Residents of a Solihull housing estate have expressed disillusionment with the upcoming local elections, with many unsure if they will vote. The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to locals ahead of the May 7 poll, where all council seats will be contested, and found a general sense of apathy.
Lack of interest and perceived futility
A resident of Chalgrove Crescent summed up the mood, stating he was "not very interested" in the elections. "Nothing much changes if you vote," he said. "I don't see the point, that's my view on it." Another resident admitted she would probably vote but had not looked at the candidates. "I'll decide on the day who to vote for," she said, adding that she wanted someone who would fix local issues like the state of Alderminster Road, which she described as "a dirt track." She noted that despite reports over the last six months, the road had not been resurfaced.
Road conditions and parking problems
Lucian Raboveanu from Alderton Close said he would likely vote and cares about road conditions and parking problems. "We moved here two years ago, nothing has been done about parking," he said. He expressed interest in candidates who are "optimistic for the community" regardless of party affiliation, emphasizing the need for confidence that raised issues will be investigated.
Safety concerns in town centre
Raboveanu also raised concerns about safety in Solihull town centre, describing the behavior of some young people as "pretty hostile." A Willoughby Drive resident highlighted the issue of "boy racers" causing noise at night. "It's constant at night," she said. "It's been going on a while. It's poor that no candidates have knocked on my door before the election."
Voting takes place on May 7 from 7am to 10pm, with results announced on May 8.
