FRIENDS OF QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY SESSION 30TH JAN CANCELLED

Following an inspection of the ground  and weather conditions, the Friends Of Queslett Nature Reserve due to take place has been cancelled.
The FQNR are sorry for any inconvenience but we have to put safety first.


News of a new date will be put out ASAP. Please follow my blog, twitter and local news papers for details or contact


Brenda Wilson brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca

FORGERS WALK PATH TO BE REPAIRED

The foot path between Caddick Road and the motorway tunnel which connects up with Turnbury park will be receiving repairs.FORGERS WALK.
This repair is needed but may inconvenience some while the work is being carried out and Amey have apologised for that.
The work is expected to commence during the week ending February 26th
While this path does need repair I will continue to press Amey Highways to get on and improve or replace many other pavements in the Oscott ward

PERRY BARR MP OSCOTT ADVICE BUREAU

Kharlid Mahmood MP for Perry Barr will be holding his next Oscott MP's surgery on Saturday 6th February. The venue will be the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road and the time 10.30am.

GREENHOLM ROAD PARKING PROBLEMS UPDATE GOOD NEWS AT LAST

Over the last week a funding mechanism has been confirmed to the Constituency Engineer . He will now progress a “Full Business Case” for the initial mitigation works - in the first instance this work is likely to include a review/introduction of traffic regulation orders ( double yellow lines) and double height kerbs near the junction on Greenholm Road ie Anstey and Blakeland Road there may be others. It is anticipated that consideration of the “FBC” will be undertaken during February.

Subject to satisfactory progression of the FBC, the engineer will endeavour to commence the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process during the latter part of March or Early April.

This is good news as along with my Ward Colleagues Councillor Tristan Chatfield and Councillor Barbara Over the last week a funding mechanism has been confirmed to the Constituency Engineer . He will now progress a “Full Business Case” for the initial mitigation works - in the first instance this work is likely to include a review/introduction of traffic regulation orders ( double yellow lines) and double height kerbs near the junction on Greenholm Road ie Anstey and Blakeland Road there may be others. It is anticipated that consideration of the “FBC” will be undertaken during February.

Subject to satisfactory progression of the FBC, the engineer will endeavour to commence the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process during the latter part of March or Early April.

This is good news as along with my Ward Colleagues I have been pressing for this action to take place for some time. Greenholmschool has recently been extended and this may help mitigate some of the extra parking problems which have resulted and may also help safe guard the children who use the school.

I will be pressing the Transportation department to try and get the work done as soon as possible

OSCOTT WARD COMMITTEE TO TAKE PLACE 4TH FEBRUARY

The next Oscott Ward Committee which will be chaired by Councillor Barbara Dring (Councillor Tristan Chatfield and I along with the Local Police will be in attendance) will be held on the 4th February at the 610 Community Centre at 7pm.

This is an opportunity for Oscott residents to come along to find out what is happening in the Oscott area and to ask questions.

On the agenda will be tree and transport issues as well as a Police report.

FRIENDS OF QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY SESSION JAN 30TH

The next Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve activity session will take place on Saturday 30th January (weather permitting).The start time will be 11.15am and the meeting place will be the Ashworth Road entrance. (if you come by car please do not obstruct local residents drives)

There will be light pruning, litter picking and some information gathering. A Park Ranger will be on hand for questions.

Please come prepared for the weather and wear strong shoes or boots. Gloves, bags and any equipment will be supplied.

Children are welcome under the strict supervision of an adult.

To become a member of the FQNR or for any further information please email Brenda
Brenda Wilson brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca


Keith Linnecor

Chair FQNR

OUT ON GRIT BIN PATROL IN OSCOTT

I will be out and about today on patrol looking for empty grit bins in Oscott and reporting them.
If there is an empty grit bin by you let me know email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk or leave me a message on 303 2019

THE NEXT OSCOTT WARD ADVISORY BOARD MEETS 21ST JANUARY

The next Oscott Ward Advisory Board takes place on 21 January ( This is where Oscott residents community leaders, local agency representatives and the 3 Oscott Councillors Councillor Barbara Dring, Tristan Chatfield and myself) meet to discuss local issues. These meeting usually precede Oscott Ward Committees which are public meetings.

To find out more about any of the community groups in the Oscott Ward please ring 675 2349

ALDI OLD HORNS PLANNING CONSULTATION MEETING

Along with a number of residents Councillor Tristan Chatfield and Khalid Mahmood MP I took the opportunity today to look at the Aldi Old Horns crescent planning proposals.
There were a number of mixed view but certainly, traffic , parking and the effects on the local wild life were to the fore front
Against that were the views in favour of the need for competition for exiting retailers and the need for new job creation.

Don't forget if you would like to let the Birmingham City Planning department have your views just sent them into them or if you let me have your views I can pass them on for you.

OSCOTT SCHOOLS PARKING MEETING UPDATE

There are no easy answers when it comes to parking near schools the danger to children who we all have a responsibility to look after and the distress it can cause to local residents is well known.


Although the issue is caused in some cases by parents simply not thinking of the safety of children and problems they may be causing, it is up to schools and other agencies to play their part in trying to find solutions.

I would appeal to all the school in Oscott, please send a representative to this meeting which it is hoped will take place in early February. Your concerns and experiences are needed. This could be an opportunity for schools to learn from each other and for everyone to get involved more collectively in dealing with the problem. There are no easy solutions but in my case I would rather try and fail than to just sit back and do nothing.

I am pleased to say following discussions with Councillor Bridget Jones she has agreed that my initiative worthwhile venture and this could be something of a pilot for other wards in the city.

Residents will be kept informed and be given an opportunity to have their say at a follow up public meeting which we hope will take place in March

Also see post dated 15th December

OSCOTT'S GRASS VERGES ARE IN A MESS

Many of the grass verges in the Oscott area have become mud baths which need urgent action to repair or replace them with other material.
I am calling on Amey Highways (the private contractor given a 25 year contract by the previous Council administration to repair our streets) to urgenlty look into this issue and start dealing with the problem.

ALDI TO HOLD CONSULTATION MEETING WITH RESIDENTS RE OLD HORNS FOOD STORE

I have just been informed there will be a consultation meeting held by Aldi at the Pheasey Park Farm Community Centre, Hillingford Avenue. The time will be 3pm to 7pm on Thursday 14th January.
Residents will be able to see  Aldi's plans to build a food store off Old Horns Crescent and will be able to ask questions.

ALDI MAY BE AFTER OLD LOG STORE SITE ON THE QUESLETT ROAD.

The giant retailer Aldi are interested in the land on the junction of Old Horns Crescent and Queslett Road (next to the ASDA super store). Having checked with the Birmingham City Councils Planning department no planning application has been submitted yet. ( The land involved is not part of the Queslett Nature Reserve)

In view of the possibility of any planning application being submitted in the future I have asked that Transportation, Landscape and environmental issues be very carefully considered.


Naturally before I make any comments on the subject I would like to see any plans in full detail and would welcome comments from Oscott residents. (303 2039)

PHEASEY POST OFFICE SAVED

Although it is just outside the Oscott Ward I am pleased to be able to inform any Oscott Residents who use it that the Pheasey Post office (921 Queslett Road) is not to close.

In fact the Oscott Labour team helped push for it to be kept open to help Oscott Residents who live near by and use it.

From February 19th February it will be re vamped and have new counters, open longer hours and will have car tax facilities.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016

May I wish everyone a Happy New Year