This year, we have launched our Safer Towns Summer initiative, and in Erdington this includes efforts being stepped up to reduce violence and anti-social behaviour, tackle town centre crime, solve problems, and provide visible reassurance.
We know that you feel safest when you can see our officers out and about, and understand the work that is being done to protect the community.
The initiative is running until the end of September, and we’ll be keeping you updated as it progresses.
Safer Towns Summer isn’t about introducing something new; it’s about sharing more of an insight into the work that happens every day, in Erdington and across the West Midlands, to reassure that we’re listening to your concerns and acting on your behalf.
Sign at the entrance to Erdington Town Centre by Six Ways Island / Photograph by Ed King
With warm weather, longer days, and lighter nights, we know that issues around anti-social behaviour continues to cause concern for residents, and our patrols will take action against that, as well as drug-dealing, and street drinking.
We’re also working closely with local businesses, as we understand the impact that retail crime has on them. By working with them, we hope that we can tackle crime like shop theft and keep retail workers safe.
We’re also working closely with our partners to directly address some of the causes of this crime and build on the work of dedicated local neighbourhood officers.
We’ll keep you up to date on our social media channels and WMNow as we work to make our area the safest and best place it can be.
Erdington’s High Street Community Market is back on Saturday 25 July – with stalls and children’s games open to the public from 10am to 4pm.
Held on the pedestrianised area in between Wilton Indoor Market and B&M Superstore, the Community Market will bring back some of its favourite regular local traders – joined by some new stalls – selling arts, crafts, toys, clothes, and homemade cakes, brownies, and sweet treats.
The free bouncy castle will be open to children from 10am to 4pm, with a free face painter decorating young face from 11am to 2pm.
Children enjoying a free bouncy castle at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
Arts All Over the Place will also be back with their arts and crafts stand – offering a peaceful time out for both young people and adults, in a shady corner of the High Street.
Live steelpan drum music will be played by Jamani, giving Erdington High Street some calypso vibes as people have a relaxing browse across the stalls and local businesses.
Browsing the stalls at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
Erdington Business Improvement District will also be offering free bottled water from the High Street Hut through the event, with the occasional free ice cream handed out to attendees during the day – helping everyone stay cool in the summer heat.
Having a cuppa and a natter at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
The Community Markets are organised by the Erdington BID, with support from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority – as part of the BID’s LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY and Celebrate Erdington campaigns, helping promote Erdington Town Centre.
A spokesperson from Erdington BID told: “Our July High Street Community Market will be mark six months since we started these monthly events, and it has been an absolute joy to see people come into Erdington Town Centre and have a fun afternoon together.
“Plus, the stalls are selling some truly unique gifts – from local traders and crafters – which you simply won’t find anywhere else.
“So, if you’re looking for a special birthday present or gift, then you should definitely come down and check out what’s on offer.”
Browsing the stalls at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph byBianca Pirvuceanu
Erdington BID is also building a group of local volunteers, to help support events and work on other activities that support Erdington Town Centre – such as community litter picks, gardening, and outreach work with local care homes and residential centre.
Erdington Town Centre sign by Six Ways Island / Photograph by Ed King
Ed’s note… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper, out on shelf from 18 June.
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Words by Ed King – Erdington Town Centre Manager
After taking over as Town Centre Manager in March 2025, I spent the first six months meeting with the local Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) and officers from Operation Fearless.
It was an exciting time, with high profile policing in Erdington Town Centre and extensive media coverage about the impact the near million-pound police initiative was making.
And it was working, too.
Operation Fearless team on Erdington High Street during initial launch – Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police
But as a rising balloon gets higher in the sky, the easier it can burst. And with a loud pop and dull thud, once the team left Erdington all the good work achieved by Operation Fearless came hurtling back to earth. £880,000 to disrupt the problem. Or move it from Iceland to Borsch Electrical.
So, excitement turned to frustration. Then anger, as I watched revolving door sergeants and inspectors leave no visible strategy, or police officers, on the ground. And for the next six months I had more meetings, and more frustration, mostly ending in the words: “…just do your job.”
