Birmingham site hit by HMOs and drugs says ‘we still have potential’

Drugs, prostitution and long waits to see a doctor. Welcome to Erdington a few days before the general election.

Voters in the constituency said the area is loaded with potential but is still waiting for take-off, with no sign the much-vaunted leveling agenda will make a difference. But despite their despair at the squatter housing, littering, prostitution and drugs, there was a sense of optimism among locals who believe Erdington is not completely lost.

Mario Isaac, 33, said: “In Erdington we have problems like HMOs and we also have potholes, quite a lot of them. We also have very long NHS queue waiting times here at a GP surgery.

READ MORE: Birmingham Erdington 2024 general election candidates

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“Other than that, the whole area needs a clean up, it’s a decent area and I’ve enjoyed living here for about seven years, but there are much nicer areas in Birmingham. It has a lot of potential, it really does.”

Lisa Raybone, 49, said: “I’ve lived in this area for 28 years in the same house and road, I’ve noticed the clientele is really changing. I have a 15 year old son who has been approached by people on drugs or alcohol, I don’t think it is safe for him to be on Slade Road anymore.

“I’m too scared to use the shops, the high street is nothing like more betting shops than supermarkets. We have a lot of HMO houses and rented properties where people unfortunately don’t look after their property.”

Darren Swift, 40, was more concerned about the girls he claimed were being pushed into prostitution. Other residents said they saw women begging on street corners and thought they were from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Darren said: “What bothers me is the number of young girls I see going in and out of obvious brothels. They are in social services and families have given up on them, so people are taking advantage of them.”

Soho Road in Handsworth faces the same problem as support workers reveal that many street sex workers are vulnerable victims of addiction, abuse or exploitation. Another Erdington resident called street sex work a problem “all over Birmingham”.

Other Erdington residents who lived further afield claimed they were happy to live there, criticizing only litter and cleanliness. Here is the full list of candidates from Erdington:

• Paulette Hamilton – The work

• Steve Knee – Conservative

• Jack Brooks – Reform Great Britain

• Ann Farzana Aslam – liberal democrats

• Karen Trench – Green party

• Corinthia Ward – Coalition of Syndicalists and Socialists

• Shaukat Ali – Independent

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