Tag: Local Conservatives

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(L-R) Cllr Robert Alden adn Cllr Gareth Moore with speed camera as part of community speed watch on Kingsbury Road / Photograph supplied by Cllr Robert Alden and Cllr Gareth Moore

Words by Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been working with residents and the Police to tackle speeding, dangerous driving and excessive noise from motor vehicles.

As part of this campaign, it has seen residents and ourselves joining the Police on a recent community speed watch on Kingsbury Road.

We continue to push the Council to approve our bid for road safety improvements on Spring Lane, which we have submitted. If approved this would see speed cushions introduced and raising the crossing to help improve safety.

We are delighted to announce that this week the Council has now agreed to introduce average speed cameras onto the Fort Parkway to tackle speeding cars there.

Racing cars in the evening is one of the causes of vehicle noise audible in the local area all too often. These cameras will help both improve the safety of the road and reduce the vehicle noise.

Sadly, however, the Council continue to refuse the request for average speed cameras on the Chester Road that we have been campaigning for.

This is despite a number of tragic incidents on the road in the last few years and of course both a park and school being alongside the road. Again, we continue to push the Council to change their mind and also introduce average speed cameras along this road.

As always if we can help with anything locally please just let us know on [email protected] or [email protected]

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

 

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

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

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finally enjoy the beautiful sunshine but stay safe.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

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

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(l-r) Cllr Moore and Cllr Alden on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

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

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been continuing our campaign for West Midlands Police to reopen a public front desk at Erdington Police Station. Having recently secured the additional Police team for the ward, we are clear that this is best complimented by the reopening of the front desk for at least part of the week.

While the Police pod placed on the High Street is nice to support community groups, it is clearly not a replacement for a Police Front Desk. Therefore, we have again written to the West Midlands Police Chief Constable, calling on him to reopen the front desk.

Other things we’ve been doing for residents recently include campaigning against a planning application to convert four much needed bungalows behind 41 Deakin Road into care homes, tackling dumped rubbish and missed bin collections, securing a further visit from the Mobile Waste Trucks for residents to be able to get rid of rubbish during the strike, and supported community events like the recent volunteers day as well as much more.

We also spoke at a recent licensing review meeting against Drinks 2 Go, where we were calling on the Council to close the premises. Sadly, this was rejected by the Council, who added a further condition on the premise.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who took part in the first Love Your Local Community High Street Litter Pick. It is hugely appreciated.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

Posted on

NEWS: Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden celebrates “huge honour” of being re-elected as Leader of Birmingham Conservative Group

Cllr Robert Alden standing by Rookery House in Rookery Park, Erdington / Photograph supplied by Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Ed King

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.

For more on Cllr Robert Alden, including a list of surgery times and locations, visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/councillors/7/robert_alden

To hear more about the work being done in the Erdington Ward by Cllr Robert Alden and Cllr Gareth Moore visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

Posted on

OPINION: A message from Kingstanding Councillor Clifton Welch

(l-r) Conservatives Leader Kemi Badenoch MP and Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch / Photograph supplied by Cllr Clifton Welch

Words by Cllr Clifton Welch

This month I’d like to talk about one of the biggest issues I get asked about – potholes across Kingstanding.

After the cold winter that we had, I spent a little time inspecting local roads for potholes and reporting them for repair.

Sadly, Birmingham Labour have been trying to axe £20 million a year from the road repair budget at a time that the roads across Kingstanding – and Birmingham in general – have needed investment more than ever.

Across Kingstanding we are starting to see the damage in our local roads of a decade of bankrupt Birmingham Labour’s mismanagement of the Council and its finances. Many of these potholes – such as on Rivington Creescent, Epwell Road, and Warren Farm Road – are dangerous and require urgent attention.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to update you on the Kingstanding and Perry Common Libraries.

The good news is the campaign that local Conservatives launched to save these libraries was a success and Birmingham Labour backed down on their closure plan, and they are both going to remain open. However, the opening times will be reduced to just three days a week with no commitment to open on a Saturday.

There is also a risk that Birmingham Labour will use any reduced visitor numbers as an excuse to come back next year to close either or both libraries.

So, I can pledge Local Conservatives will continue to fight to protect both Libraries and in the longer-term fight for the return of full-time services.

To contact Kingstanding Cllr Clifton Welch email [email protected]

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

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Cllr Alden and police on Erdington High Street / Photograph supplied by Cllr Alden

Cllr Gareth Moore and I are delighted to confirm that Erdington High Street will now have its own dedicated Police team in addition to the existing Neighbourhood team.

This is something we have been campaigning for over the last few years and is a very welcome change which will mean more police on both the High Street and across the rest of Erdington.

It is also part of what we have been arguing is needed following success of operation fearless to maintain the progress made. Another part we continue campaigning for is for the front desk at Erdington Police Station to reopen.

