Category: Politics

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP outside Erdington Library / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

Like you, I’ve watched the news from the Middle East this week with a heavy heart. The renewal of conflict, with airstrikes on Iran, is deeply troubling.

It forces us to reflect on Britain’s place in a volatile world.

While I condemn the abhorrent actions of the Iranian regime, as your MP my first duty is to you. That is why I support the Government’s decision to ensure the UK is not automatically dragged into another distant war.

We cannot afford to enter conflicts at the behest of others. We must never forget the painful mistakes of the past, particularly the war in Iraq. Any decision involving our armed forces must have one thing at its core: the safety and security of British citizens and a clear, achievable goal.

We cannot commit to conflict without an exit plan.

Locally, I was pleased to host my coffee morning in Gravelly Hill, listening to residents. Whether we are talking about local priorities or our NHS, your voice shapes my work in Westminster.

It also means fighting for the things that hold our community together. I’ve been pressing hard for answers on Erdington Library. Our cherished Grade II-listed building has been left in limbo. I’m pleased that structural surveys are finally approved and plans are moving forward.

I will keep the pressure on for a clear timeline and the funding needed to bring this vital community hub back to life.

Please keep an eye out for my next coffee morning, I hope to see you there.

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

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(L-R) Cllr Alden and Cllr Moore standing outside Erdington Library / Photograph supplied Cllr Alden

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

Tireless local Councillor Gareth Moore and I recently met senior officers and the Cabinet Member at Erdington Library to discuss the urgent need for repairs, a library provision during the current closure and to inspect the damage that the library has suffered.

We also since have held a public meeting to update residents on the latest and the next steps.

Sadly the damage to the roof has been significant, part of the ceiling has now fallen down and there has been significant water ingress.

Birmingham City Council have reiterated, following our campaign to save Erdington Library, they are committed to repairing and reopening the library.

(L-R) Cllr Moore and Cllr Alden standing by community artwork / Photograph supplied Cllr Alden

We have secured the following repairs: roof and skylights to be replaced, damaged plaster repaired, single glazed windows replaced, public toilets reinstated, lighting upgraded, reinstate hot water in staff areas, inspections of stone coping and underground heating pipework.

It’s vital that residents have a library service locally. So before the work begins, we’ve asked the Council to reopen the community room for bookings and book drop off.

With work expected to take around a year, longer term we are working with the Council to find a temporary location to house a library service for Erdington as well as for increased visits from the mobile library truck.

The Mobile Library will now visit the High Street every Wednesday 12.30pm-2.30pm – starting Wednesday 25 March and one Saturday per month 3.10pm-4.00pm – starting Saturday 11 April.

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

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP outside Yenton Primary School, Chester Road, Erdington / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

The new year has begun with real progress for families across our community. I am delighted that Gunter, Yenton, and Chivenor Primary Schools will soon open Labour’s free breakfast clubs, building on the support already reaching local schools.

That commitment to fairness is matched by decisive national action. After years of decline under the Conservatives, I was proud to see West Midlands rail services brought back into public ownership.

Services at Erdington and Gravelly Hill stations will now be run for passengers, not shareholder profit, helping to deliver the simpler, more reliable railway our communities deserve.

After the success of securing Kingstanding’s £20 million Pride in Place funding, I have been meeting residents and local organisations, listening directly to those who know the area best. Their voices will shape the priorities for this funding.

The next crucial step is appointing a chair to the local board, and I encourage anyone who lives or works in Kingstanding South East and shares our vision for renewal to apply.

Yet, as we deliver, the Conservatives are descending into chaos. Senior Tories like Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, architects of their party’s failed immigration policy and economic wreckage, are now rebranding themselves within the ranks of Reform.

They are one and the same. This is a desperate reshuffle of the same failed deck, offering no real solutions for communities like ours.

Despite the political noise, I remain committed to fighting for investment, fairness, and opportunity for Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott, today, tomorrow, and every day.

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

Posted on

OPINION: John Lambert, Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch

(l-r) John Lambert – Chair of Reform UK’s Erdingotn Branch, and Reform UK local campaigners by Kingstanding Circle

Words by John Lambert

Dear residents of Castle Vale, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Kingstanding, Oscott, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, and Stockland Green.

Let’s cut to the chase. On 9 February, we were with Nigel Farage at a rammed NEC rally. Say what you like about rallies, but the momentum is undeniable. Big-name defections like Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, polls showing Reform ahead nationwide, it’s game on for May’s local elections.

Reform are gearing up to fight every seat in Birmingham and deliver where Labour’s let you down.

You’ve spelt it out loud and clear to us. Potholes wrecking Slade Road, Chester Road, and Gravelly Lane. Fly-tipping blighting Witton Lakes, Stockland Green’s back streets and Castle Vale’s parks.

