Liam said:

"Our young people have been sold out twice by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition council. Not only have they sold the playing fields to a supermarket giant for an unwanted and unneeded store, they have agreed a paltry compensation sum.

For the full story please click here.

Beaufort Sports & Social Club
Friday 20th October, 7:00pm– 8:30pm

Liam Byrne and the Hodge Hill Councillors - Cllrs Beddows, Nangle and Ward - in association with Hodge Hill Residents’ Association have called a public meeting for this Friday evening to enable local residents to hear about the proposed changes and to have their say on them.

The Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Paul Tilsley, has been invited to attend the meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee (Property). This is the committee that will decide whether the sale of part of the playing field goes ahead.

We hope as many residents as possible will attend as this will be the last opportunity for members of the community to have their say on the proposals.

7:00pm Planning Application update
7:45pm Councillor Paul Tilsley – Chairman Cabinet Committee (Property)
8:30pm Close

If you are unable to attend the meeting, but still want to have your say on the plans, please email Liam: byrnel@parliament.uk.

In a letter to Birmingham City Council’s planning department, the Hodge Hill MP has set out his objections to Tesco’s amended planning application for the Fox and Goose, highlighting the fact that whilst Tesco will benefit immensely from the store, the local community will suffer long-lasting damage.

Liam said:

“Tesco’s plans to build on the Brockhurst playing fields are disastrous for Hodge Hill residents. Not only will we lose green space but the traffic congestion and the increase in both air and noise pollution will be unbearable.

“Tesco’s profits are sky high yet this money will stay in their highly-paid boardroom and not make its way to our community nor to local workers. Our local traders are under threat and this is damaging not just for small business owners but the whole public. Tesco will bleed us dry in Hodge Hill.”

“Tesco make a profit of £78.34 per square foot nationally, meaning the Hodge Hill store will make almost £3 million in its first year; and they are making more and more money with each year. Yet council estimates show that the one-off contribution of money they will put back into our community is likely to be around £1.5 million. In other words, Tesco will have made back its money in just 6 months and whilst Tesco continues to profit, Hodge Hill will suffer for years to come.”

Liam will speak alongside local Labour councillors at a public meeting tonight which will allow local residents to hear about the proposed changes to Tesco’s planning application and have their say.

With the consultation period for objections about to close, the presence of Cllr Paul Tilsley in his capacity as Chair of Birmingham City Council’s Property Committee will mean it is the last chance for residents of Hodge Hill to voice their objections to Tesco’s plans. Local campaigners will also be present.

Liam added:

“The strength of feeling in the area has been immense and neither Tesco nor the council can ignore it. We do not want a superstore on the playing fields and we do not want Tesco damaging our community.

“At current rates, Tesco make over £70 profit every second of every day and they will make millions each year from this store if it goes ahead whilst the people of Hodge Hill have to deal with the consequences. Tesco does not need another store here, but we need the Brockhurst playing field.”

With the support of the local community and campaign groups, Liam has pledged to continue to lead the campaign and fight all the way for Hodge Hill residents to protect their area from profit-driven supermarkets.

For details of the amendments to Tesco's planning application please click here for Birmingham City Council's planning website.

Click here to read the letter of objection Liam sent to the council.

Liam Says No to Supermarket Suburb

Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill today stepped up the fight against a Tesco store being built on the Brockhurst playing fields by writing to Birmingham City Council with fresh evidence of the catastrophic effect that supermarkets and their practices can have on local communities.

Mr Byrne has written to Cllr Ken Hardeman, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, with a copy of the ‘Highstreet Britain 2015' report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shops which highlights the possibility of a Tesco megastore turning Hodge Hill into a supermarket suburb.

Click here to read the full story

Click here to download a copy of the report

Click here to read Cllr Hardeman's response

RESIDENTS SHOW UNITED FRONT AGAINST TESCO BID

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.

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