
An email has been sent to those councillors who are restanding at the local elections in Sandwell on 7th May. Any responses received will be published on this page. The option for any other candidates to comment on this issue is also open and you can contact us via the facebook page. Don’t be shy and don’t be silent! This is a black and white issue, and no splinters in the arse.
Candidates should remember that this issue received considerable local and even national attention, not just for the controversy but the now admitted lies that officers of the council made in a vain attempt to avert “adverse publicity”. IS IT ACCEPTABLE FOR COUNCIL OFFICERS, PAID BY LOCAL RESIDENTS TO LIE TO THEM ABOUT HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT?
LISTED BELOW ARE THE CURRENT COUNCILLORS STANDING IN THE INDIVIDUAL 24 WARDS. RESPONSES WILL BE ADDED IF AND WHEN THEY ARE RECEIVED.
Red denotes serving Labour councillor, Blue the sole serving Conservative councillor.
Abbey Ward
Steven Eling.
NO RESPONSE
Blackheath Ward
Robert Price
NO RESPONSE
Charlemont with Grove Vale Ward
Anne Hughes
NO RESPONSE
Cradley Heath and Old Hill Ward
Ann Shackleton
NO RESPONSE
Friar Park Ward
Joy Edis
NO RESPONSE
Great Barr with Yew Tree Ward
Shirley Hosell
NO RESPONSE
Great Bridge Ward
Peter Allen
NO RESPONSE
Greets Green and Lyng Ward
Gurcharan Singh Sidhu
NO RESPONSE
Hateley Heath Ward
Pat Davies
NO RESPONSE
Langley Ward
Yvonne Davies
NO RESPONSE
JAYNE WILKINSON GREEN PARTY HAS RESPONDED
Good Day Ian
With regards to the points raised by the concerns you’ve raised with regards to the geese cull that took place as indicated in your email , I will respond to each concern you’ve raised .
*No direct evidence of any health risks posed by Canada geese
In response to the culling of the geese without as you’ve stated No direct Evidence of any local identified risk to human health , my thoughts are clear on the matter , if it were the case that there was a direct evidenced link to a direct concern to public health then that matter should be evidenced locally with documentation provided regards a study carried out to identify the risk funded by the local authority / public health , the study should indicate what the risk is and what the recommended course of action is after consulting with organisations that ensure animal welfare is taken into consideration if having no option but to carryout a humane form of dealing with the matter .
*No direct evidence that Canada geese cause any health risks that cannot be attributed to other species of birds in the parks
See above response that information would be detailed I would have thought in its own local study documents to give consideration to outcomes . it would be unfair to base a study on one species alone unless the public health risk was species specific .
* No direct evidence that anyone has ever slipped over on the reported faeces, which could be attributable to several species
As indicated the study should include all incidents / near miss reported injuries to give consideration regards dealing with the issue to simply cull the one species isn’t a solution as other bird species could have contributed to the slip hazards that would be identified as significant in a localised study .
*The fact that farm animals that Sandwell council appear to promote being handled at its own farms can cause greater health risks than Canada geese.
That is a general concern if the birds are said to be a public health risk processing their destruction on its farm .
I’d need to seek clarification on that matter to give a full response as if the Geese were identified as diseased or simply a public health risk for any other reason , but that would be indicated in a report / study carried out I would have thought to determine where the Humane cull would take place if the report indicated that was the only way to resolve the public health risk .
*Refutable evidence that Sandwell council carried out egg pricking prior to 2013- the year which it decided to start culling the birds.
Regards this did the council provide the document that discussed its egg pricking programme ? I’d have to seek clarification to why this failed to tackle the issues associated to bird population before being able to respond further on that point raised .
It was noted the petition you raised received a significant amount of support from the public indicating other members of the public as was I were upset to the fate of those 220 geese culled in a manner considered inhumane in the manner in which they were destroyed , I am a strong supporter of animal welfare and I’m concerned as a member of the public to the manner in which this matter was handled .
Best Wishes
Jayne M Wilkinson
A considered and detailed response here.
In response to the point about egg pricking
The council did not provide the 1997 report in the FOI request– and they could not give any figures for egg pricking carried out in house by their own staff prior to 2013.
Newton Ward
David Hosell
NO RESPONSE
Old Warley Ward
Trevor Crumpton
NO RESPONSE
Princes End Ward
Stephen Jones
RESPONSE RECEIVED 20TH APRIL
Hi Ian
Received with thanks,
Sincerely
Steve Jones
Sent from my iPhone
Well I’m not really sure what that is supposed to indicate.
RIC KEELING UKIP HAS RESPONDED RECIEVED 6TH MAY
I apologise if this reply is brief, but just picked it up from my spam folder and am very busy, naturally, as I prepare for tomorrow’s election. Both myself and Councillor Garrett are keen birdwatchers and are 100% against the culling of the geese. I am standing for councillor in the election and will guarantee my support as a councillor should I get voted in. We would both love to meet up with you and see what we can do to help and assist in stopping this mindless act against innocent wildfowl.
Ric Keeling.
Well that is about as clear a vote for saving the geese as we have got.
Rowley Ward
Barbara Price
NO RESPONSE
Smethwick Ward
Keith Davies
NO RESPONSE
Soho and Victoria Ward
Roger Horton
NO RESPONSE
St. Paul`s Ward
Zahoor Ahmed
NO RESPONSE
Tipton Green Ward
Syeda Khatun
NO RESPONSE
Tividale Ward
Lorraine Ashman
NO RESPONSE
Wednesbury North Ward
Elaine Costigan
RESPONSE RECEIVED 20TH APRIL
Hi Ian, I’m sorry to say I’ve had no dealing with any of this and know nothing at all about it I’m afraid, hope you can get answers. Elaine Costigan
Sent using OWA for iPad
Elaine Costigan was absent from the scrutiny panel meeting of 25th February where our petition was supposedly looked at. If she cannot get answers, then I am blowed as to who can given that the email asks the candidates what their opinion is of the goose cull. WE DON’T GET ONE HERE. But at least she bothered to respond.
Wednesbury South Ward
Olwen Jones
NO RESPONSE
West Bromwich Central Ward
Bawa Singh Dhallu
NO RESPONSE
NB Bristnall ward and Oldbury Ward: existing councillors have not been reselected. Candidates for these wards are open for comments also.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GOOSEMAN- HE’S GREAT