Category Archives: Local campaigns

Look out for a new Saltley Methodist Church

Saltley Methodist Church is one of the greatest – and grandest – places in our constituency. I’ve held my advice bureaux there ever since I was elected and I’ve never ceased to admire the people and architecture I see there. Now Rev Andi Smith and his team are thinking about plans to transform the place not just into a great place of worship but a home for new services that help bring our community together. I’ll be doing everything I can to help make it happen. Watch this space for news.

 

Unemployment still rising in Hodge Hill

Unemployment nationally fell slightly in the last quarter – but it continues to rise in Hodge Hill. The number of unemployed claimants in Hodge Hill constituency in June 2011 was 6,703. This is 16.4% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 2nd highest of the 650 UK constituencies. The number of claimants is 223 higher than in June 2010 and 48 higher than in May 2011.

I’m campaigning for more jobs and a joined up strategy for regeneration between the City and Government

 

Down to work with Bordesley Green School

The teachers and Parents’ Council of Bordesley Green school have some big plans for a new community hub based at the old caretaker’s home on the school site. We met together on Friday to begin thinking about how we can start fund-raising for work to start – and the Parents’ Council has already started some excellent work drawing up a list of parents’ priorities. Now we’ll be working together to try and turn ideas into action. Let me know if you want to get involved.

 

Phone hacking scandal – what next?

I’m sure you’re as angry as me about the phone hacking scandal. Two weeks ago I’d have said it was unthinkable that a journalist working for a huge national newspaper would hack into the phone of a missing young girl, frantic friends and relatives in the wake of the 7/7 terrorist bombings or the families of our service men and women. I know they are only allegations but it seems that human tragedy has been used as a cold hearted opportunity for a scoop.
 
Rightly, the organisation at the centre of the allegations, News International, has shut down the News of the World – but have they gone far enough?
 
This morning the Labour leader, Ed Miliband has called for a judge led inquiry to start immediately. News International are also trying to buy BskyB. I want the BSkyB decision to go through the Competition Commissioner – which the Government has so far refused to do - to properly assess the impact on British media.  You can watch his speech here or read the full transcript here.

 
What do you think?

Do you think News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brookes should keep her job while 200 journalists and support workers lose theirs?
Do you think  News International should be allowed to take over BSkyB? Click here to tell me what you think
 
I’ll forward your responses to David Cameron and will post an update soon

 

Police Cuts Survey – What you told me

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill in my survey on police cuts last month. Here’s what you told me: 
 
* 90% of respondents were concerned or very concerned about the cuts to police budgets, with 89% believing police budgets should not be cut at all
* 75% of respondees did not support the election of American style Police Commissioners at this time.
 
Clearly this is a huge issue for our community. We don’t want to see crime rising as a result of slashed budgets anf fewer officers, and we don’t want to see our money wasted on expensive Police Commissioners.
 
I’m sending these results to the Home Secretary so she can see how strongly we feel. I’ll update you when I receive a response

 

Tell me what you think about Birmingham police cuts

I’ve campaigned hard for more police since being elected as your MP in 2004, we have 30% more officers in our area now than in 1997. So I’m very concerned about the Tory/Lib Dem proposed police cuts. Birmingham Police force is facing budget cuts of up to 20%. Already West Midlands Police Force has 3% fewer officers than last year – and Hodge Hill crime has already risen by 5%. But I’m afraid it doesn’t end there. At the same time as cutting police officers the government plan to elect American style Police Commissioners, which the BBC estimate will cost £136m over 10 years. Not only can we not afford it, but I don’t think the police should be politicised. I’m glad the House of Lords has opposed this plan. Click here to tell me what you think

 

Press Release from the Office of Liam Byrne: 2,400 new local primary school places

Liam Byrne’s six-year battle for extra school places in Hodge Hill finally paid dividends today, with the news that the next 18 months will see the creation of an extra 2400 school places, including the opening of the brand new Waverley Primary School which is set to provide a local school place for up to 630 children. 

Before the Member of Parliament for Hodge Hill took up the case for local families in 2005, hundreds of children were unable to find school places, whilst other families with more than one child struggled to make it to several different schools on time.

