GREENHOLM ROAD SCHOOL ROAD SAFETY MEASURES

While meeting some  Greenholm Road school parents and school Crossing attendant recently I was shocked to see some parents driving and parking on the verve opposite the school entrance completely disregarding the safety of the children crossing the road with the Crossing attendant.

I have since insisted the District Transportation Engineer see the situation for himself and he has now agreed to have some bollards installed on this verge to protect the Crossing attendant and the children he crosses over the road.

It is very sad that we the rate payer have to pay the cost of the actions of a few parents who feel the need to park in such a dangerous way.

Double yellow lines to be located near local road junctions are also being considered.

OSCOTT WHEELIE BIN COLLECTION SERVICE STARTS NEXT WEEK

For most Oscott residents (and the collection crews) Tuesday 2nd June will be the first time the wheelie bin collection wheelie bins will be in operation. As is often the case when any thing new happens there may be a few mistakes made by all parties so please be patient for the first couple of weeks and the system may take a little time to get used to. Other areas of the city I have been told have found the new system to be a success once it settled down.

All new Wheelie bins which have been delivered should have with then an instruction leaflet/pack which needs to be read carefully.

It should be noted in particular for some Oscott residents their collection day has altered. (Please note the calender in the instruction pack)

You can keep your old recycling and dustbins if you wish (they make excellent compost bins) or the council will take them away for you (see instruction pack)

OSCOTT TREE MAINANCE CAMPAIGN UPDATE

I am still waiting for some petitions to be sent to me however I am working closely with my ward colleagues Councillors Tristan Chatfield and Barbara Dring to try and organise a Public meeting to discuss the tree pruning program in the Oscott area. MP Khalid Mahmood has already indicated his willingness to attend. The meeting is likely to take place in early July.

POLICE NUMBERS TO FALL IN THE OSCOTT AREA

A number of residents have contacted me alarmed at the possibility of there being a significant cut in Police numbers in the Oscott area.
Sadly this has been on the cards for some time as a result in the governments planned cuts to the West Midland Police Forces funding.
I am afraid it is one of those things that public have been warned about before the elections and now in most areas we will see the changes taking place.
W have already seen the Kingstanding Police Station front doors having to remain shut to the public and now we hear even more cuts are to be made.

Locally I am still working closely with the Local Oscott Neighbourhood Police Initiative volunteers and some Neighbourhood Watch Groups but it is clear that residents will have to do more to protect their property and them selves. However by working together and with groups like those named above we can all help prevent crime.

COUNCILLOR CHATFIELD OSCOTT LABOUR CAMPAIGN TEAM COORDINATOR

The Oscott Labour Team understand the unprecedented challenges ahead as we try and help Oscott residents face the  problems faced by cuts in the Councils funding by the government




Councillor Tristan Chatfield has become the Oscott Labour Parties Campaign Team lead co coordinator.
In this role he will be campaigning as part of the Oscott Labour Team harder than ever in order to help residents overcome the problems they will face as a result of the governments cuts effecting the Councils activities and services.

The huge governments cuts effecting Birmingham will take some getting used to and will effect many Oscott residents for some years to come, but the Oscott team will do what it can to help residents facing the cuts and Tristan will be at the forefront of our efforts.

RAY HASSALL NEW LORD MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM

 

Congratulations to Ray Hassall on becoming Birmingham's Lord Mayor.
Ray who has been a Councillor for the Perry Barr Ward for many years deserves the title and will do a great job with his normal sense of humour and pride in the city.

COOKSEY LANE PAVEMENT REPAIRS TO TAKE PLACE AT LAST

 At long last after months of lobbying by Councillors Tristan Chatfield , Barbara Dring and myself Amey have announced the start date for much needed Pavement improvement works for Cooksey Lane.

PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN COOKSEY LANE

 Start Soon

What’s Happening, Where and When?

What:              Footway Maintenance Works

Where:            Cooksey Lane

From :            Queslett Road East to junction at Norbury Road

When:             Expected start during week ending  29/5/15       

How long:      Approx.  8 weeks between the hours of 0800hrs to 1800hrs

(for updated start / finish dates see yellow signs at either end of the road)

Parking and Property Access

Access to your property will be restricted. Amey must ask that vehicles are not parked on the pavement during the works. Vehicles obstructing their works will be removed by the City Council and a charge levied for release.  Amey understand that vehicle access may be essential for some medical / personal reasons.  If you need to get a vehicle to your property during these works please ask their personnel on site or call 0121 303 6644 (Option 2).  Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Works Information

The condition of the existing pavement has been assessed and repairs based on a localised footway treatment will be taking place.

This means that we will only be repairing sections of the footway that have been identified as having the defects that do not meet the minimum standards required.

The opening description in this letter details the section of the footway where the localised repair works will be taking place as we do not always include the whole pavement length.  

Amey wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this necessary highway maintenance and will will endeavour to complete the work with as little disruption as possible. Thank would like to thank you for  your patience.

