FRIENDS OF QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

The Friends of the Queslett nature Reserve are looking to sign up new members.
The FQNR help look after and maintain the Queslett Nature Reserve which is located near the ASDA Queslett Supermarket.
Friends of the reserve meet from time to time at the reserve where they carry out practical work such as litter picking, light pruning work, path clearance and small tree thinning. They also help keep an eye on the reserve reporting problems to the Police or Ranger service as appropriate.
Members often litter pick on there own when they can and all members encourage users of the reserve to take their litter home.
It is a very much hands on group who are more interested in getting stuck in than discussing how to save the world.
The FQNR also take an interest in the nearby Aldridge Recreation Ground, local open spaces and the environment generally.

There is no fee to join although an occasional donation is never turned down but it is help at the occasional activity day which is really needed.
 Children are welcome under the care of an appropriate adult.

The FQNR work closely with park ranger receive some training and ensures the reserves wild life is looked after.

If you would like to know more or to join the FQNR Em brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca
or Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk.

News of the reserve can be found on this blog from time to time

PERRY BARR MP SURGERY DETAILS (OSCOTT)

I have been asked to remind Oscott residents that their MP Khalid Mahmood holds regular surgeries in Oscott on the first Saturday of each moth at the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding  Road. At 10.30am.

This is a good opportunity to inform him of any concerns you may have and to here about his activities in Parliament.

Should you be unable to attend his surgeries his office number is 356 8264
(He also hold other surgeries though out the Perry Barr constituency please use the above tel no to obtain further details.

THE LORD MAYORS SHOW ON SATURDAY FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Need to find the children something to do this Saturday why not take them along to the Lord Mayors show?


FREE midsummer fun for all the family in the heart of Birmingham!
Peter Pan live…tea with the Lord Mayor…great activities for children…street entertainment…craft stalls…
A highlight of Birmingham’s civic calendar, the Lord Mayor’s Show is the city’s annual welcome to the new Lord Mayor and a fond farewell to the outgoing one.
The show raises money for the Lord Mayor’s charities and is a great day out.
There will be so much to enjoy at this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show.

• Tea in the Council House with the Lord Mayor
• Live performance of Peter Pan in Chamberlain Square (from 2.30pm)
• Marquee with children’s craft activities
• Magic show
• Craft stalls in the historic Council House Banqueting Suite
• Live music
• BBC interactive experience and Radio WM reporting live from the show
• Face-painting and street theatre
• Donkey rides

14/06/2014

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square

AMEY NEED TO PICK UP THEIR SIGNS

I would imagine by now most resident would be aware Amey (the private contractor given a 25 year contract to maintain and upgrade our streets by the previous Council addministrion) have been repairing carriage ways and pavements in Oscott for some time with mixed results.
One of their failings in my opinion is the amount of notice boards and so on left behind in some cases for months following the completion of work in a road.
I have called on Amey to have these stray boards collected and taken off our streets.
In the long run it would save them money if they did that and make our streets look tidier.

997 BUS ROUTE CHAMPION

Well it still looks as if I am going to be the 997 Bus route Councillor Champion and with that in mind if you have any issues or concerns regarding this route in particular please let me know.
Email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

WELL DONE COUNCILLOR BARBARA DRING

I would like to congratulate my ward colleague on retaining her post as Chair person of the Birmingham City Council Licencing Committee. She has fought of all opposition and has been offered the post yet again following all the hard work and effort she put in last year.

I know from my time as Vice Chair of the Licencing committee some years ago how much work is entailed by being on the Licencing committee and Chairing it is no mean  accomplishment.

MY ROLES ON THE BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

Following yesterdays Birmingham City Council AGM I have been informed I will remain a member of the Planning Committee and a member of joint authority .Centro.
I was pleased to be offered these committees as although may would regard them as 2 of the busiest and most active committees I am happy to serve on them .

If you are an Oscott resident with concerns about a Planning issue or public transport please let me know and I will do what I can to help

THE BEST WAY TO GET A SPEEDY RESPONSE FROM ME.

I get many of my cases from residents by email or phone these days with a concern or issue, but sadly some residents to not leave contact details.
For a quicker response it is always better to leave your full contact details if you use mu answer machine or Email me.
(Name, address, Tel no) and a brief outline of your concerns?

However it should also be remembered that it often takes longer to get responses from Council department these days due to all the cuts having to be made due to less funding being made to the Council by central government.

My Email No    Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

HOLFORD DRIVE RECYLING CENTRE UPDATE

As you may be aware I have been urging the Cabinet member responsible for green waste to try and improve the Holford Drive Rrecycling Centre given the increase in use over the last month or so.

I have now been informed that a number of actions are/have been taken to try to improve access at all the HRCs at the busiest times:

For example

• A new temporary system which allows increased numbers of vehicles onto the site and therefore increasing the throughput of traffic has been introduced, including additional recycling bays and “green only” lanes
• Changes to signage and road markings are being considered on the Highway to inform non HRC drivers to find alternative routes and avoid the area
• Encouraging residents to visit their HRC at less busy times to avoid peak traffic through advertising on the webpages and again through relevant signage at the HRCs
• Home composting is being promoted as an alternative for the disposal of garden waste
• Promotional information is being distributed to encourage sign up to the new chargeable green waste service
• Trying to promote the use of allotments who will  take grass for example for composting.

In fairness I think it also must be noted  that the congestion over recent weeks is a temporary situation that occurs every year when the seasons change and the first initial surge of inputs arrive as residents start to undertake household DIY and gardening activities, etc.  This has been compounded by some unusually mild and sunny weather.  

There is clearly still a need for improvement but given the size of the central governments cuts the Council is having to deal  with there is a least some action is being taken on this issue.

THE WHEELIE BIN ROLL OUT IS STILL SET FOR NEXT YEAR IN OSCOTT

A question I am still being asked on a regular basis is by more and more residents is "when can I have my wheelie bins".
As far as I am aware the proposed  wheelie bin roll out in Oscott is still between March and June next year.
Given the size of the operation as the roll out is happening across the whole city there may be some slippage in this time scale but lets hope not.
Residents still have time to work out how they are going to store these bins, many have told me they are having small neat wooden rails put around the bins when they come. other are screening them with shrubs or simply putting them at the back of their homes. What ever resident decide to do they have some time to decide.

There are still some residents who are not aware over 99% of the wheelie bins are being made in the UK and that if they are disabled or elderly they may ask for assistance to move the wheelie bins.

If you have any further questions or concerns regarding wheelie bins please email me on Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk