NEW FENCING FOR OSCOTT TROUBLE SPOTS

Following the Housing departments recent decision to spend some of their capital budget on new fencing along the King George playing Fields life should get a bit easier for some local residents in the Keston Road and Swains Grove area. The old wooden fencing has been falling into disrepair for years will youngsters vandalising it and so on. Those decision also means some money allocated from other local finding can be freed of to help replace fencing on the Burford road Playing Field and the Aldridge Road Recreation Ground which is good news for residents in those locations.

KEEPING THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE CLEAN

One of the pleasing things about the Friends of the Queslett nature Reserve is the way members often go off on their own and litter pick the reserve. This has meant it looks far cleaner now than it did before.
Members of the FQNR show that you can make a difference to your environment but it takes more than just words some times.

THINK AGAIN ABOUT BINGO TAX

I know a lot of people who relax love to go down to their local Bingo hall to play bingo for an hour or 2. Although I do not have the time to play Bingo myself I can imagine it can be both a relaxing yet and exiting experience. A lot of harmless fun can be had at one of these bingo sessions..
With that in mind I have been asking the Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood to ask the Government, to look again at their proposals to increase the tax on the companies and game involved. I am sure he will do what he can.

One of those halls which may suffer from these proposals, is the Mecca Bingo Hall, Kingstanding. The staff there are very good I am told and the company helps the community by letting its car park remain free of charge for local shoppers. It would be a great shame if this Bingo hall was forced to close.

MORE DISABLED RESIDENT FRIENDY DROP CURBS FOR OSCOTT

I have been working closely with the Oscott Residents Disabilitiy Group recently and as a result the Council have been persuaded to install yet more disability drop curbs. The most recent have been those on the corners of Stowell Road and Warren Hill Road.

What is also urgently needed for the disabled and older residents in ,is for the Council to get on and improve our pavements in Oscott they have been ignored to long.

NEW LOG BENCHES FOR QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE.

Given the amount of residents that use the Queslett Nature Reserve it has allways been a sore point that there are no benches in the reserve. There used to be a traditional style bench on the main path in the reserve but as you might expect it was vanadalised to the point of destruction.

However a few years ago I aranged for some shaven logs to be placed on the main path in the reserve near the Ashworth Road end. These have proved very durable. Now I have finally got, with the Backing of the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve, the Parks department, to introduce 2 new large logs suitable to be used as benches, in the reserve. One other good thing about these new log / benches is their lack of expense.
The logs should be put in place latter in the year.

NEW TRAFFIC SIGNS ON ALDRIDGE ROAD IS NOT ENOUGH

The Transportation department in its wisdom has now erected 2 signs on the Aldridge Road near the greenholm Road and Thornbridge Avenue Junction asking motorists to slow down as there have been 13 casualties there in 3 years.
Every one knows there are accidents there regularly and what is needed is road safety measures or better still a Traffic light at this junction.
I makes you wonder what signs they may be forced to put up in 3 years time slow down there have been 26 casualties in 6 years?
These signs are not cheap and the money could have been better spent but I suppose they better than nothing and I just hope they have some effect.?

KEEP MOTOR BIKES OFF OUR PLAYING FIELDS

Yobs have cut through fencing to get their motor bikes on the King George Playing Fields.
not only have they vandalised new steel fencing at the Keston Road entrance but they are churning up the grass with their motor bikes. The Police have been advised of this and repair for the fencing are now on order.
If you see motor bikes on the King George Playing Fields please ring the Police on 0845 113 5000. Let see if we can put a stop to this.

OSCOTT COMMUNITY CHEST FUNDING APPLICATIONS

Base KS just one of the projects which recieved Comunity Chest Funding last year

The Oscott Ward has been give 100K by the Council (they recieve this money from the Goverment) to use for projects in the Oscott Ward.
It is at this time of year we ask those in need of a small amount of funding to let the Oscott Ward Committee know by applying for this funding.
Last year this funding went on a number of good projects in the Oscott Ward for example
Base K S to help young people, Age Concern received Funding as did the Bandy Wood Project which helps young families. Small grants were also given to a number of voluntary community groups to help their development. These groups try to help elderly residents and disabled residents amongst others.
The 100 K Oscott receives is no where near enough AND THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TO GO ROUND but I do recognise it is the same for all wards across the City and as such I personally think it is a fair system the Council has come up with.

If you would like to may a bid for your group or you would like more information please ring 464 1869. (or ring me on 360 6486 for further details.)

WALSALL AND BRIMINGHAM TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS HAVE LET US DOWN

North Birmingham residents have been badly let down by Transportation Planners from Walsall and Birmingham in my view. Whether it be the Beggars bush, the ASDA Island, or the Aldridge Road.
Ever since the removal of the island at the Beggars bush there have been all sorts of problems with the traffic flows at that junction. The ASDA island now backs up for miles at times and needs an urgent review. Aldridge Road urgently needs road safety measures introduced between Greenholm Road and the Boars Head.
Also despite promise after promise there is still no sign of the traffic light system at the Nova Court Junction on Queslett Road.
The whole of this part of Birmingham seems to be a miss mash of Transportation schemes hastily put together with little thoughts for the future and the proposed developments near the Boars head junction, such as the South Birmingham College will not help either.

