LIGHT PRUNING SESSION TO TAKE PLACE ON QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

There will be a light pruning and litter picking session taking place on Saturday March 12th at the Queslett Nature Reserve. Members and others keen on helping to improve the reserve for the wild life and those who use the reserve are asked to meet at the Ahgrove Road Entrance at 11.30am.

Please note tools will be provided (if you have your own litter pickers and gloves please bring them however)
Please come prepared to roll your sleeves up and for the weather.

Children are welcome but must be supervised by adult and everyone is asked to take care when taking part in our session.
You would be advised to please park a little distance away from the entrance (perhaps in booths lane) and walk to the entrance.) There will be a Parks Ranger attending our session.


If you require further details please ring 360 6486,

KETTLEHOUSE ROAD CAR ACCIDENT

Following being informed by a concerned resident of yet another Motor vehicle accident ( 3 cars involved) on the Kettlehouse Road, I have contacted Councillor Huxtable (Councillor with responsibility for Transportation), he's seniors officers and the Police, asking them all to investigate this latest accident.I have also asked for the subject of road safety re Kettlehouse Road to be placed on the March 8th (7pm) Oscott Ward Committee meeting, to be held at the 610 Community Centre. If you have a concern about this matter please come along.

DEATH DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES

Detectives investigating the discovery of a man’s body found slumped in a Birmingham garden have now ruled out foul play.
West Midlands Police cordoned off a house at the junction of Dyas Road and Old Oscott Lane, in Kingstanding, after a passer-by made the unpleasant discovery on Monday afternoon.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination carried out yesterday revealed that he had died of natural causes.
A Police spokesman has now confirmed the case will be handed to the Coroner.

I do not know who the deceased was but I would like to offer my condolences to his family

SERIOUS CRIME ON THE INCREASE IN OSCOTT

Many will have heard of the serious criminal events which have been happening in the Oscott area recently. I am calling on the Police to ensure all that can be done is done to.
Although I have confidence in the Local Police I am calling for more resources for the Oscott Ward.

The situation just goes to show how foolish the Government are with their proposals to reduce Police Number in the Perry Constituency by about 40. Serious crime is for the first time in many years growing in the Oscott area and urgent measures need to be taken to prevent this.

GROT SPOT CAMPAIGN

Working in association with the Oscott Residents Groups and the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve I am starting a "Lets clean up a grot spot campaign". Members will be trying to to tidy up those hard to get to litter filled areas in the Oscott Ward.
Sadly due to cuts in funding it looks like this type of campaign may have to be carried out more often. It is not so much a case of "big Society in action" as lets get on and do things our selves because they have taken away the funding.
Given the cuts in funding by the Council I am really pleased that volunteers have come forward to help to clean up in Oscott.

PROBLEMS LOGGING ON

I am having problems logging on at the moment so please bare with me.

SAY GOOD BY TO THE 628 BUS SERVICE

It is sad to note that the 628 bus service is going to be withdrawn. While it was in no way perfect it did at least help many Oscott Residents to the One Stop Shopping Centre.
I am afraid it is a sign of the times where private bus Companies have the finale say in decisions like this and there is little anyone can do about it.
Residents will now in many cases have to use 2 buses to get to Perry Barr.

ARRESTS MADE AFTER GUN SHOTS HEARD IN KINGSTANDING

I have had a number of Oscott resident speak to me today about their concerns regarding gun shots being fired in the area.
As far as I am aware the Police have arrested seven people after reports of shots being fired in a Rough Road, Kingstanding. There had been other reports of guns shots previously.

No one was believed to have been hurt after a round of bullets was said to have been fired in Rough Road, Kingstanding, at 4.30pm on Friday.
I think it is time to let the Police do their JOB and give them our support. If you have any information you can ring them on 0345 113 500 111 or in confidence by using the Crime stopper No 0800 789 321.

COLD CALL FREE ZONES TO BE SET UP IN OSCOTT

I am pleased to note following my request at a Oscott Police Tasking meeting a couple of months ago, the Police Neighbourhood Police Team are now Working towards having a 'No Cold Calling' zone in the Oscott Ward, this will be placed in small area to begin with to pilot the scheme and gage its effectiveness.

The idea is of 'No Cold Calling' zones, is briefly an area is selected whereby the residents are educated via letter drops/meetings about the benefits of deterring doorstep sellers. The residents are then issued with stickers to display on their front doors, again deterring doorstep sellers. Signage is then erected in the area to make everyone aware that this is a no cold calling zone.

This will hopefully put off doorstep sellers that can be a nuisance and can sometimes unfortunately have links to distraction burglaries.
Similar zones have already been established within the West Midlands and have been a success.

Matthew Bolton college students from Aldridge Road have been enlisted to design the signage and it will then be produced by our force print and design. We are hoping that the press will be involved at both the production of the signs with the students and when they eventually get put up within the elderly scheme we have chosen.
I am really pleased the Police have taken up my idea for the Oscott ward and I am sure if it is sucessfull you will read all about it in leaflets from others in a month or 2?

