STILL NO ACTION ON COTLEIGH GROVE FENCE REPAIRS

Despite assurances to the contrary by the Housing department the boundary fence at the edge of Cotleigh Grove (topping a high wall) has not been repaired. I an continuing to press for the commitment I have had from the Housing department to be delivered as children could be at risk from this vandalised fence

I suspect like when I finally managed to get very high conifer trees at the same location cut down last year if I am successful someone will pop along at the tail end of the process and try and take the credit but there you go.

STREET CONTRACTORS SHOULD CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR WORK

Strange to say but when you put in a request to this Council Administrations Transportation department for a bollard or something similar they have a stock reply these days "No" mind you they do try to justify that with the excuse it causes " street clutter".

I find this attitude strange when their own contractor leave barriers, cones, signs and sand bags everywhere long after they have finished working some where.

For example for several weeks barriers have been left dumped on grass verges on Old Oscott Hill and grass where cutters have just gone around them.

One would have expected given the amount of money made available by the last government for the Council to negotiate a contract to upgrade road in the City, there could have been an agreement to fine contractors who abandon barriers and so on for weeks after they finish a job.? if there is its not working!

ATTACKED DOG ON THE MEND

While out having a walk about on the Queslett nature reserve I met up with the poor dog who was viciously attacked some weeks ago when been taken for a walk by his owner, in the Queslett Nature Reserve.
I am pleased to report both the dog and the owner are recovering from the attack and are on the mend.
Thanks partly to a community wide appeal one of the owners of the dogs which made the attack has now been arrested.

With the summer now approaching I would appeal to all those taking their dogs onto the Queslett please be prepared to keep you dog under control especially when approaching children or other dogs.

THE REAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN OSCOTT

Having been in touch with both Amey and Birmingham City Council officers recently I feel it is only fair to ward residents in Oscott not to get your hopes up to much with regards to promised road improvements.
Although a lot of the work being carried out is to a reasonable standards there is still a lot which leaves much to be desired. Roads like Templeton have had to be revisited and the so called up grade of the carriage way in Amblecote Avenue has turned out to be little more than a bit of crack filling.
Also trees which some are claiming will be replaced may well not be unless they are in poor condition and would have been anyway.

If i was a resident I would take nothing for granted especially at this time of year.?

If you have have a concern about proposed street upgrading in your road, tree replacement,new Street Lighting, pavement of carriage way upgrading please contact me on 360 6486 and i will give you the latest situation regarding your road and not simply wishful thinking.

USE THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE BUT TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME WITH YOU

It looks as if it is going to be some Easter Weather wise. It has certainly been warm work recently for those of us on the campaign trail. Most people I know seem to be off to the coast for at least a few day and good luck to them.
For those left at home why not try a pleasant walk in the Queslett Nature Reserve near ASDA.
However if you decide to take a pick nick or any food with you please take you litter home and help keep the reserve tidy.

CONTRACTORS STILL LEAVE TRIP HAZARDS ON OUR STREETS

Despite constant request there seems to be as many street barriers and cones left lying around by street maintenance contractors as ever. To my mind this shows poor work practise and i am surprised Amey and the Birmingham City Council;s Highways department in particular allow this practise to go on.
I will continue to encourage Street contractors to move these possible trip hazards as soon as possible.

GOOD BY MIKE TREVOR OSCOTT'S WARD SUPPORT OFFICER

Along with Oscott Councillors Barbara Dring, Graham Green and a number of Oscott Resident Group Leaders, I attended the Oscott Ward Support Officer, Mike Trevor's leaving do yesterday.
Mike has for some years now been Oscott Ward Support Officer where he has ably supported the interests of the Oscott ward. its Residents and Councillors. He has been a king bin where it came to sorting out Community Chest application funding for example.

Mike has with reluctance accepted a redundancy package and is one of the many officer who have really done a good job for this city but he has felt he had to go.

The cut backs being made by this Council will mean some of our ablest officers will be lost. There are far to many cuts being made to fast in my view.

I wish Mike all the very best and I suspect with his talent he will soon be enjoying another successful career.

UN TAXED BMW TO BE MOVED

I have now been informed that the DVLA will be moving the Silver Un taxed BMW that has prevented the completion of the tar mac'ing of Blenhiem Way carriage way for months. The DVLA have however pointed out that this should have been done by the Birmingham City Council under their devolved powers.
The car in question is to be moved tomorrow and most people will not be sad to see it go. I will be on to the Council now this show of blame game culture is near an end asking them to tar mac where the BMW was ASAP.
(Stop press would you Adam and Eve it not to be out done i have just been informed the Council are to remove the car today. It would appear the old saying one hand does not know what the other is doing, still it all comes out the poor old Tax payers money?)

THE OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS GROUP TO MEET WEDNESDAY.

