Local Community Action at its Best in Handsworth

I attended a community event on Saturday morning on Brunswick Gardens in Handsworth in my capacity as newly elected Councillor for Lozells and East Handsworth Ward.

Local residents have been working for months with West Midlands Police, Midlands Heart, Groundwork and Birmingham City council to claim back the alleyways that run between Albert Rd and Herbert Rd.

Through neighbourhood management led by Handsworth Neighbourhood Manager Tracey Thorne, the local community were able to get some funding to clean up the area and put in new fences and get an alcohol restriction sign up. Despite neighbourhood management come to an end, it was great to see Tracey return to the community she served and attend the event. Tracey along with Gillian Lloyd [Former Lozells Neighbourhood Manager] and Yvonne Wager [Former Birchfield Neighbourhood Manager] built strong relationships with the local community and continue to stay in contact on a voluntary basis. This clearly conveys how passionate some public sector officers are to their jobs and the communities they serve.

At the end of neighbourhood management local residents led by Sonia Hymen, Marlene Graham and Selwyn Clarke were keen to keep on with their plans to transform this area.

They have been working with Wilkes Green Infants School and Groundwork to create some mosaics which have just been fitted on site this week.In the next few weeks the iron art panels will be fitted along the metal fence to really help change the feel of the alleyway when you walk through. The designs have been chosen by local people and represent the diversity and culture of Handsworth; Handsworth Park, Handsworth carnival, Vaisakhi, cricket & music etc.  

Slowly but surely residents plans to improve this area are beginning to take real shape. Sometimes it is these small things that make a big difference to local people so it was great to see how wonderful the mosaics look. It was also great to see so many kids enjoying the games provided by Groundwork Street games team.

Next steps for the residents is to try and get agreements in place to keep the alleyways clean and to take over management of the small piece of land adjacent to the alleyway. I was pleased to offer local residents support along with and Sgt Dan Wickenden & PCSO Stacie Muir from West Midlands Police. It is important that local residents are supported to sustain the outstanding work.