enquiries between 2023 and 2026. These include reports and repair jobs relating to issues such as potholes, damaged carriageways and footways.

Hawthorn Road recorded 291 enquiries, followed by Warren Farm Road with 277, Kings Road with 146, Hurlingham Road with 124 and Finchley Road with 114.

Residents regularly tell us about potholes and poor road surfaces, so we wanted to establish exactly where the problems are being reported most often. These figures give us a much clearer picture.

We will now be taking the worst-affected roads back to the Council, asking what action is planned and pressing for proper repairs where problems are recurring.

We have also continued to challenge Birmingham City Council over its approach to national flags. Threats, intimidation and criminal behaviour should always be dealt with, but we do not believe the Union Flag or St George’s Cross should themselves be treated as the problem.

Finally, a useful date for the diary. After your Reform councillors pushed for a Mobile Household Recycling Centre visit to Kingstanding last month, residents told us how useful they found the service.

We are therefore pleased to see further visits scheduled for Kingstanding Wellbeing Centre, Dulwich Road, on 23 September from 7:30am–12:30pm, and again on 17 October from 8am–midday.

For more from Reform UK in Kingstanding and across Erdington visit www.facebook.com/reformukerdington

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Ray Goodwin – Castle Vale, Labour

Cllr Ray Goodwin outside Spitfire House on Castle Vale High Street / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Labour

Words by Councillor Ray Goodwin

As the television show goes, Last of the Summer Wine has finally come to an end — and as we move into autumn, our thoughts are turning towards the winter ahead.

For many residents, winter can be difficult. Rising household costs, the pressures of keeping homes warm and the challenges faced by those already struggling mean our focus now has to be on making sure people know where they can turn for help and support.

That work will involve not only our fantastic partner organisations, including Spitfire Services, Upcycle Birmingham and Pioneer Housing, but also the community itself. Castle Vale has always been strongest when residents are placed at the heart of what we do. That will be particularly important over the coming months.

Our recent community festival was a fantastic example of that spirit. It was an amazing day that showcased the very best of Castle Vale — our people, organisations and the incredible community pride that exists here.

But we shouldn’t kid ourselves. We still have some stubborn issues to tackle.

The rollout of the waste pilot is becoming increasingly frustrating. At times, it feels like we are playing a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Just when one problem appears to have been dealt with, another seems to pop up.

We need to keep pushing for solutions, listening to residents and holding those responsible to account.

Castle Vale is an amazing community. This autumn and winter, we need to make sure we continue putting that community at the centre of everything we do.

For more on Councillor Ray Goodwin www.facebook.com/thisiscastlevale

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore – Erdington, Local Conservatives

Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden on Erdington High Street with police / Photograph supplied by Cllr Alden

Words by Councillor Robert Alden

Over the summer Cllr Gareth Moore and I have continued our work for more police and investment into Erdington High Street.

We have written to senior police officials and held meetings with the local police team and the Council about the need for both more officers on the beat locally on our streets in Erdington, and for the City Council to carry out more enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on Erdington High Street.

It is positive that in the last few weeks our excellent local Police team has been given additional officers, allowing greater patrols locally, and the Council has agreed additional patrols to enforce the High Street PSPO.

But we will not be settling for just this and will continue to push for Erdington to have the level of policing we need.

We will be continuing this campaigning in the coming weeks and months. Residents can help support this work by ensuring they report any crime or ASB locally to the police and ensure they receive a crime number.

This is because officers are allocated based on the amount of cases reported across the region.

In terms of Erdington High Street, this month we have met with officers from the Council to discuss possible funding sources for investment both short term to help lift our town centre, and also longer term to help produce the plans needed for securing larger scale long term regeneration.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September.

To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP at constituency office in Erdington / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP’s constituency team

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 14 August. Be the first to get your local news delivered through your door, support independent community journalism, and email us at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP (Birmingham Erdington, Labour)

Protecting our communities remains one of my top priorities, and this summer I’m stepping up my campaign to stop more family homes being lost to poorly managed HMOs and fight for stronger safeguards against exempt accommodation.

Here’s an update on the work I’m doing on your behalf.

I’ve recently been made aware of a planning application for a new 7-bedroom HMO on Tyburn Road. Our area already has far too many poorly managed HMOs, and I don’t believe we need another. That’s why I’ve launched a campaign opposing this application.

I’m also continuing my fight to close the loophole that allows some failed HMO applications to become exempt accommodation.

If you’d like to support these campaigns, please sign my Tyburn Road HMO and exempt accommodation petitions at www.paulettehamilton.org

It was wonderful to welcome so many residents to my recent community coffee morning at Maryvale Community Centre in Oscott. These coffee mornings are a great opportunity to hear your concerns, answer your questions and discuss the issues that matter most.

Paulette Hamilton MP at Maryvale Communty Projectr / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP’s constituency team

I look forward to my next coffee morning on 14 August in Kingstanding as I continue meeting as many of the 122,000 people I represent as possible.

Finally, I hope you’re enjoying the summer holidays and spending quality time with family and friends.

With the Government’s August free bus travel scheme for children aged 5 to 15, I hope many families have been able to make the most of the opportunity to explore and enjoy everything our region has to offer.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

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OPINION: A message from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore

(l-r) Cllr Moore and Cllr Alden on Erdington High Street / Photograph from Erdington Local archives

This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 14 August. Be the first to get your local news delivered through your door, support independent community journalism, and email us at: subscribe@erdingtonlocal.com

Words by Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore (Erdington Ward, Local Conservatives)

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been clear that we believe weekly bin collections should remain – at the elections Local Conservatives pledged to save them if we took control of the Council.

Sadly, we did not and the new Green/Lib Dem/Independent administration has gone ahead with trialling scrapping weekly bin collections in North Birmingham, and later the rest of the city.

Over the last few months’ Local Conservatives have been leading the push for weekly bin collections to be reinstated including challenging the Leader and Cabinet Members at the City Council.

In addition, we have been working with residents to raise issues that have existed in the rollout of the service across our local area as well.

Gareth and I have been reporting missed collections, bins that have not been delivered and taking senior officers on site visits locally to show the Council issues on roads which are simply not suitable for the new scheme.

Such examples include flats on Avalon Close, Hepburn Edge and Somerton Drive, amongst other roads, where residents are not allowed or don’t have the space to store the increased number of bins.

We are updating residents on our Facebook page – www.faceboo.com/ErdingtonNews – with all the latest on the changes to the bins and our campaign to reinstate weekly bin collections.

If you are experiencing issues in Erdington please contact Gareth (gareth.moore@birmingham.gov.uk) or myself (Robert.alden@birmingham.gov.uk) and we will try to help.

The Council can also be contacted on EngageWithWaste@birmingham.gov.uk with issues relating to the bin rollout.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews