3 LOCAL RESIDENT WE SHOULD ALL THANK

JEAN BAKER, PAULINE ALDER, MYSELF AND WELL KNOW PERRY BARR HOUSING LIASON BOARD REP MAUREEN INGER.

I was really honour to along with Councillor Barbara Dring be asked to award a certificate of honour to local residents yesterday at a Social gathering.
The well deserving recipients were Jean Baker, Pauline Alder and Pauline Cooke.
All three have behind the scenes in a no fuss sort of way really battled for their local community.
Jean has for many years (until recent ill health) been connected with the Oscott Housing Liaison Boards and the Oscott North Neighbourhood Forum.
Pauline A has been a champion for the elderly for many years. She has been a member of the Friends of Witton Cemetery and also a local residents group for many years.
Pauline C helped set up the Old Oscott Community Centre many years ago and has been very active in local residents groups.
I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to residents like these and their selflessness should inspire those of a younger generation.

OSCOTT HOUSING LIAISION BOARD AGM RESULT

After a hard fought battle Car0le Dempster was re elected as Chair of the Oscott Housing Liaison Board last night. Carole who is well know for her battling qualities on behalf of residents won a clear majority in the end.
Alan Wolverson also had a clear Marjory when being elected as the vice chair.
I hope everyone will put aside their differences and have the good grace to get behind these 2 and work for the local community.

NIGHTMARE PARKING GOES ON

The parking at the end of Burnham Road and Birdbrook Road where it joins onto the Aldridge Road slip road is getting worse by the day. Since the College opposite reopened as the James Watt metropolitan college, it has been a nightmare for local traders and residents. There are dozens of extra students parking all over the place on corners of the roads (even in Courtenay Road) on grass verges and on pavements.
It is time the Highways department took control of the situation. They should stop delaying and take action before a serious accident occurs.
I am disappointed that neither the James Watt College or Mitchells and Butlers estates have got back to me regarding my idea that they use the disused Drakes Drum car park, to take some of the parking off the road.
I am in constant touch with senior Highways engineers and the Police over this mater and will continue to press on them the importance of taking action.

MARY VALE PROJECT GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.

I was delighted to be asked by the Maryvale Project to attend their Ist anniversary celebrations. They are doing a terrific job for the elderly and other members of the local community.
There was good entertainment for elderly residents including an exelant Steel drum band from the Cardinal Wise man School. Here's to a successful second year for them.

PENSIONER CONVENTION STILL DOING NICELY

I went along to the Perry Barr Pensioners Convention today. It was good to see that these meeting are well attended and informative. Chairman Les Phillips and his team do a good job motivation the elderly in the area and they are always very welcoming. These meetings take at the Great Barr Leisure Centre.
If you would like more details ring Ken Smith 624 6981

MARHALL GROVE RESIDENTS TELL US WHAT THEY THINK

Councillor Barbara Dring and I did another of our regular street walk abouts yesterday, this time in Marhall Grove. A number of residents there told us of their concerns about Council cut backs, the poor sate of the pavements and the increase in litter in the area.
We will be looking to the Council to take action in these areas.

TRAINNING WORK ON QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

Along with other dedicated Queslett Nature Reserve, I attended the first of a series of Training sessions where members received training for Parks department Rangers.
Today's session was all about tool handling their use and how to work safely with them.
It will now be up to Reserve members to try and pass on their newly acquired knowledge to other members and hopefully build up a pool of members who can work with less supervision on the reserve.

COUNCIL CAN NOT AFFORD A ROAD DIRECTION SIGN

It was recently pointed out to me that there was no sign telling any one where the Queslett nature Reserve was. I checked and this is in fact correct. I then contacted the Highways department only to be told we do not do these signs for free and it would cost £300 to have one made and erected. "could the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve ( voluntary group) pay for one?"
Well what a sorry state of affairs the Council seem to have got them selves. It would appear they can not even afford a information sign, giving directions to one of their own Nature Reserves.

PERRY BARR SPEED WAY PLANNING APPLICATION DEFFERED FOR 0NE YEAR.

You may well have heard the news but just in case you have not! The Perry Barr Speed way planning application has been deferred for 1 year.
It was felt by some of the Planning committee this would give the applicants time to see how the new style exhaust silencers work and if they help reduce the noise problem which some local residents have complained about so much.

I have my reservations as to whether 1 year is enough time to see if the new technology involved with regards to these new silencers works, but I could find no agreement to my suggestion that the decision should not be taken for 2 years instead.

I now hope that the applicants can resolve the noise problems and that Speed Way with all the obvious advantages it bring to Perry Barr and Birmingham will, succeed at the Perry Barr stadium and eliminate the perceived noise problems we are told about.

NEW CCTV FOR GREAT BARR LEISURE CENTRE AND ALDRIDGE RECREATION GROUND

I was really pleased to see a new CCTV camera has been placed in the Aldridge Road Recreation Ground area. This will give almost complete coverage of the recreation ground and will supplement the one Councillor Dring and I fought so hard to get as part of the arrangements for the children's play area on the site, some years ago.

PERRY BARR SPEED WAY PLANNING APLICATION

I have received dozens and dozens of emails and letters concerning tomorrows Planning application for the Perry Barr Speedway Stadium. As a member of the Committee looking into the application I have to remain neutral and not comment on the subject until after it has been fully aired at tomorrows Planning Committee.
What I can say is I have endeavored to read as many of the emails and letters as I could and have taken on board the comments made in them.
Any one still with a view on the matter needs to contact the Planning department ASAP before tomorrows planning committee meeting.

375 BUS ROUTE CHAOS

Following a week of un announced chaos for those living in the Milnes Walker Court and Oscott School Lane area, I have managed to get the Choice Bus Company, Centro and the Bus Commissioners to arrange to reintroduce the service to Oscott School Lane. This follows both Councillor Barbara Dring and I having to deal with a number of elderly residents waiting for none existent buses to arrive at bus stops on Oscott School Lane.
Why Centro and Choice did not let people know about their change in route is beyond me however I have been informed there will be publicity for the new change will will come into operation on Monday.

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve are still looking for new members to join them in their battle to improve the Quslett Nature Reserve, The Aldridge Recreation Ground and the local environment.
The hold activity days (designed for those who want to do more than just talk about improving the environment, litter picks, bush clearance work, tree and bush planting and so on. They also actively campaign for a better nature reserve and local environment.
Membership is free please think about joining.
For more information please ring 360 6486. (also please note there is a Queslett Nature Reserve blog see my link)

NEW FENCING SUCCSESS

it is very pleasing to see that the new fencing along the the Kingstanding Boundary of the Burford Road Playing Feilds has all been completed. Residents have already told me they are really happy about this and it was money well spent.
There has also been a section of new fencing put in on the Oscott School Lane boundary of the Aldridge Recreation Ground and we will continue to look for funding to replace the rest.

HMS DARING GETS THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM

I was pleased to be able to attend the ceremony to announce that HMS Daring and her crew have received the freedom of the city today.
It was a very good spectacle and it is good to see our armed forces receiving the honours they deserve is a wonderful thing. We all owe a large debt of gratitude to our armed forces.

LATE LATE YOUTH CLUB ARE DOING WELL

I popped in to see the members of the Late Late Youth Club who operate from the 610 Community Centre on a Tuesday morning, yesterday. It was good to see they seem to be doing well as a group, unfortunately how ever due to another commitment I was not able to take up their kind offer to have a game of Countdown with them.
For more information about this group ring 464 2268

NO MORE AGENDA'S AT MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL?

Apparently so I am informed, Ward Committees and District Committees (meetings held in front of the public to inform them of what is happening and to hear the public's views) are now not to be allowed to give out agena's to the public.
This decree has come down from the Council Administration to save money apparently?.

I would have thought letting residents know what is going on is worth the money.
However if this is going to happen?, I have suggested a copy of the various agenda,s be shown at meeting on a overhead projector of some kind. Perhaps this may help make meetings understandable to those resident who attend?

BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELD FENCING TO BE ERECTED THIS WEEK?

I have been reliably informed that the new fencing intended for the Kingstanding Road Boundary of the Burford Road Playing Fields is to be erected this week. Lets hope so.

STOP PRESS THE WORK STATED 8am Tuesday 8th.

UNDERGROUND RECYCLING BINS A SUCCESS

Underground recycling bins are a success is the message I have been receiving from residents recently. Oscott have two such sets of underground recycling bins located near the Kingstanding Library and on the corner of Birdbrook road and Old Oscotthill.

These bins have done away with the need to see unsightly vandalised above ground bins and over the years they have been there they have proved very successful.
These bins really compliment the door step collection service and were certainly money well spent.

NEW BUS SHELTER FOR SHADY LANE

Residents informed me they were pleased to see a new mini bus shelter be erected near the Aldridge Road end of Shady Lane. This follows a petition I presented to Centro on their behalf about 4 years ago. I have been pressing ever since for one of the mini shelters as they do not attact anti social youngsters like the larger shelters.

SPEEDING BUSES ON COOKSEY LANE

I am still receiving a number of complaints about the way some bus drivers are speeding down Cooksey Lane. This is not only potentially dangerous but also it can lead to vibration in residents homes which causes them a lot of annoyance. It does not help either that the council wont repair any of the sunken trenches in the carriage way and apart from filling in the odd pot hole are taking no interest at all. I have been in touch with Centro and the Transportation regarding the issue trying to get them to take action

CAR PARK CLEAN UP

I am pleased to report that following weeks of trying to get the small car park belonging to the Drakes drum public hose swept of glass and rubbish it has now been done. There have also been over hanging tree branches cut back.

I have also asked if the Council would act as a go between for the Drakes Drum and the college opposite to see if this car par can be used once again by students for parking their cars and I understand the college has agreed to litter pick the car park if the Drakes drum allow it to be used as a car park for their students.

I hope now the owners of the Drakes Drum will be able to see their way forward to helping the local community in regard to the problems there have been in the area as a result of too many student cars being parked in the area.