This week brings a fairly brief message as we look towards the Easter weekend and beyond.
Whilst the glorious weather we experienced last week has made way to a more familiar gloom, there is still a chance of some sunshine on Easter Sunday itself.
Some good news to share this week, as figures from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner show that rates of youth violence fell sharply in Solihull. The nearly 30% fall is testament to the work of the police, council staff, and workers and volunteers from various partners and agencies. However, we will only really be happy when we see zero youth violence in our towns, urban centres and villages across the borough.
Good news too from the business world, as beloved Knowle butchers Eric Lyons have secured a £60,000 Business Growth West Midlands grant to help them expand into neighbouring Bentley Health. They are a real success story, still operating as a family business by the fourth and fifth generations of Lyons butchers. If you have not tried one of their pies, you should – they are legendary, and I love pies. They are something of a Knowle institution, so I’m very pleased they have been able to match the grant with their own investment, in order to take their business to the next level. If you think your SME might be able to benefit from a grant like this, have a look at the business support and funding opportunities available across the region here.
An important message from our public health colleagues at the UK Health and Safety Agency. They have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks of antibiotic resistance, and methods to prevent it becoming more prevalent. It is a serious issue that is already a major public health threat. This is a collective problem but one where we can take individual action- making sure we only take them when prescribed, and not for issues like cold and flu where they have no impact. There is much more information available here.
Not long after Easter, The Core Theatre will celebrate its long-awaited reopening with a special performance – We are Solihull - featuring an eclectic mix of entertainment including soloists, choirs, poetry, theatre and dance. It promises to be an emotional night after a long time away, and there are not many tickets remaining, so book now to avoid disappointment!
We have been without our theatre for too long, and I want to thank everyone involved in the work required to reopen our auditorium. We were far from alone in facing the challenge of RAAC in one of our public buildings, but temporarily losing The Core Theatre felt particularly brutal. I really am delighted to have the cultural heart of Solihull back in service and ready to welcome our residents and visitors again.
Finally, I don’t know how many of you are golf fans, but watching Rory McIlroy win the Masters at the weekend was amazing. What a fantastic achievement and an incredibly exciting conclusion. It was good to see the Midlands represented by Aaron Rai, who did well on his first outing at Augusta.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Easter to all.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council.