SEASONS GREETING TO ALL

Happy Christmas and New Year To all Oscott residents and reader of my blog.

Lets all hope the next year brings an end to all this Austerity they keep telling us about.

THE HUT POLLING STATION BOOTHS LANE SET TO RETURN

Following my handing in a petition on behalf of local residents (organised by the Oscott Residents Association and the Oscott Elderly Residents group) earlier this year calling for the mobile polling station to be returned to Booths Lane for the Local and general election next year the Election Commission have decided to return the Polling station.
This means for the 2015 Local and General Elections residents in the Booths Lane/ Bowman Road area will not have to traipse around to the Beeches Baptist church to vote.
Both my ward colleagues Councillor Barbara Dring and Councillor Tristan Chatfield also sent in representation asking for the return of this polling station which was last used a few years ago.
It has however been made clear that it must be removed ASAP after the election.

I am please that this decision has been made as I am only to aware due to the new development on Booths Lane the private road has had to remain closed longer than expected which means it would have been difficult for many to go to a polling station to vote.

SADLY THE ELIM CHIRCH FOOD BANK IS DOING WELL?

I attended the Elim Church Food bank Christmas dinner last night and spoke to a number of users of the food bank service.
Those who receive help from the food bank are referred from agencies and local doctors and are in need of some additional help during these hard times when we are feeling the effects of so called austerity policies which need to end. No one wants to use the service and most would like the service not to be needed but with such difficult time it is.

At the dinner it was nice to see young children able to enjoy a good meal and the Christmas spirit.
It is just sad to think in 2014 we need to have food banks.

The volunteers who helped out yesterday many all day did a great job and can be proud of themselves





If you want to help-
Become a Food Bank depositor - add an item from The Food Bank shopping list – eg. a tin of tuna, a packet of pasta, cup-a-soups, jam etc – when you go shopping. Then deposit it in the local Food Bank collection point at: Elim Church Kingstanding, Warren Road, B44 8QD
Tuesdays & Thursdays 12noon – 2.00pm

THANKS TO THOSE WHO RUN THE SOUP KITCHEN IN OSCOTT

I would like to thank those who quietly run the soup kitchen at the 610 Community Centre,12 to 1 pm every Wednesday (not over the Christmas break) for the work they do.
It almost defies belief that here in Oscott in 2014 there is need for a soup kitchen but there is and it is used.
Cuts in benefits have  had an effect and without the caring volunteers who are out there in the community the situation could be so much worse.

EARLY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

With just one week to go (and how time goes so fast at this time of year for those of us who are not so young)  it may be a lot of people will not get time to read my blog very much and I may also not have so much time to post during the run up to Christmas day.

With that in mind I would like to take this opportunity to wish Oscott residents and others a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Peaceful New Year.
 

HAWTHORN ROAD TRADERS ASSOCIATION MEETING

I attended the Hawthorn Traders meeting last night and as usual many of their concerns mirror those of local residents.
The economic climate is clearly effecting traders 3 shops are planning to leave the area and some others are struggling. However there are still a number of shops on the hawthorn Road who are not doing to badly. I would like to encourage local resident to use the Hawthorn  Road Shopping Centre as much as they can.
Traders are being asked to park their own vehicles at their rear of their shops to give more car spaces to shoppers . better still to use public transport and leave their cars at home as it would help is the poor air quality in the area.
A number of Traders have been very supportive to the Elim Church and their food bank initiative.

THE OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENT GROUPS XMAS DINNER GOES DOWN WELL

The Oscott Elderly Residents Group held their Christmas dinner today and a full house fully enjoyed there full works dinner..
The event was held at the Parsons and Clarke whose staff as ever were excellent.
The only down side was the Xmas cracker jokes were better than mine, mind you!.

I would like to thank Chair Maureen Byrn's  and all her helpers for organising the event and all the work they due throughout the year.

To find out more about the OERG ring 675 2349

CHRISTMAS RUBBISH COLLECTION ARANGEMENTS

Collections due on Christmas Day and Boxing Day will take place on the next scheduled collection date.

As usual, collections will not be made on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, but they will take place on New Year's Day. Rubbish collections due on 25 and 26 December will be done on 1 and 2 January, and recycling collections due on those dates will be done on 8 and 9 January.

The five household recycling centres  including Holford Drive will be closed on 25 and 26 December, and open after then.