DOG FOULING IN OSCOTT ON THE INCREASE

Dog fouling is clearly on the increase again. Every street in Oscott for example seems to have more than its fair share of dog mess at the moment. With this in mind despite the cuts being made left right and centre I have arranged for the Councils Environments team to do another of their high profile anti dog fouling campaigns in Oscott. This will now happen next month.

I would like to remind dog owners that "doggy bags are quite cheap (you can get rolls of them in the pound shops for example) and you can put these in litter bins, when full.

As long as any dog mess is put in a plastic bag it can be put in a litter bin.

Lets hope everyone gets the message before (if it ever does?) the summer arrives.

MOTOR WAY REPAIRS TO CLOSE BEECHES ROAD FOR 4 NIGHTS FROM FEB 28TH

Birmingham City Council is giving notice Notice from the 28th day of February 2011 for FOUR DAYS, no person shall cause any vehicle to proceed along BEECHES ROAD between it’s junctions with Thornbridge Avenue and Wingfield Road between the hours of 22.00 and 05.00 each day:

An alternative route for vehicles will be signposted.

The aforementioned length of road will remain open for contractor’s plant and pedestrian access to frontagers.

The proposed prohibition shall apply only during such times and to such and extent as shall from time to time be indicated by traffic signs prescribed by The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002.


The reason for this temporary road closure is to enable a contractor to carry out works on the M6 motorway.

RAISED CURBS TO BE INSTALLED OUT SIDE KINGSLANDS SCHOOL

The curbs on the green half island opposite the Kingsland Junior School (Bandywood Crescent) are being raised in order to prevent cars being parked in a dangerous way near the school. It is to be hoped this measure will allow children to come out of the Kingsland main entrance unhindered by parked cars.
It may also help save the grassed area from being turned into a mud bath.

KINGSTANDING CAB TO STAY OPEN AT THE MOMENT

Citizens Advice Bureau offices in Birmingham will remain open for the time being - despite losing funding. August will now be the next crunch dead line, lets hope it is not just delaying the bad news until after the local elections?
The offices were due to stop their open-door policy last Friday but postponed the change to hold a meeting with Birmingham City Council on Monday.
The position of the Kingstanding CAB is like the other offices across the City still uncertain but things are a little more positive, however with the Council cutting funding at every opportunity nothing can be certain.
The Council needs to continue to fund the CAB and ensure that they can help residents through the tough times ahead..

Both Councillor Dring and I hold Councillor Advice surgeries and will continue to try and help resident in a one to one situation.
I operate a Councillors surgery most Saturdays at the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road at 10.30am.
We also carry out home visits for those with genuine mobility problems. Ring 360 6486 for details.

UNADPOPTED SECTION OF BOOTHS LANE IS A DISGRACE

Anyone using the unadopted section of Booths Lane will know the carriage way there is a disgrace again. It is full of pot holes and is a danger to the motorist and especially those using 2 wheels.
Unlike some I have continued to try and get the Council to take some responsibility for this situation and have recently asked them to get in touch with the land owner about the situation again.
It is going to take a constant barrage of complaints (not just at election time either ) to get anyone to take notice and that is what I am trying to do.
I have spoken to the new Owner (developers of the site) and they are fully aware of what is needed to be done and I will continue to press all those responsible to take action. This is a long running saga but the situation must be resolved and I for one am happy to work with others to try and get this sorted out.

OSCOTTS STREETS IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE BETTER

Contractor heavy machinery caused this damage to pavement in Wandsworth Road weeks ago. (While resurfacing Kings Road)

As you may well know the Birmingham City Council have awarded a private contractor called Amey a long lease to upgrade our roads across Birmingham. This is partly due to the policies of the last Government, allowing more funding to become available and means the back log of various kinds of work the Council has allowed to build up over the years can be cleared.
That is the good news.
However I must say the levels of complaints I am beginning to receive about some of the work being done in Oscott is of concern. (although much of the work done has been done to a good standard)
For example the resurfacing of the carriage ways in Birdbrook Road and Kings Road. Sand bags (I have been told an elderly resident tripped over one such bag and was quite shaken) and road signs were left for weeks on pavements following the work being completed.
Yellow lines and other marking have still to be put back in place and in some places damage done to pavements by heavy plant machinery has left pavements unsafe.
Following my intervention on behalf of residents the Council has had to agree to carry out resurfacing work on the carriage way in Templeton Road. This was after contractor left it in an unsatisfactory way.
Both Councillor Dring and I while welcoming the Council finally getting some of the works done to our streets are keeping an eye on the standards of works being carried out. If you are aware of any poor work that has been carried out of signs and so on being left abandoned by the contractors please give me a ring on 360 6486.

