DAWKINS: GREENS UNDERMINING STIRCHLEY REVAMP

26-04-2008

Birmingham councillor Nigel Dawkins has hit back at claims made on the Stirrer website that he tried to disrupt a community meeting organised by the Green Party in Stirchley. The Greens are opposed to plans for a new Tesco supermarket, but Dawkins says this will undermine much needed regeneration in the area.

The Stirrer – as always – is keen to hear all sides of a story so after yesterday’s account submitted by one of our readers Buddy (see link here) we gave the councillor a chance to reply.

This is what he told us – uncensored and unedited:

“This was a meeting organised by the Green Party one week before a local election. The meeting was entitled ‘Stop TESCO’. I went there to ensure that the case was heard, above all the anti TESCO ranting of the Green Party, for the regeneration of Stirchley.

“The Green Party have never shown any interest in Stirchley and have never had any public meetings regarding the proposed TESCO development in Stirchley until last night.

“That is their prerogative. However their political opportunism and their anti TESCO sentiment, could, if they got their way, derail the planned regeneration of Stirchley.

“Stirchley had been in decline for 30 years. It needs a massive influx of capital.  Only the two retail developments on the table; TESCO and the CO-OP have the potential to reverse this decline.

“Not only will there be huge regeneration including new retails stores and new leisure facilities but there will also be investment in local parks and landscaping.

“Significantly, though, the regeneration will also bring back into use after 20 years of dereliction, the Stirchley Baths site converted into a community facility for the residents of Stirchley.

“The Green Party are seeking to exploit this issue for political advantage. There care nothing for Stirchley. The three Green members on the front desk encouraging people to oppose the TESCO development were not even from the area.

“I made in clear many times last night that I wasn’t a supporter of TESCO but I was a supporter of Stirchley and the need for large-scale regeneration of Stirchley.

“I will support any group, whether it is TESCO, the CO-OP or any other developer, which can generate the huge sums of money needed to regenerate Stirchley.

“However, I will vigorously oppose, as I did last night, misguided efforts by any political party which seeks to undermine the regeneration of Stirchley that is so desperately needed.”