Bin collections have been in meltdown since that endless dispute kicked off in early 2025 and those overcrowded HMOs and exempt accommodation fuelling anti-social chaos in Oscott and Kingstanding.

Birmingham City Council crashed and burned in 2023 effectively bankrupt. Council tax? It’s UP over 17% in two years and now they’re asking for another 4.99% hike while spinning yarns about how they’re “not bankrupt” because the books balance. Erdington residents aren’t fools. If it’s all so balanced, then why are the basics still in tatters?

Reform’s plan is simple and straight. Slash the waste, patch those potholes pronto, hammer fly-tippers with zero-tolerance enforcement, sort the bins so they’re reliable again and crack down hard on dodgy landlords and unsafe HMOs.

We’ll demand proper community policing, protect our parks and enforce planning rules that put residents first so our streets feel safe, clean and cared for again.

For more from Reform UK Erdington Branch visit www.reformerdington.co.uk

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(l-r) Cllr Robert Alden and Cllr Gareth Moore outside Erdington Library during recent heavy rains / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Local Conservatives

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

Before Christmas Erdington library’s roof sprung a leak and despite an initial repair, it flooded a second time that has now seen it closed since then for repairs.

Over the last month Cllr Gareth Moore and I have continued to push the Council to get the roof repaired and the library reopened asap. We have asked officers for an urgent meeting on site to inspect the damage.

At the recent Council meeting we asked the Cabinet Member in charge of Libraries, Cllr Suleman, to hurry up and sign off funding for the repairs and to meet us on site to discuss the damage and how important Erdington Library is to our local community.

Sadly, this damage is another example of the cost of the Labour Council continually putting off proper maintenance. Gareth and I, along with the local Friends group, have all been warning the Council that the roof needed wholesale replacement.

This work was promised but has been delayed again and again by the Council. Now the damage and cost to repair it will be far greater.

Gareth and I know just how important our historic library is locally and we will not rest until we have got Erdington Library reopened.

This month has also seen the Labour run City Council announce another double whammy on residents with further Council Tax rises and service cuts announced for the next year. It means since Labour took control of the Council in 2012 Council Tax will have DOUBLED under their plans.

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

Posted on

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

Councillor Ray Goodwin on Castle Vale High Street / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Labour

Words by Cllr Ray Goodwin

The past month has shown once again what can be achieved when communities are supported, empowered and listened to. The mobile tip truck has proved its value following the post-Christmas period, helping residents tackle waste and improve the environment they care so deeply about.

Alongside this, our dedicated community litter pickers have now collected an incredible 1,560 bags of rubbish — a powerful demonstration of civic pride and collective action.

But this is about more than numbers. It is about people. Across Castle Vale, residents are stepping forward to make a difference: volunteers supporting the food bank, neighbours organising clean-ups, and local creative talent like Duane Emsley, who is producing films that showcase the voices and stories of our community.

This is what happens when people are given the opportunity and support to lead change themselves.

I am often asked why I chose to get involved in politics, and why I am standing for re-election. The answer is clear. Politics should be about people — not rhetoric, not ideology, but real action that improves everyday lives.

Campaigners like the inspirational Jane Roche, who continues to fight for justice for families who lost loved ones to Covid, remind us that leadership means standing up for those who might otherwise be unheard.

Castle Vale proves that democracy is strongest when communities are at its heart. My commitment remains the same: to champion local voices, fight for fairness, and ensure that people-powered politics delivers real change where it matters most.

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

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Cllr Clifton Welch and local campaigner Alex Richards at Conker Island, Kingstanding / Photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Dear residents,

During the bad weather in January Local Conservative Campaigner Alex Richards and myself were out reporting dozens and dozens of grit boxes that needed refilling. Residents also asked for several additional grit boxes across the ward which I have formally requested.

On 23 January Alex and I took the opportunity while looking at the new litter bins on Conker Island, to plant some daffodil bulbs close to the newly installed bins. I’m looking forward to seeing them bloom.

On 24 January, I took part in a group Litter Pick at the King George V playing fields.

On 26 January I was able to speak at the Full City Council. I took the opportunity to name a dozen plus roads in Kingstanding that had not had a waste collection for two weeks. I also raised the case of Greenholm Primary School that by mid January had gone a month without a waste collection, and still had the remains of the schools Christmas Lunch to be collected.

I also mentioned St Lukes Church which had gone at least two months since a waste collection.

Since my last Update on Pride in Place there have been some major changes. The main change is that the Programme now starts from April 2026 and the appointment of the so called Independent Chair has to be approved by the local MP.

The selection process for the Chair starts now, so if you are interested keep an eye on local social media for details.