Now I don’t know how to run a police force as much as I know how to fly a plane, which (you should know before taking your seat) I don’t. At all. We’d crash before take off.
(l-r) Street Pastor talking to Designated Nieghbourhood Officer on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King
But what I meant was the answer – to me, and to the entire retail, consumer, and residential community in Erdington Town Centre – was simple. Regular, physical, uniformed, and active police presence on Erdington High Street.
Building a network and building trust. Doing their job. Or rather, being left alone, and in place, to do their job continuously. Simple.
And whilst I don’t know how many annual salaries the cost of Operation Fearless could have paid for, I do know without an effective handover to the NPT it counted for nothing.
Sergeant Millard (far left) with members of Erdington BID and local stall holders at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
I also know, have met, and have seen doing their job, we have some excellent officers working the Erdington patch. The problem is they’re seldom left there for long, and after a list of false starts and promises from those above them you start to switch off.
Then, after the second sergeant in under a year had signed up and signed off, I got a call from Detective Chief Inspector Askew – a copper’s copper who led Operation Fearless, and one of the only boys in blue I still allowed myself to trust.
“There’s a new sergeant coming to Erdington… give her a chance, you’ll like her. She gets the job done.”
Sergeant Millard (third from left) standing outside St Barnabas Church with of the police and local community stakeholders / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police
Ed’s note… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper, out on shelf from 18 June.
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Operation Fearless showed what high impact policing can do, after it launched in Erdington Town Centre in January 2025 and bit off a chunk of crime from the battle-weary High Street.
But since then, the remaining Neighbourhood Police Team has seen a revolving door of officers, sergeants, and inspectors come and go, leaving little but public mistrust and criminal hubris to fill in the void.
Enter Sergeant Claire Millard, who cut her teeth in the London Met and is now heading up Erdington’s local police force.
Erdington Local went for a coffee and a chat with Sgt Millard on Erdington High Street, to find out who she is, how she operates, and why things might once again be starting to change for the better.
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Profile picture of Sergeant Millard / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police
Words by Shaun Hand
I meet Sergeant Millard at Oiko’s Café on Erdington High Street, her arrival heralded by high volume banter from two smokers outside The Swan pub across the concourse. Sgt Millard smiles and acknowledges the loud ladies in question, taking it all in her stride, and we sit down with a coffee. Over the background hum of Oiko’s lunchtime trade and the occasional crackly chatter from Sgt Millard’s radio, we start at the beginning.
“I’m from East London, Walthamstow,” she explains, her Estuary accent undented by five years in the Midlands. “And where I grew up, you had two choices: you either did the bad stuff, or you got out…
“I realised quite early on that it was all down to the choices that I made. It didn’t matter what type of environment you grew up in or what your background was, you had the ability to make those choices.”
“And if you saw it through,” she adds, “even in the hardest times, there was always something positive you could do.”
Having considered careers in policing and education, Millard initially pursued the latter, planning to become a secondary school teacher – “If you get people young, you can educate them [and] give them the right advice” – but by the time she went back to college, to re-sit the necessary exams and take an access course, she was a single mother in her late twenties, balancing parenthood and studies with 12 hour shifts as Deputy Manager in a local bookies.
Police from Operation Fearless questioning local man / Photograph supplied by West Midlands Police
It was a customer in the betting shop who told her about the Metropolitan Police’s then-latest recruitment drive, and despite having secured a university place to study in Canterbury, Claire Millard decided to apply for a place on the force. And she got in.
“I’ve found my hands are less tied [as a police officer] and I can be more honest,” she says of her deciding to channel her passion for helping young people through policing. “And they can relate to that. I can say to somebody, ‘If you want to end up in custody, carry on. But talk to me to like a human being, and we’re going to walk away from this and forget about it.’”
