Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden has celebrated the “huge honour” of being re-elected as Leader of the Birmingham Conservative Group – following a ballot at the local party’s recent annual general meeting (AGM).
Announcing the appointment via social media, Cllr Alden was quick to thank members of the Birmingham Conservatives for “unanimously” reappointing him to the top spot – which he has held since first being elected in 2014.
Cllr Alden further celebrated the appointment of Cllr Ewan Mackay (Sutton Roughley) as Deputy Leader and Cllr Adrian Delaney (Rubery & Rednal Ward) as the local party Whip – alongside his running mate in the Erdington Ward, Cllr Gareth Moore, being elected as Group Secretary.
Cllr Alden was also quick to challenge “bankrupt Labour’s [Birmingham City Council] double whammy of higher taxes for fewer services” and promised the Birmingham Conservative Group “will continue to stand up for residents being hit” by the city’s increased Council Tax.
(l-r) Cllr Ewan Mackey adn Cllr Robert Alden at Birmingham Conservatives AGM / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Conservatives
Following in his family’s political footsteps, Cllr Alden was first elected as Erdington Ward Councillor in 2006 and has confidently retained the seat for nearly two decades.
Cllr Alden’s father, John Alden was a significant figure in local politics, having represented the Harborne Ward as a Conservative Councillor for 33 years – from when he was first elected in 1983 until 2012, then after being re-elected in 2014 until his retirement in 2018.
Honorary Alderman John Alden sadly passed away earlier in the year, with the news of his death receiving heartfelt condolences from political figures across the aisle.
Cllr Alden’s mother, Cllr Deirdre Alden, was first elected to represent the Conservatives in the Edgbaston Ward in 1999 and remains a prominent and well respected figure in local politics.
(l-r) Cllr Gareth Moore and Cllr Robert Alden on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King
Following his re-election as Leader of the Birmingham Conservative Group, Cllr Robert Alden told Erdington Local: “It is a huge honour to be a Councillor for Erdington and Leader of the Opposition.
“I am incredibly grateful to the trust and faith fellow Councillors have put in me to lead the Opposition Local Conservative Group at Birmingham City Council.”
He added: “Looking ahead to the all-out elections in Birmingham in 2026 the ruling Labour group only need to lose 12 seats to lose control, Birmingham Local Conservatives are best placed to win those 12 seats and deliver real change for local residents and that is what we’ll be working to do.”
Alongside being Leader of the Birmingham Conservative Group, Cllr Robert Alden also sits on the Council Business Management Committee, Employment Committee, General Assembly of the Local Government Association, and WMCA Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee – alongside observer member positions on further committees.
Operation Fearless team on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by Operation Fearless
Operation Fearless has made a significant impact on Erdington High Street since it launched in January this year, with 140 people arrested so far and the seizure of dangerous weapons and hard drugs from in and around Erdington Town Centre.
West Midlands Police have also now established a dedicated Erdington High Street police team, with a Sergeant leading six officers focused on crime and anti-social behaviour in the retail and shopping hub.
Giving Erdington Local readers the latest information on the special policing initiative, Detective Superintendent Jim Munro – the officer leading the Operation Fearless team – has a direct update for Erdington locals and residents.
Words by DSI Jim Munro / Pics supplied by Operation Fearless
Operation Fearless lead Detective – Detective Superintendent Jim Munro / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
“We’ve made a really big step in making Erdington High Street a safer place. Since January, we’ve arrested over 140 people. This is a huge number and shows that we’re really listening to what you’ve been telling us.
“You were worried, and rightly so, about feeling unsafe walking down the High Street. You told us about shops being targeted, about drugs causing problems, and about the fear of violence. We heard you loud and clear.
“We’ve also taken dangerous weapons off the streets of Erdington before they could do any harm, seizing a live firearm, a zombie knife and multiple other weapons in separate incidents.
“We’ve arrested dangerous individuals for a whole range of offences including – robbery, burglary, assault, shop theft and much more. Other successful arrests saw one man arrested for child sex offences, and another for domestic kidnap.
Officers talking to members of the public on Erdington High Street / Photograhp taken by Ed King
“This success isn’t just because of the police. It’s because of you, the people who live here in Erdington.
“You called us when you saw something suspicious, you shared information with us, and you trusted us to do our jobs. Without your help, without you being our eyes and ears on the ground, we couldn’t have achieved this. We’re so thankful for all your support.
“And the good news doesn’t stop there. We’re hearing from you that things are changing. You’re telling us you feel safer in the area and businesses are noticing a real difference too. That’s exactly the kind of change we wanted to see.
“But we know we can’t stop now. We need to keep this momentum going, keep pushing for a safer Erdington. That’s why we’re putting a dedicated High Street team in place.
