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 Conservative party candidate for Allens Cross ward, where one seat is being decided: Eddie Freeman.
The Allen’s cross ward is a small community and feels like an extended part of my back garden. Working together we can better the area which is already a good place to live and work.
From the age of fourteen I have been working within our local community. I helped set up coffee shop at Quarry Road Community church. This is where my passion in wanting to help people and better our area started.
I have since continued to live within the heart of the Allens’s Cross for thirty three years and work on the ward too. Living locally gives me a personal insight to the issues that are going on throughout the ward, if it effects you it will affect me. During this time I have set up a residents association and neighbourhood watch. Then I became a founder of the housing and the police liaison boards. Progressing on to being asked to be a trustee at the Allen’s Cross community centre, a governor at Weoley Castle nursery and I am now an ambassador for Merritts brook Academy.
Over the years I am proud to say I have accomplished a lot for our area. With the support of the community we have managed to retain our lollipop patrols. After listening to your concerns about safety on public highways and our green spaces we had security lighting installed. Parents approached me about road safety outside schools and with regards to other roads on the ward, we fought to obtain the much need crossings and traffic lights at those points of concern. I am currently petitioning to get a 30mph speed limit on Shenley Lane. I regularly do walk abouts with the Amey contractors, litters pick and removal of fly tipping and fighting to keep our local bus services running, all on our ward. I petitioned to keep the Northfield Baths, in Northfield and to stop the cuts to the council’s animal’s welfare department.
During my time in council I sat on the City Housing liaison board, I sat on housing and transportation committee.
If there are any issues I will always try my best to sort them out, I am never afraid to get my sleeves rolled up and help whatever to maybe.
I won’t promise to have all the answers but I ill promise to always be there to support the residents on the Allen’s Cross Ward as I always have done.
I cannot change what happening nationally but I help to change things locally.
It would be an honour to be the first Councillor on the New Allen’s Cross Ward
Warmest Regards
Eddie Freeman
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