Thornhill Road Police Station and Handsworth Library – Reduced Service
Many local residents have over the past few weeks conveyed concern relating to two key facilities within the Lozells and East Handsworth Ward namely the Thornhill Road Police Station and the Handsworth Library.
I would like to invite you to a Public Meeting on Saturday, 26th November 2pm-4pm at City College Birmingham, Handsworth Campus, Soho Road, Birmingham, B21 9DP (Soho Road Entrance). The meeting will allow local residents to raise their concerns on the two issues as well as gain a better understanding of the current plans from local elected members and senior representatives from the agencies.
Representatives from West Midlands Police and BIrmingham City Council will address the meeting alongside:
- Khalid Mahmood MP (Birmingham Perry Barr)
- Bishop Derek Webley (Chair of the West Midlands Police Authority)
- Mike Olley (Prospective Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands Police)
The agenda is for a discussion on Handsworth Library between 2pm-3pm followed by a discussion on the ‘proposed’ overnight closure of Thornhill Road Police Station at 3pm. The meeting will agree action points for the community and elected members to work together on.
It is important that local residents have an opportunity to hold elected members and agencies to account and this meeting is about giving local residents a greater say on decisions impacting on them. I am conscious that these issues will unfortunately become a regular occurrence with the level of public sector cuts being implemented across all agencies and departments. However, I will work alongside other elected members and the community to protect front line services such as Thornhill Road Police Station and the Handsworth Library.
Please forward this invite across your networks to ensure that as many local residents and stakeholders are aware of the meeting and can attend at such short notice.
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Thank you.
Yours truly,
Waseem Zaffar
Councillor for Lozells & East Handsworth Ward