ALDRIDGE ROAD SAFETY SCHEME PHASE 2 HAS STARTED

The long awaited road safety measures to be put in place on the Aldridge road near the Great Barr Schools has now started. Unfortunately with a hic up or 2.
Some resident living near the school were not consulted about the finale parking restrictions and I had to spend the day getting them adjusted in favour of the residents.
However the scheme itself appears to have received universal approval.
One further issue however will be how this scheme and the similar one in Sandy Lane, effects residents in Malthouse Lane near by. I have received a written promises that the situation in Malthouse lane will be monitored in the future.

DRAIN WASTE DUMPED ON THE CENTRAL RESERVATIONS IN OSCOTT

I have had to contacted the Highways department today after observing Council contractors when cleaning out drains in Oscott dumping the resulting waste on Central grassed reservations. They clearly do not realise the damage, they can be potentially be doing, by dumping the infected drain water and sludge on our green spaces.
Lets hope a quiet word with the offenders can stop this practise.


Stop press the potentially dangerous waste has now been removed (16th Feb)

OSCOTT YOUNGSTERS TO MEET YOUTH SERVICES CHIEFS

The 610 community just one of the many facilities across the city under threat from Council cuts.

I am pleased to say given the potential cuts youths services may have to face across the City and in the Oscott Ward, that Harry Fowler Assistant Directer Youth Services has agreed to my request to meet with young representatives from the Oscott area (along with the 610 Community Centre Manger) to discuss the concerns of young people regarding youth services in the area.
It is now hoped that Councillor Dring who is arranging for other officers to come along will be able to incorporate this meeting into the next Oscott Ward Committee which she chairs, at the 610 Community Centre.

KEEP OSCOTT'S LIBRARIES OPEN

Sadly the 2 libraries in Oscott are still under threat of closure due to draconian buget cuts in funding by the Coalition City Council.
Constituencies like Perry Barr (which Oscott is in) are being forced to make deeper and deeper cuts due to the Councils policies.
Both Kingstanding and Perry common Library have already had to reduce their opening day by one recently and now we are all dreading Council funding announcements in April.
Both Councillor Barbara Dring will be fighting for Oscott Libraries to be saved. I would also support other Labour and yes Liberal Councillors in the constituency who want to keep libraries open. I think on this isue we are as one?

ALDRIDGE ROAD EYESAW REMOVED

Many of you who use the 997 bus could not have helped noticing the disgusting mess that has built up in a certain front garden on the Aldridge Road near the Boars Public House.
This garden was a potential rats play ground as if was full of black bags full of rubbish and mattresses. I am glad to say after speaking to both the landlord of the property and the council I have helped get this eye saw moved. This sort of mess is the last thing we wont to see anywhere in Oscott.

FIGHT FOR FUNDING FOR RESERVE FENCE IS ON.

I would like to reassure those residents who have contacted me regarding the theft of the Queslett Nature Reserve fence from the reserves Booths Lane boundary that I along with the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve and Councillor Dring, am battling to find funding to replace this fence. Every one with an interest in wild life and the ecology of the area is very concerned about what has happend.
I am only too aware if it is not replaced, motor bikes, quad bikes and even possibly Travelers may start gaining entrance to the reserve.
I am also in regular contact with the Police requesting they make every effort to try and trace the perpetrators of this theft.

OSCOTT POLICE TASKING GROUP VISITS HAWTHORN ROAD SHOPPING AREA

The Oscott police Tasking group went out on patrol again today. The tasking group is made up of Police officers, Councillors for the Oscott Ward, representatives from the Council and the Fire bridge and last but not least Community representatives.

Today some of us walked the length of the Oscott side of the Hawthorn Road, meeting a number of traders and shoppers asking if they had any issues they would like to raise with us.
The main issues were concerns were about youngsters hanging around near the shops and the state of some parts of the shopping areas. Hopefully a number of these concerns can be dealt with.

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE FENCING STOLEN

Audacious thieves have struck at the Queslett Nature Reserve stealing over one thousand pounds worth of wooden boundary fencing. The fence along the Booths Lane boundary of the reserve was surgically removed late yesterday afternoon or early evening. 7 large wood fence panels of a cross timber nature were stolen.
This theft would not have been a easy take. The wooden post were cut through by mechanical means and the wight of these fence section would have been considerable.

The Police and Leisure Service department are baffled but doing their best to find the culprits.
I believe my self, the fencing was stolen to order and is now probably now on a farm or a similar piece of land.
The Police are appealing for witnesses and given the location there are probably a number of people who would have seen this theft happening without realising it. If you have any information please contact the Police.

The fence will have to be replaced but finding the funds will not be easy. It took a few years to find the funding last time and I will do my best to get the ball rolling.
The fence is needed to stop motor bikes and Quad bikes entering the reserve and putting the reserves users, lives in danger as well as disturbing the wild life. The fence is also a defined boundary for the reserve.
I know I can speak for the friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve and many residents when I say the people who stole this are disgusting and need to be caught.