17 January 2025
Weekly Message to Constituents 249 - Huge step forward for £25 million Town Centre transport scheme
In the Constituency

Huge step forward for £25 million Town Centre transport scheme

 

Above: With Cllr Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council at the bus interchange which is set to be revamped as part of a new £25 million gateway for the town.

Exciting news about the £25 million Sutton gateway scheme, which will transform transport links in the Town Centre and improve public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure around Sutton Coldfield.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council has been working with Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and local stakeholders to develop the scheme. 

The Sutton Gateway scheme aims to improve access to, from and around Sutton Coldfield Town Centre by focusing on improving public transport, walking and cycling links. It sets out 15 individual proposals which collectively aim to regenerate the town centre by making it more attractive for residents and visitors, encouraging them to spend more time in the town. 

Those 15 proposals include major renovations to the bus interchange, a two-way, on road segregated cycleway, a Mobility Hub at the railway station, rethinking the road lay outs, new speed limits on the ring road, improved links between the town centre and the Park and improved road crossings, town wide.

This hugely ambitious project has now passed an important milestone, with the approval of the Sutton Gateway Scheme Strategic Outline Case (SOC).

I am delighted that the £25m I fought so hard to secure from the previous government is now being used to deliver projects which will directly benefit Royal Sutton Coldfield. 

The 15 projects which collectively make up the Sutton Gateway scheme will help revitalise our town centre through ensuring it is more accessible and attractive to visitors, businesses and residents alike. I will continue to monitor the scheme’s delivery to ensure it is delivered in a timely manner and secures the widest possible benefits.

Along with the investment in the Gracechurch, the £20 million Towns Fund I secured from the last Government and the works that have already begun to transform our Cottage Hospital and Town Hall, the Gateway is a central part of the huge amount of work being done to revitalise our town centre.

Cllr Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and chairman of the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership said: “Achieving this key milestone for the Sutton Gateway scheme represents a real success story for both the town council and Royal Sutton Coldfield. Leveraging public sector funding to act as a catalyst for investment across the town centre has been a long-term objective for the Town Council.  Not only will the 15 projects deliver real and sustainable improvements for the town centre, progressing the scheme to this stage demonstrates how the town council is successfully working in partnership to secure real and tangible benefits for the wider town.”

 

Update on gun incident in Sutton Coldfield from police chief

 

Last week I told you about a shocking gun crime, in which a Sutton family were threatened at gunpoint by thieves who stole their car. Local residents are understandably concerned about this appalling incident, and many contacted me for information on police action regarding the crime.

This week, I received an update from Police Superintendent Emlyn Richards, who confirmed the following facts about the crime.

Officers arrived at the scene within four minutes of the 999 call. CCTV shows the offenders arrived on electric bicycles wearing masks and non-distinctive clothing. Officers pursued the stolen vehicle, but unfortunately it was lost.

The crime has been allocated to Detectives on the Robbery Unit for ongoing investigation and they are exploring all reasonable lines of enquiry.

The Police would also like Sutton Coldfield residents to know what they are doing in response to the wider issue of car key burglary offences. 

They have undertaken a number of policing initiatives under the banner of Operation Blueray, which aims to identify and apprehend those responsible for car theft crimes. Due to the sporadic nature of the offending, these initiatives have not prevented the offences themselves but rather aim to ensure justice is as swift and effective as possible.

Local teams concentrate on patrolling residential areas while the Force Roads Policing Unit and Firearms Unit police the arterial road network, looking out for such offenders. These teams are briefed daily with up-to-date intelligence on stolen vehicles and potential perpetrators.

Superintendent Richards has assured me that the Police will continue to do all they can to identify the criminals responsible for this intolerable crime, to bring them to justice, and to prevent them from committing further offences.

 

Fighting for a safe crossing on busy road near two schools

 

Above: with Dr Rahul Daub, Councillor David Pears and Bishop Vesey Headteacher Dominic Robson.

This week I attended a meeting regarding the pressing issue of road crossing safety on Tamworth Road, which is frequently crossed by students from Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and St Joseph’s School.

I met with Vesey Headteacher Dominic Robson, Councillor David Pears, and concerned parent Dr Rahul Daub, who himself had witnessed a near accident on the road recently. Many parents have voiced their concerns about road safety at this busy location.

Councillor Pears is keen to see the restoration of a lollipop person to assist children crossing the road during school times and supports me in wanting to see a zebra crossing installed on Tamworth Road, to make it easier for students and local residents to cross more safely.

This is supported by around 500 parents of children at BVGS, who have signed a request for these measures to be implemented.

Councillor Pears is seeking a site meeting with highways officers to develop a plan and has requested action from the Police to tackle the speeding cars.

 

Catching up with Lucy Cole at Love Life Again 

 

Above: with Lucy Cole. 

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with inspirational Sutton resident Lucy Cole, who provides grief and trauma coaching programmes through her Community Interest Company, Love Life Again.

Her clinic, based in the Vesey Private Hospital, was founded after Lucy’s own experiences with loss and grief back in 2015. Her personal knowledge of the struggles grieving people face has helped her connect with dozens of local people going through difficult times.

Lucy has helped Suttonians navigate struggles related to bereavement, trauma, relationship issues and abuse, and runs grief workshops for adults and teenagers. She has also recently launched a programme to coach women through menopause and perimenopause.

