COOKSEY LANE BUS SHELTER TO GO

A bus shelter near 70 Cooksey Lane is to be removed following a decision by Centro Bus Shelter appeals committee. The bus shelter near 70 Cooksey lane has been a long term magnet for antisocial behavior in the area. It has been used as a goal post for full scale street football matches and as a den for local youngsters. It has also been vandalised on a number of occasions. I also know the Police were concerned about the problems caused by this bus shelter.
While I regret that bus shelters have to be removed, there are times for the sake of local residents this has to happen.
Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I have worked with the residents for some time on this matter and recently Oscott third Councillor also got involved which enabled this matter to be considered by the Bus shelter committee (all three councillors in a ward must agree on a shelters removal)
The shelter is expected to be removed in a matter of months.
Lets hope those youths playing foot ball in the street and using this bus shelter will now start using the King George playing Fields for the football activities.

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY DAY DATE

The next Queslett Nature Reserve activity day will be Thursday August the sixth. The meeting place will be the Ashworth Road entrance at 10.am.
(for further details please ring 464 1869)

DUNEDIN ROAD UPDATE

I have had it confirmed today that the pavement in Dunedin Road will be rebuilt and replaced starting Mid January. When that is finished (approx 12 weeks) work should start on replacing the carriage way. I know many with suspicious minds may think this could be a simple electioneering tactic by the current Council administration, but I like to believe in coincidence and hope this is just what this is.
I am certainly pleased this work is to be carried out as I have been campaigning on this issue for many years as has my colleague Councillor Barbara Dring and others. Lets hope there are no more delays and this work gets done asap.

COOKSEY LANE CARRIAGE WAY INSPECTION TO TAKE PLACE

While out on a recent walk about in Cooksey Lane Councillor Barbara Dring and myself met yet more Oscott residents fed up with the Councils lack of maintenance on roads carriage ways.
Councillor Dring who is leading a campaign to improve the Cooksey Lane carriage way has already got the Council to agree to do a full inspection of it in August buts says if the Council does not take action after the August inspection she will intensify the campaign.

WELL MEANING RESIDENT TAKES ACTION

A resident without Council permission took action recently and pruned a tree on the island at the Oscott School Lane, Birdbrook Road junction. While I can not officially condone the actions of this well meaning resident, I can fully understand why he or she took action. The branches on the offending tree were badly obscuring the view of motorists at a well know accident black spot and there was an accident waiting to happen. For their part after a number of complaints they agreed to prune the offending tree by the end of this summer (a few weeks). This was still clearly not acceptable and I will be asking the Tree department to finish the job a soon as possible. I will also be asking the Council to take away the cut branches to keep the site tidy.

BEWARE OF FLY TIPPING

Fly tipping in Oscott seems to be on the increase again. These unpleasant and anti social acts need to be stamped out before they get to established. The latest target area appears to be the Centry Industrial Estate off Shady Lane but these fly tippers can strike any where.

If you see any fly tipping please contact 303 9900

BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM VISIT WELL WORTH WHILE BUT VERY TIRING

I was very pleased to be able to help out on a trip organised by the Oscott Disability Group, to the Black Country Museum. I have to admit how ever I did find it very tiring. You some times forget how much work careers have to put in. Some of them do this day in and day out and not like me, just on the odd day out.
The day itself although it rained went very well. The ORG's new fold up electic scooters had a few problems but nothing that could not be sorted out. Many of those who went on the trip told me "seeing the old shops and factories really brought back some old memories".
I would like to Thank George Hough and Nigel Quinn not just for organising the trip so well but also for allowing me to help out. It was a real pleasure and I do home elderly and disabled residents will be able do do more of these trips in the future.

GREAT BARR SCHOOL ICI MARK SUCESS

One of the Governers from the Grear Barr School has informed me of the following comments from a School ICI inpector

> The inspector is recommending Great Barr School for the ICT
> Mark award. Following a recent morning inspection.
His headline > statement started:
>
> " Great Barr school is at the cutting edge of innovation in
> ICT and E-learning"
>
> he went on to list a host of strengths with glowing
> statements which will be detailed in the citation.
>
> I would like to congratulate all concerned on their hard
> work and collective effort which will reap rewards for
> pupils, staff and the community.
>
> The inspector identified the school's momentum, shared
> vision and tangible energy around E-learning which will lead
> to great achievements;

----------------------------------------------------------------
I would just like to say Well done to all involved at the Great Barr School.

MORE NEW FENCING FOR BURFORD PLAYING FIELDS AND THE ALDRIDGE RECREATION GROUND

Looking at some damaged fencing on the Burford Road site with NPI organiser Brian Brookes.





New fencing for sections of the Burford Road Playing Fields and the Aldridge Road Recreation Ground has taken a step closer to being erected. At a site meeting yesterday with Officers from the Leisure services and local community Representatives some of the problem areas at these sites were considered. A number of residents have complained to both Councillor Barbara Dring and I over the years about the poor fencing on these sites and the associated antisocial behavior.
It is home more new steel fencing will be in place by the end of the financial year.

11pm IS TO LATE TO SELL ALCOHOL ON THE HAWTHORN ROAD

I attended the recent Hawthorn Traders Association meeting where one of the main concerns was the hours Tesco intended to request for permission to sell alcohol. They would like to sell alcolhol between the hours of 6am and 11pm. I have already placed on record I think due to the problems with anti social behavior on the Hawthorn Road 11pm is to late to sell alcohol. The issue is due to come before the Licensing Committee on the 22 July.

HASSOP ROAD COUNCILLORS WALK ABOUT.

