Week 217 – Out and about in the Royal Town
Parliament has been dissolved, campaign lines are being drawn and it’s election time again! This week I am writing this column not as your Member of Parliament, but as your Conservative candidate for Royal Sutton Coldfield, in the up-coming General Election on July 4.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you about my key objectives if I am re-elected, updating you on the campaign trail – but also sharing with you lots of interesting and useful stories from across our Sutton Coldfield community.
Lighting a beacon for Sutton’s D-Day commemorations
Last night, I was honoured to attend a very moving service as part of the 80th commemorations of D-Day at Holy Trinity Church.
It was disappointing to see that I was the only candidate to attend this important event, but large numbers of residents, including many ex-service personnel, turned out to honour those who took part in the Normandy landings.
Afterwards, Roy Hubbard of Sutton Coldfield Royal British Legion lit a beacon that formed part of a chain linking communities across the nation.
Here is a video of a chat I had with Roy:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/7531711510269715
The Town Hall – £1million renewal for historic landmark
Throughout the General Election campaign, I am outlining my four big objectives for Sutton Coldfield, which I want to have achieved by 2028, when we celebrate the 500th anniversary of our Royal charter.
These cover the Town Centre, The Cottage Hospital, the Town Hall and Sutton Park.
This week, I want to focus on the Town Hall, which is on the cusp of a great deal of exciting changes.
Our much-loved Town Hall has been at the heart of our community for generations. This is the building where thousands gathered to hear that World War Two was over. More recently, this is where the main vaccination hub for the pandemic was based. It is an intrinsic part of our community.
Now, after many years of campaigning, the future of this cherished landmark has been secured, thanks to an investment of up to £1million. Its renewal will begin with a new roof and restored stonework, but then will include an employment and training hub for apprentices.
A new landscaped pedestrian walkway will make it easier for visitors from the Railway Station and Town Centre to get to the Town Hall and the cultural historic centre around the High Street.
These exciting projects will herald the start of Sutton Coldfield’s regrowth – right in its thriving cultural heart.
I am determined to continue to support the brilliant The Royal Sutton Coldfield Townhall Community Trust (RSCTHCT), which runs the venue after taking it over from Birmingham City Council, as they work to make these exciting changes become a reality.
Park Rangers service cut by bankrupt Birmingham council
More bad news for our Parks this week, as it emerged the city's Park Ranger service also faces cuts.
We all know that the Labour-run city council declared itself effectively bankrupt before signing off on £300m in cuts and a 21% rise in council tax over two years.
I have written many times about how Labour Birmingham’s neglect of Sutton Park is causing this wonderful natural resource to deteriorate. This latest news suggests that neglect is set to escalate even further. It is very, very worrying.
Under the Park Ranger cuts, vacant posts have been removed, the out-of-hours patrol service has been cut, and ranger hubs reduced.
Instead, the council says it aims to increase participation, volunteering and "appreciation of our green spaces" across 46 nominated park sites in the most deprived areas of the city.
Clearly this will target resources away from Sutton Coldfield.
I remain committed to my own plans to move the Park into a three-way trust, which would finally give Sutton Coldfield people some say in how their Park is run. If re-elected, I will fight tooth and nail for our Park.
Royal Sutton Business fair
This Wednesday (June 13) sees the return of the Royal Sutton Business fare, the biggest event of its kind on the town, which is organised by the Royal Sutton Chamber of Commerce.
Held at the Town Hall, the Royal Business Fair is aimed at bringing together professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners from Royal Sutton Coldfield and across Greater Birmingham to connect, support and grow.
It serves as a platform for businesses of all sizes and industries to showcase their products, services, and expertise to a diverse audience.
The event, from 8.30am-3pm includes hosting speed networking for up to 60 delegates and a seminars on Unlocking Access to Local Funding.
Three local businesses – Ark Media, Cudos Creative and Lexicomm – will also host a marketing seminar called Create, Capture, Copywrite.
Last year I was privileged to open this brilliant event and I would urge all businesses to get involved.
To sign up, visit https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/event-calendar/royal-business-fair-2024.html
Can you play a part in cinema’s new era?
I was so pleased to be able to play a part in saving our much-loved cinema, from supporting the brilliant local campaign group FoCiS (Friends of Cinema in Sutton Coldfield) to working with the administrators.
Now the cinema’s ambitious new owners, PDJ Management, are recruiting for staff members who can play their own part in the building’s next chapter.