Clifton Welch.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

For more from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch and local campaigner Alex Richards visit www.facebook.com/KingstandingConservatives

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP (centre) with local community group memebers / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

(Ed’s note… this column was written for the January/February Erdington Local newspaper and first published on 20.01.26)

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

A very happy New Year to you all. I hope you had a restful Christmas and were able to spend quality time with family and loved ones, just as I did at home here in Erdington.

Over recent weeks, I have been meeting with local groups including the Friends of Conker Island, Together in the Community and New Heights to listen directly from residents about their priorities for Kingstanding. These conversations will shape how the £20 million Pride in Place fund is delivered. This investment has the potential to bring real, lasting change, but only if it is driven by local voices, local needs and local ambition.

I have also seen some surprising claims from local Conservatives attempting to take credit for this funding. Let me be clear. After 14 years of Conservative government, Erdington was repeatedly overlooked for investment, including a rejected £10 million Levelling Up bid for Erdington High Street. That is their legacy; this £20 million is ours.

To keep this conversation going, I am hosting a public meeting for Kingstanding residents on Friday 23 January, 11am–1pm, at New Heights, St John’s Centre. I encourage you to come along and have your say.

Community safety remains a top priority. I recently met Sgt Fulford for a local policing update and was encouraged by progress under Operation Skybridge, which has already led to arrests, reduced crime and the disruption of a major cannabis farm.

I look forward to seeing many of you on the 23rd.

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

Posted on

OPINION: John Lambert, Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch

Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch John Lambert (far left) with local campaigners at Kingstanding Circle / Photograph supplied by Reform UK Erdington Branch

(Ed’s note… this column was written for the January/February Erdington Local newspaper and first published on 20.01.26)

Words by John Lambert

January in Erdington has a particular honesty. The lights are down and what remains is the everyday. Getting the kids to school, keeping a business open and hoping the street still feels like yours when you get home.

All across Castle Vale, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Kingstanding, Oscott, Perry Common, Pype Hayes and Stockland Green, residents are telling us the same thing. They do not want another set of promises in 2026. They want the basics done properly. Bins collected on time, streets kept clean, potholes repaired before they swallow a wheel and anti-social behaviour dealt with, rather than managed.

They also want fairness. Planning rules should mean something, not least when decent streets are being slowly worn down by fly-tipping, nuisance vehicles and the quiet creep of overcrowded HMOs that change a street’s rhythm overnight. Good landlords should not be undercut by rogue operators who ignore standards because enforcement is rare. Residents should not be left to log the same complaints again and again while nothing moves.

Operation Fearless by West Midlands Police has brought a bracing reminder of what normal should look like. Visible patrols, pace and consequence. But a town should not require a named operation to feel protected. If urgency works when it is organised and resourced, it should work every day of the year.

We are Reform UK’s Erdington Branch.

Like every resident in Erdington, we want competence. We will push for transparent spending, firmer enforcement and a council that treats residents as customers, not an afterthought. You may have already seen us in Erdington’s neighbourhoods, listening, taking notes and asking residents the simplest question of all.

What would you fix first if the people in charge were finally prepared to do the job? Please send your suggestions to [email protected]

For more from Reform UK’s Erdington Branch visit www.reformerdington.co.uk

Posted on

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

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

Words by Cllr Ray Goodwin

October and November have been months of reflection, change, and community spirit in Castle Vale. As we move from autumn into winter, we’ve continued to see that spirit of unity and progress shine.

October kicked off with another successful Mobile Tip Truck event, helping residents tackle fly-tipping and keep our streets clean.

It’s always inspiring to see so many people come together, showing real pride in our community. When we work side by side, we not only improve our environment but strengthen our connections.

Community safety remains a priority. Following concerns about antisocial behaviour and off-road biking, I’ve been working closely with local police, housing officers, and partners to ensure everyone feels safe.

I’ll continue pushing for quicker responses and stronger enforcement.

Exciting news: the rebuilding of our parks will soon begin. These green spaces are vital to families, children, and older residents alike, offering places to relax and connect.

(l-r) Cllr Ray Goodwin and local veteran raise ‘Lest We Forget’ flag in Centre Park on Remembrance Day / Photograph by Tracy Fisher

On Remembrance Sunday we attended the Remembrance Day service at St. Cuthbert’s Church, which bought the community together, and at 11:00am on the eleventh month we stood together as a community to raise the flag and honour those who served and sacrificed.

It was a meaningful moment of reflection and unity.

As the festive season approaches, we look forward to the Christmas tree light switch-on and supporting the Christmas Toy Appeal. Together, we’ll ensure that every child in the Vale has something special to look forward to.

Castle Vale is a place of determination, unity, and hope. Together, we’ll face whatever comes next.

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