Other Side of Solihull - May

Other Side of Solihull Page 3

ELECTIONS P E C I A L

THE dust had barely settled when debate sprung up about the nature of the next General Election.

With the Conservatives returned to government, controversial plans to redraw the electoral map are likely to resurface.

The proposals – which could see the existing Meriden constituency radically altered – were previously vetoed by Liberal Democrats, but an overall majority would now give David Cameron the authority to press ahead with the changes.

Tories argue that reducing the number of constituencies from 650 to 600 would help ensure that each seat had a similar sized electorate.

But if the plans brought forward in the coming Parliament are similar to those which were kicked into the long grass two years ago, they are unlikely to be popular locally.

The previous review of boundaries would have seen Castle

Bromwich cut adrift from the rest of North Solihull and bundled in with Birmingham Erdington.

Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood and Kingshurst and Fordbridge would have remained part of a new-look Meriden, which would have encompassed Shard End, Water Orton and Coleshill but no longer covered large parts of rural Solihull.

The loss of villages with strong Tory support would arguably make it harder for the Conservatives to hold the seat, with some even suggesting that it could become a marginal.

Other Side Of

Solihull

CAROLINE Spelman has been returned as Conservative MP for Meriden, winning an emphatic victory over Labour.

The former cabinet minister captured more than 50 per cent of the vote in the constituency which encompasses North Solihull, increasing her majority to more than 18,000.

Labour’s Tom McNeil had fought a vigorous grassroots campaign but was unable to gain ground on his Tory opponent; the party’s share of the vote was actually down on 2010.

The Lib Dems were pushed into fourth place by a UKIP surge, barely winning one vote out of every 20 and coming close to losing their deposit.

Taking the podium at North Solihull Sports Centre, Mrs Spelman said: “I am delighted and humbled by the faith that the people of Meriden have put in me to serve a fifth term.

“Thank you so much to the whole team who made all the difference to the result tonight.”

Speaking to Other Side of Solihull in the run-up to polling day, she vowed

that a Tory government would work to “complete the economic recovery.”

She has also identified protecting the greenbelt and dealing with the disruption caused by HS2 as among

her own personal priorities.

In the neighbouring constituency of Solihull, the Lib Dems were dealt a crushing defeat, with Lorely Burt losing the seat that she sensationally

snatched from the Conservatives 10 years ago.

Defending a wafer-thin majority of just 175, a tearful Mrs Burt saw her share of the vote collapse and left the stage without a word. In the end, Tory candidate Julian Knight had eased to victory in one of his party’s top target seats.

The election result means that the borough’s two constituencies will be represented by the same party for the first time in a decade and speaking from the count, Mrs Spelman has already signalled that she will work to build stronger links between the different communities of Solihull.

MAY2015

Magic night for Spelman

Caroline Spelman’s team canvassing in Castle Bromwich ahead of another landslide victory.

Send your Stories or Subscribe -

[email protected] Brom, Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood and Marston Green

Battle lines drawnLABOUR has been left with a single councillor in its former North Solihull heartlands, after UKIP ousted a party stalwart in Kingshurst & Fordbridge.

Across Solihull, the Conservatives have strengthened their grip on the borough council and now have an overall majority of seven councillors.

Turn to Page 5 for the full council results.

RESULTSMeriden:

Caroline Spelman (Con) - 28,791

Tom McNeil (Lab) - 9996

Mick Gee (UKIP) - 8908

Ade Adeyemo (Lib Dem) - 2638

Alison Gavin (Green) - 2170

Chris Booth (An Independence From Europe) - 100

Turn out: 64.41 per cent

Solihull:

Julian Knight (Con) - 26,956

Lorely Burt (Lib Dem) - 14,054

Howard Allen (Green) - 1632

Phil Henrick (UKIP) - 6361

Nigel Knowles (Lab) - 5693

Mike Nattrass (An Independence From Europe) - 50

Matthew Ward (Democratic Party) - 33

Turn out: 70.9 per cent

Conservatives strengthen grip Attention

is already turning to the next election

Page 2 Other Side of Solihull

I WRITE this just a couple of days after one of the most unexpected election results of modern times.

In the run-up to Thursday, May 7 every opinion poll was unanimous; no one party could win a majority and it would be days if not weeks before either Labour or the Tories could cobble together the support to form a government.