After seven-and-half years of working for the Met in Barking & Dagenham, as a schools officer and responding to 999 calls, Millard relocated to the West Midlands, working on complex investigations at West Bromwich before being promoted again to her current position as the Sergeant responsible for Erdington’s Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT), which she took up in January this year.
As well as getting up to speed on what her predecessors had put in place, or not, the now Sgt Millard said she also had to learn “how best to reach the local community. What to do and what not to do, which is key in a place like [Erdington].”
“Partnership work is key here, too,” tells Sgt Millard, who has already established more of a relationship with local stakeholders than both of her predecessors combined – according to those we speak to. “Most people want Erdington to be a nice place, a safe place. Somewhere you could not just come and grab something and run off again, but actually spend time here: sit outside, have a coffee, meet friends.”
Police car attending crime scene / Photograph by Ed King
An admirable approach to neighbourhood policing, and one that – on paper at least – would seem to work. But the tacit implication is that despite a well-publicised investment of £880,000 and double dose of Operation Fearless, alongside other promises that failed to materialise (the fabled ‘High Street Police Team’ being one) people in Erdington Town Centre still don’t feel able to do those things.
So, what does the area’s new police sergeant see as the reasons, and the answers?
“Unfortunately, the High Street has its…” She pauses.
While our conversation generally flows freely, a chat straying into everything from ‘90s reggae to the Irish spelling of names, Sergeant Millard becomes very considered when answering questions about her approach to policing in Erdington.
“I don’t like to say that it’s the homelessness or the street drinking, because those people are vulnerable within themselves. But sometimes… the loud music puts people off; [As well as] the kids, and adults, on bikes or e-scooters.”
And of what happened before Sgt Millard caame into post, she admits, “Operation Fearless leaving left a massive gap”, but also that, “Them coming back [in April 2026], and introducing the Neighbourhood Team the way I’ve done, has hopefully built more confidence back.
“But we need to hold that now. We need to show what we’re doing is going to work.”
(l-r_ Street Pastor talking to Designated Nieghbourhood Officer on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King
The impression Sgt Millard gives, from her working-class background, her passion for education and helping young people, and her approach to local policing, is that she’s not a mandarin – full of well-meaning theory, but no real-world experience.
But nor is she a Clint Eastwood type, riding in to ruthlessly clean up the town on her own. She’s far more pragmatic and community minded.
“This High Street’s got to be about all of us,” she explains. “We (the police) can uphold the law and we can get involved, but we need to make this a better place for everybody, and it’s going to take all of us to do that.
“Teenagers are welcome to be here [as long as they’re] respectful about it. And that again comes down to education.”
Sergeant Millard is full of praise for local groups in the area too, particularly the Erdington Street Pastors, Erdington Litter Busters, and the Erdington Business Improvement District.
“There are so many people here that want to make a positive difference,” she adds, before coming back to how, under her watch, the police going to play their part.
“We want to create the Street Watch again,” continues Sgt Millard, “where we get some of the High Street owners involved. I think there was one, but it hasn’t [continued], and I don’t know if that’s through lack of trying or just lack of interaction.
“But we now have a Dedicated Neighbourhood Officer (DNO) just for the High Street who’s willing and able to do whatever he can to get things up and running.”
Erdington Police Station / Photograph by Ed King
And what about the old-fashioned ‘boots on the ground’ style of policing so many yearn for? “That’s on my wish list,” she responds firmly. “What I would really like is to have [at least] two officers visible on the High Street, Thursday through to Sunday, ten ‘til six. Just so there are two bobbies [always on patrol] at the busiest time.”
At the moment, however, Sergeant Millard believes her Neighbourhood Police Team are three officers short. “I’ve got vacancies I’m hoping to fill,” she explains, wanting to get officers on the High Street in time for the six-week school holidays.
And whilst funding is usually the biggest stumbling block in local police teams, and Sgt Millard accepts “the world’s a different place now”, there is still hope West Midlands Police higher ups will agree securing the legacy of Operation Fearless is worth the investment.
And some things do stay the same, Sgt Millard’s common-sense approach to community policing being one of them.