Councillor Barbara Dring and I carried out another of our street walk abouts today. This time it was Hassop Road.
We heard a number of concerns from local residents such as , the way the Council had let grass verges in the road deteriorate. There were also complaints about parking and trees which need pruning or replacing.
Councillor Dring and I will ensure residents concerns are passed on and will see if the Council will take any action.

EXTRA HELP FOR THE DISABLED IN OSCOTT

I was really pleased when the Chair of the Oscott Disability Groups informed me that a funding request from Grass Roots, we had been trying to arrange, had come to fruition.
The ODG have now been given funding with which they have paid for 3 motorised fold up disability scooters and 2 wheel chairs with.
These scooters and chairs will help elderly or disabled resident to be able to go on trips with
the Oscott Residents Groups in the future.
ODG Chair George Hough told me "this will make a big difference to disabled Oscott residents who have not been able to go on coach trips in the past because of mobility problems. The Oscott Disability Group would like to Thank Khalid Mahood MP and Councillor Barbara Dring for their support as well."

BEECHES SCOUT GROUP IS DOING WELL

Scouting has always been an excellent way for young people to learn about life and also to give to the community. At the Glenmead school fate on Saturday and met some of the adults who help make Scouting work. They were dong a great job (in the rain) working on one of the stalls raising money for the Beeches Scout Troop.
Having met with one of their senior organisers I hope More funding can be found from the Oscott Ward.

RE LAUNCH OF THE OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS GROUPS .

I was pleased to be asked along to the relaunch of the Oscott Elderly Residents Groups Coffee mornings today. The meeting which took place at the 610 CommunityCentre was well attended and those their enjoyed a good chat over a free cup of tea. coffee and biscuits.
These meeting help elderly residents socialise nd find out more about what is happening in their area. Well done Maureen Byrne for organising this meeting.
For more details about meeting in the future please ring 468 1869

HIGH STANDARDS ON THE INTERGRATED TRANSPORT COMMITTEE.

I attended a meeting of the Intergrated Trasport Authority Standards Committee on Monday.
At this meeting Nick Hughes one of the committees independant members was voted chair.
This is an important committee as it looks at any complaints made against Councillors on the ITA. Luckily these complaints are very rare.
If you want to no more about the ITA ( the old WMPTA) or the work of the Standards Committee, details are on the Internet.

MARY VALE AND GLENMEAD SCHOOL FATE'S WENT ON DESPITE THE RAIN.

Despite holding a busy Councillors Surgery yesterday I managed to attend both the Mary Vale and Glenmead school Fate's. I was pleased to see both were well attended and every one seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the rain. As usual I seemed to spend a small fortune in the process. Well done all those involved in running these fates

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE LITTER PICK CANCELLED

Due to rain the planned litter pick on the Queslett Nature Reserve July 11th has had to be cancelled. It is hoped anther will be arranged later this month.

I would just like to thank those members who are popping along to the reserve with a black bag on their own and giving the place a litter pick. Well done.

KING STANDING ROAD BUS STOP CONSULTATION

Residents who attended the Kingstanding Road proposed bus stop consultation (primarily near 496 to 502 Kingstanding Road) yesterday, have demanded drop curbs at a low prise, for their cooperation regarding this issue. I totally agree with them. If they are to be inconvenienced by the proposed changes to the bus stop area by their homes they should be given low priced dropped curbs.

NEW -OSCOTT WARD HOUSING LIAISON BOARD COMMITTEE ELECTED

At a baking hot meeting of the Oscott Ward Housing Liaison Board AGM I attended yesterday, a number of residents turned up ready to take on the role of being an HLB committee member. There was some debate as to whether the meeting was in order given a lack of notice, however it was deemed to be in order?
I am sure most of those there, will do a great job for the community and I look forward to continuing to work with the HLB.

COFFEE MORNING 15TH JULY

Chair OERG invites you to a Coffee morning on July 15th

There will be a chance to have a natter and a free cup of coffee and a slice of cake, at a coffee morning being organised by the Oscott Elderly Residents group, on Wednesday July 15th at 11.15am at the 610 Community Centre. Why not pop along and support the idea.

For more details contact Maureen on 681 1826

CONSERVATIVE CLUB TO CLOSE

You may not expect me to say this but I was saddened to hear that the Conservative club on Warren Road is to close. I have been to a number events there over the years, Neighbourhood Watch meetings and so on and have always got on well when I have visited the club.
I do not know what the future holds for the site but I hope a use is found for it soon.

CONSULTATION ABOUT SANDY LANE PARKING TO TAKE PLACE

After years of shilly shalling about I have now had it confirmed that consultations into new proposals to try and ease the problems caused by parents picking up and dropping off their children at the Perry Beeches schools will take place in the Autumn.
Residents living in Sandy Lane have for year had their drive ways blocked by parents in their cars and some needs to be done to sort this problem out.

DONT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN YOUR CAR DURING THE HOT WEATHER

How many times do people have to be told do not leave your dog in a car in hot weather.
Sadly As seen on tv even the Police have not got the message.
Dogs can die in less than half an our if left in a hot car and can be very distressed if left for a lot less time.
I actually spoke to some one who was just about to go off and leave his dog in his car the other day, luckily he took my reminder the right way.

DANGER ISLAND TREES TO BE PRUNED

I am pleased to announce that the pressure put on the Councils Tree section has paid off and they are to prune back the trees on the half island at the junction of Birdbrook Road, Old Oscott Lane. and Old Oscott Hill.
This work will be done during the summer and I will continue to remind them to do it.