DSI Munro, PCC Simon Foster, Paulette Hamilton MP talking to staff in Iceland on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP
“At the end of March, I had the privilege of walking the High Street with MP Paulette Hamilton and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster. We discussed the progress and future plans for Op Fearless.
“We all agree that while we’ve made strides, there’s still more to be done. Regeneration takes time, and we’re committed to tackling crime and making Erdington a place where everyone feels safe and proud.
“I’m optimistic about the future, especially with the collaboration we’re building between the new High Street team, the council, BID, and our security partners.
Erdington Police Station on Sutton New Road / Photgraph by Ed King
“The new team, consisting of six officers and a Sergeant, will be a constant presence on the High Street. They’ll be walking the streets daily, engaging with residents, and ensuring a visible and reassuring presence. Their focus will be on building relationships and maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
“As the Fearless team prepares to move to its next location at the end of this month, please know that our commitment to Erdington remains strong.
“While the team will be physically moving, we’ll continue to provide support and resources to the new High Street team, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained efforts to reduce crime.
Police tape on Erdington High Street as officers conduct investigation / Photograph by Ed King
“We know how important it is for you to stay informed about what’s happening in your community. That’s why we’re changing things up a bit. We want to keep that line of communication open and strong. So, from now on, you’ll be hearing directly from the person leading the charge on the High Street.
“I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be handing over this column to Sergeant Gary Grove, who will be heading up the new High Street team. They’ll be your go to source for updates on the work being done in the area.
“I encourage you all to engage with Sergeant Grove and their team. Share your feedback, voice your concerns, and continue to be an active part of making Erdington better.
(Left) Drugs seized by officers during search of Kenyjah James car and residential address, (right) Kenyjah James following arrest for possession with intent to supply / Pics supplied by West Midlands Police
An Erdington drug dealer has been jailed for possession with intent to supply Class A narcotics including crack cocaine and heroin, taking thousands of pounds of dangerous drugs off the streets.
The arrest and processing through the courts comes as the Operation Fearless policing initiative continues to clampdown on crime in Erdington Town Centre – working alongside the recently introduced Erdington High Street police team and local partners.
Appearing before Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday 10 April, Kenyjah James, aged 25, pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was sentenced to four years in prison – avoiding a longer term for a crime that could have seen him face life imprisonment, based on the amount of drugs and his role within the supply chain.
Officers on patrol on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
Operation Fearless and High Street officers apprehended James after responding to reports of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour on Tuesday 25 February, after the police were alerted to a man damaging a car park gate.
Whilst attending the scene, officers detained James and searched his vehicle – discovering around 190 ‘wraps’ of both cocaine and heroin and two mobile phones, with potential links to a drug dealing operation.
Following a further search of his home address, police officers discovered yet more Class A and Class B narcotics and charged James with possession and intent to supply a controlled substance.
Sign outside Birmingham Crown Court / Photgraph by Ed King
After sentencing, a spokesperson from West Midlands Polcie confirmed: “A man [has] been jailed for drug offences after he was arrested by our Operation Fearless officers in Erdington.
“Kenyjah James, aged 25, was sentenced to four years in prison when appeared at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday (10 April).”
They added: “He had pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing Class A drugs including crack cocaine and heroin, with intent to supply.
“The drugs were… confirmed as being approximately 190 wraps of cocaine and heroin, with an estimated value of around £2,000.”
Operation Fearless has been in action across Erdington Town Centre since January 2025, making over 140 arrests (at the time of writing) and stamping down on crime and anti-social behaviour in the once troubled retail district.
Operation Fearless team on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
Handing over from the main Operation Fearless team, as they begin to deploy officers in other hot spots across the city, Erdington High Street has also welcomed a dedicated police team – including a Seargent and six uniformed officers that will focus on crime in and around the Town Centre.
The Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) is also “beefing up” their High Street security and leading a High Street Community Team of local partners and community groups, to further support the incoming High Street police team and retail hub.
A spokesperson from the Erdington BID told: “The extra policing we’ve seen this year, under Operation Fearless and now with the new High Street police team, has made a significant impact on the crime in Erdington Town Centre – but it needs our support to make it last.
Rainbow falls on Erdington Town Centre sign by Six Ways Island / Photograph by Ed King
“We will be beefing up our High Street security, who have a strong relationship with the retail community here and know many of the repeat offenders – and who can directly support both the Operation Fearless and new High Street police team through joint patrols and intelligence sharing.
“We will also be establishing a High Street Community Team, made up of local community groups and volunteers – to help with everything from supporting a series of family friendly events on the High Street, to litter picking and looking after the green spaces.”