PDJ, which is run by is the UK’s longest-established cinema family, has strong connections to Sutton Coldfield and the firm deserves huge credit for the way it is lovingly resurrecting this architectural gem. It looks like our town will soon have one of the best boutique cinemas in the UK.
Now they want to find local people to work at the newly renamed Royal Cinema, when it opens in late July.
If you are interested, send your CV and covering letter to email: [email protected] before the closing date of 28th June.
Talented table cricketers from Fairfax Academy are heading for Lords
A dedicated team of table cricketers are hoping to hit the opposition for six when they visit the home of cricket for the finals of a national schools competition.
Established by the Lord’s Taverners, the Table Cricket competition brings together schools from across the UK to compete in regional heats, before progressing to the national finals – at Lords Cricket Ground on the 27th June.
And representing the West Midlands this year are a team of brilliant youngsters from Fairfax Academy, who are bowled over to be attending the final for the third year in a row.
Hoping for a good innings this year are thirteen-year-olds Anna Williams and Kassey Winters, Jorah Malhi (15), Cao Tran (16) and Sam Stinson (17). Also returning to play are two former team members who have just left the school’s sixth form, Joal Phillips and Humzah Mudhir, both aged 18.
I have visited Fairfax many times over the years and have always been hugely impressed by the spirit of friendly competition the school engenders through its brilliant house system, in competitions from arts to sport.
Now the school is competing at the highest level against others from across the UK – and I wish them the best of luck!
For the full story, click here: https://suttonschoollife.co.uk/2024/06/03/fairfax-table-cricket-team-are-batting-for-glory-at-lords/
Sutton Coldfield Library Consultation
This week I spoke to a representative from the Sutton Coldfield Folio group about their efforts to try and keep our libraries open, as many are under threat of closure due to the disastrous financial mismanagement by the Labour Birmingham City Council.
The Folio Group (Friends of Libraries in Our Sutton Coldfield) are organising a ‘Read In’ at each of our local libraries on Saturday 29th June. See below poster for details.
There will be a walk from Mere Green Library setting off at 10am to the Sutton Coldfield Library before that, which am hoping to attend and show my support!
Libraries are a vital resource for communities, and I will work with our Conservative team to fight Labour’s closure plans. It is no surprise that the Labour candidate in the General Election – who is also a cabinet member of bankrupt Birmingham council – voted through the planned cuts that will shut libraries, reduce bin collections, dim street lights and impact on Park services.
By-election victory
A big well done to Conservative Cllr Clifton Welch, who won the by-election triggered in Kingstanding. I am sure Clifton will do an excellent job serving the people of Kingstanding, working alongside the rest of the Birmingham Conservative Group on the City Council.
Above: incoming Cllr Clifton Welch with Birmingham Conservative Group leader, Cllr Bobby Alden
Sutton-based schools Trust launches pioneering new programme
Business leaders from across the area attended the launch of an ambitious new scheme at the highly-respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), which aims to connect businesses while improving educational opportunities for thousands of students.
Launched at Arthur Terry School - the Partnership’s Sutton Coldfield HQ - on Wednesday, June 5, the innovative ATLP Partner Programme will bring together students, parents, businesses, organisations and alumni, with the aim of enhancing education, empowering learners and providing profitable networking opportunities.
Hosted by ATLP’s Chief Finance and Operations Officer Simon Smith, the launch provided the programme’s first networking event, after local businesses, charities and entrepreneurs heard about the huge opportunities that lay ahead.
Simon outlined the scale of the ATLP family, saying: “We are a multi-academy trust of 23 schools, made up of 17 primary schools, six secondary schools and alternative provision sites.
“We have 11,000 children, and when you equate that into wider family and communities that’s close to 250,000 parents, carers, and wider family that we have an impact on, in the communities that we serve.
“We also have around 1600 staff, at schools ranging from North Birmingham up to Lichfield and over to Tamworth in Staffordshire and then Coventry and Warwickshire too.”
ATLP is a true Sutton Coldfield success story, which enriches the lives of children right across the region. I’ve no doubt that this latest venture will prove to be just as successful.
For details, visit: https://atlp.org.uk/about/atlp-partner-programme/
Aldi, Brassington Avenue – work begins at last on derelict site
On Monday, planning approval was granted for Aldi on Brassington Avenue and work has finally begun! this decades-long derelict sight is finally being developed as part of our Town centre development work and the RSCTC masterplan.
Since the dissolution of parliament yesterday, I am no longer an MP. However, I am still the Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister for Development and Africa until the General Election on Thursday 4th July.
