Local Conservative City Councillors at Birmingham City Council, working with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and local MP Andrew Mitchell, have welcomed the publication of a new report recommending major steps to protect Sutton Coldfield’s parks and green spaces.
The report, which will be presented to next week’s Birmingham City Council Cabinet meeting (10 November), follows sustained campaigning by local Conservatives to protect local green belt, safeguard Sutton Park, oppose Labour’s proposed parking charges, and secure a better future for local parks after years of neglect by Birmingham Labour.
Local Conservatives are calling on Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet to accept the report’s recommendations in full.
The report recommends:
- Transferring 13 Sutton Coldfield parks and green spaces from Birmingham City Council to Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.
- Commissioning a full options appraisal on a future model for Sutton Park, with the aspiration to place it into an independent trust.
- Stopping the introduction of parking charges in Sutton Park while that review takes place.
Local Conservatives have made it clear that parking charges should not be introduced in Sutton Park at all. The park must remain free and open for residents to enjoy.
Local Conservative Councillors have already succeeded in stopping Labour plans to build on local green belt, leading efforts to ensure that Sutton Coldfield’s green spaces remain protected in the revised Local Plan.
They have also led the campaign against Labour’s proposed car parking charges in Sutton Park, which were opposed by thousands of residents.
City Councillor Richard Parkin, Conservative Councillor for Sutton Reddicap, said:
“This report is a welcome step forward for Sutton Coldfield and follows strong Conservative campaigning to protect our parks and green spaces.
“We are pleased that the report recommends transferring 13 local parks and green spaces to Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, reviewing options for Sutton Park to be transferred to a trust, and stopping parking charges while that review takes place.
“But let us be clear: we do not want parking charges introduced in Sutton Park at all. Sutton Park belongs to the people, and residents should not be priced out of using it.
“These recommendations have only come forward because local Conservative City Councillors, our Conservative-run Town Council and our Conservative MP have worked together and campaigned for residents.”
Leader of Birmingham Local Conservatives Cllr Robert Alden, Conservative Councillor for Erdington, said:
“This report shows what strong local Conservative campaigning can achieve.
“Labour’s parking charges in Sutton Park should never have been proposed. We welcome the recommendation to stop them while the future of the park is reviewed, but our position remains clear: parking charges should be scrapped permanently.
“Sutton Park is one of Birmingham’s greatest assets. It must be protected for future generations, not treated as a way to raise money from local residents.
“Cabinet should now accept these recommendations in full and work with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council to give Sutton Coldfield’s parks the protection, care and investment they deserve.”
Only Local Conservatives are standing up for Sutton Coldfield’s parks and green spaces and securing their protection for generations to come.