They added: “Erdington High Street was once one of the busiest in the city, and whilst many businesses have moved online we still want a Town Centre that is a vibrant and family friendly place to shop and socialise.
“Following in the footsteps of Operation Fearless, the new dedicated High Street police team – supported by our Street Wardens and local community groups – gives us a chance to break the cycle of crime and make a real and lasting change in the heart of Erdington.”
To find out more about working with the Erdington Business Improvement District to support the High Street and Town Centre email: erdingtonhighstreet@hotmail.com
Rainbow reflection on Erdington Town Centre sign near Six Ways Island / Photograph taken by Ed King
Erdington Town Centre has been allocated its own dedicated High Street police team to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the once troubled retail hotspot.
Working alongside the Operation Fearless policing initiative, the Erdington High Street police team will bring six constables, led by Sergeant Gary Grove, to the Town Centre – creating “a high visibility presence on the High Street to tackle the issues that matter to residents, shoppers and traders”, according to a West Midlands Police spokesperson.
The officers will also work with the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) Street Wardens, conducting joint patrols on the High Street and sharing intelligence about criminal activity and regular offenders in the area.
Officers on patrol on Erdington High Street as part of Operation Fearless / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police)
The team will also work alongside local partners including Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands, to further tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and build on the work already being delivered by the responsible authorities.
The dedicated Erdington High Street police force, led by Sgt Grove, has been operational since 4 April, working in tandem with the Operation Fearless team to share information and continue the “sustained effort to reduce crime” in the retail hub.
Alongside the 140 arrests made by the Operation Fearless, Sgt Grove’s new High Street police team have made a further 17 arrests in the past few weeks – keeping the pressure on criminals who have operated in the area, including those involved in drug dealing and shoplifting.
Officers talking to members of the public on Erdington High Street / Photograhp taken by Ed King
Sergeant Gary Grove told: “It’s clear to see the difference [Operation] Fearless has made to Erdington, and we’re committed to building on that.
“Myself and my colleagues have experience working as part of the Erdington Impact Area team – and we’re working hard to build on existing relationships around the area.”
Underlining the importance of working with Erdington locals, the business community, and the wider general public visiting the area, Sgt Grove added: “If you’re out and about in Erdington or have any concerns you’d like to discuss, please come and say hello to us.”
The Erdington BID is also currently establishing a High Street Community Support Team to work alongside Sgt Grove and his team – made up of local volunteers and community groups and addressing non-response issues.
The Erdington BID High Street Community Support Team will be investing more into High Street security, and offering help with activities including consumer and visitor advice, litter picking, maintaining the High Street’s green spaces, and helping busy businesses report lower level crimes.
A spokesperson for the Erdington BID, who act as the link between the local police and retail community, told: “Erdington High Street needs a constant, uniformed, public facing police presence – with the power to arrest criminals and process them to the courts – and having a dedicated High Street police team will be a huge support to the local business community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sergeant Grove and his team to the area and offer our full support.”
They added: “Operation Fearless, and now Sgt Grove and his High Street police team, have given Erdington a real chance to properly challenge the criminal activity in Erdington Town Centre – but we can all help.
“If we want to keep the crime away, and to further deter those repeat offenders who have got away with too much for too long, it should be a team effort. If you live or work in Erdington, or just want to help make a difference to our Town Centre, then please get in touch about joining [the Erdington BID] High Street Community Support Team.”
Operation Fearless team on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by Operation Fearless
Operation Fearless was launched in January 2025, bringing a dedicated team of 20 officers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour into Erdington Town Centre.
The initiative was supported by £880,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, as allocated by the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster – who has been a regular visitor to Erdington Town Centre, meeting with both businesses and the general public on the High Street.
Led by Detective Superintendent Jim Munro, the Operation Fearless team have made over 140 arrests [at the time of writing] and seized an array of contraband off the Erdington streets – including an arsenal of offensive weapons, and illegal drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Operation Fearless lead Detective – Detective Superintendent Jim Munro / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
As the Operation Fearless team start to hand over to Sgt Grove and the High Street police team, alongside the pre-existing Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) that covers Erdington Town Centre, a WMP spokesperson confirmed: “The [Operation] Fearless team will continue to provide support and resources to the new High Street team, ensuring a seamless transition and sustained effort to reduce crime.”
Detective Superintendent Jim Munro added: “The new dedicated High Street team will be a constant presence in the area, and although Fearless is expanding to a new location – our Fearless officers will be using their impressive local and operational knowledge to support them.”
Graphic of proposed Starbucks drive-thru development for 428 Tyburn Road, as submitted to Birmingham City Council / Pic taken from planning application
Birmingham City Council (BCC) has recently refused a planning application to turn an old builder’s merchant yard, on an empty site connecting Tybrun Road and Wheelright Lane, into a drive-thru Starbucks coffee shop.