As it was the polls were wrong and David Cameron has returned to Downing Street with a majority – albeit a very small one.

Compared to the national picture, Solihull’s result were not especially shocking.

Few seriously doubted that

Meriden’s Caroline Spelman would be troubled, while her party’s dire polling had made it all but inevitable that Lorely Burt would not be able to defeat the Tories for a third time.

On the council, a handful of seats changed hands, but there was nothing seismic. No real upsets this time round. Even the removal of a respected Labour leader has lost its shock value – Alan Nash was the fourth to be shown the exit in seven years.

In other respects, the borough

actually has a lot in common with the country as a whole. The Conservatives are the largest group by some distance and while left-of-centre parties still command a sizeable share of the vote, they remain locked in opposition for now.

And as with the wider UK, there is the rather worrying issue that the ruling party is all but invisible in the north. It remains the case that there is not a single Tory councillor in the three ‘regeneration wards’.

Let us hope then that the interests of communities such as Chelmsley Wood and Kingshurst are still given due consideration in the council chamber…

David Irwin

What’s the story?A volunteer has received national recognition for his hard work at the Bluebell Community Gardens, in Chelmsley Wood.

Last month, Craig finished third in the Volunteer of the Year category at London’s Edible Garden Show.He’s digging deep then?Definitely. The 30-year-old has spent more than 70 hours helping to transform the area into a thriving wildlife habitat and vegetable patch.

“I am very happy to receive this award; however

Six parties put up a candidate for the Meriden constituency, trying to win over more than 83,000 voters.

Marston Green Infant Academy’s headteacher Mary Parfitt is retiring after 20 years, during which time more than 2,000 pupils have started at the school.

The team at St Mary and St Margaret’s Church, Castle Bromwich, were among 44,000 bell ringers tolling 200,000 bells in 15,000 churches on St. George’s Day.

Robert Wilkinson’s Fun Fair returns to Meriden Park by popular demand this month.

The thrills and spills will run from Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17. Admission £1 per person, rides £1 each.

The fair is open 4.00-8.30pm weekdays and for the extended hours of 1.00-8.30pm on the final two days.


Borough reflects countryLETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Editor: David IrwinDesign: Justine Flavell

Facebook.com/NorthSolihull

@North_Solihull

MAY 2007: Labour and the Conservatives go into the election holding all 12 seats between them in Castle Brom, Smith’s Wood, Chelmsley Wood and Kingshurst & Fordbridge.

MAY 2015: Labour and Conservatives arrive at polling day defending just five seats across the four wards after an explosion in support for the Greens and the election of Solihull’s first UKIP councillor.

RUMOURS are rife that Chelmsley Wood footballer Sean St Ledger is dating international pop star Taylor Swift.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been linked with the Shake It Off singer on Twitter. St Ledger is understood to have met Swift at a New Year’s Eve party, but has remained tight lipped about a possible romance.

@yummy_brummie

Followers: 28,000 and counting

Tweets: 10,600

Content: Tweets from Chelmsley Wood’s own Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell.

One to Follow: Yes, but fewer photos of food than you might hope.

Meet the Tweeter

l Sean in the blank space?

Other Side Of

Solihull

Email - [email protected]

Get in Touch:

Craig Duffy: gardener introducing

Out & about

Month in Numbers

Then & Now

l Chance to discuss plansA DROP-IN session will be taking place next month to discuss a controversial development in Chelmsley Wood.

On the front of our last edition we discussed the public outcry about Solihull Community Housing’s proposals to build a “halfway hostel” in Ipswich Walk. Residents will be able to discuss the scheme at The Loft meeting room (above Asda) on Tuesday, June 2. Drop in to view the plans between 2-7pm.

l garden varietiesDO your marigolds make the neighbours green with envy? Are your tulips top of the pile in Pike Drive?

Well perhaps you should consider entering the Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom competition.

The deadline for entries for this year’s contest is June 12. Download an entry form at www.solihull.gov.uk/solihullinbloom.

l fab forties

l Keeping kids occupied

POLICE are backing a football coaching project in an effort to reduce anti social behaviour in the Smith’s Wood area.

The initiative, aimed at seven to 17-year-olds, is designed to drive down low level crime, which remains one of the main concerns for local residents.

it has been a team effort,” said Craig.Who else is involved then?Several individuals got together in 2011 with the idea of transforming the barren scrap of land in Bluebell Drive into a flourishing garden area. Among them local resident Ben Yates and Trish Willetts, Solihull’s Council’s former Environmental Champion.

ROLL back the clock to the 1940s at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.

A Home Guard display and collection of vintage vehicles will be among the attractions on May 9-10. The period event will take place from 11am-4pm.


Other Side Of

Solihull


l Bargain projectl gun threat terror

HOUSEHOLD bins could be emptied fortnightly in Solihull, as the council considers further changes to its waste and recycling service.

Currently the local authority collects household rubbish on a weekly basis, but in a recent report the council says it may consider reducing the service to every other week in future.

This option – which has proven controversial when introduced to other parts of the country – is one of several being discussed by the council as a way to increase recycling.

One possible model would see the collection of materials such as bottles, cans and paper, fall on alternate weeks to the standard black wheelie bin.

Council officers believe that previous changes, designed to make recycling straightforward, may make it easier for residents to cope without a weekly service.

A council report said: “If a comprehensive recycling service is provided, many residents find that they do not fill their rubbish bin weekly and can cope easily with less frequent collections of rubbish.”

Although the authority concedes that another advantage of the

fortnightly collections is that they cost less.

The council notes that any change could not happen within the next couple of years; Solihull previously pledged to continue weekly collections until 2018, one of the conditions attached to a £2.9million grant from central government.

The council has also said a public consultation would be held ahead of any proposed change to a fortnightly collection.

In a foreword to the report, Councillor Robert Hulland, the cabinet member in charge of bin collections, said: “To continue to improve our performance we will need the continued support of our residents and their feedback on our service.”

The issue over fortnightly collections has been the subject of heated debate for several years, with former Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles trying to bring pressure on councils who have already scrapped the weekly service.

In 2012, he said: “Weekly bin collections are one of the most visible front-line services and there is no plausible reason why councils should not deliver them to hard-working residents.”

Council is to consider fortnightly bin service

POLICE are hunting three men who smashed their way into a Chelmsley Wood home and threatened a terrified woman with a shotgun.

The armed gang broke through patio doors at the property in Bosworth Drive on February 5.

They threatened the 38-year-old victim with the firearm before fleeing with her handbag. Officers have released CCTV images and appealed for information about the incident, which happened at 11pm.

A SCHEME to transform the centre of Castle Bromwich could cost over £100,000 less than previously thought.

Solihull Council confirmed at a recent meeting that the Hurst Lane Place Project was likely to come in under budget because of tight financial control on spending.

The work, which started towards the end of last year, has seen the creation of more car parking space and improvements to the road layout in the area around Morrisons supermarket.

POLICE have pledged to put the brakes on off-road bikes in the Kingshurst & Fordbridge area.

Officers predict that now the lighter nights are here there will be the usual increase in cases of the bikes tearing around parks and open spaces.

Efforts to step up patrols have already been successful. On the evening of April 15, officers caught a mini moto in the Babbs Mill area.

The rider, who had no

insurance, was issued with a warning notice which means that if they’re caught again, the bike will be seized and destroyed.

A police spokesman said: “These motorcycles will be committing offences of riding on public land as well as the safety issues they cause with dangerous riding/driving.”

Last summer, owners were urged to only ride the bikes on proper racing circuits.

Patrols to curb mini motos

‘If a comprehensive recycling service is provided, many residents find that they do not fill their rubbish bin weekly and can cope easily with less frequent collections of rubbish’

Fortnightly collections have been the subject of heated debate for several years


Council silences gossipover greenbelt ‘houses’

Double-decker delight for long-serving Steve

RUMOURS of plans to build houses on greenbelt land near Marston Green have been categorically denied by parish councillors.

In recent weeks residents have been dismayed by reports that the wedge of land next to the burial ground, near Millennium Wood, was set to be developed.

It is thought that some had gone as far as to start a petition demanding that the area remain unspoiled.

After receiving a flurry of enquiries from concerned locals, Bickenhill Parish Council has now issued a statement in an attempt to kill off the story.

A spokesman said: “The parish council can confirm that no planning application for this land has been

submitted. There was a request by the landowners to have this land removed from the greenbelt, this was refused by Solihull MBC in 2012.”

The council added that the site, known locally as the horse field, is not one of those earmarked for new homes over the next 15 years.

Some believe that the frenzy of speculation is evidence of just how worried residents are about further development of open spaces – particularly on the outskirts of the village.