(l-r) Ray Woods from ECBC, Selina Gooden from EWG, and Cllr Alden at Erdington Court Bowls Club / Photograph suppplied by EWG

Over the last month we have joined residents at a number of wonderful community events including the Good Friday Walk of Witness, Easter Egg hunt by Short Heath Fields Trust, 100th Birthday Walk for the Erdington Baths building by Erdington Walking Group (EWG), where regeneration work to convert it into an Enterprise Hub has started, and VE Day 80th remembrance service.

We’ve also been helping residents with various issues including, dumped rubbish on Johnson Road, litter bins emptied and getting the pedestrian crossing lights, on Station Road, repaired.

I am currently collecting a petition opposing a planning application to convert the old plumbing shop on Mason Road into a takeaway and against an application to convert four much needed bungalows into supported accommodation on Deakin Road.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Cllr Robert Alden outside a mobile waste collection unit on Grange Road, Erdiington / Pic supplied by Cllr Alden

As we enter April, Erdington and Birmingham have been facing a bin strike for over three months due to the dispute between two parts of the Labour movement.

Across the City there have been hugely concerning scenes of dumped rubbish sometimes piled up to shoulder height, blocking pavements and carriageways, while the papers have reported that rats are growing as large as cats and spreading exponentially.

That’s why, while the Labour Council failed to lead, as the opposition the Local Conservatives published our plan to end the strike and clean up the city.

We also called on the Council to declare a public health emergency, to ask neighbouring councils for help clearing up the 21,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish on the streets and we have offered as the opposition to join the gold command major incident board of the Council, putting residents first to help Labour end the crisis they created in Birmingham.

A massive thank you to local residents and everyone volunteering with Erdington Litter Busters and local friends groups helping to keep our area clean.

While press coverage around the world has highlighted rubbish issues in communities and at Mobile Collection sites across the city, Erdington’s recent visit passed with praise from the media for how calm and well-mannered it was and that there were no piles of dumped waste.

Once again, together as a community, we’ve shown why Erdington is such an amazing place to live.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Words by Erdington Ward Cllr Robert Alden – Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

(l-r) Cllr Gareth Moore and Cllr Robert Alden campaiging against library closures / Pic supplied by Birmingham Conservatives

Thank you to everyone who signed our petition opposing the proposed new HMO on Mason Road, we’re delighted to confirm, following our campaign, the application has been refused by the Council.

I’ve also been pushing for the Council to take enforcement action against the new chicken shop that has opened without planning permission on Mason Road.

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been continuing our push for the Council to clean up our streets. This month we took our Conservative plan for a cleaner city, and wider amendment, to the budget meeting.

The amendment, signed off as deliverable by Council Finance officers and Commissioners, would’ve kept refuse collections weekly, scrapped Labours ‘Rat Tax’, and increased the number of street cleaners – as well as separately keeping every library including Erdington open full time. Sadly, this was rejected by the Labour Councillors.

This month the Labour Council have announced that due to their bin strike, which is now five days a week, they are not starting garden waste collections and continue to not collect recycling. Their current advice on refuse bins is to leave it out if it is not collected on your normal collection day.

We have been calling for the Council to refund residents who have paid for garden waste collections. The Council has now agreed, and a refund can be requested on their website.

We’re posting all the latest updates we have on the strike on our Facebook page, so follow us there to stay up to date.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews

_________________________________________________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors – as identified against each article – and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent, or the view or positions of Erdington Local.

If you wish to contact Erdington Local about any comments or contributions made, please email: [email protected]

Posted on

OPINION: Erdington Cllr Robert Alden, Leader of Birmingham Conservatives

Thank you to everyone who signed our petition opposing the proposed new HMO on Mason Road, we’re delighted to confirm, following our campaign, the application has been refused by the Council.

I’ve also been pushing for the Council to take enforcement action against the new chicken shop that has opened without planning permission on Mason Road.

Cllr Gareth Moore and I have been continuing our push for the Council to clean up our streets. This month we took our Conservative plan for a cleaner city, and wider amendment, to the budget meeting.

The amendment, signed off as deliverable by Council Finance officers and Commissioners, would’ve kept refuse collections weekly, scrapped Labours ‘Rat Tax’, and increased the number of street cleaners – as well as separately keeping every library including Erdington open full time. Sadly, this was rejected by the Labour Councillors.

This month the Labour Council have announced that due to their bin strike, which is now five days a week, they are not starting garden waste collections and continue to not collect recycling. Their current advice on refuse bins is to leave it out if it is not collected on your normal collection day.

We have been calling for the Council to refund residents who have paid for garden waste collections. The Council has now agreed, and a refund can be requested on their website.

We’re posting all the latest updates we have on the strike on our Facebook page, so follow us there to stay up to date.

For more from Erdington’s Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Jones visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonNews