Category: Opinion

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Conservatives Leader Kemi Badenoch MP and Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch / Photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

This month I’d like to talk about one of the biggest issues I get asked about – potholes across Kingstanding.

After the cold winter that we had, I spent a little time inspecting local roads for potholes and reporting them for repair.

Sadly, Birmingham Labour have been trying to axe £20 million a year from the road repair budget at a time that the roads across Kingstanding – and Birmingham in general – have needed investment more than ever.

Across Kingstanding we are starting to see the damage in our local roads of a decade of bankrupt Birmingham Labour’s mismanagement of the Council and its finances. Many of these potholes – such as on Rivington Creescent, Epwell Road, and Warren Farm Road – are dangerous and require urgent attention.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to update you on the Kingstanding and Perry Common Libraries.

The good news is the campaign that local Conservatives launched to save these libraries was a success and Birmingham Labour backed down on their closure plan, and they are both going to remain open. However, the opening times will be reduced to just three days a week with no commitment to open on a Saturday.

There is also a risk that Birmingham Labour will use any reduced visitor numbers as an excuse to come back next year to close either or both libraries.

So, I can pledge Local Conservatives will continue to fight to protect both Libraries and in the longer-term fight for the return of full-time services.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

For more from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch visit www.facebook.com/KingstandingConservatives

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OPINION: A View from the Vale – a message from Castle Vale Councillor Ray Goodwin

Castle Vale Councillor Ray Goodwin / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Labour

Words by Cllr Ray Goodwin

Castle Vale and the armed forces are inextricably linked; if it wasn’t for the Spitfire where we would be. Built at RAF Castle Bromwich, the planes took off from the runways, which as I write is this very special piece where I am based on Castle Vale.

Everywhere you go on the estate you sense the history and importance of the impact this community had – most of the streets and roads are named after either people or places that are stepped in history. For example: Spitfire Way Lancaster Drive, Lofthouse Close.

There are even rumours of Spitfires being buried under Farnborough Fields.

So, it was right and proper that we did something special for VE day and raised a flag in Centre Park with the ‘Last Post’ playing. We have a war memorial which is located behind a fence in St Cuthberts church. I am wondering if this is the right place for this.

More importantly, a memorial that celebrates our veterans should be located somewhere also.

Listening to residents, I think the memorial should be located by the flagpole in Centre Park and we name it the ‘Memorial Park’ or ‘Veterans Corner’. I am not sure of the logistics of this, but it is worth exploring.

As Churchill said: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

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

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP in Westminster / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter break. As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we honour and will always remember the courage of those who defended our freedoms. Their sacrifice reminds us to stand united, building a future filled with hope, love, and peace.

This month, I’ve been working with the Friends of Conker Island in Kingstanding, calling for urgent repairs to the children’s play area.

Damaged bins, broken equipment, and hazardous surfaces are putting kids at risk. Our children deserve safe, well-maintained spaces to play, and I won’t stop until the council takes action.

On more positive news, we’ve secured a major win for community safety. After years of pressure and a campaign I led, Erdington High Street now has its own dedicated police team. This is a huge win for local businesses and residents who’ve faced antisocial behaviour for too long. I’ll keep pushing to make sure our streets feel safe for everyone.

(l-r) Inspector Christian Forder and Paulette Hamilton MP / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

In Parliament, I’m fighting for women’s health, demanding more research and funding for fibroids and reproductive diseases, conditions that have been ignored for decades.

Just recently, I hosted a parliamentary event with medical experts and campaigners to drive real change. No woman should suffer in silence because of a system that fails her.

From safer parks to better policing and healthcare, my focus remains on delivering for Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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

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OPINION: Jack Brookes, representing Reform UK in Erdington

Jack Brookes on the campaign trail in Birmingham, Erdington in 2022 / Photograph supplied by Jack Brookes

Words by Jack Brookes

First and most importantly, I hope all of you had a marvellous Victory in Europe Day; it is a time for all of us to reflect on what the brave fought and died for 80 years ago – throughout the world and peoples of all nationalities. They gave their tomorrow for our today.

In regards to the Commonwealth: “My thoughts go out to the innocents caught in the conflict between India and Pakistan at this incredibly difficult time.”

Now to political matters…

Reform recently gained: 2 Mayors, 1 MP, more than 600 councillors and 10 council majorities. England has displayed that it wants resolve, restoration and Reform. It must be remembered that this political change is greater than one person.

Reform’s local policies are clear. All wasteful government spending will be eradicated with the implementation of our own DOGE departments and the abolition of the unnecessary DEI and environmentalist jobs.

