John Doherty –  Labour’s Candidate For Elmdon

I have lived around the Elmdon area for the last 58 years, I also worked at Jaguar Land Rover on Lode Lane for 17 years, so I have a great deal of knowledge about the area and it’s residents.

I re-joined the Labour Party in 2015 after I was a member during the 90’s. I have also been a member of the UNITE Union for the past 30 years, and even though I am retired I am still a member. I am currently a member of: Coronavirus Community Champions Group, the Solihull CLP Health and Social Care Policy Group, the disability rights group DPAC, the University Hospitals Birmingham Trust, West Midlands Tourettes Action, and for the past couple of years I have volunteered at Birmingham Christmas Shelter. After I left JLR, I spent a year as volunteer at the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre, providing advice and guidance to people with disabilities and their families. Subsequently I worked at Solihull College as a Learning Support Worker for 3 years, working with young adults with both physical and learning disabilities.

If elected as Councillor for Elmdon, I would represent the interests of the local residents, unlike the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats who only protect the interests of their own individual Party. Before and during the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Solihull Conservatives have consistently cut funding to local Council services and Charitable organisations that support residents of Elmdon, whether it be for Mental Health, or supporting Low Income Families, the Elderly and the Vulnerable who not only need the proper support, but have to rely on charity and Food Banks. They have also deceived the Elmdon residents, by denying that they would be relocating the Recycling Cycling Centre from Bickenhill to Green Belt land on Damson Parkway (due to the HS2 project running through the current site), only to be found out by the local media what their real intentions were. If Mark and I are elected to the Council we would strongly oppose any proposals to relocate the Recycling Centre to Damson Parkway.

Meanwhile the Solihull Liberal Democrats have also forgotten about the residents in Elmdon, due to their constant infighting and the resignation of one of their own Councillors, and letting the Conservatives hoodwink them over relocation of the Recycling Centre. Speaking to local residents, they have expressed concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour within Elmdon and feel that the Liberal Democrats have failed to control this. I would take firm measures by working with local Police and trying to find a way to restore Youth Services back to the area.

By voting for Mark and myself at the forthcoming Council Elections on May the 6th, the residents of Elmdon will have two local Representatives who will speak for the people, and have good knowledge of the local area.

Elmdon Labour Candidate,

John James Doherty