As part of our 2018 Local Election coverage, we have contacted each candidate standing in 16 wards across South West Birmingham, asking them to contribute to this election’s ’500 Words’ series.
Each candidate has been invited to describe themselves and their campaigns in their own words. Their submissions will be published – without editing – in the order that they are received. Should they be longer than 500 words, they will be cropped.
With the formation of new wards across the city, this is an all-out election, with every seat up for grabs. Some wards have one seat and some have two. Learn more about the ward changes and your candidates.
Our latest submission comes from one of two Conservative candidates for Bournville and Cotteridge ward, where two seats are being decided: Peter Douglas Osborn
Peter Douglas Osborn was educated in Birmingham, and trained as a Mining Engineer on the Northumberland and Durham Coalfield, as well as working in Yorkshire and Africa.
He played Rugby for Kings Norton from 1975 for 6 years, ending up in the 1st.XV, with many local people who still live in Bournville and the surrounding area.
He served on the West Midlands County Council, the West Midlands Police Committee, and the board of Birmingham Airport.
He ran a small manufacturing operation based at the Savoy Works in Cotteridge until competition from the Far East made it unviable. He changed his business into earth moving equipment supply.
Elected in 2000 onto the City Council for Weoley Peter Douglas Osborn has represented Bournville Village Trust properties for nearly 18 years. He also served on the board of Bournville College for 15 years.
He was Chairman of the Birmingham Conservation Trust (whose successful projects included the “Back to Backs” and the “Coffin Works” – the purchase of which he negotiated from Advantage West Midlands.) BIrmingham then made him one of two Heritage Champions.
Later he was promoted to be Chairman of the Planning Committee, and for four years held that position until a change in City control. He has been on the Planning Committee ever since, but now is also on the West Midlands Police and Crime Commission Panel, and the West Midlands Combined Authority Mayoral scrutiny panel. He is Chairman of Shencare Community Transport which is based in the new Bournville Ward at Welches Close, which is a non profit making company dealing with special needs transport.
He is a committed cleaner air campaigner, and frequently speaks on green walls, green roofs, and green technology as well as planting over 500 trees (to increase the canopy) during his time in office. He has campaigned with the Mayor, Andy Street, on improvements to public transport, such as reopening the Camp Hill line which includes the Moseley and Camp Hill stations together with a major upgrade for Kings Norton. With his colleagues he is also trying to protect the People’s Parkland from the Labour plan to build on 8 acres a year.
He is very keen at “hands on” rubbish collection as a means of improving local neighbourhoods and includes the A38 Bristol Road in his list of frequent tidying up!
For his Masters Degree in Urban Design he produced plans to help solve the Housing Crisis with a typical Brummie solution, including building up in the centre, but reducing the height of homes out towards the suburbs.
He believes, as George Cadbury (one of his heroes) said “no one should be forced to live anywhere he cannot grow a rose!”
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