I thanked residents who attended my latest Coffee Morning at Batchley Community Centre, where local people raised concerns about fly tipping, damp and mould in homes, anti-social behaviour and road safety around Hewell Road and Batchley Road. Residents also highlighted the need for more youth provision, school parking solutions and interest in a residents’ association. I confirmed my team is already following up cases with the council, housing providers and police. I will now hold further...

I visited Acts of Kindness (Redditch Foodbank) on Church Green East to support this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal. I met Wellbeing Project Manager Nancy Deakin and volunteers, seeing gift-wrapping sessions and hearing how the team is ensuring children from families facing hardship receive presents this Christmas. I praised the charity’s year-round work and said no child should wake up without a gift. I encouraged residents and local businesses to donate new, unwrapped toys, volunteer at...

Thank you to everyone who has got in touch regrading the private planning application to turn Hotel Rafiya into a 51 unit house of multiple occupancy. I have shared my objections as a local stakeholder, and you can too. I do not believe that this is a suitable site for such a rapid increase in residents, and without upgrading local provision and infrastructure, this would put an unnecessary straight on local services. I also have concerns about the quality of the proposed housing and think...