Coronation Celebrations

This Saturday King Charles III’s Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey and many of us are celebrating in our own ways as we enjoy another long weekend.

Across the Royal Town, my constituents and different community groups are marking the special occasion in a number of ways.

You might remember I mentioned in my newsletter some weeks ago that our Town Council was offering their Big Help Out Grant to local voluntary, community and not-for-profit groups in celebration of King Charles III’s Coronation and as apart of national volunteering day.

I was delighted to hear how the groups that were successful in securing this grant were making use of it, such as hosting family fun events, performing local concerts, and holding litter picks and picnics.

Below are just a few events celebrating the King’s Coronation this weekend which may interest you.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID) will be hosting a Coronation Celebration in the Royal town on Sunday 7th May 10am-3pm. 

Entertainment along The Parade will include a brass band, real royal statues, the tree people, royal stilt walkers, a bubble-ologist, balloon modeller, a free children’s craft workshop and free face-painting. 

There will also be 20 food stalls along The Parade selling hot and cold food throughout the day.  The event has been organised by Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID and funded by local businesses in the town centre:

Boldemere St Michaels FC was a recipient of the Town Hall’s Big Help Out Grant and are hosting a family fun day on Saturday, with bouncy castles, face painting, and all sorts of games. Here is their poster with more information:

Another recipient of the Town Hall’s grant was Friends of The Gates: Boldmere and Banners Gate, who are hosting a family litter picking walk, with all litter picking equipment to be provided on the day:

I hope everyone enjoys their long royal weekend however you are planning on spending it.

Local Elections

There have been no local elections in the Royal Town this week so there is no change in the outstanding Conservative City and Town councillors who serve us all throughout Sutton Coldfield. I see what they are doing on a daily basis for us all and I want to thank them for all they are doing.

Across the country my party has had a difficult night and a lot of excellent Conservative councillors have lost their seats.

The party nationally will I am sure learn lessons but I do believe that under Rishi Sunak real progress is being made.

New lighter format Post Office Branch in Minworth

The Post Office have asked me to share the news that a new lighter format Post Office branch called Drop & Collect will be opening in Minworth, at Kingsbury Road Convenience, 263 Kingsbury Road, Minworth B76 9AG.

This new Drop & collect service at Kingsbury Road Convenience will over Post-Office services from a handheld device, providing convenient access for customers to bill payments and prepaid parcel collections and returns. However, complex services like personal and business banking will not be available at this branch.

A widerrange of Post Office services are available from the nearby branches at:Curdworth Post Office, 33 Coleshill Road, Curdworth B76 9EX, and Castle Vale PostOffice, 1  Tangmere Square, Castle Vale B356DL.

For more information, please see - https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/minworth-drop-collect-b76-9ag-458351/

Sudan

In response to the appalling crisis in Sudan, the UK is providing an initial package of £5million of lifesaving aid for tens of thousands of people. UK support will be delivered in South Sudan & Chad providing food, shelter, water &medical care.

To stop the crisis in Sudan from worsening still further, humanitarian agencies must be able to work freely & without fear of attack. Without either, the outlook for the people of Sudan is bleak. There can be no humanitarian help without safe access.

The international community is united: there must be a ceasefire, and these generals must lay down their arms and return to negotiations. A stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to ensure the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.

Annual Mo Ibrahim Governance Conference

Last weekend I was in Nairobi for the annual Mo Ibrahim Governance Conference.

I discussed the crisis in Sudan with the Kenyan President William Ruto, and the African Union Chairperson Moussa Mahamat.

We must work together to stop the bloodshed and see soldiers lay down their arms and return to barracks.

Further information

Civic Sunday - 21st May

Residents are invited to attend the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield's Civic Service to be held at Holy Trinity (CE) Church, Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1TF at 10.00am on Sunday 21st May 2023.

The annual service welcomes our civic guests and those who represent the many public and voluntary organisations within our town. The service has become an annual event and provides a visible reminder of the important roles so many people play in our local community in many different ways from which we all benefit.

The service is well attended and guests are encouraged to RSVP to enquiries@suttoncoldfieldtowncouncil.gov.uk by Friday 28th April.

Light refreshments will be served after the service.

The civic service from a few years ago:

Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists - Spring Exhibition 2023:

Message from the Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists:

We are delighted to announce that the Spring Exhibition of the Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists will take place in the Crush Hall, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall from 11:00am Sunday 7th May until 4:00pm Sunday 14th May.

Exhibition open 9:00am to 5:00pm

We would also like to extend a warm invitation to the Official Opening and Award Presentation, which is to be held on Sunday 7th May at 11.00am. if you are unable to attend the presentation, we hope that you will be able to visit the exhibition during the opening hours.

We look forward to welcoming you and we hope that you enjoy our exhibition!

From,

Rachel David

Chairman

MHRC Locations:

Please see below the visits scheduled for the week commencing 8th May 2023 of the BCC Mobile Household Recycling Centre.

• Thu11/05/2023, Darnick Road B73 6PE, 07:00 - 12:45, Sutton Vesey
• Fri 12/05/2023, Signal Hayes Road B76 2RF, 07:00 - 12:45, Sutton Walmley & Minworth

Train strikes

A series ofstrike dates have been announced by ASLEF and RMT unions in May and June thatwill impact rail services across the network and across operators.

ASLEF, thedrivers’ union, has announced strike action across 16 train companies,including Avanti West Coast, on 12 and 31 May, and 3 June.

For the latesttravel information for any upcoming strikes, please see: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/strike