Police patroling Erdington High Street / Photograph supplied by Erdington BID
“It’s not rocket science,” she says. “It really isn’t. It’s about having bobbies on the street; somebody you can turn to. You know their name and if you have a problem, you can speak to them. You haven’t got to go through 111.
“Obviously, if it’s an emergency dial 999. But if you have a worry or a concern, you know that Andy (PC Boyle, one of Erdington’s DNOs) is going to be on your street or in the community hub, and you can pop your head in and say, ‘I’ve had this happen; it’s slightly worrying.’ And you can get advice on what to do next.’”
After an hour’s honest conversation, and continued radio chatter, Sgt Millard’s phone also pipes up. Her advice is needed on an ongoing case. “I’ve got a lot to do,” she admits of her new role. as she rings off and gets ready to head back to Erdington Police Station.
“But if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.”
Sergeant Millard (far left) standing outside Creative and Community Hub on Erdingotn High Street – with members of Erdingotn BID and local stall holders at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph supplied by Erdington BID
PICTURE GALLERY: Policing in Erdington Town Centre – from the launch of Operation Fearless to present day / Photographs by Ed King, West Midlands Police, and supplied by various local stakeholders
Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) are inviting local residents and families to Spring into Summer, as their annual community festival returns to Perry Common on Saturday 13 June.
Held between 12noon and 3pm on ‘the ring’ – the municipal circular parkland on Witton Lodge Road – the community event is free to enter, with some activities charged at only £1.
Full of family friendly fun, the summer festival will host a range of children’s games and activities – including a super slide and a bouncy castle.
Super slide at previous Spring into Summer Festival / Photograph supplied by WLCA
Special ‘learn to ride’ sessions will also be held on the paths within the parkland, teaching young people how to cycle and encouraging them to find their feet – on two wheels.
Young David Attenbououghs and Jane Goodalls will also have the chance to get up close to nature and explore the world of ‘Mini Beasts’ in the ‘Bug and Insect Corner’ – introducing children to the natural world that crawls around under their feet.
Stalls at previous Spring into Summer Festival / Photograph supplied by WLCA
Local services will also be present, offering advice and guidance to local residents – alongside a chance to explore a real life fire engine and police vehicle with members of the local police and fire service also engaging with public at the event.
Held every year, the Spring into Summer Festival is a family favourite on the Perry Common calendar – attended by hundreds of people from across the local area and beyond.
Organised by WLCA, who run the neighbouring Perry Common Community Hall, the annual event is part of a year round programme of events and support services from the Perry Common based community and housing association.
Local crafts at previous Spring into Summer Festival / Photograph supplied by WLCA
Paul Tse, Flourishing Communities Development Officer at WLCA, told: “Spring into Summer has become one of our community’s best loved traditions so it’s a great pleasure for us to be able to bring it back again for people to enjoy.
“It brings people together in a way which celebrates the wonderful community spirit we have here in Perry Common.”
He added: “As always, we are thankful for the support and hard work of our fantastic partners, St Martin’s Church, The Friends of Witton Lakes, Urban Devotion Birmingham and The Net Pentecostal Church, for helping to put the event together.”
For more on WLCA and links to their wider programme of events and services visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk
Witton Lodge Community Association is a leading partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
The head of the of the Birmingham Liberal Democrats group, Cllr Roger Harmer (Acocks Green), was voted in as Leader of Birmingham City Council at a Full Council meeting yesterday.
Convening in the Council chamber at 6pm on 5 June, all 101 councillors from across the city were invited to attend and vote for the individual they wanted to take up the top job – which brings with it a special Responsibility Allowance of £56,579 on top of the Basic Allowance granted to all councillors of £19,952.
The vote for Council leader was called after no party managed to secure a majority in the recent Local Elections held in May 2026, with no majority coalition subsequently formed.
Official prepare to vote for city leader in Birmingham Council Chamber / Photograph by Ed King
Cllr Harmer was nominated by Birmingham Green Party leader, Cllr Julien Pritchard (Druids Heath & Monyhull), as part of a minority coalition between the two parties and independent councillors from the Better Birmingham Independent Group.
