Words by Ed King
Paulette Hamilton MP has secured £20m for investment into Kingstanding, as part of the £5bn nationwide ‘Pride in Place’ initiative announced by Government today.
The fund will be allocated across 10 years, with Kingstanding benefitting from an annual £2m pot of money to invest in local infrastructure and projects – such as renovating derelict buildings and shops, and reopening youth centres.
The money will be governed locally, with a with a board of local stakeholders and individuals overseeing how and where it is spent – chaired by Paulette Hamilton MP and including local residents, councillors, and community leaders.
Many Kingstanding locals have been campaigning for the equipment at Conker Island to be replaced and for the public play area to be improved, which is one local regeneration project that could be supported by the ‘Pride in Place’ funding pot.
Other local concerns that could be addressed with the funding could include challenging crime and anti-social behaviour, preserving and maintaining green spaces, and boosting retail hubs and outlets.
The investment will also come as part of a wider plan to empower local communities to have more control over how local assets are used and the types of businesses that move into their area.
At the time of writing, the Government has not confirmed when the local Pride in Place board will be formed – or when the money will be made available to spend on regeneration and projects in Kingstanding.
The ‘Pride in Place’ programme will support the Community Right to Buy initiative – a part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which gives community groups a head start on building a business case for asset transfers.
The Government programme will also boost local powers to enforce Compulsory Purchase Orders on derelict shops and abandoned buildings, forcing absentee landlords to sell neglected properties so they can be brought back into public use.
Paulette Hamilton MP, who has campaigned for the funding, said: “I promised to fight for investment in our area, and I am proud to have delivered on that promise.
“After securing nearly a million pounds for Operation Fearless in Erdington, I’ve now secured this £20 million for Kingstanding, a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
She added: “But the decisions on how it’s used must come from you, the residents of Kingstanding, who know our community best.”
In a statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the ‘Pride in Place’ initiative will see 339 “overlooked areas” receive millions in funding over the next decade.
The MHCLG wants the money to help “breathe new life into neglected communities” and encourage areas to “come together, rather than be divided” and choose “renewal… over decline”.
The department further stated the fund “lets local people call the shots” and would help in “restoring local pride” and support residents who want to “reclaim their streets.”
Steve Reed MP – the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – confirmed “£20m pounds is coming to Kingstanding, thanks to your Labour MP Paulette Hamilton.”
He added: “That’s a huge amount of money [and it’s] going to make such a difference to the area, but best of all its local[s] who will decide how it will get spent.”
Steve Reed MP – the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor 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
OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington
Words by Paulette Hamilton MP
The summer recess has given me the perfect opportunity to do what I love most, focusing my energy right here in our community. I’ve been listening to you across Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott, away from the busy corridors of Westminster. It’s where I belong, listening, learning, and fighting for our community at every turn.
It was a privilege to host fantastic coffee mornings in Pype Hayes and Perry Common, where I heard directly about the issues that matter most, from the danger of speeding cars on our streets to the pressing need for better, adequate housing. I will be holding another coffee morning in Castle Vale soon, so please keep an eye out more for details.
Erdington High Street’s Summer Fun Day was simply brilliant and full of energy, with so many local groups showcasing the vital work that makes our community special. I was also privileged to host a pop-up surgery there, meeting residents face-to-face and hearing your concerns, just as I’ve always promised.
And as always, I am acting on what you’ve shared. As promised, I have scheduled a site meeting with council officers at Conker Island to urgently address the unsafe play equipment and damaged bins that residents have rightly raised.
I hope you enjoyed your summer. I certainly did, meeting so many of you has reinforced why I fight so hard. Now, it’s back to Parliament to tackle the legacy of Conservative chaos and to champion Erdington both here and in Westminster.
For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org
OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton 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
OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington
Words by Paulette Hamilton MP
(Ed’s note… this column was written the June/July Erdington Local newspaper and first published, in print, on Thursday 12 June.)
This month, I’ve been standing up for our community, putting Erdington on the national stage in Parliament, while standing shoulder to shoulder with local volunteers and campaigners at home.
In Westminster, I led a debate on police presence, shining a spotlight on Operation Fearless, our local success story. Since securing £880,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, this initiative has led to 140 arrests, and helped reduce antisocial behaviour on Erdington High Street.
It’s a model other MPs are now looking to replicate in their own constituencies. But our work doesn’t stop here. I’ll keep pushing for the long-term investment we need to regenerate our town centre and support safer streets.
Back in Erdington, it was a pleasure to meet residents at my recent coffee morning at Erdington Methodist Church. These events are a brilliant way to share updates and listen to your concerns. I look forward to welcoming residents at the next one in Pype Hayes!
I’m also proud that our petition to improve Kingstanding’s Conker Island Park has now passed 150 signatures. In partnership with the Friends of Conker Island, we’re calling on the council to repair play equipment, install bins, and tackle antisocial behaviour, because every child deserves a safe place to play.
And finally, I was delighted to join the police and volunteers at Erdington Police Station to thank them for their service. Their dedication keeps us safe.
From Erdington and Kingstanding to Castle Vale and South Oscott, our strength is in our people. Let’s keep moving forward.
For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org
OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington
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.
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
