RESIDENTS SHOW UNITED FRONT AGAINST TESCO BID

Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill today urged local residents to show a united front against the Lib Dem / Tory Council’s decision to sell off Hodge Hill’s green soul for a fast buck.

At a fiery residents meeting on Thursday 18th May 2006, organised by local councillor Anita Ward and the local action group, residents expressed anger at Birmingham City Council’s decision to sell 17% of the Brockhurst Playing Fields to Tesco – despite the supermarket giant not yet having planning permission.

Local Councillors Mike Nangle, Anita Ward, and newly elected councillor Gill Beddows called on local residents to sign a petition calling on the council to give a commitment that if the sell off goes ahead that 100% of the money received for the land is spent in the Hodge Hill area for the benefit of the residents whose quality of life will be affected by the development.

Liam and the local Labour team will be campaigning over the next few weeks against the development on the basis of the negative impacts it will have on:
 Local businesses;
 Our community’s health – both in terms of the loss of green space, and the extra pollution.
 A huge increase in heavy goods lorries and customer traffic – on already overcrowded roads in Hodge Hill.

Liam said

“I’m outraged at the Council’s decision to ‘dispose’ of this land to Tesco’s without planning permission having been granted. It is a clear sign that they intend to through plans with little regard to the strong opposition of our community, and local elected representatives.”

“Before the local elections, the Lib Dems ran a ‘Good Morning’ campaign saying that we had got it wrong. Now the truth is out – this should be a wake up call for local residents, that our community’s green space is not safe with the Liberals.”

“As for the Tory administration, they claimed if you ‘Vote Blue, you go green’. The truth is that if your council is blue, your green goes. This is not a long term solution – it’s simply cleared the way for a quick sale to make a fast buck at the expense of local people.”

“At this time more than ever we need to show a united front”.

Newly elected Cllr Gill Beddows said

“We need to make sure that the council don’t cut and run with our community’s cash – the proceeds of sale must go back into our community. Our green legacy should not be used to fill black holes in the council’s housing plan.”

Cllr Anita Ward said

“"The residents of Hodge Hill have fought long and hard to protect Brockhurst Playing Field from this development and for the Council to now be considering the sell off without any reference to the local community's view is grossly unfair and undermines the meaning of the democracy. The people have spoken loud and clear - They don't want Tesco here."”

ENDS