Also nominated, by members of their own parties, were the leader of the Birmingham Local Conservatives Cllr Robert Alden (Erdington) and the leader of the Birmingham Reform UK group Cllr Jex Parkin (Kingstanding).
Following the nominations, a 20 minute recess was taken before the three candidates were allowed five minutes to address the chamber and deliver a speech as to why they would be right person to form a Cabinet and lead the city’s elected officials.
Cllr Roger Harmer addresses chamber ahead of vote for city leader / Photograph by Ed King
Speaking in the order they were nominated, Cllr Harmer was the first to address the chamber, presenting a “coalition built on partnership” and asking those present to allow him to establish a Cabinet that would “put right the failures of the past” – seemingly referring to the 14 year long Labour run administration which ended with the city effectively declaring bankruptcy and an unresolved bin strike.
Addressing the city’s elected official next was Cllr Robert Alden, who began by declaring Birmingham “the greatest city in the world” before reminding the room and those hoping to govern that “just blaming the failures of the last 14 years will not be accepted” by the city’s residents.
Cllr Robert Alden addresses chamber ahead of vote for city leader / Photograph by Ed King
Cllr Alden further warned against the “frankly geographical [political] spilt across the city” following the recently Council elections, which saw concentrations of elected councillor from both political parties and independents in certain areas of Birmingham.
“None of us have a majority,” added Cllr Alden, “and no one over the next four years [until the next Council elections] should forget that.”
Cllr Alden’s speech received applause from across the Birmingham Council Chamber.
Last to address the room was the recently appointed head of Birmingham’s Reform UK group, Cllr Jex Parkin, who leads the lion’s share of Birmingham’s elected officials – overseeing 23 councillors, four more than Birmingham’s Green Party which sits as the second political group in the city.
Cllr Jex Park sits with Birmingham Reform councillors in Birmingham Council Chamber ahead of vote for city leader / Photograph by Ed King
After describing how Birmingham is still “deciding how we interpret on of the most significant results”, which also saw the Birmingham Labour Party lose 48 councillors, Cllr Parkin called for “co-operation across all political boarders” and warned against a “chaotic coalition of musical chairs.”
Leader of both the largest and newest political party in the city, Cllr Parkin closed his argument by listing the attributes that Birmingham Reform councillors could bring to their potential governorship of the city, and declaring “life experience beats political experience each and every time.”
Councillors present were then asked to voice their votes for the Council Leader, a process which had been postponed after the previous Full Council meeting in May ran out of time due to the inauguration of the new Lord Mayor Zaker Choudhry.
After the results were counted, Cllr Roger Harmer won with a clear majority of 40 votes – against 19 votes for Cllr Robert Alden and 18 votes for Cllr Jex Parkin.
Birmingham City Council House, as viewed behind Heras fencing / Photgraph by Ed King
Analysis of the results showed that the Liberal Democrats and Green Party has used their party whips effectively, retaining support from all their elected officials – alongside those from the Better Birmingham Independent Group.
The Birmingham Local Conservatives group also received votes from all its 16 councillors, alongside additional support from independents Cllr Amar Khan (Stockland Green) and Rinkal Shergill (Holyhead).
Birmingham’s Reform UK party however only received 18 votes from its body of 23 councillors, with their recently elected Kingstanding Councillor Graham Green absent from the meeting.
Of the last two remaining Labour councillors in the Erdington constituency, Cllr Ray Goodwin (Castle Vale) abstained and Cllr Mick Brown (Gravelly Hill) was absent.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also received one vote, although it was not officially counted in the final results.
Elderflower Care Home are inviting families and potential residents to have a first look at their new facility on Orphanage Road in a special ‘Open weekend’ this weekend.
Guided tours of the grounds and facilities will be held between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, with no obligations or costs attached.
Visiting members of the public also invited to join enjoy complimentary refreshments during their tour, including freshly baked cakes by Elderflower’s own chef.