The situation worsened over the years due to the city’s rising birth rate.

After six years of campaigning – which included a survey of primary school waiting lists and numerous meetings with schools and parents – Liam is able to tell children that they will be able to go to school with their brothers and sisters.

Liam said:

“I am delighted for Hodge Hill families that the years of work and campaigning have finally paid off. It will mean that more children are able to walk to school and are able to use out of hours facilities. This in turn means less traffic on the roads and less expense for parents”.

ENDS 

Notes to Editors

Table of new school places as confirmed by Office of Children, Young People and Families at Birmingham City Council

Waverley Primary School, New school to open in 2012– 630 new places

Starbank Primary – 30 extra per year group – 210 new places

Hodge Hill Primary – 43 extra per year group – 301 new places

Ward End Primary– 60 extra per year group – 420 new places (doubling school size)

St Wilfred’s Catholic Primary– 30 extra per year group – 210 new places

Nansen Primary – 630 new places

St Saviours CofE Primary – 210 new places

 

Campaign for Heath Way Road Safety Measures

Lots of people filled in my survey  about speeding on the Heath Way.  Thank you.

  • 45%  said speed bumps were needed
  • 55% said a zebra crossing with a school crossing warden was needed

I have been campaigning for these safety measures.  A new crossing has gone in next to Sandham Grange – paid for by the care home.  But now the Council is telling me that the budget cuts mean we cannot have a crossing.  I do not think this is acceptable.   

At the very least we need a school crossing so this is what I am campaigning for as an interim step. 

I will keep you posted

 

Well done Comm:Pact!

Another milestone celebrated in Washwood Heath this afternoon with the handover of Hutton Hall to community group Comm:pact. Comm:pact are making a huge difference in our area and have already transformed Hutton hall into a vibrant hub of community life – watch out for great things to come.
Big thanks to to Kidney Research for their support for Comm:pact’s work – and to the Lord Mayor for a bit of a kickabout on the pitch outside.
Hutton Hall is near the old home of William Hutton, first historian of Birmingham. No better place to celebrate our past and set our sights on the future.

 

Press Release: Byrne celebrates as Hutton Hall transferred to local community group Comm:Pact

Liam Byrne will be congratulating local Social Action group Comm:Pact today, as Hutton Hall is transferred from  Birmingham City Council to their care.

Liam has campaigned for the group to take over the neglected Youth Centre for three years. He has worked with Comm:Pact for seven years, helping them to set up an internet cafe in response to his youth conferences when he was first elected.

The Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill has long argued that asset transfer is the way forward in deprived areas to promote community engagement in regeneration.  Liam first set out this idea in his Hodge Hill 2020 conferences in 2006. This is his 20 year regeneration plan for Hodge Hill based around sports, retail and housing.

Hodge Hill has around 50% more green space per capita than the Birmingham average – and is one of the youngest constituencies in the country. But much of the space is undeveloped, and local residents’ have consistently identified the need for more things for youngsters to do. This inspired his programme of work with young people – and his work to create a sports village linking the renewal of our schools, spaces and sports facilities into a network of assets available for sports use across the community. Local young people have been key to developing this vision. Ultimately he aims to create a sports village trust, owned by the community to run these important assets on our community’s behalf.

Now this vision is coming true with Hutton Hall handed to Comm:Pact to run diverse programmes including sports and healthy living.

The transfer appeared to be at risk after Youth Capital Funding was cut and £200k promised for the refurbishment clawed back by the Tory led council. But the young people were not to be crushed and have instead rolled up their sleeves to decorate the hall, sacrificing their Christmas holidays to do so. They have also chased money from MAC Arts to cover the exterior with a modern graffiti art mural and been granted £2,000.

Liam said:

This shows the determination of our young people. They come from an area with the highest level of youth unemployment in the country, an area with chronic poverty and deprivation but they aspire to more. Masood Yasin and Masood Ajaib from Comm:Pact are incredible inspirational mentors and I am delighted they are finally getting their hands on Hutton Hall. They show our young people every day that whatever obstacles are put in your way you can still succeed. You can still reach your dreams.