Readers debate HMOs, council spending and buses, plus a 1970 picture from Penkridge

Readers raise questions about HMO planning decisions, council spending, bus franchising and the fortunes of the main political parties Sign up to our Express & Star newsletter Did you know with a Plus subscription to Express and Star you get full access to our award winning journalism for the news that matters to you and more. Questions over HMO decisions Over recent months I have been monitoring planning applications across Sandwell, and one issue keeps appearing with increasing regularity - Houses in Multiple Occupation. At the same time, residents from Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Smethwick have been contacting me with remarkably similar concerns: overcrowding, parking pressures, rubbish, anti-social behaviour and uncertainty over whether properties are properly licensed or even known to the authorities. Nobody should demonise people simply because they live in an HMO. Many have limited housing choices. The responsibility for safe, properly managed accommodation lies with landlords, operators, agents, commissioners and the authorities responsible for regulation. But residents are entitled to ask some basic questions. How many HMOs are currently operating in Sandwell? How many are licensed? How many suspected unlicensed HMOs have been investigated? How many landlords have faced enforcement action? And which parts of the borough now have the greatest concentrations? There is another significant issue. In Sandwell, converting a normal house into a small HMO for up to six occupants can generally take place without a planning application. Neighbours may therefore see a family house become an HMO without ever receiving a planning consultation. Neighbouring Walsall has introduced Article 4 controls requiring planning permission for smaller HMO conversions. Given Sandwell Council itself has acknowledged rapid HMO growth, surely it is reasonable to ask why Sandwell has not followed suit. The government's move away from asylum hotels also deserves transparency. Official guidance confirms that HMOs can form part of asylum dispersal accommodation. That does not mean every HMO houses asylum seekers, nor should anyone make such assumptions, but the public is entitled to know how publicly funded accommodation is being commissioned and regulated. HMOs have a legitimate role in meeting housing need. But so do stable communities, adequate parking, proper waste management, decent housing standards and effective enforcement. Residents across Sandwell are beginning to ask the same questions. It is time Sandwell Council provided some straight answers. Darryl Magher, Walsall Is refurbishment really worth it? I read Wolverhampton council is spending £3m to refurbish offices in Railway Drive which have only been open since 2015. I have lived on the Harrowby estate for 54 years and all the council have done in that time is put a bit of gravel on the road. The pavements are dangerous the roads and the gutters are full of weeds. Why not demolish the building like all the rest of the building they have built since the 60s and save the money? G C Dobson, Fordhouses Views on bus franchising Use the bus franchising millions to extend fare-free public transport for all in the West Midlands as the reward for leaving your car at home and jumping on a bus. But there must also be the stick of penalties for those who refuse to free up road space for essential vehicle users in the rush hours. Plus: Let the private sector run the buses, with councils being allowed to become shareholders and the brilliant Enhanced Bus Partnership ensuring sensible working together. And no more different rail modes to add to the expense and complication under the Dept for Transport's Mixed Use Railways obsession. Bus franchising is unnecessary, risky and exorbitantly expensive. Tim Weller, Halesowen Good news for our main parties At last, there is some good news for British politics. As a consequence of the 'Burnham bounce' coupled with Badenoch's resolute leadership of the Tory party support is increasing for the traditional political parties whilst Reform UK's polling is on the wane. The foundations of Farage's fiefdom are crumbling with more revelations about financial gifts, dodgy donations to the party and the unanswered questions: never mind their shadow chancellors claim that they can save £50 billion on the 'welfare budget'. It could end up being a 'winter of discontent' in the Farage camp. Although the tribune of the people may not have a motorhome on a driveway yet, unlike one former leader; it could be a good way for an itinerant leader to avoid awkward questions and conceal the paperwork​. Roger Norton, Midlands Have an opinion? We want to hear from you. Share your views by writing to Readers' Letters at [email protected]. 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