I am delighted to let you know that Anesco Ltd has withdrawn its appeal and the public enquiry set for 4 days at the end of August 2023 has been cancelled.

You will remember our campaign to stop the construction of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Chapel Lane on the Green Belt. Anesco Ltd applied to build up to 28,  2.3m high battery units in open countryside starting in 2021. I called a meeting with Beacon Action Group attended by over 50 local residents on 26 November 2021 at the Great Barr Memorial Hall to talk through the proposals . The meeting overwhelmingly agreed to oppose the application. I wrote to the Chief Executive of Anesco to state the opposition to the proposals, that it was on Green Belt land, the Battery Storage facilities were not safe and Anesco had not considered alternative sites (see 'Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)' on 17/12/2021). There was also an issue with two applications with two different dates. After the extended consultation, Anesco Ltd submitted an 'Alternative Site Assessment' but no other feasible site was put forward.

On 8 June 2022, I spoke about the proposal in the Westminster Hall debate 'Solar Farms and Battery Storage', voicing my constituents' concerns that Councils have the ability to approve an unwanted application by bringing it to the Cabinet or Planning Committee without taking into account residents' views . In August 2022 I again wrote to Walsall Council objecting to the planning application, and on 1 December 2022 the planning application for the battery storage site on Chapel Lane was refused.  The Planning Committee acknowledged receipt of over 300 comments objecting to the proposals, including my letters and objections from local groups and residents. 

Anesco Ltd filed an appeal against this decision, which would have been heard by an Inspector in August with local residents ready to give evidence but they have now withdrawn their appeal and the public enquiry has been cancelled.

There was much hard work and research that went into this campaign from the community residents and Action Groups. It now means Grade II agricultural land on Chapel Lane, on our Green Belt, is safe and the residents who live nearby do not have to worry about an eyesore or fires and the nearby St Margaret's Church Great Barr a heritage asset is protected. This is a victory for local people.

You can find more information about the Campaign on my website by checking these previous posts: Chapel Lane Residents meeting  26 November 2021; Westminster Hall Debate on Battery Storage 8 June 2022; Response objecting to Battery Storage Facility 18 August 2022 and Application for Battery Storage Facility Rejection 9 December 2022.

IKEA 80 Years Anniversary, congratulations! My clever member of staff made it from the kit. Thank you so much for the yummy cake and Happy Birthday.    

A fabulous DIY kit sent to me to assemble a birthday cake. Great to have you in the constituency Wednesbury/Birmingham. 

Visit Britain held an event and I visited the drop-in event in the Atlee Suite on the 18 July 2023. Visit Britain showcases the countries’ rich heritage and provides insights into the diverse attractions that Britain has to offer. The picture above shows me with Patricia Yates, CEO of Visit Britain.



Visit Britain has taken a creative and innovative approach to showcase the diverse experiences that Great Britain has to offer through their captivating advertising campaign, 'See Things Differently.' With a play on Britain's love for tea, this campaign has is intended to draw in visitors from Europe, the GCC, Canada, and the USA. Through destination images, short films, and engaging activities, VisitBritain invites travellers to explore the country like never before, promising that there's something for everyone - whatever your cup of tea may be!

I am pictured with Nick de Bois CBE, the Chairman of the British Tourist Authority. I am holding a tea caddy with a special tea made by the Tregothnan Estate, Truro, Cornwall called 'Weird and Wonderful tea'.

For more information on the Campaign, you can visit the site here:
https://www.visitbritain.com/en/how-see-things-differently-britain-2023
You can also follow them on Twitter: @VisitBritain
And Instagram: @lovegreatbritain

I attended a drop-in event on 18 July 2023 hosted by the Arts Council to promote their ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, a programme designed to help people take part in creative and cultural events specific to their local area and community and focused on parts of the country where involvement in creativity and culture is significantly below the national average. You can find out more about the programme here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/creative-people-and-places-0

Creative People and Places funds 8 projects across the Midlands. Creative Black Country (CBC) is the project that covers Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. You can find out more about their ongoing projects, access podcasts made by locals and discover local volunteering opportunities here:
https://www.creativeblackcountry.co.uk/

CBC work with the community in Walsall to explore and develop new creative projects and regularly work alongside local experienced creatives and specialists. I met Sajida Carr, Director of Operations and Development for Creative Black Country who told me about upcoming projects and events in Walsall. Over 2022, Creative Black Country worked with artist Jason Wilsher-Mills who was commissioned to produce the wonderful ‘Walsall Water Argonaut’, an inflatable 6.5m tall sculpture, that was co-designed with local disabled people, and floated on Walsall’s Arboretum Lake and The Wharf Canal Basin.

If you have an idea for a project you would like to discuss you can contact the Creative Advisor for Walsall, Richard Franks: [email protected]

I voted against the Government's Illegal Migration Bill on Monday 17 July. The Commons considered the Lords amendments to the Bill. There were nine amendments but all the Lords amendments were voted down. The votes were as follows:

 Lords amendments 1B, 7B and 90D disagreed to. Votes: 298 - 213

 Lords amendment 9B disagreed to.  Votes: 307 - 208

 Lords amendment 23B disagreed to. Votes:300 - 212

 Amendments 36A and 36B insisted upon, and Lords amendments 36C and 36D disagreed to. Votes: 289 - 220

 Lords amendment 33B disagreed to. Votes: 208-200

 Lords amendment 56B disagreed to. Votes: 282 - 227

 Lords amendment 102B disagreed to. Votes: 284 - 226

 Lords amendment 103B disagreed to. Votes: 297 - 214

 Lords amendments 107B and 107C disagreed to.  Votes: 292 - 215

I supported amendments to ensure the Bill is consistent with international law, to provide for the wellbeing of unaccompanied children, to protect LGBT asylum seekers, and to protect victims of trafficking. This legislation orders the Home Secretary to detain asylum seekers and it is not clear where. 

On 17 July 2023 the House of Lords considered the Commons amendments and did not send a message back to the Commons with amendments. The Illegal Migration Bill received Royal Assent on 20 July 2023. The legislation will "change the law so that those who arrive in the UK illegally will not be able to stay here and will instead be detained and then promptly removed, either to their home country or a safe third country" (gov.uk).