Tag: Alex Richards

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Alex Richards, Father Christmas, Cllr Clifton Welch at Kingstanding Inn / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

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

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Dear residents,

I thought I’d take this opportunity to outline the type of visits my Local Conservative Campaigner Alex Richards I and have been making over the past six weeks.

On 21 November, Alex and I were proud to attend the memorial for the 51 year anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings, when the IRA murdered 21 innocent people. The memorial was held in the city centre with a church service followed by speeches at the New Street Station Tree Sculpture dedicated to the 21 victims.

On 20 December I met Father Christmas when he visited The Golden Hind pub. The next day Alex and I were lucky enough to have our photo taken with Father Christmas when he attended the Christmas Fun Day at the Kingstanding Inn.

On Christmas Eve, Alex and I attend a carol service at St Lukes Church and stayed for coffee and mince pies. On Boxing Day, Alex and I were invited to the Together in the Community meal dedicated to the homeless and elderly and had a great time enjoying the live music in the evening.

On 12 January, I met the People for People Charity based in College Rd and they outlined their proposals for community engagement through schools, churches, and local outreach.

On 14 January, I hosted the Kingstanding Ward Meeting which covered wide range of issues such as Pride in Place investment, new speed zones around Crossways Lane and Twickenham Road, Burford Road playing fields, and failed bin collections.

Clifton.

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/

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

Cllr Clifton Welch at Port Talbot / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

This is the time of year when we all tend to look back over the past 12 months as well as thinking ahead to the new year.

Looking back residents have had to suffer an awful 12 months under this Bham Labour Council. The ongoing bin strike is now 12 months old, 12 months of rubbish piling up, Rats the size of cats and zero recycling across Birmingham. It takes a special level of incompetence to have the agency staff Labour brought in to beat a strike actually go on strike themselves.

We have seen Kingstanding Library opening hours reduce, social care centres closed, potholes left unrepaired, pavement slabs in a dangerous state, and buildings being used without planning permission.

But it does not have to be like this. Looking forward to May 26 residents have an opportunity to get rid of this awful Labour Council for good. By voting for my colleague Alex Richards and myself Clifton Welch, Kingstanding will have Councillors so proud of their country and who have fully supported and continue to support the flags flying across Kingstanding.

Since being elected in May 24 I have fought and continue to fight to save Burford Park from being built on, to get planning to enforce regulations in Hawthorn Rd and Warren Rd, got additional concrete bollards in Kings St to enforce road safety and soon will see 20 MPH Zones in Crossway Lane and Twickenham Rd. Local Conservatives make a difference.

Finally, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Alex Richards and Cllr Clifton Welch at Remembrance Sunday service and parade / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Hello, Alex Richards (Conservative Local Campaigner) and I were both so proud to attend the Kingstanding Remembrance Service and Parade on 9 November.

The Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Beavers did Kingstanding proud with their parade and residents turned out in large numbers to support a very important event that is at the very heart of Kingstanding community. I was so honoured to have attended.

Following on from last month’s news that Kingstanding will be getting £20 million pounds of investment over 10 years, I received my first formal briefing on 6 November. It’s very early days but what is now known is the following:

  • The first £2 million becomes available in April 2027
  • In early 2026 a shadow committee will be set up of residents and politicians, which later in 2026 will become the formal organising committee that will oversee the planning and authority to spend the funds.
  • In early January 2026 council officials will walk around the ward with me to get better understanding of the issues facing residents.
  • Project leader will attend my next Kingstanding Ward Meeting on 14 January 2026 to give residents full update.

Obviously, I will keep residents fully updated in future editions of this newspaper and via my leaflets and Facebook page.

At end of October, I was invited to opening of Concord Club new outdoor sports facilities in Aston as a team of Kingstanding school girls were taking part. The excellent facilities mirror exactly the sports facilities we have in Kingstanding at the excellent 601 Club.

Thank you, Clifton.

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

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Local campaigner Alex Richards and Cllr Clfton Welch collecting rubbish for World Clean Up Day / Photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

(**Ed’s note… this column was first published on Friday 17 October in the Erdington Local print edition.)

Hello, Local Conservative Campaigner Alex Richards and myself have spent many months campaigning for investment into Kingstanding, especially to rejuvenate our local shopping areas.

That campaign has already seen Lidi come to Kingstanding Circle with construction well underway.

Now it’s been confirmed that following our campaign, Kingstanding will get £2 million a year for the next decade to revive high streets, parks and public spaces.

This will hopefully deliver improvements for Kingstanding Circle, Hawthorn Road, Conker Island and more locally to make Kingstanding even better for residents. This funding is from the national Pride in Place fund.

For World Clean Up Day on 20 September Alex Richards and I organised a clean-up around Kingstanding Circle. We collected eight bags of rubbish and some parts from a car that had previously crashed on the roundabout. We are both proud of Kingstanding and will continue to work to keep our streets clean.

I must stress how much I am against Birmingham Council taking down flags of St George and Union Jacks across Kingstanding and Birmingham. I am so very proud of our country and our history and the flags reflect our pride.

I am quite frankly amazed that a Birmingham Labour Council that has made the city bankrupt, has an eight month bin strike on its hands, a Commonwealth Games Village that never housed an athlete and will require residents to repay the costs for 40 years etc, thinks that putting in staff to take down flags is a good use of its resources.