Taxpayers must get value for money otherwise more councils will go bankrupt like the Labour run Birmingham City Council. The Reform wave has momentum and we can win control of Birmingham City Council and save the city.

In other news, the Labour Government has perhaps negotiated the worst deal possible between the UK and India.

As stated on Reform’s Twitter/X page: “Two Tier Keir betrays British workers. It is now 20% cheaper to hire Indians than British people. He has cut taxes (National Insurance exemptions) for Indian workers and hiked them for British workers.” Thus, creating an unfair labour market.

For more on Jack Brookes from Reform UK visit www.reformparty.uk/birmingham-erdington-constituency

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OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Cllr Alden and police on Erdington High Street / Photograph supplied by Cllr Alden

Cllr Gareth Moore and I are delighted to confirm that Erdington High Street will now have its own dedicated Police team in addition to the existing Neighbourhood team.

This is something we have been campaigning for over the last few years and is a very welcome change which will mean more police on both the High Street and across the rest of Erdington.

It is also part of what we have been arguing is needed following success of operation fearless to maintain the progress made. Another part we continue campaigning for is for the front desk at Erdington Police Station to reopen.

(l-r) Ray Woods from ECBC, Selina Gooden from EWG, and Cllr Alden at Erdington Court Bowls Club / Photograph suppplied by EWG

Over the last month we have joined residents at a number of wonderful community events including the Good Friday Walk of Witness, Easter Egg hunt by Short Heath Fields Trust, 100th Birthday Walk for the Erdington Baths building by Erdington Walking Group (EWG), where regeneration work to convert it into an Enterprise Hub has started, and VE Day 80th remembrance service.

We’ve also been helping residents with various issues including, dumped rubbish on Johnson Road, litter bins emptied and getting the pedestrian crossing lights, on Station Road, repaired.

I am currently collecting a petition opposing a planning application to convert the old plumbing shop on Mason Road into a takeaway and against an application to convert four much needed bungalows into supported accommodation on Deakin Road.

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

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ERDINGTON HIGH STREET POLICE: Keeping Erdington High Street safe – A message from Sargeant Gary Grove

Sgt Gary Grove from the Erdington High Street police team / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police

Words by Sgt Gary Grove – Erdington High Street police team

For those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m Sgt Gary Grove, your new High Street policing team Sergeant. It’s my pleasure to introduce myself and share how we’re working hard to keep our community safe.

With the Op Fearless team relocating to Southside, we’re focused on building on their success and making sure Erdington remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.

Their work led to more than 140 arrests, acting directly on concerns from residents and businesses. Fearless will return to Erdington from time to time to work with us, but now it’s our job to keep up momentum.

Sgt Grove talking to Erdington BID Street Wardens / Photograph supplied by Erdington BID

Since taking over at the start of April, we’ve had a strong start, making more than 17 arrests for various offences, executing warrants, and seizing illegal items. Our vehicle stops have led to the discovery of cash and drugs, while stop and searches have helped us remove dangerous weapons and knives from the streets.

This month, we’ll be out engaging with local businesses alongside partner agencies, ensuring the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is enforced by tackling street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

We know these issues matter to the community, so we’ll be taking strong action to stop them.

Sgt Grove, the High Street police team, and Erdington BID Street Wardens / Photograph supplied by Erdington BID

You’ll see us on patrol, listening to the community and acting on intelligence. We’re here to help and if you see us out and about, please do say hello.

I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress, successes, and future initiatives.

Stay safe, Sgt Gary Grove

For more on the local police and crime in Erdington visit www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-area/west-midlands/birmingham/erdington

You can also follow the Erdington police team on Twitter www.x.com/ErdingtonWMP

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OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(l-r) Cllr Gareth Moore and Cllr Robert Alden campaiging against library closures / Pic supplied by Birmingham Conservatives

Thank you to everyone who signed our petition opposing the proposed new HMO on Mason Road, we’re delighted to confirm, following our campaign, the application has been refused by the Council.

I’ve also been pushing for the Council to take enforcement action against the new chicken shop that has opened without planning permission on Mason Road.

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been continuing our push for the Council to clean up our streets. This month we took our Conservative plan for a cleaner city, and wider amendment, to the budget meeting.

The amendment, signed off as deliverable by Council Finance officers and Commissioners, would’ve kept refuse collections weekly, scrapped Labours ‘Rat Tax’, and increased the number of street cleaners – as well as separately keeping every library including Erdington open full time. Sadly, this was rejected by the Labour Councillors.

This month the Labour Council have announced that due to their bin strike, which is now five days a week, they are not starting garden waste collections and continue to not collect recycling. Their current advice on refuse bins is to leave it out if it is not collected on your normal collection day.

