NO TO MOOR LANE PETITION

The Birmingham City Council have turned down a petition from Moor Lane residents calling for road safety measures in their road which I presented for them.
Residents are fed up coming out in the morning to missing wing mirrors and scratched cars due to speeding traffic. This road needs some form of traffic safety measures introduced. Signage and narrowing would have been a help. Still they will have to try again and lets also hope there are no more accidents.

A LEVEL SUCCSESS.

I would just like to say well done to all those youngsters who have worked so hard for their A. level results. More and more youngsters from Oscott are getting better results.
I am not one of those who down play the work these youngsters do by saying it is easier to pass these days. I think our youngsters deserve better than that.

IS THERE ANY THING FOR THE KIDS TO DO IN OSCOTT DURRING THE SUMMER! YES THERE IS?

At this time of the year half way through the holiday desperate parents and their chidren often ask me "is there any thing for the kids to do in Oscott"
Well the answer is "yes there is".
There are a number of Council and voluntary groups keeping youngsters occupied all year around in Oscott. Many of these are supported by the Oscott Community Chest.

For example there is the Mary Vale youth group ( for details ring 07711 44 0381)
The Great Barr Leisure Centre has a number of activities for young people (for details ring 464 0104.
The 610 Community Centre has youth clubs and many other activities youngsters can get involved in (ring 464 2268 for details)
There are also a whole range of other actives for youngsters being held across the Oscott Ward and surrounding area. These are being organised by the Councils youth services Ring 675 6717 for details.

AGE CONCERN DESERVE ALL OUR SUPPORT

Age Concern to an awful of work for pensioners in the Oscott area. They have a Handy Man scheme, a gardening scheme give out useful information and also hold befriending sessions.
I like to pop in to meetings which they hold every Thursday at the Emmanuel Church Kingstanding Road 2pm to 4pm. when I can o see if any one needs any advice.
They hold a range of activities at these meeting, for example when I popped in last Thursday, they were watching a film about Cadburies in the past.
On the next three Thursdays they are doing the following.
27th August A Talk by Jeremy Shields from the City Council about recycling
3rd September Its a bingo session
10th September There will be a road safety talk.

There are also trips being organised and other activities such as extend exercise classes.* these are in various locations accross the ward.

If you or anyone you know wants to get out of the house to meet other elderly residents why not contact Age Concern on 358 0309

CONCERNS ABOUT THE NHS EXPRESSED AT KINGSTANDING PENSIONERS CONVENTION MEETING

I was pleased to be asked to attend a meeting of the Kingstanding Pensioners Convention today.
I went along with Councillor Barbara Dring to listen to the concerns of a number of pensioners in the area. There main concerns were about whether the free bus pass will be retained, why some people are attacking the NHS and the need for a new bus shelter on the college road,

I was able to assure member of the KPC that the bus pass is safe in the hands of the current government, many of those attacking the NHS were just giving their own political view (hopefully not shared by mainy of their political allies?) on the subject. Most agreed our NHS is vital to the elderly and it should not be got rid of after the next general elections. I am also working with the KPC Chair, to try and resolve the bus shelter issue. I had to admit however, Kingstanding residents and Councillors are opposed to the idea.
Councillor Barbara Dring answered a number of questions about Social Services and health commissioning. Khalid mahmood MP sent a representative (Tristan) to feed back to him as he (KM) was in London..
As ever it was an enjoyable meeting well chaired by Les phillips with the help of Ken Smith.

OSCOTT PUBLIC MEETING GOES WELL

I was pleased to be able to fit in attending the Oscott Residents Groups public meeting today.
It was as usual an interesting meeting with a number of challenging questions being put as part of it. There were a number of Questions which were parking related, questions about the progress of the new proposed skate Bord centre and well as questions about anti social behavior. Khalid Mahmmod MP was there as the special guest speaker along with Police Sergeant Kearns.