The Oscott Elderly Residents Group are holding another of their Tea and biscuit sessions on Wednesday at 11.15am at the 610 Community Centre. They hope to have a Police officer as a guest speaker. If you are over 50 Why not pop along and have a chat and a joke with them. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE RING 464 1869

AND STILL THERE IS NO ACTION TO REMOVE UNTAXED CAR

No I can not find any trace of the "Super glue" preventing this untaxed car from been taken away, like in so many other parts of the city? - Another week has gone by and there is still no sign of the silver BMW being taken away from Blenhiem Way to allow the resurfacing of that road to be finished. It is becoming a good test in how the Birmingham City Council the Police and the DVLA handle these sort of situations. Up to now it is clear they have failed the test miserably.

AGE CONCERN ELDERLY GROUP HAS A GOOD TIME

For once the Planning Committee had a day off and so with free time on my hands I popped into the Age Concern Tea and biscuits session held at the Emanuel Church Kingstanding Road. I try to get into see this popular group as often as I can as they always seem to be having fun. Today was no exception as they were holding an Easter bonnet competition. Luckily I was not asked to judge I have had bad experiences doing just that in the past? However I was forced onto the dance floor where I strutted my stuff only to be helped off the floor by much fitter members of the pensioners group a few minutes later. If you want to know more about what this group get up to please ring Age Concern on 358 0309 for more details.

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE DOG ATTACK UPDATE

A 19-year-old man, from Kingstanding, has been arrested in connection with the frightening incident at Queslett Nature Reserve, Great Barr, in January after an investigation by the Oscott neighbourhood policing unit. Officers are still looking for a another man, who was allegedly involved in the attack, In the Queslett nature Reserve The victim was walking dog when two out-of-control bull terrier-type dogs attacked the pair. The man a local resident suffered a bite to his hand which required hospital treatment; he also had scratches to his head and chest. The mans dog was also vey badly hurt and required a series of life-saving operations costing over a thousand pounds in vet’s bills. The alleged owner of the one of the dogs who made the attack has been bailed. If you have any information about this incident please contact the Police on 0345 5000 111

BOOTHS LANE PLANS TO GO TO COMMITTEE

Cameron Homes have officially put in a planning application for permission to develop part of the Booths lane site. They intend building 43 homes and reconstructing part of the Booths Lane Unadapted Road. Clearly as this a a large development my request that this plan be considered by the Planning Committee has been agreed. If you would like to see the plans for this development they are on display at the perry Common Library along with more information. (until 28th April). If you would like to present any concerns about this they need to be sent to the Planning department by the 14th April, however they will be received until the day of the committee. The Planning process usually takes 8 to 12 weeks to come to Committee?.

THE CASE OF THE MYSTERY CCTV CAMERA IS SOLVED

I have now found out the answer to the great CCTV appearance out of no where mystery. I can advise you that the camera has been placed here in response to recurring incidents of anti social behaviour, being reported to the police by local residents regarding nearby shops on Kings Road. As you may appreciate, as a Councillor for the area I get a number of quires about things like this new CCTV camera. from local residents. This is why, especially when you consider I am the one who regularly attends Local Police tasking group meetings, I am annoyed not to have been made aware of a camera going to be located in the area. As you may imagine I will be speaking to the Police about this issue.

WHERE ARE OSCOTTS 20mph SCHOOL ZONES

Amongst promises made a couple of years ago by Transportation chiefs was to introduce 20mph zones around schools. Since that time I have been trying to get some of the more urgently needed roads near schools in Oscott made into 20mph Zones. Sections of roads such as Old Oscott Hill, Bandywood Road, Greenholm Road and Sundridge Road amongst others. The current Council administration while not exactly doing a U. Turn on the subject are certainly dragging their feet. I am and will continue the battle to safe guard streets near our children's schools.

THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGS ROAD CCTV CAMERA

It is interesting in these times were the Big Society and consulting with residents is becoming all the rage with some, that without a by your leave a mystery CCTV Camera has arrived mounted on a lampost in Kings Road. Residents although not against the idea of a CCTV naturally enough rang me to ask a few questions about it. Again naturally enough, those who put it there, in the spirit of true consultation did not let me as a Ward Councillor know about it. Worst than that they did not let residents know anything about it. Worst then that they did not let the Local Police know and to cap it all the only Council official I could get in touch with , who you would have thought would have been told about it, guess what! he knows nothing about it either. (mind you he will be finding out about it Monday.) Just as a matter of interest has any one lost an expensive looking CCTV Camera?

THE JOKES ON THE TAX PAYER.

The siver untaxed BMW which our street contractor needed tar maced around earlier in the year is still there as large as life in Blenhiem Way. As one of the residents said to me "the Council and other authorities must be having a laugh." Sadly they are at the tax payer, expense. Whether it be those paying Car Tax, Council tax or any other form of tax, the bill to sort this out will be paid for by someone. I find it puzzling that a car with no tax can just be left the way it has never mind the fact that incredibly contractor tat maced around it. I suppose it must be down to cuts at the end of the day. By this is April the second.