Plans submitted the council officers early this year by Godwin Developments, who officially own the land at 428 Tyburn Road, were rejected by BCC over concerns ‘the proposed development would result in harm to the area’s visual amenity and residential amenity,’ as stated in the planning department’s final report.
Whilst making their decision, BCC explored the impact of the proposed ‘erection of a single story building’ on the surrounding businesses and residential dwellings, as well as the ‘associated parking’ to support customer to the drive thru – which could have seen up to 20 standard parking bays and four points for charging electric vehicles.
Charging station for electric vehicles / Pic taken from Adobe Stock Images
A previous application to turn the neighbouring site at 430 Tyburn Road into a multi-point charging station for electric vehicles was given the green light by Birmingham City Council in 2023, despite resident’s concerns and objections led by Mick Brown (Gravelly Hill, Labour).
The Godwin Group, which has registered offices in both Birmingham and London, had announced their plans for a ‘a brand-new coffee drive thru’ at the 428 Tyburn Road site in June 2024 – heralding the development as ‘contributing to the visual uplift and natural surveillance’, whilst also bringing 30 jobs to the area.
Layout of plans for propsed Starbucks drive-thru at 428 Tyburn Road, as submitted to Birmingham City Council / Taken from planning application
Releasing information about the proposed coffee shop project on their website, Simon Handslip, Managing Director of Commercial Development at Godwin, said: “[The Starbuck Drive-Thru] is expected to serve not only passing traffic and pedestrians using Tyburn Road, but also the local community, the nearby industrial estates and plentiful retailers in the area.
He added: “This application is one of many similar commercial schemes we are currently progressing with well-known national and international brands. We have a huge appetite for similar sites nationwide and seek partnerships with real estate and retail brands to bring forward new roadside schemes paired with EV charging.”
But in the Council’s Final Decision notice, officers found the development would “fail to visually integrate within its surroundings or enhance the character of the surrounding area”, adding the coffee chain outlet “would be an incongruous addition to the street scene” and “have an adverse impact on the surrounding public realm.”
Layout of plans for propsed Starbucks drive-thru at 428 Tyburn Road, as submitted to Birmingham City Council / Taken from planning application
However, following BCC’s decision to refuse the planning application for 428 Tyburn Road, effectively halting plans, a spokesperson for Godwin Developments explained they were still looking to push the project over the finish line.
They told Erdington Local: “Despite the recent rejection of our plans by Birmingham City Council, we are still actively progressing the redevelopment of the former builder’s merchants yard on Tyburn Road into a new drive-thru Starbucks store.”
They added: “Following productive discussions with council officers, we are currently refining our proposals to align with their requirements. We are confident that this development will not only enhance the area’s visual appeal but will also serve the needs of the local community and customers of the adjacent 24-bay EV charging hub.”
Godwin also own the remaining retail units at what used to be the Central Square shopping precinct on Erdington High Street – having sold the remaining land to a London based property firm, Castle Haven Developments, who previously told Erdington Local they are looking at using the site for residential development.
Bins and bin bags uncolllected on Mason Road, Erdington / PIc by Ed King
On 11 March 2025, hundreds of council refuse workers took industrial action, joining the Unite the Union picket line and effectively halting the collection of household rubbish and recycling across the city.
The issues were similar to those Unite members voted to strike on in June 2017, September 2017, December 2018, and February 2019, as was the media fallout that followed – with pictures of rubbish piling up on city streets and reports of “rats the size of cats” in the national press.
Erdington Local takes a look at the history behind the revolving door bin strikes that have come back to haunt, and taunt, Birmingham City Council, and asks – what keeps going wrong with Birmingham’s Waste Management Service?
‘Cat-sized rats are attacking our cars’, ran the BBC headline, framing an article published on 26 February this year.
Two weeks later and a reported 350 Birmingham City Council (BCC) refuse workers would go on strike, leaving bin bags to pile up on city streets and vermin of all shapes and sizes to burrow their way into the conversation.
“The rats are huge,” explained one local resident, when quizzed further by the BBC reporter, “they are like small cats and their tails are really chunky.”
A media monster is born. Or reborn. And the Labour run council is once again at war with Unite the Union. But why is Birmingham back in crisis over its bin collections? And why is one of the largest trade unions in the UK, and a onetime close Labour ally and donor, now bringing the city to its knees? Again.
Bins and bin bags uncolllected on Mason Road, Erdington / PIc by Ed King
The answer to this immediate problem can be found from looking through the last decade of how Birmingham City Council has wrestled with Unite – the union who represent the majority of council employers working in the Waste Management Service.
The Birmingham bin strikes are viewed by many as a case of history repeating itself, and in order to successfully to navigate a future path the council must learn from its mistakes of the past.
In 2017 it was the threat of losing 107 Grade 3 Leading Hands roles from the waste collection trucks, workers with a safety brief who were paid more than their counter parts, and today it’s the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.
The Leader of Birmingham City Council has changed too, but it is the actions of Birmingham Labour a decade ago that lie at the root of this dispute.
According to one senior member of Unite the Union’s West Midlands branch, commenting anonymously for fear of reprisals, the rot began to set in when Sir Abert Bore was replaced by Cllr John Clancy as Council Leader in 2015 – seeing a man The Birmingham Post once dubbed a “leftwing firebrand” handing the reigns to a Mancunian lawyer turned Brummie councillor.
According to our source, Unite top brass were rattled by the new tone of Clancey’s Cabinet, and the “dominance in Birmingham” the union had previously enjoyed was perceivably under threat. Whereas in the salad days of Sir Bore’s administration Unite could “just [go] to him and we’d have got what we wanted” they now faced elected officials who would not “bow to that pressure.”
Birmingham’s a big patch for many civic partners and showing strength in the face of administrative action is an important vertebra in the backbone of any West Midlands union official. Especially if your workforce is employed by the council.
At the time of the first bin strike in 2017, Unite had brought in Howard Beckett as Regional Director, who our source explains had been “sent to the West Midlands to make a name for himself”. The then General Secretary, Len McCluskey, was set to step down and top tier Unite members had their eyes on the job. And for Beckett, argues our source, the Birmingham bin strike “was his baby.”
So, when in spring 2017 a proposed restructuring of the Waste Management Service – in an effort to save £5m in operational costs – called for the redundancy of 107 Grade 3 Leading Hands roles, Unite, led by Beckett, went on the attack.
Birmingham City Council argued they had to restructure, as they still do today, over concerns of equal pay – with potential liabilities across the 12000 strong Council workforce a dangerous thundercloud on the horizon.
(That burst on 5 September 2023, bringing with it unprecedented cuts to Council services, sales of public assets, and a near 20% rise in Council Tax over two years.)
And whilst back in 2017 BCC claimed they were offering equivalent roles or severance packages to anyone made redundant, as again they still do today, Unite stuck to their stance the redundancies were unlawful. The Council disagreed, so Unite the Union members working in Waste Management were balloted over industrial action and went on strike starting 30 June 2017.
Initially Cllr Clancey attempted to placate Unite with the now infamous ‘beer and sandwiches’ deal, where he met with union officials through the national Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on 15 August 2017 to sign off a settlement.
But without official Cabinet support, BCC’S then interim Chief Executive, Stella Manzie, called on the Leader to “‘not progress the proposal” and return to the negotiating table.
Fostering a direct relationship with Unite, Cllr Clancy candidly informed Howard Beckett via text that he was “working most of every day to outflank inappropriate [city] officers” and how “a pincer manoeuvre from others will help specifically to do this”.
Then on 31 August 2017, John Clancy texts Howard Beckett again, explaining “the mood [in Birmingham Labour] has changed drastically” and it is “inevitable” that the “redundancies will have to go ahead straight away”. A curious division of loyalties that would begin the corrosion of the senior council officials, elected or not, and send the city further into bin collection chaos.
On 1 September, Unite the Union members working in Waste Management went on strike.
Ten days later, on 11 September, John Clancey resigned as Leader of Birmingham City Council.
Birmingham City Council Town House / Image from Adobe Stock
BCC and Unite would end up arguing it out in the High Court – where one judge commented in September 2017, after the redundancies were eventually blocked: “How a public body with 12,000 employees can operate sensibly with this degree of chaos between its senior personnel is remarkable.”
And it is here the game of cat and mouse, or perhaps rat, would repeat over the next two administrations.
Erdington MP Paullette Hamilton sat on Clancey’s Cabinet at the time. She explains: “You have to understand, formally, nothing was passed by cabinet. John Clancy went into a meeting… with the unions, [and] decisions were taken at the time. But the other members of the cabinet were not there.”
She adds: “The point was [John Clancey] didn’t understand what a Cabinet structure meant. He felt being the Leader he could go away and do what he felt was right and the Cabinet would just fall in line. And unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”
Jump forward to today’s widely reported on rubbish and the argument over restructuring the city’s Waste Management Service remains much the same, as does the outcome of such a service deadlock. Piles of black plastic bins on the pavement and the circling folklore of vermin big enough to bite your pet Poodle.