Discounted Footway Crossing

 PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A ONE OFF OPPOTUNITY SO PLEASE MAKE USE OF IT

                                                                                         

 The installation of footway crossings are available at a discounted rate whilst Amey complete works to the pavement within this road. Footway crossings consist of three flat kerbs and two sloped kerbs and can be applied for up to two weeks before the commencement of the scheme start date specified above.

Please contact   0121 303 6644 – Option One to apply for a quotation request.

No applications for discounted footway crossings will be accepted if received after this date.

                                               

             

                                                                                   

WHY RESIDENTS IN OSCOTT ARE FACING CUTS IN THEIR SERVICES

I  would not usually quote an article in a local paper but in this case it helps me answer the  question I am being asked all the time " why are cuts being made to our services in Oscott"
Please read the article below.


GOVERNMENT CUTS BIRMINGHAM

 THE BIRMINGHAM POST 13.05.2015

The Labour-dominated Midlands faces another five years of pain after the General Election.
New analysis shows for the first time the extent to which council cuts have been targeted most heavily in areas where Labour's vote has continued to hold up.
Typically those areas also have far higher than average levels of deprivation, meaning they can least afford to lose council-funded services such as libraries, SureStart centres and social care for vulnerable children and adults.
Since the coalition took power in 2010, councils have repeatedly seen huge sums cut from their budgets.
But the amount by which so-called 'spending power' has dropped varies wildly across the country.
Birmingham has suffered the fourth biggest reduction in the country, seeing a 16 per cent drop in its budgets from £1,265.1 million in 2010/11 down to the £1,062.1 million it has been earmarked for 2015/16.
Liverpool has seen the biggest, with its spending power falling 18.1 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, a number of councils in leafy southern shires have seen their spending power go up.
They include Surrey (up 8.6 per cent), Wokingham (up 7.7 per cent) and Dorset (up 7.3 per cent).
The analysis only includes English councils and 'top-tier' councils with the biggest budgets.
It does not include smaller district councils in areas which also have a shire authority.
WORST HIT
Liverpool -18.1 per cent
Knowsley -17.4 per cent
Blackburn with Darwen -16.1 per cent
Birmingham -16 per cent
Manchester -15.9 per cent
Southwark -15.5 per cent
Newham -15.3 per cent
Kingston-upon-Hull -15 per cent
Hartlepool -14.8 per cent
Rochdale -14.7 per cent

BEST OFF
Isles of Scilly +12.5 per cent
Surrey +8.6 per cent
Wokingham +7.7 per cent
Dorset +7.3 per cent
Buckinghamshire +6.4 per cent
West Sussex +6.3 per cent
Cheshire East +6.1 per cent
Richmond-upon-Thames +5.8 per cent
Central Bedfordshire +5 per cent
Poole +4.9 per cent

Liverpool has seen the biggest, with its spending power falling 18.1 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, a number of councils in leafy southern shires have seen their spending power go up.
They include Surrey (up 8.6 per cent), Wokingham (up 7.7 per cent) and Dorset (up 7.3 per cent).
The analysis only includes English councils and 'top-tier' councils with the biggest budgets.
It does not include smaller district councils in areas which also have a shire authority.

PROBLEMS WITH AMEY NEED RESOLVING

I signed in as a Councillor yesterday afternoon so I am officially a councillor for Oscott again.
Mind you I have not since I have been elected stopped doing case work and I am still receiving case work that was sent before election day.
Many issues are related to Amey Highways and complaints about the state of pavements carriage ways and yes trees.
I am doing what I can to get Amey to resolve the issues I am passing onto them from residents and there have been some successes..

In the case of trees and their replacement or pruning however there seem to be a big difference in what residents and Oscott Councillors want and expect and what Amey are doing. With my Oscott Councillor Collueges I am doing what I can to resolve a number of issues related to the subject of trees but it is very very hard going and I cannot pretend it is easy.

If you have an issue you would like me to take up with Amey please let me know and I will do what I can to help.

TOUGH TIMES TO COME BUT THANK YOU FOR RE ELECTING ME.

Its been a little busy recently just a matter of a local and general election.

I am as you would expect delighted to be re elected to serve the residents of Oscott and as ever with no promises, offer to do what I can to help local residents who have problems in what appears to be hard times to come for Birmingham in the future.

You cannot get re elected without the aid of a good team and I was lucky to have one.

Councillor Tristan Chatfield, Councillor Barbara Dring my little star Brenda, Keith.H  John,Khalid, Lee. Brian B, Brian S, Jimmy, Bob, Mahmood, Gail, Bob R, John.T Majid, Maureen, Des, Nigel, Mr S and  others who I am sure will come to mind later and not forgetting my shoulder to lean on my partner Cheryl.

I would also like to thank my opponents who for the most part played a straight bat.

I would ask residents to give me a little time to catch up with my case work and if you have not heard from me by the end of the week please contact me again to remind me.

Congratulations to too Khalid Mahmood on his re election as MP for Perry Barr.


Thank you to all those who voted in the election and naturally even more thanks to those who voted for me.

A BUSY TIME

As you may have expected I have been very busy recently working on my campaign.

I would like to thank all those who have been helping and all those who have offered me their support.