HAWTHORN ROAD XMAS LIGHTS GO ON WEDNESDAY

Thanks to the great efforts of Jeanette Hart, Nicki, Ken and other Hawthorn Road Traders Association members collecting money and holding raffles the Hawthorn Road Christmas lights will once again be tuned this year. The lights will be " turned on by Father Christmas" who is making a special one off appearance on Wednesday afternoon between 3.30pm and 6pm.
I am glad to say the Oscott Ward Committee has played its part making a donation to this worthy cause and once again may I say well done to all those involved.

DOG MESS TO INCREASE ON OUR STREETS

I have been told by the Councils Animal Welfare Section that dog fouling bags are to no longer be given out on request to residents because of cost restraints (we call them cuts in service). This is a great shame as it will clearly lead to an increase in dog mess on our streets.
This measure when taken with other like the reduction in the Free Bulky Waste Service are without doubt going to mean dirtier streets in the long term in Oscott.
However I have been assured following my request that "doggy bags" will be given to the Kingstanding Library and local neighbourhood offices for residents to request. Lets hope they do not put a stop on this.

ALDRIDGE ROAD DAY CENTRE TO CLOSE SOON

It was with great sadness I carried out my last visit as a Councillor to the Aldridge Road Day Centre. Thanks to the current Council Administrations policies on day centres this day Centre will now close down on the 18th of December.
I have paid numerous visits to the Aldridge Road day Centre (this is a day centre which cares for a large number of adults with special needs) both formally and informally. I have always found that the staff take tremendous care of their clients and their dedication is superb. Even with the fast approaching closure of the centre you can see how much the staff care and how much the users of the Centre get out of that care and the facilities the centre provide.
I will continue to believe the site should have been kept and the range of facilitates extended to other disabled groups. It is nothing short of a disgrace that this centre is closing.

On a brighter note I also visited the Kings Lodge Centre in Oscott where young adults with various problems are prepared for the out side world. These youngsters have excellent self contained accommodation and are well supervised in a semi independent way by a dedicated well motivated team of care workers .

JAMES WATT COLLEGE PARKING PROBLEMS UPDATE

This is intended to be another update on the parking problems in the area caused by the James Watt College.
At my request Mr Hill a spokes person from the James Watt College attended last nights Oscott Ward Advisory Board meeting, where he informed, Community representatives and your 3 local Councillors about the latest proposals from the college.
In summary these are.
To create an extra 150 car spaces on the college site by next March. This will be done by demolishing the old caretaker’s house. Using the old brick layer yard in the college grounds and by using an area of grass land near the college.
It is also the college’s intention to open up a new access point for vehicle using the site.
With regards to the longer term future of the site. The College still intends to move to the Old Dairy site on the Aldridge Road. The proposed move is on hold for 3 years and has not been cancelled.

Planning permission is still to be finalised, but the college are confident they will be successful given the reaction they have received from the Planning department. There are still issues to be finalised such as the access to the college and new landscaping requirements.

There will be an opportunity to have an early look at a plan indicating the proposals, at the Oscott Ward Committee, which will be chaired by Councillor Barbara Dring. This meeting will take place on Wednesday 2nd December at the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road. The time of the meeting will be 7pm.

If you would like any further information please give me a ring on 360 6486

BIRMINGHAM AND SANDWELL COUNCIL'S IN COMPLETE CONFUSION WHATS NEW?

I am beginning not for the first time to consider both the Birmingham City Council and the Sandwell City Council either are to concerned about footing the bill for road safety measures on the Queslett Road or are to busy point scoring off each other to do anything.

I have now received an email from a senior officer of the Birmingham City Council saying the following.


"Since the meeting between Sandwell and Birmingham officers, we have had some telephone discussions and have considered the current traffic situation. "

If you go back 2 Posts you will clearly see Sandwell are saying there has been no responce from the Birmingham Council since their last meeting with them on April the 8th.

I have pointed this out to both Council Transportation departments and mildly suggested they get their heads together sit round a table and sort this problem out the sooner the better.