Their concern comes after several successful applications for new housing developments; a particularly fierce but ultimately futile battle was fought to prevent the creation of a new estate at Moat House Farm.

PLANS to turn a popular business into a 10-bedroom dwelling have been referred to the Planning Inspectorate.

The application to turn the Ye Olde Wine Lodge, in Elmdon Road, into a multiple occupancy site, was previously thrown out by Solihull Council.

The applicant, Ruby Jones, has now appealed against the decision. Local residents have until May 12 to make their views about the proposals known.

A decision about whether the development should go ahead is expected later this year.

FANCY joining the team of volunteers at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens?

There’s a chance to find out what’s involved with a two-hour taster session on May 29, from 10am-12noon. The open morning will offer information about volunteer opportunities in the office, café and gardens themselves.

To register your interest visit www.eventbrite.co.uk

A CHELMSLEY Wood man who has enjoyed a long career as a bus engineer has had the honour of a double-decker being named after him.

Steve Widdows, aged 67, works at National Express West Midlands and recently celebrated his 50 years in the business with workmates at the Acocks Green depot.

The engineering fitter started work on the region’s vehicles in the early 1960s and has seen many changes to the way they operate in the half century since.

Steve shared the honour of the bus naming with colleague Graham Green, also 67, who has clocked up a similar length of loyal service.

A WRITER who grew up in Chelmsley Wood has spoken of the simple impact that an area’s architecture can have on residents.

Lynsey Hanley, who previously wrote a book about her formative years on the estate, contributed to a new Radio 4 series about how the design of buildings influences people’s lives.

Speaking in the first episode of Know Your Place, Lynsey (pictured), who now

lives in a leafy suburb of Liverpool, reminisced about people being funnelled into “a concrete and rigid structure” in her old neighbourhood.

“Now I know exactly what people mean when they say ‘leafy areas’ because I live in one,” the 38-year-old told the programme. “It’s just full of greenery. It’s almost as if the houses pop up out of greenery rather than a sense of greenery having been flattened in order to make way for your house.”

She voiced her anger that in Britain you can almost map class by what an area looks like and said she was frustrated that the environment can have such limits on a person’s opportunities.

Her comments are particularly topical given the ongoing debate about the further development of green space in North Solihull and how best to improve living standards in disadvantaged parts of the borough.

Does growing up in a concrete jungle dictate your life?

Be part of theground force

appeal to overthrow‘no’ on wine shop plan

The site, known locally as the horse field, is not one of those earmarked for new homes over the next 15 years.


Liberal Democrats suffer greatest punishment at the ballot box as previous support evaporates

LABOUR has been left with one solitary member on Solihull Council after yet another of

its leaders lost his seat.Councillor Alan Nash had fought hard to

hold on in Kingshurst & Fordbridge, but was narrowly defeated by UKIP’s Rob Hall.

The loss leaves Mr Nash’s wife Flo as the party’s sole representative on the borough council and capped a bruising night for local campaigners.

However, another married couple with seats on the council had a rather better result. Conservative members Bob and Gail Sleigh won comfortable majorities in Bickenhill and Castle Bromwich respectively.

While activists had been concerned last year that UKIP was threatening these traditional Tory strongholds, this time the eurosceptic party failed to mount a serious challenge – its share of the vote seemingly squeezed by an exceptionally high turn-out.

It was a good day generally for Solihull’s Conservative administration, who made several gains south of the A45 and increased

their total number of councillors to 32.

The Green Party remain the official opposition and will be pleased with the ease at which they held on to their seats in Chelmsley Wood and Smith’s Wood, although supporters may be disappointed that they failed to make further gains in the south of the borough.

The party also lost a sitting councillor for the first time in Solihull - Jean Hamilton was unable to see off the Tory challenge in Elmdon.

It was the Liberal Democrats however who suffered the greatest punishment at the ballot box.

The party had not fielded a single candidate in North Solihull, instead putting all its efforts into the wards where it has previously had strong support.

This strategy was not enough to save the party from humiliating defeats

in the former enclaves of Olton and Lyndon.

These losses have left the Lib Dems with just six councillors; only five years ago they had more than three times this number and with Labour support had actually managed to wrest control of the council from the Tories.