KINGSTANDING ROAD / GREENHOLM ROAD PARKING STILL NEEDS SORTING OUT

That old chess nut the pavement and parking on the Kingstanding Road near the corner of Greenholm is still causing concern to residents. The problem is that customers and staff from the near by shops park at an angle on the pavement at this location. This on occasions obstructs the pavements and damages them.
The Council has an a few occasions come up with plans to try and deal with this situation but on each occasion these plans have not been well received. It is partly a result of the Current Council not wishing to commit the adequate funds to do the job properly in my view. This will not be an easy situation to sort out and in fairness over the years Councillors from all parties have had a go at it.
I have been in touch recently with the Transportation department recently asking them to review the situation. I have also reminded the Police to keep an eye on the parking situation so it does not get out of hand.
If you have a view on the situation please give me a ring on 360 6486.

MORE HARD WORK PLANED FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

I had an interesting site meeting with Local Parks Managers today and members of the FQNR ,on the Queslett Nature Reserve. Many reserve related issues were discussed and future plans laid.
Although the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve a fairly small in number they make up for it in their commitment to the Reserve and the Local Environment.
A practical works program has now been planned for the coming six months and it is hoped that at the end of that time continuing improvements to the reserve will be noticed.
The Council itself will however have to take some responsibility for some of the work they have already undertaken which needs finishing of and I will do what I can to see this work is done.
Councillor Barbara Dring who also came along to today's meeting has also given her backing to improving the reserve.

If you would like to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to help improve the reserve for the wildlife and the users of the reserve give me a ring on 36o 6486

KING GEORGE PLAYING FIELDS NEW FENCING IS NOW IN PLACE

While I am on about giving credit for things being done in the ward, I think it is appropriate to thank Brian Stevens who is a member of the Oscott North Neighbourhood Forum and the Oscott Housing Liaison Board for all hos efforts helping to get funding from the Council to finish off having new fencing put up on the King George Playing Fields (Oscott site.)
Brian with the help of the Oscott HLB, Councillor Dring and myself have after at least 4 years finally got this new fencing erected. It will mean added security for local residents who back on to the playing fields and there will be added protection for the Cooksey Lane playing Fields.

LETS GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

It was with sadness I learnt how poorly both Jean Baker and Pauline Alder are at the moment.
Both of these ladies have worked very hard for a number of years for the local community in Oscott.
They have been behind the scene in many cases trying to help the local community organising trips, looking after people and campaigning on a number of local issues.
Both Jean and Pauline have also been keen activists on a number of community organisations like Forums Housing Liaison Boards, the Friends of Witton Cemetery and the Kingstanding Neighbourhood Police initiative amongst other things. They have certainly kept me on my toes at times with their demands on behalf of local residents.
They certainly deserve more credit than they have received and I hope their health improves in the future

WORK ON THE AREAS NEW SKATE BOARD PARK MAY START IN MARCH.?

Councilor Barbara Dring who is leading the campaign for a new Skate Board facility in the area has told me " It is hoped that the New Skate Board Centre for local youths will start being built in March. I have a number of youngsters on to me' who can hardly wait.!"
This new centre will be even better than originally thought as new funding is going into it.
Despite a few people who are in opposition to its location we find most people like the place it is going to be put on the Perry Barr Park (on the Oscott side) as it is on main bus routes (997 994,107, 33) and not to close to residents home. There is also a Ranger service for Perry Barr Park and the security of all concerned should be a lot better as a result. BMX tracks are also going to be placed near by and the whole thing will complement the Alexander Stadium which is on the other end of the park. This will be a major youth facility for the area
I am sure Barbara 's campaign will bring a lot of enjoyment to local youngsters.

STILL NO ACTION IN KETTLEHOUSE ROAD

Some months ago now at a site meeting in Kettlehouse Road with residents and council officers, it was shown how dangerous the pavement in Kettlehouse Road can be near the HSB ATM. While we were there drivers were "bouncing up the curb narrowly missing pedestrians, to get as close to the bank as possible. This is amassing given there is a free car park with a few yards of the bank.
Transportation engineers agreed to extend guard railings and to reduce the amount of taxi ranks in the area to help prevent motorist driving on the pavement. However still nothing has been done and in fact due to a taxi rank poll being removed it is even easier to get onto the pavement. Why this Council Administration take so long even to carry out simple improvements is a real mystery. I will keep on to them about this issue however.