I am hoping that her work can attract the support of philanthropic trusts and foundations. Dozens of Sutton Coldfield residents can attest to the life-changing impact Lucy’s coaching has had on them in some of the darkest times of their lives, and I hope to see her services continue to help people for years to come.

 

 

Concern over state of local war graves

 

Above: visiting war graves in Sutton Coldfield Cemetery.

There is concern that our local Commonwealth war graves are not being tended to and looked after with the respect we would all expect.

This week I paid a visit to the Sutton Coldfield Cemetery, next to Good Hope Hospital, to inspect the state of care of these graves. Many are the graves of very young men who gave their lives for their country.

I visited after residents’ raised concerns that the graves have not been cared for adequately. I was dismayed to discover found that many of the graves were in a state of disrepair.

I am approaching the Head of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ask for their help and financial support in ensuring that their maintenance going forward is of the highest quality.

All around the world - including in Gaza, Rangoon and Asmara in Eritrea - I have seen the brilliant way our Commonwealth war graves are kept and maintained; we would like to feel those in the Royal Town are kept in the same immaculate way.

 

Royal Town’s rich Scouting community

 

Above: with David Thebridge.

Do you notice anything unusual about the picture above? In our excellent meeting last week, David Thebridge and I greeted one another with a left-handed handshake, which I am told is a longstanding Scout tradition.

That’s because David is a local Sutton Coldfield District Scouts Leader, presiding over scouting activity in the east side of our Royal Town. The customary handshake is made with the hand nearest the heart, and is offered as a token of friendship.

And the topics David and I discussed were also matters close to both of our hearts.

We reviewed the brilliant work that scouting does throughout our Royal Town, and discussed ensuring there are adequate facilities in the Langley development for the many brilliant voluntary organisations of which the Royal Town is so proud.

We also discussed facilities for Scouts, Beavers and Cubs in Falcon Lodge going forward.

Sutton has a proud and long history of scouting – the First Sutton Coldfield Scouts was the first to be set up in Birmingham, just five years after Baden Powell wrote his famous Scouting for Boys book. Indeed, scouting was split into East and West districts in Sutton Coldfield because we had so many different groups.

And, of course, in 1957 the Park hosted the World Scouting Jamboree, with 33,000 scouts from more than 80 countries.

I am so grateful for the tireless voluntary work of our local scouting leaders, whose dedication to providing irreplaceable life skills and childhood experiences for Sutton children continues to foster such a rich local community of Scouts and Guides.

 

Mere Green School tech kids

 

Above: the six Mere Green girls who have been chosen to attend the Bett Convention.

Six talented students are set to make memories that will last a lifetime when they attend a futuristic conference – to show off how they have used the latest technology to highlight the past.

Mere Green Primary School students Holly, Rijjah, Charlotte, Nusaybah, Lily and Charmaine have been selected to attend the innovative Bett Convention at the ExCel Centre, London, in January.

Mere Green Primary is at the forefront of technological progress in education, even boasting the title of Apple Distinguished School.

Now the girls, who are all aged 10 to 11, have been selected by Apple to showcase how their use of iPads in history lessons has enhanced their learning opportunities. These iPads were provided as part of ATLP’s groundbreaking Learning Futures Scheme.

Whenever I visit Mere Green Primary, I am always blown away by the talent, creativity and passion of its pupils, who reach impressive heights again and again. The amazing technology on offer to support their learning experience is at the forefront of the education sector, and I am so very proud of these brilliant pupils who will be representing their brilliant Sutton school in London.

For the full story, visit: https://suttonschoollife.co.uk/2025/01/08/mere-green-tech-stars-make-history-at-apple-showcase-event/

In the Commons

Speaking out over Penns Lane asylum seekers’ hostel

 

Above: speaking in Parliament about Sutton’s Ramada Hotel.

Last week I called on the Government to cease use of the former Ramada Hotel on Penns Lane for asylum housing.

In the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, we understand that we must do our bit to help house asylum seekers, but the Ramada hotel on Penns Lane has always been the wrong place to do so.

It is too far away from inner-city Birmingham-based services. Under the last Government, the facility was slated for closure, so I urged the Minister to look urgently at winding it down and closing it as soon as possible.

 

On the Israel-Palestine ceasefire 

On January 16th, Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a statement regarding the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Palestine. 

In response, I said: “May I thank the Foreign Secretary for his kind remarks and applaud his expression of cautious optimism? It is cautious because the agony of the hostages continues and the urgent need for a quantum increase in humanitarian aid remains unrequited. The deal must be implemented in good faith, and I very much welcome his comment that Hamas can never again govern that space.

“I pay tribute to his diplomats and officials for their extraordinary hard work and effectiveness, and I underline that Britain has a very important role to play in what comes next. Will he bear in mind that abject devastation can lead to unforeseen breakthroughs? Following the Yom Kippur war, we saw Israel make peace with Egypt, and significant progress was made on the Oslo accords following the intifada.”

The Foreign Secretary replied: “The right hon. Gentleman brings to bear his tremendous experience of these issues, which has been built up over many years and many different roles in Government and beyond. He is right to focus on the fact that Hamas cannot play a role, but he probably agrees with me. I never believed, as some in the Israeli Government did, that they could eradicate Hamas solely by military force. What eradicates extremism is diplomacy, a political solution and a political horizon that pulls the rug from under the terrorists. That is why it is hugely important that the UK now plays its full role in reaching a political solution and a political horizon that brings about peace, not another generation of militant young men with terrorism and pain in their hearts.”

 

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