Well-wishes paid to Walsall councillor recovering after heart attack

Conservative councillor Amers Kudhail was left stricken following the attack which occurred last week.

As a result he will not stand for re-election in the Streetly ward he has held for four years.

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird made the announcement at a full council meeting on Monday night.

The news prompted a wave of well wishes from across the council chamber as members also paid tribute to a number of other councillors who are also not standing in the local election next month.

Councillor Bird said: “Councillor Kudhail suffered a heart attack last week and thankfully he is on the mend. But he will not be seeking re-election in the forthcoming election.”

Walsall Mayor Marco Longhi, who was chairing the meeting, added: “I would like to extend our best wishes to Councillor Kudhail and his family for a speedy recovery.”

Labour group deputy leader Councillor Lee Jeavons said: “As someone who has suffered a heart attack myself, I would also like to send my best wishes to Councillor Kudhail.”

Warm tributes were also paid to other councillors who have decided to step down from the authority and not go for re-election.

Tory councillor John Rochelle, who has served Aldridge Central and South for 17 years and Labour trio Keith Chambers, a Bentley and Darlaston North councillor since 2003, Allah Ditta, who has served Palfrey for eight years and Eileen Russell, member for St Matthews since 2011, are retiring from the authority.

Councillor Longhi also announced that Walsall’s director of public health Dr Barbara Watt is also retiring from her role – a post she has held since 2015.