Heathway demands back stolen council cash

Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, today joined with local councillor Marje Bridle, shopkeepers and residents to demand cash back from the Lib Dem / Tory council for regeneration of the shopping centre at the Heathway in Shard End.

Liam and Shard End Councillor Marje Bridle have discovered that plans were ready to go out to tender over a month ago. But council bosses have let down local people by cutting funding at the last minute to pay for projects in other parts of the city.

Marje has collected a petition of more than 500 people ‘demanding the the Tory / Lib Dem coalition running the council give back the money promised for the improvement of the Heathway shopping centre'. Residents and shopkeepers are furious at another broken promise from the Lib Dems and Tories.

The works would have seen much needed improvements to local shops, improved access for disabled people, and regeneration of the local area. Around £3000 has already been spent on consultations for the project – but plans have been shelved - the Lib Dems and Tories have let down the people of Shard End once again.

Cllr Marje Bridle said

‘Yet again the Tory / Lib Dem coalition running the council have stolen money from Shard End to give to their friends in Sutton Coldfield. This is Shard End's money and we will fight to get it back.'

Liam Byrne said

‘I am becoming increasingly concerned about the future of regeneration projects under the control of this Tory / Lib Dem coalition. It seems they would prefer to pay for clock repairs in Sutton, rather than pay for local projects that could make a real difference to Shard End shoppers.'

Alan Grainger owner of the Tackle Box on the Heathway said

‘This has been promised to us for 3 years now - every year the council have let us down. We pay rates to the council like everyone else – a lot of shopkeepers in Shard End are sick of their broken promises.'

ENDS