Royal Sutton Coldfield Updates

Storm Eunice:  I do hope everyone weathered the storm last week and any damage has been kept to a minimum.  If anyone is experiencing issues with their electricity supply, please call the Western Power Distribution helpline on 0800 6783 105.

Holland House Infant School and Nursery: Last week, I reported that BCC is now recruiting for a school crossing patrol for outside Holland House School.  I am, therefore, putting out a plea for anyone who feels they would be a suitable candidate to please contact Cllr. David Pears on David.pears@birmingham.gov.uk

The 1st British Sikh Awards 2022: These awards recognise a wide range of achievements from Sikh individuals across the UK.

From the award ceremony last Friday, I would like first to send huge congratulations to the “Sikhs of Sutton” Charity on being awarded the ‘Sewa Award’ for the excellent work they do in the Royal Town putting on classes for the young and elderly and for all the help they offered during lockdown.  Sewa being the principle of "selfless service and charity".

‘The Spirit of Britain’ was awarded to our very own Jay Singh-Sohal for his work in the Army Reserves.  Jay was the Conservative candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections and I send him my heartfelt congratulations on this prestigious award.  Jay seen here with the “Sikhs of Sutton” Charity.

Today, I have had a meeting with Tina Swani, CEO of the Sutton Coldfield Community Trust and talked about the wonderful work which the Trust is doing throughout our Royal Town.  At this update, I expressed my gratitude to the Trustees and staff for all that they do.

This afternoon, I have held one of my regular advice surgeries before meeting colleagues and activists to campaign in Erdington for the by-election following the sad death of Jack Dromey earlier this year.  Here are some of our team out today!

I then visited Dr. Rahul Dubb at the Sutton Coldfield Group Practice who has also been responsible for the rollout of the vaccine in our Royal Town. 

I toured the new contact centre with Dr. Dubb and the Ley Hill Surgery, part of the SCGP.  The new Urgent Care Team means that the urgent cases are dealt with that day. 

The Vaccination Centre had the highest turnover of all centres in the Birmingham and Solihull area and remains busy giving out 600 to 800 vaccines per week to clinically vulnerable children and anyone over the age of 12 who still needs a vaccine.

Tonight, is the Sutton Coldfield Conservative Association’s Annual General Meeting which for the first time in two years, we shall be holding as a meeting in person. 

Westminster news and Parliamentary business

Ukraine/Russia:  This week, the threat of Russia’s impending and subsequent invasion of Ukraine has, quite rightly, dominated the business of the House. 

Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine is an appalling and premeditated attack against a sovereign, democratic state – we will make Vladimir Putin feel the full cost of his actions with our unprecedented package of sanctions that will leave no corner of his regime unscathed.

• The Russian invasion of Ukraine is an unprovoked, illegal and premeditated attack against a sovereign democratic state. We have been clear all along that there would be severe cost for any further Russian military incursion into Ukraine.

• Yesterday, after speaking to President Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister addressed the nation, attended a meeting of G7 leaders and addressed the House and Cabinet – delivering strong assurance of our unwavering support for Ukraine. Today, the Prime Minister will meet with our NATO allies. 

• Alongside our allies, we are imposing the largest and most severe package of sanctions that Russia has ever seen, hitting more than a hundred companies and oligarchs at the heart of the Russian economy with assets freezes worth many hundreds of billions of pounds. Through this package we are dealing a severe blow to Russia’s economy, hobbling Russia’s military-industrial complex and personally damaging Putin’s inner circle of corrupt oligarchs. 

• The Transport Secretary has also now signed restrictions prohibiting all scheduled Russian airlines from entering UK airspace and we have announced changes to visa concessions for Ukrainians in the UK, to provide certainty to our Ukrainian friends and colleagues living, working and studying here.

• We are proud to be leading by example and will continue to support the Ukrainian Government and its people in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We cannot – and will not – rest until the Kremlin Regime pays the price for its actions and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are restored.

Prime Minister's address to the nation on the Russian invasion of Ukraine – Read here.

Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Russia's attack on Ukraine – Read here.

Press briefing by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council – Read here.