BATTLE FOR HEAVIER TREE PRUNING FOR OSCOTT STREET TREES GOES ON

The battle to get large street trees in Oscott pruned better goes on.
I am still receiving complaints about the standard of tree pruning in Oscott and residents can be assured I will continue to try and get Amey the contractor given the 25 year contract to prune our trees to prune trees more heavily. Pruning trees regularly should keep the healthier which is better for our environment. They also ease the problem of climate overheating.
Please keep your concerns coming in.
Em me keith>linnecor@birmingham.gov .uk or leave me a message on 303 2039

ELIM CHURCH CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR WAS JUST THAT ON SATURDAY

Saturdays Elim Church Christmas spectacular was just that.
Hundreds of local resident turned up to enjoy the free event. There was face painting arts and Craft's, Carole singing and Father Christmas and his team of busy Elf's managed to find the time to give out free gift to the children who attended.
Parking was eased by the use of the near by car park and the event went off well.
Those who organised it deserve a lot of praise.

AGE UK OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE ANNIVERSARY EVENT WENT WELL

FRIDAY 12TH DEC.

I attended Age Concerns 30th anniversary of the opening of the new Oscott Community Centre event.
It was pleasing to see various agencies like the the Police and Housing department along with are and craft groups attend the event giving elderly residents a nice day out and they had some nice refreshments to. Well done the organisers.
I was also honoured to plant a memorial tree,

THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET CONSULTATION STARTS TODAY

Council budget consultation

THE COUNCIL will begin a formal consultation later today on our budget for 2015/16 onwards.

They will will publish  proposals so that you can see exactly what might make savings in the face of serious financial pressure. There will be a variety of ways in which Oscott residents will be able to get involved, including webcasts and consultation events where you can give the council your feedback. And your views will help shape the Council Business Plan and Budget 2015+. When the consultation is launched you will be able to send the Council your responses by email, online and mail. Ways of getting in touch will be available once the proposals have been published and the consultation starts.
Open Public Meetings
Following the publication the proposals there will be two public meetings hosted by the Leader of the Council and his Cabinet. At these you will have the opportunity to hear more about what is being proposed and to put forward your questions and views.
If you would like to attend one of these meetings please book your place online (SurveyMonkey).
Meeting 1: Birmingham city centre
Date: Thursday 11 December 2014
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Place: Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB
Meeting 2: Erdington
Date: Monday 15 December 2014
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Place: The Lighthouse Centre, St Barnabas Church, High Street, Erdington, B23 6SY
You can view the current year’s and previous years’ business plans at www.birmingham.gov.uk/councilplan
The 28 bus route is just down the road.

There are very tough times ahead where the Council partly due to the Governments sever cuts in the Council funding must may some hard decisions. You can also let your Oscott Councils know your views by leaving a message on 303 2039 

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENING

I have been surprised and honoured to be asked to say a few words at the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Old Oscott Community Centre's new building.
Sadly Sir Jeff Rooker the former MP for Perry Bar,r who opened the then new building back in1984, is I understand unable to be present but I will do my best to try and substitute for him by saying a few words.

Those like myself  who remember the old building and huddling around a little electric fire in the depth of winter there, would hardly have believed what the building is like now.
It is especially pleasing that since I first helped Age UK, the organisation who currently lease the building become leaseholders, that they have revamped the building so well over the last few years.
Many residents young and old now benefit from the work they have done to improve the building.

THE MARYVALE ELDERY RESIDENT PROJECT INTERACTING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN

It was nice to see School children serving the elderly users of the MaryVale elderly residents group project to lunch at their dinner yesterday.
It is always pleasing to see the interaction between elderly residents and youngsters which helps them understand each other.
Everyone certainly appeared to be having a good time and well done to the school children and their teachers.

ELIM CHURCH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR TAKES PLACE THIS SATURDAY

 The annual Kingstanding Christmas Spectacular as put on by the Elim Curch (with help from the Hawthorn Traders Association and the Oscott Ward Committee ) will be taking place on Saturday from 12am to 4pm.

Farther Christmas has agreed to attend and will have a grotto where he will meet children from the area and make sure they will all receive a free gift.

There will be mince pies and light refreshments, craft stalls and carols.
Why not pop in and enjoy your selves.

THE LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL BE THE ELIM CHURCH WARREN ROAD (OFF HAWTHORN ROAD)

ELIM CURCH WARREN ROAD CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

BURFORD ROAD GATE KEY HIC UP

Sadly due to a mix up concerning new pad locks a number of local residents near the main entrance to the Burford Road Playing Field have been inconvenienced by cars parking outside their homes and not on the car park when practise matches have been played.
I have now arranged for the keys to all the main gates to be available to those who need them.

Although the fencing work on the Burford Playing Field site has now been carried out the state of some of the grounds are in poor condition due to the work and the weather conditions. I have requested this be monitored and put right as soon as possible.

STREET SIDE RECYCLING BANKS IN OSCOTT

Recycling is important and one way to do so is by using street side recycling banks.
In Oscott we now have 7 sites where you can find various recycling bans on the street (this does not include a number on various cars parks through out the ward.)

