TREE'S SHOULD MATTER

The Birmingham City Planning Committee have now agreed following my proposals, to send representation, to the Local Government Committee asking them to look again at Planning policies related to tree replacement.
It is my argument that developers large and small should, if removing trees from a site, have to pay for their replacement, some where else.
Over the years there have been thousands of trees removed from the grounds of new developments all over the city of Birmingham and in the vast majority of cases the loss of these trees has never been made up for. I hope that the idea of a tree replacement policy, may take off you never know.?

TEMPORY CLOSURE OF THE HOLFORD DRIVE RECYCLING CENTRE

Just to let you know, Perry Barr Household Recycling Centre on Holford Drive will be closed between 8am and 11am this coming Sunday (27 April) to ensure the safety of runners taking part in the Macmillan Cancer Support Family Fun Run.Part of the route the runners for this extremely worthy cause will be taking runs alongside the Centre.Steve Mitchell of Veolia Environmental Services Birmingham Ltd, who manage the site on behalf of the City Council, has issued the following statement:

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We appreciate Sunday is a busy day but know everyone would wish to ensure the safety of those running for such a worthy cause. To avoid congestion when the site re-opens we would ask residents to either stagger their journeys, bring items down on the Saturday or use one of our other Household Recycling Centres - Castle Bromwich or Sutton Coldfield being the nearest. All other sites are open from 8am till 4.30pm at weekends and 8am till 8pm during the week".

I think we can all manage with a little inconvenience once in a while when it comes to a good cause and I wish all those taking part all the very best.

LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE JUST A WEEK AWAY

With a week to go before the Local Elections, I would like to call on Oscott residents to go out and vote for my colleague Councillor John Cotton. John has worked with me for the last 9 years in Oscott and has been as good a representative for the area as you can get.
I hope that residents will not fall for the trap of using this election as a protest about the Government for some reason and will realise that local issues are the ones that matter at Local Elections. Lets keep the Oscott team in place to fight for and ensure Oscott gets its fair share out of this Tory Council. We do not want to end up with even more of our money being spent in Sutton Coldfield!

ANOTHER ACCIDENT AT OSCOTT BLACK SPOT

I noticed today there has been yet another bad car accident at the Greenholm Road/ Aldridge Road junction. Most residents will be aware of this accident black spot, but our dithering Councils Transportation department, refuse to take action to deal with it. I will be contacting them again, but with little confidence that they will put the interests of those who use this junction first.

It makes you wonder how much time and money dealing with the constant stream of accidents at this junction the Police have to put in.

BAT WALK ON THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

Dr Stephan Bodnar the Bio diversity officer for Birmingham, has kindly agreed to lead another Bat walk on the Queslett Nature Reserve. During these walks bat detectors are used and Dr Bodnar gives a brief lecture on the types of bat that are located. The walk will take place on a date to be announced in July.
Over the next few weeks Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve hope to be putting up Bat and Bird boxes on the reserve and with any luck some of the bat boxes may being used by July.
As soon as there is a date fixed I will publish it on this site.
To join the FOQNR please ring 360 6486

SOUP KITCHEN IN OSCOTT?

With my colleagues Councillors Barbara Dring and John Cotton handing over a cheque for £200

Today I was invited to the Mary Vale Community Centre, where Councillor John Cotton presented a cheque for £200 pounds (a grant from the Oscott Ward NRF). This money will be spent on purchasing secure storage units for the centre.

During my visit I was offered soup and sandwiches (for a small donation) and learnt that every month or so local residents attended these "soup Kitchen" meetings. I was impressed not only with the quality of the soup, but also the friendly atmosphere generated at the meeting. I hope to be invited again and congratulate those volunteers who organise the event.

THERE COULD BE CCTV CAMERAS FOR ALL BUS SHELTERS ON THE WAY?

The introduction of CCTV cameras to all bus shelters in the West Midlands, has moved one step closer, following the recommendations of the WMPTA Business Improvement Committee today.
This followed a series of reports, showing that where CCTV cameras have already been installed in bus shelters, there has been Significant reductions in the cost of their repairs.
Recommendations to phase in over the next 5 years, fitting CCTV cameras to all bus shelters, in the West Midlands, starting with those shelters where there are known problems with anti social behaviour and vandalism, have now been passed on to the full WMPTA Committee for ratification. One word of warning however, the WMPTA main committee is led by the Conservatives who have reputation for dithering when making decisions?

SPEEDWAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK

The Brummies Speedway team have been given permission to carry on with their Speedway meetings thus ensuring their continued existence.
However there has been conditions put on them which will mean they will not be able to operate more than their agreed amount of races per session. The Brummies have also "toned down" their music and announcement system which will now not be as loud as last year.
Many residents/sports enthusiast love their speedway,' but we also need to understand the problems that some local residents have with regards to the Speedway operating near their homes. I hope what has been decided will go someway to bring together these different groups.
I have also been assured by the Brummies that should any residents have a concern about the way the Brummies are operating the Brummies organisers will listen to them.

