Andy Street vows to wrestle Sutton Park from Birmingham City Council but opponent says 'he's clutching'

The Conservative candidate for the upcoming West Midlands Mayor election has vowed to ‘fight’ to wrestle control of Sutton Coldfield ’s main park away from Birmingham City Council and into a three-way trust. Andy Street is bidding to become the mayor for the region for a third time this Thursday (May 2) when the mayoral election takes place.

And just days ahead of the election, he has given a scathing verdict on Birmingham City Council ’s treatment of Sutton Park, and added his name to Tories in Sutton looking to get the park into a Trust so 'much-needed investment' can be found for the beauty spot.

A year ago Councillor Majid Mahmood, the city council’s cabinet member for the Environment, told Sutton town council leader, Simon Ward that he did not think the Trust proposal ‘add any further financial strength or resources to Sutton Park’.

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He added: “Neither do we believe it is desirable for the governance and ownership of Sutton Park to move out of a democratically elected local authority and the statutory signatories to the current Heritage Partnership Agreement.“

His alternative plan was for a Quincentenary Project Board to be set up ahead of the 500 ^th anniversary of Sutton Coldfield’s Royal Charter in 2028 and said; “The QPB will develop and jointly fund a range of initiatives that will make practical improvements and investments within Sutton Park over the coming five years and begin preparations for a significant civic event in 2028 to mark the Quincentenary of the Charter.”

But Mr Street criticised the city council’s rejection of a plan to bring Sutton Park under the control of a new Trust, which would also involve an unnamed ‘national charity’, Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and the city council. Trust status would unlock the ability to apply for grants, Sutton Conservative councillors and the town’s MP, Andrew Mitchell have claimed.

It is the first time the former John Lewis boss has spoken out directly about Sutton Park, saying ‘we can’t allow Birmingham council to neglect this beautiful place’. As well as the trust status idea, Mr Street has also criticised the city council’s plan to charge motorists to use Sutton Park, as the city council bids to plug its multi-million-pound financial black hole.

Mr Street has made an election pledge to make the Trust plan a reality. He said: “Sutton Park is one of the West Midlands’ true gems and the people of Sutton Coldfield care deeply about it. It’s part of the fabric of Sutton and has been used by local people for centuries.

“I know that right now residents are very concerned about how the financial crisis at Birmingham council is going to impact on the park. The city council are now proposing a daily parking charge of £5, with no suggestion that the money from it will benefit the park.

“Look at what has happened to the Sea Rangers, who were forced to leave their home of 40 years at the park’s Boldmere Gate, because Birmingham council increased their rent from £1 to £6,000 – a 600,000 per cent increase. This can’t be right.

“I believe it’s time for the park to be placed in a Trust – it’s a simple idea that will share responsibility across the two councils and bring in much-needed outside expertise, and funding. Crucially, it will give Sutton people a say in what happens to their park.

“Anyone who knows their Sutton Coldfield history knows that Henry VIII gave the park to the people of the town centuries ago. It’s an intrinsic part of the place’s character. If I am re-elected, I will fight to push through this proposal, and give Sutton Coldfield people more control of this gem, so they have a direct say in protecting it. We can’t allow Birmingham council to neglect this beautiful place.”

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Sutton’s MP, Andrew Mitchell, added his support to Mr Street and said: “We are delighted to have the power and support of Andy. Our Park is deteriorating every day because of the continued lack of investment from Birmingham City Council. Having Andy on board is a huge boost because if re-elected, he will work with me and Sutton’s Conservative councillors on the town and city councils to make this Trust happen.”

With Sutton town council leader Cllr Simon Ward adding: "Andy’s support in this will be welcomed by all Sutton Coldfield residents, who are fed up of seeing their park fall into a sorrier and sorrier state.

“These proposals came out of an independent report which highlighted the worsening state of our park – but they were rejected in a two-page response. “However, this isn’t about pointing a finger of blame, it’s about coming up with a structure that is best for the park, that protects it from the impact of cuts caused by Birmingham’s financial issues and that safeguards its future.”

But the Labour candidate for the West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, has said Andy Street is ‘clutching at straws’ with his proposal to back a Trust plan for Sutton Park. Richard Parker said: “I have been deeply involved in discussions and site meetings with Sutton Vesey City Councillor Rob Pocock about an investment model that would link the regeneration of the Sutton Town centre with a new vision for the adjoining Sutton Park, working with its national partners.

"As West Midlands Mayor this is something I can actually contribute in real practical terms for the people of Sutton, unlike so many endless empty promises and platitudes from the current Mayor who is just clutching at straws.”

Sutton Vesey town and city councillor, Rob Pocock (Lab.) added: “The town council and Andrew Mitchell have come up with a half-baked idea about a tin-pot Trust that’s going nowhere. They simply don’t understand the way national assets like Sutton Park are run and managed.

“For example, it’s actually overseen by a Heritage Partnership Agreement in which Natural England, Historic England, the Environment Agency and others including park users and volunteers are intimately involved. That’s how it acquires its accredited status as a National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Scheduled Ancient Monument. It’s more akin to a National Park than a little local town council’s park.

“The idea of tearing it up and dishing it out to an unaccountable third party is ridiculous. Sutton Park will stay firmly in public hands and will not be sacrificed to the political opportunism of the likes of Andy Street and Andrew Mitchell.”

The full candidates list for Thursday's West Midlands Mayoral election and an idea of what they stand for:

• Andy Street - Conservatives

• Richard Parker - Labour

• Elaine Williams - ReformUK

• Akhmed Yakoob - Independent

• Sunny Virk - Liberal Democrats

• Siobhan Harper-Nunes - Green Party