AN ICONIC aircraft swept low over North Solihull to mark 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens had arranged for the Dakota transport plane to do a fly-past on May 9 and 10 to coincide with their VE Day anniversary event. The Dakota was used extensively by the RAF during the conflict with Nazi Germany and many converted models are still in use around the globe.

A POLITICAL campaigner who grew up on Chelmsley Wood has urged people to have their say.

Twenty-eight-year-old Elizabeth Adams was one of the youngest parliamentary candidates in the country, standing for the Liberal Democrats in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Writing for Other Side of Solihull, Elizabeth admitted she had encountered a lot of anger on the doorstep, but said it was crucial people made their feelings known.

“You don’t have to be a candidate, that is a big commitment, but just get involved,” she urged local residents.

“Because believe me, there aren’t very many people sitting in that big expensive building in London, making up the laws that are making your lives more difficult, that have any idea what life is like for people from the ‘Wood, or many places around the country like here.”

The former CTC Kingshurst student has previously spoken about the importance of engaging young voters and getting more people from a wide range of backgrounds elected to Westminster.

Election Results Your Reaction:Briony Sparrow (Twitter): Gutted Caroline Spelman gets a 5th term in Meriden to maintain ‘the high quality of life’ - that would be the ‘I’m alright Jack’ mentality.

Chris Casey (Twitter): @LorelyBurt - Sad news Lorely, thanks for all you’ve done for Solihull. The vote was swayed by national issues, no reflection on you.

Dean Johnson (Twitter): This has definitely been a wake up call for Labour. We’re going to have our work cut out for us. Staying optimistic, however.

Denise Howell (Facebook): Brilliant result....I’m chuffed to bits! No...I’m not rich....I work in the NHS for an average salary and the Conservatives have put more money in my pocket because I go to work......Unlike Labour!

Labour fails to see off UKIP challenge

Dakota in flight to mark VE anniversary

[email protected]

Elizabeth Adams

‘Crucial’ for folk to have their say

A CASTLE Bromwich GP recently made an impassioned call for more patients to get behind efforts to improve the borough’s health services.

Dr Anand Chitnis, who chairs the Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, said that getting input from local people was vital.

The CCG, which is responsible for planning and funding local health services, last month urged people to sign up to join focus groups, fill out surveys and generally make their voices heard.

As part of the campaign, people were also called upon to volunteer to join the Patient Voice Panel – which gives residents a say in decisions.

Dr Chitnis, who works at the Castle Practice, in Hawthorne Road, explained why it was so important that patients played their part in the CCG’s work.

“Our aim is to commission the highest quality care for our patients and the wider community in the Solihull area,” he said.

“To improve people’s health and

wellbeing, we want to intervene earlier in an illness, or prevent it from happening. To do this, we need patients to tell us which services work well and which ones could be improved.”

Health services in North Solihull have been through significant changes over the past couple of years, with many facilities overhauled as part of the regeneration scheme.

A couple of months ago, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt visited Chelmund’s Cross, where work is under way on a new medical centre.

Welcoming the cabinet minister to the site, Meriden MP Caroline

Spelman said the development would make a massive difference to the local community.

But despite the investment, there have also been challenges for the health service locally, with residents continuing to report difficulties in getting doctor’s appointments.

And in 2013 there was controversy after Kingshurst Medical Practice was ranked as one of the worst surgeries in the country. After serious lapses were identified by the Care Quality Commission, the practice was sold to new operators.

To find out more about Solihull CCG go to www.solihullccg.nhs.uk


Chance for patients to heal care service

CASTLE Bromwich Heritage Festival will be returning for a second year, it has been confirmed.

Last spring a series of re-enactments and events to celebrate the suburb’s rich history were organised as part of the wider IMAGE Fest event – a cultural festival encompassing North Solihull.

Organisers have confirmed that the heritage festival will be held once again, although this year’s event has been shifted to the autumn. It will take place on September 12-13.

Further details have yet to be confirmed, although it’s understood the weekend will once again be centred in and around St Mary and St Margaret’s Church.

Find out more at www.imagefest.co.uk

A NEW bike hub has been opened in Meriden Park as part of efforts to encourage more people to start cycling.

Solihull Council has teamed up with the charity Sustrans to run the facility, which will offer training sessions for both children and adults.

In future it is hoped the hub will also be used for organised cycle rides and classes on bike maintenance. A similar facility will also operate in tandem at Tudor Grange Park.