375 BUS STILL NOT RELIABLE BUT USE IT OR LOOSE IT

I have had a number of complaints about the un- reliability of the 375 bus recently. Many of these complaints have come from the elderly particularly those living on the Milners Walker Court Complex.
I have been in touch with Centro explaining the need for the 375 to be on time (it is an hourly service) and how much these elderly residents rely on this bus.
I have also warned residents it may be a case of use this bus or loose it as the bus companies have never appeared happy about the running of this route. We dont want to loose it after the battle that was put up, to have it put back on.

COUNCILLOR BARBARA DRING NEW LEAD SPOKESPERSON ON THE LICENSING COMMITTEE FOR LABOUR

My Oscott Colleague Councillor Barbara Dring has become the Birmingham Labour party groups lead spokes person on the Licensing Committee. She was elected on Monday. Well done Barbara.
If you have any issues relating to Licensing please contact Barbara on 360 6486.

CONCRETE ROADS THE ISSUE THAT WONT GO AWAY

I have been in touch with the Transportation department yet again reminding them of the condition of a number of roads in Oscott with concrete carriage ways. I will continue to battle on behalf of residents to get this Council to not say the right things but to take action and sort out our concrete Roads in Oscott. Some may have forgot this issue but I certainly have not.

If you would like me to pass on your concerns about the concrete roads in Oscott please ring 360 6486

RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW

It has come to my attention that a number of residents living near bus stops with bus bays in Kingstanding Road, feel they had been kept in the dark about proposals by Centro, to install new bus shelters near their home. This would also mean increasing the height the pavements along the bus bays. Clearly this will lead to residents having great difficulty parking. What is really needed is help for residents to have drop curbs installed.
I have now insisted that Centro and their designers Atkinson's fully consult with the residents effected. They have now agreed to organise a meeting in June.

KINGSTANDING ROAD RESIDENTS WANT THEIR TREES PRUNED

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I have recieved a number of complaints about trees needing pruning recently. Kingstanding Road and Courtenay Road are just 2 where we have received complaints about. Following a site meeting with tree engineers it was agreed Courtenay Road would go on the list. We are now battling for the residents in Kingstanding Road to have their trees pruned.

2000 PLUS VIEWS OF THIS BLOG

I have just been informed that there have been over 2000 views of this blog! I did not realise how many relatives I must have!

I am Quite amazed that so many have took the trouble to view my blog especially considering I did not tell many people about it for the first 6 months. (it has been about 18 months).

This blog is still very much my blog giving my take on things in the Oscott area and I am still interested in what anyone visiting this blog has to say via the comments section. (or just give me a ring 360 6486)
I freely admit my blog is very rough and ready and that is the way it is going to stay.

Also please do not forget to take a look at the Queslett Nature Reserve Blog.

ALDRIDGE ROAD DAY CENTRE TO CLOSE

The Birmingham City Council Administration Council Cabinet has decided to close the Aldridge Road Day Centre at their recent meeting. I suppose this was not that unexpected, given very view believed that the so called consultation process was anything more than a sop to the careers of the users of the centre.
While I except that there has been a lot of neglect to the Centre over many years the answer should have been to upgrade it and make it a more multi purpose centre. I know many of those vulnerable users of this centre will suffer as a result of the closure of the centre and I find the decision to close the centre shameful.

I really do now hope the users of this centre are given the maximum amount of consideration in what will be for many of them a difficult time of adjustment, they deserve all the care that can be given to them.

ANOTHER LITTER PICK BY THE FQNR TAKES PLACE

Just some of the team out today

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve took part in a litter picking exercise on the Aldridge Recreation Ground today. About a dozen black bags were filled with rubbish.THis may seem a lot but the Recreation ground is a large space and when you consider that the grounds maintance staff do not do to badly. The FQNR do hower help make that extra difference.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR GRASS VERGES

During a walk about in Kingsland Road yesterday a number of residents complained to Councillor Barbara Dring and my self about the state of their grass verges. This is not an uncommon problem in the Oscott ward where many grass verges have been ruined by cars parking on them
The Council needs to decide what to do about these verges. There are 4 main options in my view. Tar Mac them, replace the turf, use Grasscreete (a concrete which allows for grass to grow through) or consider giving better discounts where it is possible to allow home owner to have drop curbs to take their cars off the verges.
The Council should start a long term phased program into looking at the state of our verges and then do something about them.

ELDERLY RESIDENTS COMPLEX PLAGUED BY CYCLIST USING FOOT PATHS

Residents living in the Ashgrove sheltered house complex (off Shady Lane) are very worried about cyclists using footpaths on the scheme as part of a short cut to miss the Aldridge Road Shady Lane junction. Residents are very worried that sooner or later one of them will be knocked down by one of these cyclists.
I have asked the Council to look at the situation and to see if any sort of barriers could be erected to put of these cyclist? but there would be a need to find funds if this was possible. In the mean time the Police have been informed and I hope cyclist will be put of from using this complex as a result.