Click here to make a booking to view the facility over the ‘Open weekend’, or contact Elderflower Grange directly by calling (0121) 756 8225 or emailing: rachel.mackay@careuk.com
Landscaped gardens at Elderflower Grange care home on Orphanage Road / Image suppiled by Care UK
Recently opened, the new 77 bedroom care home sits amongst landscaped surroundings and has its own onsite accessible bar, restaurant, cinema room, hair salon, multi faith room, music room, and a special reminiscence room.
Operated by the award winning Care UK, Elderflower Grange is the newest facility in the region from the longstanding care home provider – which also operates Bishop’s Manor and Mercia Grange in neighbouring Sutton Coldfield, both boasting a ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
A spokesperson for Elderflower Care Home told: “Elderflower Grange is a brand new, purpose-built care home in Erdington. Our dedicated and experienced team will provide a full range of care services with the flexibility to meet every need.”
Cafe at Elderflower Grange care home on Orphanage Road / Image suppiled by Care UK
They added: “We pride ourselves on the transparency of our care quality and fee information – ensuring you can trust us to care from that very first step.”
Situated at 86 Orphanage Rd, Erdington, Elderflower Care Home offers residential care for over 65s – alongside extra special care for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
The facility also offers respite and convalescence care, for short term stays and supporting people coming out of hospital, as well as palliative and end of life care.
Lounge area at Elderflower Grange care home on Orphanage Road / Image suppiled by Care UK
Elderflower Care Home is operated by Care UK, which started out as Anglia Secure Homes in 1982 and changed its name to Care UK in 1994. One of the largest housing and residential care providers in the country, Care UK run over 160 care home across the UK – including
In 2025, Care UK was recognised by winning over 30 industry awards both nationally and regionally, including ‘Care Home Group (Large)’ at the 2025 National Care Awards for the second year running.
Landscaped gardens at Elderflower Grange care home on Orphanage Road / Image suppiled by Care UK
The organisation was also the winner of both the Nursing Times and Caring UK awards in 2023, and was recognised by the Care Home Awards ‘gold winner’ in their ‘Outstanding Larger Group Care Provider’ category.
Elderflower Grange will further be celebrating their official launch event on Thursday 2 July, with local legend and Aston Villa football star Tony Morely as the event’s special guest.
Erdington High Street Community Market returns to the Town Centre on Saturday 30 May – celebrating its fourth event, taking place on the last Saturday of every month.
Held on the pedestrianised area in between Wilton Indoor Market and B&M Superstore, the event will run from 10am to 4pm – with a range of stalls selling arts, crafts, toys, clothes, and homemade treats from local traders and crafters.
There will also be a variety of free children’s fun and games at the Erdington Market, including a bouncy castle, face painting, temporary face tattoos, and two arts and crafts stands – with one even offering a peaceful time out for adults, from local community group Arts All Over the Place.
Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
The LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY hub will also be offering some free soft drinks and water bottles, whilst talking to those attending about some exciting new events and activities coming to Erdington High Street later this year.
Completely free to attend, there is no charge to attend the Erdington High Steet Community Market or for any of the activities on offer.
The Community Markets are organised by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), as part of their ongoing LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaign – with support from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority through the Shared Prosperity Fund and Mayor’s Market Fund.
Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ed King
A spokesperson for Erdington BID told: “We launched the Erdington High Street Community Markets in February this year, and the events have been absolutely fantastic – with some really unique and creative stall holders, all from in and around Erdington.
“They are a lot of fun, for both adults and children, and a really wonderful way of the Erdington community to come together and enjoy and afternoon on the High Street.”
Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ed King
They added: “This month, in May, we’ve got a few more stall coming along – as the Community Market is picking up interest from new traders and people looking to try their hand at a pop up stall.
“The market is growing, and we would love to welcome more people down to the High Street to have a browse and a bite to eat and join us in celebrating our fantastic Erdington community. See you on the High Street this Saturday [30 May].”