The hub follows hot on the wheels of the opening of the North Solihull Cycle Network and the expansion of CycleSolihull rides into areas such as Castle Bromwich and Marston Green.

For more information on the hubs and the courses being run from them please email Alice Swift at [email protected].

l Disco date A ROLLER disco for youngsters takes place at North Solihull Sports Centre every Thursday evening. £3 entry, £2 skates hire, call 07852 329215 to book.

‘Our aim is to commission the highest quality care for our patients and the wider community in the Solihull area’

Dr Anand Chitnis

WEEKLY fitness classes have started at Marston Green Parish Hall.

The sessions, for all ages and abilities, will be taking place on Friday mornings (from 9.30am).

For further information call Lorraine on 07833 208904 or email [email protected]

The Green Man was among the attractions at last year’s event

A SMITH’S Wood family fun day takes place at the end of the month.

There will be children’s activities, refreshments and an appearance by Conk the Clown on Saturday, May 30.

Join in the fun at Bosworth Field from 12noon-4pm.

l Wake up and get fit

l fun way to end May

Saddle up at park’s new cycling hub

Weekend to celebrate area’s history


A LITTLE more than 100 years ago and diseases that have since been confined to the history books in Britain were still worrying local communities.

Newspapers at the time carried the report of one Dr Wilson, the medical officer of health for the district.

Making his report, he said: “The total number of deaths in the district during the quarter represents the comparatively low annual death rate of 14 per 1000 of the population.”

Advances in medical science and better living conditions meant that infectious diseases and fever were claiming fewer lives than during the Victorian era.

But there were nonetheless cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, erysipelas

and chickenpox being recorded.

In fact one outbreak of illness at Marston Green was so severe that a certificate was quickly issued to close the village school and prevent the further spread of disease.

There was also one case of smallpox – a condition which has now been entirely eradicated - reported in the parish.

The unfortunate victim was a “tramp” who worked at a local workhouse, but the swift actions of authorities meant that no-one else was infected.

Dr Wilson was pleased to report that despite the incidents he had highlighted, the general health of the district continued to be satisfactory.

LOOKINGBACK

Paramedic base to improve response to emergencies

road named after local hero

PLANS have been unveiled to create a community ambulance station in Marston Green.

West Midlands Ambulance Service has drawn up proposals to create a base for paramedics at Pinewood Business Park in Coleshill Road.

Under plans, a paramedic and rapid response vehicle will be stationed at the site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will also be parking space at the station for a second vehicle. The application, submitted to Solihull Council last month, is part of the ambulance service’s new strategy for responding to 999 calls.

The Make Ready initiative, first announced two years ago, caused widespread controversy and led to concerns that response times would increase.

As part of the project, the ambulance stations that traditionally served the borough – based at Chelmsley Wood and Hermitage Road, Solihull – were sold off.

The maintenance of the fleet was centralised to a new hub at Erdington, where crews would collect their vehicles and travel to the new community stations, from where they would respond to emergencies.

Within months of the system being implemented in 2013, the ambulance service was forced to make “tweaks” to the set-up and reinstated two-crewed ambulances at locations including Shirley and Olton.

Now a new community station will open at Marston Green, helping to improve the service in the north of the borough.

A WMAS spokesman said: “This is designed to improve the speed of response to patients in the area.

“If approved, work on the building would start with the intention of it being up and running within eight weeks.”

The planning committee is expected to consider the application later this year.

A NEW road has been named in honour of a man who was involved in local politics for more than half a century.

Collins Way, in Fordbridge, recognises the remarkable contribution of Eric Collins; the first man from the north of the borough to be named as Mayor of Solihull.

Coun Collins started his political career shortly after the Second World War, first serving as a councillor in Birmingham.

In 1969 he became a founding member of Chelmsley Wood Labour Party and later served on Solihull Council, being installed as Mayor in 1979.

He later held a seat on Fordbridge Town Council, finally stepping down in 2012. He passed away the following year.

His widow Winnie was invited to the official naming of the road, which forms part of a new housing development. She said that her late husband would have been greatly honoured by the gesture.

A TEA dance will be taking place at St Anne’s Community Centre later this month.

The event is being organised by St Anne’s SVP Group, with a raffle, refreshments and the chance to learn a few dance steps on the day. The event takes place on May 27, from 2.30-4pm. Call 07541 395656 for further details.

l Time for tea dance


Other Side Of

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Other Side of Solihull - May