It has been brought to my attention that the Ambulance Station at Solihull Hospital will close at the end of January 2020.

I am told that senior managers at the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) decided almost three weeks ago to close the Ambulance Station but chose to delay the announcement until after the December 12th general election because it was deemed 'politically sensitive'.

If true, this is a major blow for the residents of Solihull.  The prospect of having to wait for an ambulance to arrive from Erdington, on the other side of the M6 Spaghetti Junction, is deeply concerning.

I am seriously concerned that this could put lives at risk. Therefore, I implore WMAS to reconsider their position and keep the Ambulance Station and its staff in Solihull.

Councillor Ade Adeyemo has called on Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, to conduct a review of the recent 'East Birmingham and North Solihull Consultation’ carried out by National Express West Midlands (NXWM), in collaboration with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)  
 
Commenting on the proposed changes to bus services in Solihull, Councillor Adeyemo said, "Several residents in my ward (Lyndon) have complained about the manner in which the consultation was handled.  
 
'Firstly, the consultation was advertised as 'East Birmingham and North Solihull', with a 'public stakeholder session' arranged in Kingshurst.  In fact, a whole raft of changes is proposed to bus services in the south of the borough. Most of these changes were not well publicised and many bus users will not be aware of the changes until they come into force at the beginning of September. 
 
"Secondly, I am particularly concerned that NXWM published new timetables for the routes being consulted upon before having the opportunity to review consultation responses.  What is the point in holding a consultation when the 'result' has been pre-determined? 
 
"Finally, why was the consultation held in the middle of the holiday period?  Surely, both NXWM and TfWM would know that holding such a consultation during the holiday period, when a lot of bus users are away, would exclude most from the consultation!
 
"This so-called consultation has been a massive waste of everyone's time!  Ultimately this sham of a consultation only serves to erode what little faith Solihull's bus users have in National Express West Midlands (NXWM) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
 
"It is for all of the above reasons that I have written to Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, expressing my concern about the way in which this consultation has been carried out.  This is happening on Mr Street's watch and he should be just as concerned as I am about the shabby way that NXWM and TfWM are treating the residents of Solihull.  I hope that The Mayor will now conduct an urgent review of how this consultation was carried out as well as the suitability and efficiency of bus services in Solihull.
 
"Over the past few years, we have seen changes to bus services pushed through with scant regard for the needs of bus users in Solihull.  Changes have included alterations to bus routes and timetables and in some cases, outright cancellation of routes that local people have come to rely upon. Changes to bus routes also have a disproportionate impact on elderly, disabled and visually-impaired users.
 
Councillor Adeyemo was also critical of Conservative-led Solihull Council, which he has accused of "Sitting back and being passive whilst bus companies play fast and loose with routes that local residents rely on.
 
"Routes have been changed, the numbers of buses per hour have been reduced and some services have been stopped altogether, all in the name of 'efficiency savings'.  In the meantime, bus users in Solihull are having to endure longer waits for buses to arrive.
 
"Solihull Council is supposed to be working in partnership with TfWM and the bus operators.  However, it is rare that anything is ever done when bus operators cut or make major changes to essential routes.  Standing by and 'allowing' the former 37 bus service (now Number 4) to bypass the critical Olton Station transport hub is a glaring example of this inaction.  Right now, the bus operators call the shots, to the detriment of local residents.
 
"Solihull deserves better.  We demand better"!

​
​The Department of Health confirmed funding on Monday for the Ambulatory Care and Diagnostics (ACAD) Centre to be built at Heartlands Hospital.  The state-of-the-art facility will help manage the Trust’s growing activity and the needs of patients across Birmingham and Solihull.

Councillor Adeyemo said, “This is yet another example of the Solihull MP claiming credit for something he had nothing to do with.  The ACAD facility was on the cards well before Julian Knight became aware of it.”

Planning permission for the new ACAD facility was granted in 2017.  Demolition of buildings on the site started in 2018 with construction works scheduled to start in 'spring 2019'.  Construction of the new facility is scheduled to complete in 'late 2020'.

“Sadly, we are now used to this MP’s hypocrisy and his habit of claiming credit for everything under the sun.

"Solihull deserves better than this.  We deserve an MP who represents the wishes, hopes and aspirations of the people of Solihull.

"We demand better".
 
Councillor Ade Adeyemo
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Solihull

​“I was horrified to read Julian Knight describe the subject of School Funding as “tosh” on Twitter this week”, Councillor Laura McCarthy said.
 
Councillor McCarthy was responding to comments on Twitter by the Solihull MP about school funding and his assertion that claims of underfunding were based on “misleading figures”.
 
Councillor McCarthy added, “However flawed the statistics (to which he refers), what is clear to everyone, except for Julian Knight, is that Solihull’s schools are suffering from chronic underfunding.
 
“Headteachers, Teachers, Governing Bodies, School Support Staff, PTAs, and parents have repeatedly warned that Solihull schools are underfunded. 
 
“We have heard from teachers who have paid for pencils from their own pockets, schools that photocopy books for home reading as they just don’t have enough to go around, and from PTA volunteers who are making themselves unwell whilst trying to raise funds for essential resources.
 
“Our children are being disadvantaged by chronic underfunding and schools across Solihull are fighting an uphill battle to ensure that every child is given the best possible start in life. 
 
“I have heard it said by Conservative colleagues that schools should just make more cuts. The truth is, there is nothing left to cut. Solihull schools have been bled dry. What they need is proper funding.
 
“Our schools are in crisis and are screaming for help. “When will the MP who is supposed to represent them listen?  Solihull deserves better."