We have been calling for the Council to refund residents who have paid for garden waste collections. The Council has now agreed, and a refund can be requested on their website.

We’re posting all the latest updates we have on the strike on our Facebook page, so follow us there to stay up to date.

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

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors – as identified against each article – and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent, or the view or positions of Erdington Local.

If you wish to contact Erdington Local about any comments or contributions made, please email: [email protected]

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OPINION: Jack Brookes – representative for Reform UK in Birmingham, Erdington

Jack Brooks on the campaign trail for Reform UK inthe 2022 Erdington, Birmingham by-election / Pic supplied by Reform UK

Conscripted to die for a lie; arrested for telling the truth.

The establishment wants to conscript your children to die in the pointless war in Ukraine. Will the politicians send their children? Either all of us go, or none of us go. If we die, then the establishment will die with us.

The leadership (I include Farage and Tice) of all parties should send their kids to the front lines (both genders – inclusivity is a must).

Starmer called us “far right”, now he wants us to fight? If the best of us go over to Ukraine, what will happen in the UK during our absence?

Given the political parallels in Europe, I have come to the conclusion that a war would be perfect for the liberal world order because those of us that would rise up against the boots of communism and anarcho-tyranny will end up dead on some foreign field.

In February 2023 a colleague in the Reform Party (a veteran) revealed the truth – to me and others – about the Ukraine war in his co-authored document.

The leadership of Reform have ignored this document.

Billions in money laundering and corruption, and weapons sold to our enemies; yet the Labour Government has found another £2 billion for this war whilst our pensioners freeze to death.

The Conservatives and Labour have lied us into war before: remember Blair, Campbell, Cameron and co with the Iraq war.

To all UK party leaders: “We will not die for a lie!”

For more on Jack Brookes from Reform UK visit www.reformparty.uk/birmingham-erdington-constituency

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors  and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent, or the view or positions of Erdington Local.

If you wish to contact Erdington Local about any comments or contributions made, please email: [email protected]

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Covid pandemic five year anniversary

Words by Simon Wilson, Chief Executive Officer – The Pioneer Group & Compass Support

The Pioneer Group CEO Simon Wilson / Pic supplied by The Pioneer Group

It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since the Covid pandemic started and cast a dark shadow over so many lives.

As a housing association our world stopped and changed forever as the pandemic struck. As a business we had to adapt to working and providing services remotely for the first time and of course as events unfolded stepped up alongside the whole community on Castle Vale to help those in need.

We helped coordinate a Covid Taskforce alongside the likes of Spitfire Services, church groups, the schools and local organisations all of which coordinated a huge range of provision from medication and food deliveries to welfare calls.

Much of the effort relied on volunteers and goodwill. Many colleagues couldn’t work from home and carried on with vital services in the community.


In many ways it showed something about Castle Vale I have always known. When times are tough and the community faces a challenge it will respond, it will come together and it won’t be done to, it will stand up for itself.

It’s easy to forget with the passage of time just how scary those days where and sadly too many families they would lose loved ones – they will never forget and nor should we.

If you follow the news this can also be seen as quite a scary time with global political and economic uncertainty and closer to home we remain conscious of the real world impact of cost of living crisis and fragile state of many public services.

It feels timely and important to reflect on what we can achieve as a community alongside remembering those we lost.

For more on The Pioneer Group visit www.pioneergroup.org.uk and for more on Compass Support visit www.compass-support.org.uk

The Pioneer Group and Compass Support are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

(l-r) Paulette Hamilton MP with Andrew Goodacre of the British Independent Retailers Association on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

It’s always a pleasure to update you on the work I’m doing to make Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott even better places to live, work, and raise a family.

This month, I’ve been focused on standing up for our neighbourhoods. I have written to local residents about the proposed five-bed HMO on Mason Road, which could bring significant challenges to our community.

I will be objecting to the application in the strongest terms and urging the council to reject it. If you haven’t already, please sign my petition to put a stop to this.

I also joined Simon Foster, our Police and Crime Commissioner, on Erdington High Street to hear about the impact of Operation Fearless. This initiative has already led to major arrests and the seizure of drugs and weapons, making our high street safer.

Our community deserves to feel secure, and I’ll continue pushing for the resources needed to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

Supporting local businesses is also a priority. That’s why I recently met with Andrew Goodacre of the British Independent Retailers Association and walked along the High Street to discuss efforts to revitalise our town centre.

Our independent businesses are the backbone of our community, and I’ll keep working to ensure they thrive.

On a brighter note, I was delighted to join Marsh Hill Primary School in Stockland Green for the opening of their new security gates. It’s fantastic to see investment in school safety, ensuring children can learn and grow in a secure environment.

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