New Perry Barr street named after first black councillor Bert Carless

A new street in Perry Barr is to be named after Bert Carless, who made history as Birmingham's first black councillor.

Bert Carless Way, part of the Perry Barr residential scheme being built on the site of the former Birmingham City University campus, was unveiled on 18 December.

A pioneer

Alderman Egbert Sylvester Carless, known to everyone as Bert, was elected as a Labour councillor for Aston ward in 1979, becoming Birmingham's first black councillor. He later served again for Ladywood ward between 1998 and 2002.

Born in Jamaica, he moved to Birmingham when he was 21 and became a well-respected member of the community. He served on the council's education committee for almost 20 years and was passionate about speaking out against discrimination. He was made an OBE in 1998 and died in 2003.

A fitting tribute

The street name was unveiled by Councillor Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment, who was joined by community activist Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo and Mr Carless's great-niece, Maxine Tomlinson.

Cllr Zaffar said the council had been looking for ways to honour Mr Carless for some time. When he learned that the residential scheme had an unnamed road that was not covered by the street naming competition, "it seemed like the perfect opportunity".

"Bert Carless was an inspirational, respected figure who made great strides in achieving more equality and diversity in our city," he said. "Therefore, to have Bert Carless Way in amongst Equality Road, Diversity Grove, and Inspire Avenue is an appropriate and fitting tribute."

Maxine Tomlinson said the family was pleased to see her uncle recognised as the first person of African-Caribbean descent to serve as a councillor and alderman of the city. "Cllr Carless served tirelessly within his Ward representing all, and he has a strong and lasting legacy in championing equalities," she said.

New streets for a new neighbourhood

The road became available because an existing street, Franchise Street, has been closed and absorbed into the development. Earlier this year, the public was invited to help choose names for six other new streets on the site, reflecting the values of the community and of Commonwealth sport.

Anna Evans, project director for the developer Lendlease, said: "No finer choice could have been made. Bert Carless' name will live on within the streets of the city he served with such dedication."

From athletes' village to homes

The scheme will first be used as part of the athletes' village for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. After that, it will provide 1,400 new homes, with the first residents expected to move into the new streets in 2023.

It is part of a wider regeneration of Perry Barr, which is set to bring around 5,000 new homes, better leisure and community facilities and improved transport to the area. The first building on the site reached its highest point last month, despite the challenges of working through the pandemic.

For a neighbourhood being built from scratch, the names on its street signs will help shape its identity, and the council hopes Bert Carless Way will remind future residents of a man who helped open doors in the city's public life.