The banks in Oscott ward are as follows:

·         Asda, Old Horns Crescent, Queslett – paper, glass, textiles

·         Old Oscott Hill/Oscott School Lane – paper, glass

·         o/s Kingstanding Library, Kingstanding Road - glass

·         Aldridge Road/Birdbrook Road – paper

·         Hawthorn Road near Charlton Road – paper

·         College Road o/s Perry Barr Fire Station – paper, textile

·         Greenholm Road/Kingstanding Road  - paper, textiles

ELIM CHURCH WARREN ROAD (OSCOTT) FOOD BANK

ELIM CHURCH WARREN ROAD  FOODBANK
Hunger is not just a developing countries problem thousands of miles away. People pass you every day – families, children, the elderly, the vulnerable, the unemployed AND YES IN THIS DAY AND AGE EVEN OSCOTT RESIDENTS.

In Kingstanding (including parts the Oscott area)  many people are living on the edge of poverty. National statistics show that 34% of households in Kingstanding with dependent children have no adult in employment – this is more than double the national average. 31% of adults are claimants of main benefits and 50% have no qualifications.

All it takes is a sudden, unexpected event – a bereavement, illness, redundancy – to throw people into a genuine crisis. This is where the FoodBank can literally be a lifeline to families and individuals who find themselves in this situation.

The Food Bank provides people with the essentials at a time when they need them most, filling the gap of days – or sometimes weeks – before other parts of our social infrastructure can come into play. We collect dried and tinned food through Fareshare, supermarkets, churches, schools and individuals.

Food parcels are made available to local families and individuals sent on referral. Referrals come from registered professionals including doctors, health visitors, church pastoral workers and social workers.

The Food Bank is also able to provide emergency “homeless” packs which include soap, blanket, toothpaste, toilet roll etc. as well as nappies and baby food.

What can you do?

Become a Food Bank depositor - add an item from The Food Bank shopping list – eg. a tin of tuna, a packet of pasta, cup-a-soups, jam etc – when you go shopping. Then deposit it in the local Food Bank collection point at:

Elim Church Kingstanding, Warren Road, B44 8QD
Tuesdays & Thursdays 12noon – 2.00pm

Life Café – Every Tuesday and Thursday, while FoodBank is running, enthusiastic and committed volunteers run our Life Café for FoodBank clients. This is an opportunity to have a nice cuppa, a chat

The Oscott Ward Committee with advise from the Oscott Ward Advisory Board have donated some community Chest Funding to this worth while project which has my full support. With Christmas fast approaching we need to think of those suffering from miss fortune.

COOKSLEY LANE PAVEMENT UPGRADE DELAYED

Sadly the work to resurface the pavement was supposed to have started in November but due to various problems such as the need to consult with some residents, the need for utilities to carry out their work and so on, this work cannot now be carried out until the middle of next year. However residents will see Amey staff working on the pavements doing much needed preparation work and repairing any defects spotted before the major work begins.

 This is frustrating but it is better to wait a little longer and have the work done properly and it should help avoid utility companies coming just after the work is done to dig it up again to do their repairs. THERE MAY ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE A DROP CURB AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE? If this is the case residents will be notified nearer the time.

 Along with my fellow Oscott Councillors I will be doing what I can to ensure the work needed to upgrade these pavements is done as indicated by Amey.

It should also be remembered that originally no work was due on the Cooksey Lane playing fields for at least 5 years.

DONT FORGET THE SMALL SHOPS IN OSCOTT

Many of Oscotts small shops and traders are having a tough time at the moment and need all the support they can get from local residents.
I would ask Oscott resident not to forget these shops I understand the temptation to do all your shopping at the near by big stores is tempting but smaller shops have a lot to offer.
They have good personal service and are on the door step for most residents.
Some could help themselves a little more by not parking outside their own shops all day and  leaving space for customers. Some could also improve their frontages making them safe for shoppers to use.
Most however do this and are very welcoming to their customers and deserve our support.

On Hawthorn Road their is an active traders association and I would recommend all the traders in that area get involved. There contact details are bridaldream

PERRY BARR MP OSCOTT SURGERIES

Khalid Mahmood MP for Perry Barr has asked me to remind residents that he holds an MPs surgery every first Saturday in the month at the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road. They begin at 10.30am.

MORE DOUBLE YELLOW LINES NEEDED IN OSCOTT

There are a number of junctions and area's around schools where parking is becoming a serious problem in the Oscott area. As a result I am leading a campaign with my fellow Oscott Councillors to look at introducing more double yellow lines at critical locations around the Oscott Ward.
If you have any suggestions please Email me Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk.