Tag: Kingstanding

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

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

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

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

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

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

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

We cannot commit to conflict without an exit plan.

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

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

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

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

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

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OPINION: John Lambert, Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch

(L-R) John Lambert and Reform UK local campaigers at Kingstanding Circle / Photograph supplied by Reform UK

Words by John Lambert

Residents aren’t imagining this? They’re living it. Every single day.

Bins overflowing like a Victorian slum, fly-tipping, rats, noise at all hours, parking that’s basically impossible and once decent family streets turning into transient chaos.

People can see it with their own eyes. They can smell it.

What makes this whole thing reek is the rank hypocrisy from some of the very councillors who are supposed to be sorting it out.

They’ll moan in WhatsApp groups, post outraged tweets, nod sagely in meetings about “the HMO problem” and how something must be done, all while quietly owning multiple HMO properties themselves and cashing the cheques. Sorry, but you cannot have it both ways.

If they are benefiting from a system that is damaging their own constituents’ quality of life, they should spare residents the performative hand-wringing.

That is not leadership. It is posturing.

No wonder trust in local politicians is in the gutter. People are sick to death of this two-faced nonsense. One message for the cameras, another reality behind closed doors. Residents want straight talking. They want consistency.

Above all, they want councillors who aren’t feathering their own nests while pretending to care about the mess.

If we really want to sort out the HMO mess, the overcrowding, the anti-social behaviour, the way it’s dragging down whole neighbourhoods, then councillors need to step up and enforce strict licensing, inspect every property thoroughly and close down any that don’t meet basic standards.

Erdington and every other town blighted by this deserves proper representation, not managed outrage and political hypocrisy.

Follow Reform UK Erdington Branch on X/Twitter at www.x.com/ReformErdington

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(L-R) Local campaigner Alex Richards and Cllr Clifton Welch in the Council House / Photograph supplied by Cllr Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Dear residents,

Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen some extraordinary scenes in the Birmingham Council Chamber when Labour – who have run Birmingham for the past 14 years and with an overall majority – were unable to pass their budget for 2026/27.

It required a second emergency meeting some six days later for Birmingham Labour to be able to pass their own budget.

In the original Council meeting, I was lucky enough to be called on to speak. Below are some extracts from my speech: “Birmingham Labour talk about fresh ambition’s, is that a joke? You are responsible for this mess.

“The proposed Council Tax increase of 5% means residents will be paying 82% more than when Labour took office and for what? Bin strike into its second year; Zero green waste collection; Weekly waste collections to be scrapped; Fly Tipping out of control; Pot holes like third world; Oracle IT system not working; Equal Pay crisis…

“Is this what Birmingham Labour calls fresh ambition?”

“But the agony for Birmingham residents is nearly over. Labour have broken Birmingham, but the Conservative alternative budget can start the process of fixing it.

“The Conservative alternative budget would provide: Cleaner streets, better local services, fixing the potholes, a community chest fund for local councillors to decide what to spend funds on.

“Our alternative budget is fully costed and funded. There is hope for residents once we get rid of this Labour Council.”

Clifton Welch.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

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

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OPINION: John Lambert, Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch

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

Words by John Lambert

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

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

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Dear residents,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clifton Welch.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

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

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

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OPINION: John Lambert, Chair of Reform UK Erdington Branch

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

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

Words by John Lambert

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

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

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

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

We are Reform UK’s Erdington Branch.

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

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

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

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OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

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

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

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

Dear residents,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clifton.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

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OPINION: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington

Paulette Hamilton MP at coffee morning in Stockland Green / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Words by Paulette Hamilton MP

As we approach Christmas, I want to wish everyone in Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, and South Oscott a peaceful festive season and a hopeful New Year. This is a time for community and reflecting on our shared progress.

My coffee morning in Stockland Green confirmed what I hear time and again, that residents are fed up with the out-of-control spread of HMOs. Many spoke about the impact on stability, safety, and the shortage of family homes. That’s why I’ve been campaigning with local voices like Derek Douglas and Shabrana Hussain to stop a proposed 5-bedroom HMO in Stockland Green.

The recent Autumn Budget delivers real change for families. Lifting the two-child benefit cap will be life-changing, helping 6,430 children in Birmingham Erdington alone. This, plus £20 million for Kingstanding, upgrades to Stockland Green Health Centre, and support with energy bills, shows a Labour government investing in our community.

Paulette Hamilton MP presenting winning Christams card to Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP – Speaker of the House of Commons / Photograph supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

I’m also pleased that Operation Skybridge is now active across Stockland Green and Erdington. This increased police presence, which I’ve long pushed for, is crucial to tackling crime and keeping our streets safe.

These achievements don’t happen by chance – they result from a strong local MP working with a Labour government committed to communities like ours.

Finally, congratulations to Thomas from Abbey Catholic Primary for winning my 2025 Christmas Card Competition. I proudly presented his design to the Speaker of the House. Enjoy the match with your complimentary Aston Villa tickets!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026.

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