This Birmingham Labour Council has lost its moral compass.

Take care, Clifton.

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

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Cllr Clifton Welch and local campaigner Alex Richards / Photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

On Saturday 30 August I received an incredible warm welcome from the organisers of Together in the Community at their fun day on Conker Island. This was their 16th year of holding this event and I was proud to be told I was the first ever Kingstanding Councillor or MP to ever attend.

Together in the Community raise funds to support underprivileged families, homeless and the elderly across Kingstanding and they are doing a wonderful role.

They always require extra help so if anyone would like to volunteer please get in touch with me and I will pass your details on. I should also give a shout out to Kingstanding Inn who gave up their car park for the day.

On Friday 5 September I was back with Together in the Community for their fortnightly food bank. Alex Richards the Local Conservative Campaigner and I joined the volunteers as they assembled food parcels. It was a wonderful to see such commitment to the community.

Along with other parts of Birmingham, the last month has seen a significant rise of Union Jack and St George’s flags being flown across Kingstanding, most notably Hawthorn Road and Chingford Road. I personally love to see our two national flags on display.

I love my country, our proud history and our culture and these flags are a symbol of our proud history and culture. It should not be a problem flying these flags in our own streets and we should install the love and pride in our country to all generations.

Take care, Clifton.

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 message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

Cllr Clifton Welch and Ginn the dog at Perry Barr Fire Station (photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch)

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Hello, on Saturday 9 August Alex Richards – the Local Conservative Campaigner for Kingstanding – and myself had a fantastic time at the Perry Bar Fire Station where the local fire brigade held an open day.

It was great to get the chance to talk to so many of the amazing people who go above and beyond every single day to save lives and be there at our hour of need such as Firefighters, the Police, First Responders, and numerous other volunteer organisations such as West Midlands 4×4 Response, First Aid, British Red Cross, Guide Dogs and Family HUB Birmingham.

The photo attached with this article shows me with Giddy, a beautiful Spaniel who is based at Perry Bar fire station. Giddy is trained to find the exact location that a fire started and is paid in tennis balls lol.

A massive thank you to everyone who helped organise this wonderful event and it was lovely to get to see and speak to so many volunteers.

On a different matter I have been receiving calls from several residents close to Crossways Lane of drug dealers being active in the area. The most recent example was Sunday 10 August, where Crossways Lane meets College Rd. I have passed details and suspected car registration numbers to Kingstanding Police.

Finally, as you are all aware Birmingham Labour Council Bin Srike chaos worsens. Birmingham Labour continues to drag Kingstanding and Birmingham down. Please continue to make me aware of examples of bins not being collected or examples of fly tipping.

Take care, Clifton.

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 message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(L-R) Cllr Clifton Welch and Local Conservative campaigner Alex Richards cleaning sign for Burford Road Playing Fields / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

This month at Birmingham Full Council Meeting on the 8 July, I added a petition of 525 people calling on the City Council to take enforcement action against 101 Hawthorn Road for operating without planning permission.

The background to this case is that in 2020 the City Council gave planning permission for a retail shop to be converted into an Islamic education centre for activities such as teaching languages.

Since then, residents have reported that it has effectively become a mosque for which there is no planning permission, with on occasions praying on the pavement and significant planning permission. I have been raising the concerns of residents to City Planning for 14 months, sadly without success.

Due to the breach in planning regulations and the failure of the Labour run Council to act I launched this petition demanding they take enforcement action. It’s not too late to sign the petition as I’m getting additional names every day and I will be able to add these names at the next Council Meeting.

On 27 June I had a wonderful afternoon at Kings Rise Academy School to share their 3rd anniversary of what is a stunning Nature Garden.

Local Conservative Campaigner Alex Richards and I have also been busy cleaning community signs such as the one in the above photo at Burford Park. Local Conservatives believe in Actions not Words.

Finally enjoy the beautiful sunshine but stay safe.

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 message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Alex Richards and Cllr Clifton Welch collecting rubbish on Conker Island / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

(Ed’s note… this column was written the June/July Erdington Local newspaper and first published, in print, on Thursday 12 June.)

Hello, I thought I’d tell you about some of the things I’ve been involved in around Kingstanding in the past month.

On 23 May, my colleague and local campaigner Alex Richards and I visited Conker Island. Our original purpose was to look at the condition of the waste bins which turned out to be in a dreadful state, in some cases almost falling apart.

I’ve reported the state of the bins together with the fact that exercise equipment is missing and not replaced or broken, and matting in the play area is missing or in poor condition. Alex and I also took the opportunity to do an extensive litter pick of Conker Island as the photo above shows.

In early June, I was contacted by member of staff at Greenholm Primary School and sent a video of the waste bags that had not been collected for almost six weeks. I was shocked and very concerned at the obvious threat to public health of primary school aged children.

I wrote to the CEO of Birmingham Council the same evening I received the video, asking her to use her authority to get the waste collected from the school as a matter of urgency. I was delighted to hear and see photos showing the waste had been collected the next working day.

But within two hours I was sent another video from Warren Farm Primary School almost identical to Greenholm. This demonstrated this was not an isolated incident.

Birmingham Labour Council are putting the public health of small children and staff members at risk; this is simply unacceptable.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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