Useful Information Opportunities and Events

Birmingham City Council’s Covid Update

• Vaccination uptake for all ages 12+ is currently 67.6% for 1st dose, 61.9% for 2nd dose in Birmingham residents, and 41.2% for booster dose.
• Of the 69 wards, 26 have achieved the national target of 75%+ vaccine uptake for 1st dose and 11 have achieved this for 2nd dose. Around 350,396 individuals have not received any vaccine, representing 32.4% of the eligible population. The majority of the unvaccinated (85%) are aged under 50 years.
• In the 7 days up to 17th February, 3,100 cases were reported in Birmingham (271.8 cases per 100,000 population), a decrease of 32.9% compared to 4,621 cases 405.2 per 100,000 population) in the previous week.
• Of the 3,100 confirmed cases, 387 (12.5%) were re-infections.
• Birmingham’s case rate is ranked 131st in England (out of 149 upper tier local authorities), with West Sussex the highest (786.4 per 100,000 population) and Bolton the lowest (231.7 per 100,000 population).
• Comparing the week ending 17th February with the previous 7 days, cases decreased in all age groups. The largest decrease was 51% in the 0-19 age group, followed by decreases of 32% in 20-39, 24% in 40-59, 21% in 80+, and 17% in 60-79 age group. The 20-39 age group accounted for the largest proportion of all cases (40%).

Mobile Household Recycling Centre:

Please see below the visits scheduled week commencing 28th February 2022 of the Council’s Mobile Household Recycling Centre. Visit times are 7am to 12 Noon.

Wed 02/03/2022               Harvest Fields Way, B75 5PL

Thu 03/03/2022                St Andrews Road, B75 6UG

Mon 14/03/2022               Boddington Road, B75 7ES

Tue 15/03/2022                Sir Alfreds Way B76 1ES

Wed 16/03/2022               Knighton Drive B74 4QP

Fri 18/03/2022                  Fourlands Avenue B72 1YY

International Women’s Day:  If you are a woman aged 18-30 living in our Royal Town and unsure what to do next? Check out @YWTrust Work It Out Service for free coaching and job application feedback to help you make that next step #TrustInWomen https://t.co/CLDJyJh1Ob

Neighbourhood Development and Support Unit: I have received the latest update from the NDSU in relation to External Funding as of 8th February.  Please see for any opportunities that may be available to you and your organisation.

https://sway.office.com/5vR8Z2nEMm7iWwO7

TfL News:  I have received the following information as it could affect us all in Sutton Coldfield.

Easter weekend, 15 – 18 April

Our Easter railway upgrades include:

• Track and signal upgrades between London Euston and Milton Keynes
• Bridge work in the Camden and Regents Park area near Euston station
• Railway drainage, track and signal improvements between Crewe and Warrington
• Track upgrades between Carlisle and Scotland.

Travel either side of the Easter bank holiday weekend

We’re asking passengers to travel either side of the bank holiday weekend to avoid longer, busier journeys and bus replacements and changes on the following routes:

• between London Euston and Milton Keynes
• on the Coventry corridor from Leamington to Coventry and Rugeley to Birmingham New Street
• between Carlisle and Glasgow and Edinburgh
• changes to services to and through Crewe station.

Our communications will point passengers to plan their journeys in advance at www.networkrail.co.uk/wcml. Details of services can be found at National Rail Enquiries or by calling 03457 48 49 50. Passengers who require assistance are advised to pre-arrange this with their local train company.

Early May bank holiday weekend, 30 April – 2 May

Over the early May bank holiday weekend, work will take place to:

• Upgrade track and railway drainage between London Euston and Watford
• Reconstruct a bridge at Euston/Camden ​
• Renew electrical switches and crossings at Watford Junction
• Replace a bridge in Saltley
• Modernise signals through Macclesfield
• Track improvement work between Warrington and Preston (Sunday 1 May).

Travel either side of the early May bank holiday weekend

Again, passengers are asked to plan ahead and travel either side of the bank holiday weekend to avoid longer, busier journeys and bus replacements on some routes including between London Euston and Milton Keynes.

Travel to FA Cup matches may be affected, and we advise passengers to please check with their local train company or the Football Association for more information.

As your MP I am here to help. If you feel I can assist with any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in contact by emailing me on andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk

My weekly updates are available via:-

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