COUNCILLOR BARBARA DRING IS FIGHTING FOR WALK IN SHOWERS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

Councilor Barbara Dring has already built up a reputation for battling for disabled residents. Now she has taken on the powers that be over the issue of walk in showers.
It would appear the current Council policy states that if a resident has a career they may not get a walk in shower. As Councillor Dring has stated on a number of occasions this is not good enough and she is pursueing the Council to try and get them to re look at this issue.
If you need help trying to get a walk in shower give Barbara a ring on 360 7565.

POLICE TASKING MEETING MAY 6TH

PARKINGS PROBLEMS AT THE BIRDBROOK ROAD /ALDRIDGE ROAD JUNCTION JUST ONE OF THE ISUES RAISED AGAIN BY MY SELF AT TODAYS POLICE tASKING MEETING.

At today's Police Tasking meeting it was announced that there has been a increase in crime in the area. But given the low base of crime in Oscott and seasonal influences like the lighter notes things are not to bad. Shed and garage break ins are the worst problems at the moment.
We all have to be more vigilant how ever and basic things like locking your doors and window when you go out, not leaving things on show in your car, locking you car ,sheds and garages for example.
Keep an eye on your neighbours home when they are out and ask them to do the same for you.
Why not join the NPI or Neighbourhood Watch.

Other issues raised was the increase in fly tipping, the need for a Environmental Warden in Oscott, Quad bikes being a problem, parking issues around schools and the Sutton College and ball games in the street.

If there is any thing you would like me to bring up on your behalf with the Police please contact me on 360 6486.

OSCOTT NEEDS ITS OWN ENVIRONMENTAL WARDEN

A few months ago at a full meeting of the Birmingham City Council I warned the Councils Administration, that doing away with Wards like Oscott having their own Environmental Warden was a bad idea.
The current Council Administration with its on wisdom however decided to reduce the amount of Wardens in each Constituency from 4 to 3 and have a team of wardens wondering across the city as a response team.
From the complaints I am receiving from Oscott residents it is clear that the much reduced warden service in Oscott is not at all popular.
There has been a build up in graffiti and fly tipping in Oscott and many of the things Environmental Wardens had been doing so well are not now being done.
Both Councillor Dring and I will do what we can to reverse this sad state of affairs but the blame needs to be put fairly and squarely on the shoulders of this Council Administration.
If you have any issues that need to help of an Environmeantal Warden please ring me on 360 6486.

DELAYS IN REOPENING THE PERRY COMMON LIBRARY

I have recently learnt that the Perry Common Library refurbishment has received a set back. The roof beams having dry and wet rot have been known about for some time but now more damage has been found which needs dealing with.
This Library is also a grade 2 listed building which means the English Heritage team will have to be involved in regards to its repair. They are due to visit the building later this year.
All in all the new date for reopening looks likely to be put back to November.

As a regular user of this library I know only to well how frustrating these delays are. Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I will do what we can speed up the process and we will be monitoring the situation.

ALDRIDGE ROAD RECREATION GROUND LITTER PICKING SESSION SAT 9TH MAY.

There will be a litter picking session taking place on the Aldridge Road Recreation Ground on Saturday 9th May. We will be starting from the Shady Lane entrance. 11.15 amLitter pickers and reflective vests will be provided. (if you have your own please bring them.)For further details please ring 360 6486.

DISABLED IGNORED AGAIN

Some times the mind boggles when it comes to how petty the Birmingham City Council can be.
For example Disabled residents have had 2 petitions requesting a simple Disabled bay marking be placed on the carriage way out side the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road, rejected by the Transportation department.
This request is not mind bogglingly expensive to put into place and there are no other disabled bays in the vicinity you would think the Council could be a little sympathetic in this case.
I Know George Hough who is the hard working Chair of the Oscott Disability Group, will not give up on this issue and I will continue to support him and his members.

WHY NOT HAVE A SPRING WALK IN THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE?

The Queslett Nature Reserve always looks nice this time of a year. Having walked around it today I can say it really looks tidy at the moment.

Why not consider beating the bank holiday traffic jams and have a walk around the Queslett Nature Reserve instead? (but please take your rubbish home with you!)

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve have been doing a good job over the last few months and slow but sure you can tell the difference they are making.
Many of the wild plants which were put in last year have survived despite the poor winter and early spring. Also a number of the saplings are taking off.
I would like to thank all those involved with the FQNR for their efforts.

If you would like to become a member of the FQNR please give me a ring on 360 6486.

GLENMEAD WALK ABOUT

Councillor Barbara Dring and I arranged another of a Councillor in your street days today. On meeting a number of residents I found they had the same complaints as so many Oscott residents these days. Their grass verges are a mess. The carriage way is a disgrace and there are problems with trees in the road.
With the way things are with the current Council Administration it will not be easy to get anything done but both Councillor Dring and I will have a go. (I have a suspicion when others read this they may just have a go to?)