Unite is now run by Sharon Graham, who was elected as General Secretary in 2021 and – in an open letter to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner – has stated the “current escalation [in the dispute] increasingly looks like a declaration of war on these [Birmingham City Council Waste Management] workers”. Tough but consistent rhetoric.
There are some more positive noises being made today, however, with Birmingham City Council declaring the situation a “major incident’ and “public health crisis’ – paving the way for BCC to instigate contingency plans and bring in external help to literally clean up the mess.
Rubbish and waste increasing, uncollected due to workers strike UK / Image from Adobe Stock
This also allows Birmingham City Council to seek support from central government, and, as some around the campfire predict, take a more aggressive stance against the union who has blocked them over Waste Management reform for the last decade.
And this has been mirrored recently in Westminster. Following reports striking workers were blocking the waste collection trucks leaving a plant in Tyseley, the Health Minister, Wes Streeting, told: “I understand industrial disputes happen. I understand people have the right to withdraw their labour. That’s part and parcel of industrial relations in our country. But what is not acceptable is allowing these sorts of… unsanitary conditions… to occur on people’s streets.”
But one thing’s for sure, the bin strike debate is keeping our local Council Chamber full of fireworks and festivities – with one plucky member of the public dressing up in a full body rat costume to ask their question about taxes on pest control at the Full Council meeting on 8 April.
Shots were fired over strategy too, with Birmingham Conservatives Leader Cllr Robert Alden (Erdington Ward) challenging the current Birmingham Labour Leader, Cllr John Cotton (Glebe Farm and Tile Hill Ward) over his management of the crisis.
In a barbed exchange in the Council Chamber, Cllr Alden quizzed when there are “over 21000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish [on Birmingham streets] and pest control experts… warning the city could face a rat epidemic” why weren’t opposition leaders being brought in to help find a solution.
Cllr Robert Alden in exchange with Cllr John Cotton over waste managemnet startegy at Full Council meeting on 8 April / Image taken from BCC webcast
After initially responding it was “absolutely appropriate” the Gold Command – a special taskforce set up to tackle the issue – were “reporting into the political leadership of this council at regular intervals”, Cllr Cotton became visibly more irate at the “heated rhetoric” coming from his Conservative counterpart.
In a curt and final riposte, Cllr Cotton quipped he was “not going to get involved in… party banter and nonsense” and that “the priority here is to reach a resolution to this dispute.” A possibly welcome tough line as wider negotiations continue both in and outside the Town House.
There are signs the end will come, and BCC have been using the public health agenda to bring in temporary support whilst the strike continues. So bins are being emptied.
But whilst the Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage, and Tourism – Cllr Sulaman (Hall Green North, Labour) – is confident Birmingham will still be seen as “a clean, welcoming, and exciting destination,” the embarrassing media cycle continues.
Cllr John Cotton in exchange with Cllr Robert Alden over waste managemnet startegy at Full Council meeting on 8 April / Image taken from BCC webcast
Over in Erdington, however, people have been showing the national press a positive display of community in the face of adversity – as those living in the B24 and B23 postcodes so clearly showed in another recent time of crisis.
In a visit to a mobile rubbish collection point on Grange Road, as piles of rubbish are being set alight in other areas of the city, the BBC reported how in Erdington “the scene is all very well-mannered”. All this North Birmingham constituency needs now is a Vera Lynn song on repeat and a good stock of tinned food.
And the “120 new vehicles with state of the art technology that will truly modernise the service” promised by the Council Leader, if they have a spare afternoon.
Let’s Get Together this April!
Join the Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS) for a vibrant community gathering at St Barnabas Church on 10 April 2025, between 11am–2pm.
The annual, FREE, Let’s Get Together event offers residents across the Erdington constituency a chance to connect with local groups, professionals, and services that support independent living
and wellbeing.
Everyone is welcome to pop in and meet teams from ENNS-funded organisations, Occupational Therapists, Adult Social Care teams, as well as Social Prescribers.
The teams are on hand to help you explore activities, advice services, and community initiatives designed to tackle isolation, improve health, and enhance quality of life.
The ENNS team will also be available to answer questions and guide attendees to tailored support, including grants for community projects (up to £10,000).
St Barnabas Church, Erdington High Street / Pic by Ed King
Come & Connect
ENNS supports older adults and younger adults with disabilities, fostering connections through partnerships with voluntary groups and social enterprises.
Whether you’re seeking a group to join or simply need practical advice, this event is your gateway to Erdington’s thriving community network.
ENNS Neighbourhood Networker Fauzia Begum said: “Our annual Let’s Get Together event provides a fantastic opportunity for members of the community to find out what’s available locally.
“Following a successful 2024 turnout, we are gearing up for an even bigger Let’s Get Together event on 10 April 2025.”
She added: “We are really excited to welcome our community on the day to connect with local groups and access vital resources available across our area.”
Event Details Date: 10th April 2025 Time: 11am – 2pm Venue: St Barnabas Church, High Street, Erdington, B23 6SJ
No booking required – drop in and join Erdington’s thriving community network!
For further information you can contact the ENNS team on (0121) 382 1930 or email enns@wittonlodge.org.uk
Witton Lodge Community Association is a leading partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
Police car outside residential address on Hastings Road, Perry Common / Pic by Ed King
Perry Common residents have been allowed back home after being evacuated early today, following the discovery of “suspicious items” at a residential address on Hastings Road – just off Witton Lodge Road.
At around 9am on Thursday 20 March, locals living on and around Witton Lodge Road were asked by police to quickly vacate their homes, to make way for a bomb disposal unit which had been brought in to investigate findings of an early morning raid.
Concerns were raised by the police after a “pre-planned warrant” was executed in the early hours and officers found objects that may have been linked to explosive devices.
After cordoning off Witton Lodge Road, from Perry Common Community Hall up to College Road, police at the scene evacuated all residents – with some seeking refuge at Perry Common Hall, whilst others rested at the popular Jacy’s Café on ‘the ring’ or waited on the central grassy area.
Police searching residential address on Hastings Road, Perry Common / Pic by Ed King
After a few hours, at around 11:15am, the police tape was finally lifted and residents were allowed back to their homes – with some having had to leave so quickly they were still in dressing gowns and pyjamas.
Residents with mobility issue were also asked to move, with police at the scene helping those that needed it to reach a safe place beyond the cordoned off area.
One local resident told Erdington Local: “The police knocked on our door and at first just wanted us to stay indoors, but then they came back not long afterwards and said we had to leave.
“It was still morning, and I hadn’t got dressed yet – it’s just a good thing it’s a nice {sunny] day.”
Police officers remained at the Hastings Road address, after evacuated residents were allowed back to their homes.
And whilst the officers at the scene were able to confirm there was no threat to public safety, the uncertainly about what caused the road closure and mass evacuation remained a mystery for most of those affected – with some residents reporting the army had been drafted in and others stating an old WWII bomb had been discovered.
Police removing bags of items seized from residential address on Hastings Road, Perry Common / Pic by Ed King
Erdington Local saw officers from both the local police teams and specialist units oustide and searching an address at Hastings Road – on the corner of Witton Lodge Road and opposite Story Wood Primary School – and removing several bags of items from the residential address and loading them into the back of unmarked police vehicles.
The neighbour of the Hastings Road address that was the focus of police activity, told Erdington Local: “I don’t know what happened, they just knocked on my door this morning at around 9am and told me I had to leave.
“I wasn’t given any information… [all the residents] were just told we had to leave [our homes].”
She added: “I’m allowed back in now, but they’re still here [and searching the address]. And I still don’t know what’s been going on next door.”
Police outside residential address on Hastings Road, Perry Common / Pic by Ed King
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police confirmed: “A cordon was put in place this morning after suspicious items were discovered during a pre-planned warrant at an address on Hastings Road.
“This cordon has now been lifted after the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team confirmed there was no risk to the wider public.”
They added: “Nearby residents who were evacuated as a precaution have now returned to their homes, and we thank them for their patience.”
Police search a residential address on Hastings Road in Perry Common following mass evacuation
Residents on Witton Lodge Road were evacuated from their homes this morning amidst reports of the army and bomb investigation personnel attending the scene – with the area from Perry Common Hall to College Road cordoned off.
Police cars could be seen blocking the entrance to Witton Lodge Road by Perry Common Hall, with a bomb disposal unit seen further behind the police tape with several officers investigating.
Local residents at the scene told Erdington Local that police had knocked on their doors earlier this morning telling them to stay in their houses, before returning some minutes later to ask they fully evacuate the area.
Police blocking off entrance to Witton Lodge Road by Perry Common Hall / Pic by Ed King
Concerned locals then gathered around the grassy roundabout – colloquially known as The Ring – as well as local cafes and shops. Some residents were reportedly given refuge at Perry Common Hall as police and investigating officials conducted a search of a residential address.
“I had a knock on the door this morning,” told a resident from Witton Lodge Road, “with the police telling me to stay inside – then after a while they came back and told us to leave. I hope my cats are OK.”
Another family were also turned out of their house without knowing why, with one member still in their dressing gown as they stood behind the police cordon.
“I was heading to work at about 8:45am and I saw a few police,” confirmed one woman. “Then by the time I’d got back the whole road [from The Rin to College Road] had been asked to leave their houses.