BIKE RACKS IN PLACE AT LAST

Finally after months of dithering by the Transportation, bike racks have been put in place on the pavement near the HSB bank Kettlehouse Road. Hopefully cyclist in the area will make full use of these racks and there will be the bonus that they will help keep vehicles off the pavement at this busy shopping area.

We now wait to see how long the Transportation will take, to reduce the near by taxi rank from three spaces to one. This is needed to help relieve some of the parking problems in the area.

STILL WE WAIT FOR ACTION ON OSCOTT'S CONCRETE CARRIAGEWAYS

Well here we are almost exactly 12 months on since the Cabinet Member for Transportation in Birmingham and his local representative? did a walk about in Oscott. Following this walk about they sent out letters and leaflets, saying how bad the concrete carriageways were in Oscott and something would be done.

Except a few orange marks put round some pot holes which I reported, little seems to have been done to repair these carriageways. I suspect they have been conveniently forgotten by the Council, with the hope that resident's, will also have forgotten the promises made by those who suddenly arrive before local elections. Well you can be assured I will keep reminding them.

THE OSCOTT COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER

In Oscott there are a number of community groups which deal with a number of areas and issues across the ward. These groups cover issues concerning residents with Disabilities, Elderly residents, Environmental, Transport,, Housing issues and so on.
The interesting thing about the Oscott area is, many of these established groups work together, under the umbrella of the Oscott Residents Groups and remain free of Council influence.
They hold drop in sessions (offering a free cup of tea and a biscuit to those who come along) where they discuss all sorts of concerns and issues with local residents. On occasions they even ask me along to speak to them which of course time permitting I am delighted to do.
the ORG hold their drop in sessions every Saturday morning at 10.30am, at the 610 Community Centre. For more details ring 464 1869

FOR THOSE WHO CARE FOR SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S

I know from personal experience how distressing, tiring and emotional it can be when looking after a relative with dementia or Alzheimer's . For much of the time you may feel lonely, and without help. With that in mind I thought I would pass on, to those who are in that situation, or who know someone who is, the details of the Alzheimer's Society, In case they can be of help to you.
They can give guidance with regard to Alzheimer's/ dementia and can sometimes, put you in touch with local support groups.

Their address is.
Alzheimer's Society
210 High Street
Solihull Lodge
Solihull
B901JP
474 3800

ALCOHOL RESTICTED ZONES FOR ALL OUR STREETS ON THE WAY?

At long last the Birmingham City Council is considering applying the Alcohol Restricted Zone principle, to all the streets in Birmingham.
This would mean they are following the Oscott Ward who pioneered this idea along with the Police, a number of years ago. Other wards have also introduced A.R.Z. following Oscott's example.
A.R.Z.’s enable the Police, to remove alcohol more easily from those acting in an antisocial way on our streets.
In Oscott these Zones have worked fairly well. In my view however they do depend on the Police using them proactively and this would also need to be the case across the city, if they are to be further introduced. Anything that helps the Police keep anti social behaviour off our streets must be welcome.

NO TO PREMIUM RATE CALLS TO THE COUNCIL

As far as I can tell the Current Council Administration have now realised they have been rumbled and so there is to be no premium line call charges to pay, when calling the Birmingham Council Call Centre. Its nice to have good news to report.

(See also Blog report 27th March)

CENTRO TURN AROUND ON BUS CONSULTATION

Centro have now conceeded the need for more time for consultation regarding their Transforming Bus Travel plans (also see prievious post 26th March). Those who have an interst in using buses on the West Midlands Network, now have until Monday 30th of June, to look at this important set of proposals. If you want to keep the bus Network intact and not see it streamlined in such a way, as many roads will no longer covered for example, take the time to look at this document and respond to it.
If you want a copy of the document let me know Ring 360 6486.

WHAT HAPPEND TO RECYCLING IN OSCOTT

Many months ago now when I asked at a Perry Barr Constituency meeting when will ALL the roads in Oscott receive their recycling boxes, I was informed by the end of the year. Knowing full well that is Council speak for the end of the financial year (March), I thought to my self that should be enough time to finish off, rolling out the recycling program for Oscott. I should have know better.
The current dithing by the Birmingham City Council, has meant yet another dead line has come and gone and their are still a number of roads in Oscott, where residents are still awaiting their recycling boxes. Despite all the talk of recycling made by this Administration, they are still clearly not taking the matter seriously.
You may be assured, I have been on to the powers that be, demanding they get their acts together, as it is time every one in Oscott, had the opportunity to help the environment by recycling as much as possible.

EXTENDED NO PARKING REGULATIONS COMING SOON

It is now intended to extend the Traffic Regulation Orders out side the entrances of both the Hawthorn Road Junior School and the Great Barr Secondary School Aldridge Road.
Residents boarding these schools, will be notified of the extent ion of the no parking between 8am and 4pm restrictions, but any one else wishing to be kept informed (There is still time to object until 18th April if you wish) can see the planned proposals at the Perry Barr District Office Tambridge House Aldridge Road, or at the Highways department Lancaster Circus Queensway Birmingham.
I hope these new regulations if agreed will go some way to safe guard the children using the Great Barr Secondary school and the Hawthorn Primary school. If you would like to let me have your views Ring 360 6486.