Erdingotn High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ed King
Taking place on the last Saturday on each month, the Erdington High Street Community Markets launched in February 2026 and has seen hundreds of people enjoy an afternoon in Erdington Town Centre.
Regular stall holders are joined each month by new traders, selling unique gifts, local crafts, original artwork, and mouthwatering cakes, desserts, and home recipes that you won’t find anywhere else.
Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ed King
Check out our picture gallery below, showing some of the highlights from previous Erdington High Street Community Markets.
The Erdington High Street Community Markets are run as part of the Erdington BID’s LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaign, to welcome local people and visitors into Erdington Town Centre.
LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY presented a series of community events across 2025, including three ‘Summer Fun Days’ from June to August and three ‘Winter Warmer’ events throughout December.
Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska
The LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaign is also building a group of local volunteers, to help support events and work on other activities that support Erdington Town Centre – such as community litter picks, gardening, and outreach work with local care homes and residential centre.
Anyone interested in volunteering through the LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaign, or information about the wider events and activities being delivered though the Erdington BID, should email: erdingtonhighstreet@hotmail.co.uk
PICTURE GALLERY: Erdington High Street Community Markets / Photographs by Ilona Zielinska and Ed King
Residents at Phoenix Court on Yatesbury Avenue, Castle Vale, have started a petition calling for extra security in their building – following concerns regarding a tenant who has been charged with firearm and weapon related offences, and who is currently registered as living in the over 55’s housing complex.
The tenant in question is being processed through the Birmingham courts for a list of offences relating to threatening behaviour, firearms and weapons.
According to the court listing, they are facing the following charges: threat to damage / destroy property, [possession of] a firearm without a certificate, [possession of] an offensive weapon in [a] private place.
It is further believed that threats to endanger life were made by the tenant towards at least one staff member at Phoenix Court.
Sign outside Birmingham Crown Court (Photograph by Ed King)
As part of their initial bail conditions, the tenant facing the charges was reportedly blocked from entering municipal areas at Phoenix Court or entering the building unsupervised.
However, according to other residents at Phoenix Court the problem tenant has been tailgating people entering the housing complex and bypassing the front door security locks.
After raising concerns over safety at a recent meeting with the estate management team, worried residents are now circulating a petition asking The Pioneer Group, who own and operate Phoenix Court, to “arrange for a security person in the front entrance… until [the tenant is] incarcerated or evicted from [their] flat.”
Police tape cordoning off road (photograph by Ed King)
The tenant identified in the petition has previously been at the centre of various disturbances, including a dramatic armed police response in June 2022 after it was believed they then too had a firearm – where other Phoenix Court residents were held under “siege” whilst the police cordoned off the housing complex and made their arrest.
One resident told Castle Vale Local: “After that siege, four years ago, [they] shouldn’t have been allowed back in here – a block full of vulnerable people.”
They added: “You don’t know what [they] can be capable of, [they] threatened to blow [a staff member] in [their] car.”
British armed police officer (Photograph taken from Adobe Stock Images)
Owned and managed by The Pioneer Group, Castle Vale’s largest social Housing landlord, Phoenix Court houses around 60 elderly residents – encouraging independent living and community, within a supported accommodation setting.
The Route2Wellbeing website describes Phoenix Court as “a personalised approach supporting the wellbeing of older people by promoting independence through the development of friendships, reducing isolation and offering a wide range of activities and opportunities that promote wellbeing and increased quality of life.”
After receiving the petition from Phoenix Court residents, on Friday 22 May a spokesperson for The Pioneer Group told Castle Vale Local: “We are aware of an ongoing issue involving a tenant at Phoenix Court.
“We are working closely with tenants to ensure the building remains safe and are taking the appropriate course of action to address the situation.”
They added: “As an added reassurance, we have arranged for a security guard to be present during the evenings over [the Bank Holiday] weekend. We also have CCTV in place both internally and externally, with our teams actively monitoring and reporting any sightings.
“We have been in contact with the police, who have reassured us that they will carry out additional internal patrols.”
Residents confirmed a security guard was present over the Bank Holiday Weekend, but at the time of writing has not returned to the front entrance of Phoenix Court.
Castle Vale Local has further reached out to The Pioneer Group about potential cost implications over additional security and the housing provider’s eviction policies and process.
The tenant facing charges is scheduled to reappear in court in June.
Castle Vale Local will continue to follow the story.
Erdington’s MP Paulette Hamilton has called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down as Labour Party leader, telling the BBC’s Sarah Montague “we need change” in an interview on Radio 4’s World at One programme.
Appearing on Monday 11 May, a few days after Labour suffered drastic loses in the recent Council elections – and where Reform UK and independent candidates took eight of the twelve local seats across the Erdington constituency – Ms Hamilton told the broadcaster there was a need for an “orderly transition” of power at the top of the Labour Party.
“At the moment, people are burying their heads in the sand,” added Ms Hamilton, before describing how over the last year and a half “I have seen where we are, people are just not listening. They do not trust anything [Labour] have to say.”
Promotional poster for BBC Four’s World at One with Sarah Montague
“They’re telling you, ‘I have voted Labour all my life but I am not voting for Keir Starmer,’” she continued, “if you know the Brummie way of doing things, [the general public] have made it clear they are not voting for Keir Starmer.”
Earlier in the interview, Ms Hamilton had outlined the threat she believes is being faced by the Labour Party over issues with its leadership, stating: “I am telling people today, unless we wake up smell the roses we may as well hand the keys of Number 10 over to Reform in the next couple of years.”
This was highlighted in a recent and razor thin battle for the Stockland Green Ward, where the Labour candidate Derek Douglas lost to Reform UK’s Mansoor Butt by only one vote.
At the official count, Mr Douglas told Erdington Local he felt the loss was a direct result of negative feelings towards the national party.
Reform’s Mansoor Butt in an empty Utilita Arena after Stockland Green recount / Photograph by Ed King
The Erdington MP’s strong words today mirror a campaign spearheaded by Catherine West MP (Hornsey and Friern Barnet, Labour) to oust the Labour leader and establish a fresh face in Number 10 ahead of the next General Election.
At the time of writing, over 50 MPs across the UK have backed the call for a leadership challenge – with Sir Starmer making an impassioned speech to buoy support from his backbenchers and Cabinet, highlighting plans to potentially nationalise British Steel, and provide better opportunities for young people.
The Labour Leader was also clear on his plans to “[rebuild] our relationship with Europe” and put “Britain at the heart of Europe” – which many see as paving the way for a potential re-entry to the European Union.
Ms Hamilton MP also referenced this in her Radio 4 interview, stating she “was for Europe” and was “happy with what [Keir Starmer] said” in his speech, but that people in Erdington were contacting her constituency office the Labour leader’s stance.
“I’m telling you, residents have already started writing to me telling me they don’t like it,” Ms Hamilton told the BBC. “That’s the point. At the moment I’m starting to get mail into my office saying, ‘why has he (Kier Starmer) come out with that?’”
Paulette Hamilton and Keir Starmer in Erdington during by-election camapign in 2022 / Photograph from Erdington Local archives
Erdington Local reached out to Paulette Hamilton’s office for further comment on the issues over Europe and the EU and received the following statement from the Erdington MP:
“I campaigned to remain, but Britain voted to leave. That’s democracy. Residents have told me on the doorstep and by email that we voted to leave, and they’re right.
“A good relationship with Europe is important, but the ‘new direction’ won’t put us back to where we were in the EU.”
At the recent Council elections, Reform UK candidates won both seats in both Oscott and Kingstanding, and one of the two seats up for grabs in Stockland Green – with the other going to incumbent independent Amar Khan. Reform also one the single seats contested in Pype Hayes and Perry Common.
Elsewhere, Labour incumbents retained their seats in Gravelly Hill and Castle Vale – with the Local Conservatives also holding onto their two seats in the Erdington Ward.