Further information
Upcoming Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID events
JUNE
1. Saturday15th June 10am-4pm – DINO DAY
2. Saturday22nd June 10am-4pm – EURO FOOTBALL FUN
3. Sunday30th June 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
JULY
1. Saturday13th July 10am-4pm – EURO FOOTBALL FUN
2. Sunday28th July 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
3. FRIDAY19TH- Sunday 28TH JULY – JAZZ FESTIVAL:
19th The Duke Inn 20:00 Willy & The Poorboys
20th Simpson’s Gin Bar 19:00 Sheila Waterfield Trio
21st PattyFreaks 13:00 Calypso Moon
22nd Coffee#1 13:00 Roy Forbes
22nd Heavenly Desserts 16:00 Playing Django
22nd TheThree Tuns 19:30 The Shakedown Brothers
23rd TokinTea 13:00 Tenement Jazz Band
23rd Brewhouse & Kitchen 20:00 Big Al Nicholls Band
24th The Gate 19:30 Honey boy Hickling Band
25th Eleon 19:00 Swing Café
26th Caffe Botanico 13:00 The Washboard Resonators
26th Brewhouse & Kitchen 15:00 Hot Club of Halifax
28th PattyFreaks 13:00 The Upsiders
28th The Station 19:00 Warren James Skiffle Group
AUGUST
1. Saturday 10th August 10am-3pm – KID’S CARFEST
2. Sunday 25th August 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
3. Tuesday 27th August 11am-4pm – KID’S MUSIC WORKSHOP
SEPTEMBER
1. Saturday 14th September 10am-8pm – FOOD FESTIVAL
2. Sunday 15th September 10am-5pm – FOOD FESTIVAL
3. Sunday 29th September 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
OCTOBER
1. Sunday 27th October 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
2. Halloween event TBC
NOVEMBER
3. Sunday17th November – VEGAN MARKET
4. Sunday24th November 10am-3pm – FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET
5. Christmasevents TBC
Free Heart Test, by CRY UK
Civic Service
the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield's Civic Service to be held at Holy Trinity (CE) Church, Church Hill, Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1TF at 2.00pm on Sunday 9th June 2024.
The annual service welcomes our civic guests and those who represent the many public and voluntary organisations within our town. The service provides a visible reminder of the important roles in our society which ensure our safety, well-being and public services. This year, we have moved the service to the afternoon to enable a greater number of our community to attend.
Get involved with UK Parliament Week this November
Over 2,000 organisations all over the country have already signed up for this year’s UK Parliament Week (18-24 November)!
Join in to explore UK Parliament. Find out what happens at Parliament and learn how your group can get involved. Sign up today to get your free kit!
Community games
I am looking forward to the Royal Town’s Community Games this summer, a jewel in our crown since 2012 and something very special that we all really enjoy. It is a great afternoon promoting health and happiness and something that I participate in every year with our annual tug-of-war challenge, a highlight in the Royal Town’s calendar!
Above: the tug-of-war at the community games between the town’s elected politicians and the youth of Sutton Coldfield. It will be held on Saturday this year.
Breast Friends, Make Up Workshops
Advocacy Matters, Recruitment Event
Highbury Theatre
Civic Society Summer programme
Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System’s Fairer Futures Fund
This ringfenced £22.2m Fund first launched in 2022, with various funding streams awarded up until 2027 for projects which will improve the health and wellbeing of citizens across Birmingham and Solihull; reduce health inequalities and support communities to stay well.
Applications are now open for public and VCFSE sector organisations in Birmingham to bid for Citywide Small Grants being made available via the Fairer Futures Fund.
A total of £2.46million is available through the new Citywide Small Grants, with organisations in Birmingham able to bid for up to £15,000 per year, or up to a maximum of £45,000 for individual projects over a three-year delivery period.
The deadline for applications for the Citywide Small Grants scheme is 5pm on 12 July 2024. For more information on how to apply, visit the Heart of England Community Foundation website (https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/ffcw-small-grants/)
Sutton Arts Theatre- what’s on
MMR immunisation and measles awareness
Measles is circulating in the West Midlands, and the MMR vaccination provides the best protection against measles.
Please be aware of measles symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/
If you think you or your child may have measles, contact your GP practice but do not visit unless instructed, as measles can spread to others easily, and 1 in 15 children can develop serious complications, such as meningitis and blindness.
For protection against measles, contact your GP practice to get your MMR immunisations.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/46QPPn1
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