ADRIAN BAILEY LEADS TENANTS TO SUCCESS IN CAMPAIGN OVER TIPTON HOUSING OFFICE CLOSURE

West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey and campaigning Tipton residents were today(Mon) celebrating success in a bid to maintain services following the announced closure of a neighbourhood housing office.

More than 1,500 residents put their names to a petition voicing concerns over plans by Sandwell Homes to close its Tipton neighbourhood office.

The petition was presented to Mr Bailey who took up the cause and began talks with the homes provider.

The MP’s intervention has now led to Sandwell Homes agreeing to hold surgeries for residents with housing queries at a nearby venue.

Tenants will soon be able to call in at St Paul’s Community Centre in Brick Kiln Street to raise issues with housing officers.

Mr Bailey said: “The planned closure of Sandwell Homes’ Tipton neighbourhood office caused great concern among many tenants and I was presented with a petition calling for action.

“Following talks I held with Sandwell Council and Sandwell Homes, it became obvious that, despite the objections, it was necessary for the office to close.

“As a result, I suggested that housing surgeries could be held at St Paul's Community Centre on one or two days a week so that residents could raise problems personally with housing officers.

“I am delighted that Sandwell Homes has agreed and come up with a solution.”

Sandwell Homes has now announced that it is to hold housing surgeries at the St Paul’s centre on:

Tuesdays; 10.00am - 12.00noon.
Thursdays; 2.30pm - 4.00pm

Sandwell Homes communications and marketing manager Keith Blackwell said: “We have discussed this with Adrian Bailey and we are pleased to have been able to find a solution which we hope will satisfy people.

"Alternative arrangements are being made for customers to be able to access our services at surgeries at St Paul's Community Centre and in order to accommodate customers they will open on one morning and one afternoon.

"The sessions will be on Tuesdays from 10am - 12 noon and on Thursdays from 2.30pm - 4pm so as many people as possible will have the chance to get there.

"There are also still the neighbourhood office facilities nearby at Princes End and Great Bridge."

ENDS.

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Notes to editors:

• Adrian Bailey is the Labour and Co-Operative member of Parliament for West Bromwich West. A Government Parliamentary Private Secretary from 2005 until 2007, Adrian has worked with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Defence and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
•  He is currently a member of the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Select Committee, the European Scrutiny Committee, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Building Societies and Financial Mutuals and Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Steel.