Jacy’s Cafe on Witton Lodge Road / Pic by Ed King
Jacy’s Café on Witton Lodge Road housed several residents as they waited to be allowed back home, with many taking the time to grab a breakfast and check out if friends and neighbours were OK. Staff at the café, a popular local eatery, had not been told much information by local law enforcement but were keeping concerned residents safe and well fed.
Whilst Erdington Local were at the scene, at around 11:15am, police started taking down the blue and white tape and letting residents back into their homes – with officers at the scene stating there was no threat to public safety.
Police removing cordon and letting residents on Witton Lodge Road return home / Pic by Ed King
A spokesperson from West Midlands Polcie confirmed to Erdington Local: “We’re currently dealing with an incident at Witton Lodge Road. We will provide more details as soon as we can.”
Erdington Local has asked West Midlands Polcie for any further information they can release.
At the time of writing, all police cordons had been lifted on Witton Lodge Road and residents had returned to their homes
Mugshot of Desie Dalton-Byrne after being arrested following shooting on Chudleigh Road / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
An Erdington man has been jailed for over five years after pleading guilty to charges related to a shooting on Chudleigh Road in July 2024.
Desie Dalton-Byrne, who lives on Chudleigh Road, received his sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday 6 March – with West Midlands Police now releasing more details of the case.
Dalton-Byrne pleaded guilty to charges including possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.
Mugshot of Desie Dalton-Byrne after being arrested following shooting on Chudleigh Road / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
The most serious of the charges faced by Dalton-Byrne, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, could have seen him sentenced to a decade behind bars for that crime alone.
The other charges could also have carried jail time of between 5-10 years each – as directed by the sentencing guidelines from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Firearm found on Low Wood Road during investigation of shooting on Chudleigh Road / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
The 21-year-old was arrested in September 2024 after police scoured CCTV from across the area and talked to witness.
Chudleigh Road sits between Reservoir Road and Marsh Lane – two busy thoroughfares connecting Erdington Town Centre to Stockland Green – with the firearm eventually retrieved from a garden on neighbouring Low Wood Road.
From the evidence gathered by investigating officers, Dalton-Byrne can be seen on CCTV brandishing a weapon – with reports stating shots were fired at a group of people on Chudleigh Road at around 6:30pm.
Dressed in what appears to be a black tracksuit with white trims, he can be seen leaving the driver’s side of a parked vehicle, before waving the gun above his head, then aiming it down the street whilst standing in the middle of the road.
Entrance to Chudleigh Road from Reservoir Road / Image taken from Google Maps
No one was injured during the shooting, and as Dalton-Byrne pleaded guilty to the charges he was not asked to explain his actions in court. After sentencing, a spokesperson from West Midland Police stated: “the motive of the shooting has never been revealed.”
Detective Inspector Matt Marston, from WMP’s Major Crime Unit, added: “Firearms and drugs play a significant role in criminality on our streets. It persistently erodes communities, ruining lives and blighting communities.
“As a result of this discovery, we’ve taken a deadly weapon off the streets, and an individual with direct access to it is behind bars.”
He added: “We hope this sentence will offer a deterrent to other criminals who act in this way.”
CCTV footage of gunman brandishing firearm on Chudleigh Road
Erdington has had significant investment from West Midlands Police over recent months, with two policing initiatives being launched in the constituency – Operation Skybridge in October 2024, and Operation Fearless in January 2025.
Operation Fearless, which is focusing activities on and around Erdington High Street, has seen a team of 20 specially recruited officers tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the Town Centre.
Since its launch in January 2025, Operation Fearless has seen 75 arrests for crimes from shoplifting and possession of an offence weapon, to assault and possession with intent to supply. The initiative has also seized hundreds of thousands of pounds in illegal drugs and contraband.
Detective Superintendent Jim Munro on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
In an exclusive update to Erdington Local, Detective Superintendent and Operation Fearless Lead Jim Munro told: “Since Operation Fearless launched on 7 January, we’ve now made 75 arrests and carried out 120 stop and searches. Of those 75 arrests, 44 people have already been charged and are now going through the courts.”
“Many of you have noticed a real improvement on the High Street, with comments like “What a difference Operation Fearless has made! Not only is it looking cleaner, but people seem a lot happier – a definite buzz of positivity in the air!” This kind of feedback, and the positive interactions our officers have received while out on patrol, confirms we’re on the right track.”
Operation Fearless team on Erdington High Street / Pic supplied by West Midlands Police
He added: “We still have a lot of work to do and we’re not slowing down. In fact, we’re working even harder. We’re teaming up with great partners and we’re always looking for ways to do better.
“We’re listening to you and working hard to make things better for the residents of Erdington. We’re all in this together, and we’ll keep you updated on what we’re doing.”