Also see posts re 31st Oct

PERRY COMMON LIBRARY UPDATE

Sadly it would appear that there have been yet more delays with regards to work starting on the Perry Common Library. It is now expected that work will begin on this listed building at the start of the new year with a finish date in late April.
This is not clearly a satisfactory state of affairs especially if like me you were a regular user of this library.
We can see by the way the current Council Administration is making heavy weather of their expensive proposed new 19 million Central library nothing goes to plan.
As you make expect I am regularly in touch with the Senior Librarian for the area and have pestered the various planning officials to try and speed things up. I will continue to do so.
I just wish this Council would pump some more money into all our libraries to help keep them better maintained and supplied with books?

BIRMINGHAM AND SANDWELL COUNCILS DODGING AND DIVING NOT TO ACCEPT REPOSIBILITY FOR ROAD SAFETY ON THE QUESLETT ROAD

I am taking the unusual step of publishing the letter below to give you some idea of how Birmingham and Sandwell Councils are dodging their duty to introduce road safety measures to the Queslett road in my view.

Councillor Keith Linnecor
I am in receipt of your email of 31 October 2009 urging Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to work with Birmingham City Council to tackle road safety on the A4041 Queslett Road in the vicinity of the M6 over bridge.
I can advise that officers of Sandwell MBC met with representatives of Birmingham City Council on 8 April 2009 to discuss a proposal worked up to detail design for introducing traffic signals at the junction known locally as 'Nova Court'.
At that meeting Sandwell raised a number of questions about the justification for introduction of traffic signals at this location.
Sandwell Council requested Birmingham City Council to re-examine the traffic and accident data and come back to us with a justification for the need for traffic signals at this location.
To date we have received no response from the City Council.
I can assure you that Sandwell Council is committed to reducing accidents on our roads and is more than happy to work with officers of the City Council to find proportionate, cost effective and sustainable road safety solutions on our shared boundary roads.


This has come from Nigel Wilkins the Sandwell Councils Group Transportation Engineer.

For the umpteenth time I am calling on both Birmingham and Sandwell Council to stop point scoring and get together to resolve this issue.

ANOTHER WALK ABOUT ANOTHER DAY?

I have just finished analysing the results of a walk about I carried out in Thornbridge Avenue on Friday. It is clear to me that yet again residents are fed up with speeding vehicles and anti social behavior. Residents also want to see new trees replacing ones that were removed and are disgusted that the Council have not introduced a traffic light to the Greenholm Road. Thornbridge Avenue, Aldridge Road junction. How many more accidents are the Council prepared to see at this junction before they take action.

THE WAY FORWARD OR THE WAY BACK?

It is not that often I agree with Conservative Councillors, but I have to say having read a number their scathing remarks about the capability of over paid consultants who are looking at revamping the Councils Forward news paper, for once I do.
Thousands of pounds are being spent by the current Conservative/ Liberal Alliance Council on revamping the Forward and as far as I can tell they are going to make it even worse. It is a great shame they do not spend this much needed money to prevent front line service cuts.

CAN YOU HELP PREVENT SPEEDING?

The Oscott Ward Committee with the agreement and advice of the Oscott Ward Advisory Board, has helped fund the new Community Speed Watch initiative.
This is where local resident work with the Police and patrol speeding hot spots in the area with equipment to check the speed traffic using certain roads.
Cars spotted speeding will initially be sent a warning letter and should they be spotted speeding again further action may be considered.
I am currently putting together a list of roads where speeding is a problem and to help the Police I am looking for potential resident volunteers who would like to become involved.
It is hoped that this initiative will be up and running by the early spring.
If you would like more details please give me a ring on 360 6486.

WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE

I have noticed there does not appear to be as many people wearing Poppies as usual at the moment. I hope there will be a late surge and lots more people will buy and wear one over the weekend.
I would like to thank all those who work to help those who have given so much for this country.
Lets all wear our Poppies with Pride and give thought to those who have made such sacrifices for us all.

MORE ROADS TO BE RESURFACED IN OSCOTT

After years of comparative inactivity the Birmingham City Councils Transportation department have started to resurface roads in Oscott. Now the more cynical amongst us may say it is about time to.
Burnham Road ,Oscott School Lane and Part of Birdbrook Road have already been done and in the pipe line are Dunedin Road, Crestwood Drice and Wideacre Drive.
I have no doubt you will see blue leaflets taking the responsibility for all this but many of you know the real story and Councillor Barabara Dring and I will continue to put the real pressure on to get even more roads done.