This week I have been in Cameroon banging the drum for British business and investment and building on the strong friendship and long historical relationship between our two countries - all that prior to returning to the Royal Town last night (see below!)
Wherever I am, the Royal Town is never far from my mind and so it was amusing to be speaking a few weeks ago to the British Embassy staff in Kinshasa in central Africa and answer a question from a brilliant young diplomat who finished off a technical foreign affairs question with the words:
“and I am from the Royal Town so I want to know why everything is so slow when it comes to the development of the Town Centre!”
I tried to deliver a convincing answer - and advised she could keep in touch with life back home through subscribing to this message each week!
I would like to wish all of my constituents and readers a Happy Easter!
Cinema update
I have been chasing progress on our cinema this week.
I know that the reopening of our Royal Town Cinema is a major concern for many of my constituents, and I am working hard with key stakeholders to see it open its doors as soon as possible once it has been renovated.
As previously mentioned, I am waiting to do a site visit. I am advised this may be about a month away, but rest assured I am applying the necessary pressure together with local councillor David Pears in every way we can.
I will report back soon.
Town Centre WMCA Update
Following the announcement of funding for our Town centre which Andy Street and I have previously reported, the Town entre development proceeds with various planning permissions sought and granted.
Andy secured a good settlement in the budget, and I asked him to set out the details so I could pass it on in this newsletter:
1. An independent study to examine the business case for a West Midland velodrome has been commissioned, that will be open and accessible to everyone who lives in the region: https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/study-to-consider-business-case-for-new-west-midlands-velodrome-and-cycle-park/
2. the WMCA is now going to be able to treble the number of homes it is retrofitting to improve energy efficiency thanks to £35 of Government funding, match funded by registered social housing providers across the region, so a total of £70m: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/R2eRCZY7Jt5zVoP2SyW9Ug?domain=eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
3. A new business support offering, funded by UKSPF, has been developed: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/Ul8YC2xK5Cp7JEKOfMdhdn?domain=eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
4. The West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, totalling £35 million, has been launched, investing in high-growth potential SMEs https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/4BUiC4QM7hBrQ7Y3CNMsS3?domain=eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
5. The £70 million underspend from the Commonwealth Games has now been allocated to specific areas to help further provide a legacy from the Games https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/fDdKC6XO5CrXAGV8sj1Q3d?domain=eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
Proposed changes to BBC local radio and digital services
After a number of my constituents expressed their concerns to me over the ‘Digital First’ plans for BBC Radio WM, I wrote to the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie urging him to reconsider plans for sharing a large amount of BBC WM’s evening and weekend output with Coventry and Warwickshire.
I am pleased to say that BBC have now realised this was not the best way to share across the region. The map has now been redrawn and BBC WM will retain its own live breakfast and daytime shows, and dedicated news bulletins throughout the day.
Iftar at the Sutton Coldfield Masjid
Yesterday evening I joined my Muslim friends and constituents at the Sutton Coldfield Islamic society for Iftar, the meal had at the end of a day of fasting. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world take part in 30 days of fasting from dawn until sunset and are now about halfway through their month. I would like to wish all of my Muslim constituents a happy and peaceful Ramadan.
World Parkinson’s day
Next Tuesday (11th April) is World Parkinson’s day. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest growing neurological condition, and around 145,000 in UK live with it.
This #WorldParkinsonsDay, as the patron of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Branch for Parkinson’s UK, I'm supporting the 'bright and brilliant' Parkinson's community in my constituency. For support with Parkinson's, please go to parkinsons.org.uk
Local Investment in Natural Capital programme
As you may recall, Andy Street and I had been pressing hard for the funding that was received through the trailblazer devolution deal. Efforts for increased devolved funding continues apace, as I have been informed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is awarding the West Midlands £1 million in funding through the Local Investment in Natural Capital (LINC) programme.
This programme is an investment mechanism in nature, whereby private finance is used to support nature’s recovery by 2027 in yearly stages. In addition to funding, the West Midlands will also be provided with access to specialist expertise and support from Defra.
This is brilliant news and a great way for us to forge the way and demonstrate to other local areas how partners can work together to secure private investment that delivers for people, business, nature, and climate.
Further information
Mere Green Litter Picking session
Active Citizens will be doing their next litter pick at Mere Green on Saturday 15 April, meeting at Mere Green Community Centre at 10am.
All equipment will be supplied, and all are welcome to join!
Peter Rabbit coming to Sutton Coldfield this Easter!
If you are looking for something to do with the kids this weekend - Peter Rabbit is coming to Sutton Coldfield! Please see below for more information.
Road closure
Sara Close will be closed between 1pm and 7pm on Saturday 6 May.
Avanti West Coast Easter 2023 Engineering Works
Between Friday 7 and Monday 10 April there will be changes to Avanti West Coast services, as Network Rail carry out an £88m programme of essential engineering work across the rail network. No trains will run to and from Euston station over Easter weekend. Other parts of the West Coast Main Line are also affected by work, with no direct trains to many stations.
West Midlands Railway: Passengers urged to plan ahead of engineering works taking place at Easter
Passengers travelling with West Midlands Railway (WMR) are being urged to plan ahead of engineering works impacting services across the network over the Easter weekend (April 7-10).
The works, being carried out by Network Rail, will mean:
• Due to bridge replacement work at Sutton Coldfield, a rail replacement service will run between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street.
• Due to engineering work on the West Coast Main Line, no trains will run between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston. A rail replacement service will be in place from Milton Keynes linking passengers to other routes in London.
• A rail replacement service will run between Stafford and Crewe.
Football fans attending the Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest match on Easter Saturday are being advised to check their journeys due to the reduced service because of the engineering works.
More information on Easter engineering works can be viewed here: https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/Easter2023
May I wish all of my constituents a peaceful and happy easter weekend!