WEST MIDLAND POLICE WEBB LINK

I popped in for a long Chat with Inspector Leavesley at Kingstanding Police Station today.
During the course of our conversation I was assured that the Police are keeping up with crime in the area. There is also a WMP webb were residents can keep up with the activities of their local Police. Just log in then go through the Sutton Cold Field Station Link Neighbourhood Policing.
If you want more details or have a complaint you want me to pass onto the Police give me a ring on 360 6486
(And do not forget the Police will be attending the Oscott Residents Groups Public meeting Sat 15th August 10.45am at the 610 Community Centre.)

LOG BENCHES PUT IN RESERVE AT LAST.

The Queslett Nature Reserve activity day went well on Thursday.
Council officers with a team of students as well and FQNR members, cleared more scrub, cleaned rubbish out of the lake, put in 5 new basic log benches for people to sit on and littered picked on the site. Luckily the weather stayed OK and I would like to thank all who helped.

PUBLIC MEETING CALLED BY OSCOTT RESIDENT GROUPS

I have been asked to attend a public meeting of the Oscott Residents Groups on Saturday 15th of August (10.45am at the 610 Community Centre) and I try and attend as many public meetings as possible as they help me understand the problems residents have and in most cases questions are asked which keep you on your toes. I will certainly try and get to this one as the Oscott Resident Groups work hard organising these meeting.
I hope you will be able to attend but if you do have any issues you want to raise with me and can not get to this meeting please give me a ring on 360 6486.

HOST CORPERATION GOLF COURSE GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION

I was sorry to hear that the Host Corperation who own the 9 hole golf course in Booths Lane have gone into administration.
Although Councillor Barbara Dring , most of the local community and myself have had a number of issues between us (mainly the condition of the unadopted Booths Lane) I am sorry to see the company in such trouble.

I have grave concerns for the future of the site and will do what I can to ensure the site is maintained for Leisure purposes. My main concern however is for those who use the Booths Lane unadopted section. I have been in touch already with the Council asking them to reconsider adopting this lane and to consider using some of the new PFI funding made available by the government. I am now calling on the Councils Transportation department to have a complete re think on this issue.

YET MORE DELAYS FOR THE NOVA COURT TRAFIC LIGHTS

Despite promise after promise the Birmingham City Council have yet again announced a delay in having traffic lights put in place at the Nova Court Junction of Queslett Road. Apparently the Sandwell MBC are objecting to some aspects of the proposals. You would have though after all this time the Birmingham and Sandwell Council could have sorted out their differences. They need to stop stalling and get on and do the work.
you can be assured at least Councillor Barbara Dring and I will keep the pressure on to get these lights erected ASAP.

NEW PUBLIC CENTRAL LIBARY

As part of my Planning Committee duties I had to go to Alpa Tower today to look at the latest plans for the 190 Million pound new Central Library.
Although I can see potential in the new designs the Comments of one of the Conservatives on the Committee who like the others have to agree the New Library is wonderful, said "it looks a bit like a lot of bed springs". I can see what he means. (I have told him I will not name him in public so his secrete is safe with me)
IT IS JUST A GREAT SHAME SOME OF THE MONEY INVOLVED COULD NOT BE SPENT MORE IN THE SUBURBS OSCOTT.

Councillor John Beadman R.I.P

I have been out of touch for a few days due to ill health and have only recently learned of the death of Councillor John Beadman (Sutton New Hall).
John was a lovely man and we hit it off when we first met while signing our Council papers back in 2000. We served together on a number of committees and rarely if ever had differences of opinion. John was one on those genuine Councillors who put his residents first. It was not Johns style to make cheap political points or have a go at some one for the sake of it and when he spoke you listened. He was a true conservative and a true gentle man.
All my sympathy goes out to his family at this time.

FLY POSTING ON THE INCREASE AGAIN IN

Sadly there has been a noticeable increase in fly posting in the Oscott area since the Council reduced the amount of time spent in the area by our Environmental Wardens.
Under our old warden Fly Posting was almost stopped, now you only have to go down any main road to see it. Not only is it unsightly but at times when it is put on road sign it can be quite dangerous.
I am already calling in fly posting complaint to the Council but if you let me know of any concerns they would be welcome. Tel 360 6486