THE OSCOTT TREE PRUNNING AND SENSIBLE REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN GOES ON

It may be a new year but my campaign to get Amey Highways and the Birmingham City Council Tree department to prune the old overgrown trees in Oscott more heavily goes on.

However long it takes, this battle is one many residents want to win.
Like most resident in Oscott I fully understand the need to have trees in our roads. They have many advantages.
They reduce pollution, decrease flooding and roads with trees look much nicer.

However  some residents are being turned against trees due to the light pruning they seem get (if they are pruned at all.) in the Oscott area.
Many of our street trees overhang property, reduce drastically the light available which leads to a feeling of lack of security for some residents. In many cases tree roots are a problem and become a trip hazard.

 Even in the lightest winds there are reports of branches coming of these overgrown trees and falling onto cars and sometimes residents. It is only a matter of time until someone gets hurt.

With the support of my Council colleagues Barbabara Dring and Tristan Chatfield as well as many Oscott residents I have held public meetings on the subject of trees. I have handed in petitions, attended site visits and Lobbied our MP regarding tree pruning and replacement.
I have also sent in countless letters to Amey Highways , the BCC Trees section and the Cabinet member responsible for tree pruning.
AS a result Amey Highways have agreed to do a full street survey of the trees in Oscott, some trees have been removed and replaced and a few streets have had tree pruning done but not enough.

I do not accept the current tree pruning standards which I understand the Council have ( which are compared to the  Governments own standards) are being implemented as they should be. I have seen trees in near by authorities better ( more heavily pruned and would imagine they follow the same standards.

I do believe tree officers are dong what they believe to be the best they can in good faith, but I disagree with their conclusions.

I would like also to see more overgrown old trees replaced in a sensible way with more suitable trees. We need trees in our roads but they need to be the right ones.

If you would like me to pass on your concerns about a tree near you I would be happy to do so I clearly cannot promises a resolution but am willing to try and help if I can. Please Email me Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk

OSCOTT HAWTHORN PAVEMENT NEEDS SOME FIXING

Sadly despite a number of requests to improve the pavement on the Oscott site of Hawthorn Road there are still to many sections of pavements and bollards that need fixing.

The pavement on the Oscott signs should not be neglected as it has been else where and I will continue to put in complaints when I see faults that need to be repaired.

Amey Highways have put in some repairs following my requests but the repairs are not lasting long enough.

FLASHING 20MPH VARIABLE SPEED SIGNS PROPOSED FOR NEAR HAWTHORN JUNIOR SCHOOL

For some time now I have been calling with the support of the Hawthorn Traders Association for road safety measures to be introduced on the Hawthorn Road especially near the Hawthorn Road Junior School. (This school has a number of children who have hearing difficulty attending.)

Birmingham Connect have now come up with proposals to in variable 20mph speed signs ( flashing) along the stretch of Hawthorn Road where the school is located. There part of College Road near the Fire Station is is also under consideration.

Clearly anything that can be done to try and ensure school children's safety is to be welcomed and I have seen these in action in other places and they do have some effect. However drivers must be responsible and drive slowly past any school.

Public consultation will run throughout  February and details will be put on the webb.
https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/hawthornprimary20mph/

GOOD WAY NURSERY THE FINISHING OF THE BUILDING WORK IS IN SITE AT LAST.

I was pleased to hear that the Much needed new Goodway Nursery building should be complete by the end of May weather permitting.
There have been a number of issues regarding problem parking in the area due to contractors needing somewhere to park.
 The area is known a one where parking is at a premium and lets hope the end of the work will ease the problem (At least the car park will be back in use.)
Goodway residents have been very patient up to now despite having to put up with problem parking I have spoken to the school and they are trying to do what they can to ease the problems. I hope parents will do the same.

KINGSTANDING POST OFFICE LATEST SITUATION

 There still remains a lot uncertainty  regarding the Post Office inside Kingstanding Shopping Centre off Kings Road. Many resident believe it is to close

 

 

However, in a statement issued to the Great Barr Observer, a spokesman for Post Office said "there's no change to the branch in the meantime".

It read: "The current position with this branch is that we advertised last year for a suitable potential retail partner who would be interested in working with us to run a franchised branch nearby.

"The reason for this is so that we can sustain our services for customers in a convenient location into the future.

"Franchising is a proven successful way of operating Post Office branches and can be a cost-effective way to help us safeguard services.

"We have had registered interest but have not yet finalised detailed plans which, in due course, will be subject to a six-week public consultation. There's no change to the branch in the meantime."

Your 3 Oscott Councillors would certainly support any attempts to keep this much needed Post Office open and hope the Post Office which is now a private company will keep it open.

DESFORD AVENUE GETS CCTV TO HELP STOP FLYTIPPING

I am pleased to see after months of trying CCTV cameras have at last been installed in Desford Avenue.
I and my fellow ward councillors  have been pushing for this for many months I hope it may make a difference and the fly tipping stops. I know that the local Scouts group, Children from the Perry Beeches Academy and local residents have all be very concerned about all the dumping that has been happening and I would like to thank them for their cooperation in this matter.

REPORT FLY TIPPING

DESFORD AVENUE  AFTER THE RECENT CLEAN UP

FLY TIPPING AND RUBBISH DUMPING IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR EXAMPLE


Sadly Desford Avenue has become a dumping hot spot where anti social fly tippers are using to get rid of their rubbish
The Council are cleaning up the area ( I had it done this week) but this dumping must be stopped.

 

I have asked the Police and Council to take action and monitor the problem and I would ask residents to report any fly tipping they see. These fly tippers are costing us rate payers money because they will not  take their rubbish to Holford Drive Salvage department just minutes away down the Aldridge Road.

SUPPORT THE NPI NO DOG FOULING CAMPAIGN

The NPI are trying to get the don't let your dog foul our pavements and open spaces message out and I fully support their efforts.

THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR LOCAL POLICE FORCE

WORKING WITH THE POLICE TO REDUCE CRIME

KINGSTANDING

NEIGHBOURHOOD

POLICE INITIATIVE

N.P.I. SENIOR COORDINATORS

BRIAN BROOKES, RAY JUKES, BRENDA WILSON. GEORGE READE (we are all volunteer’s)

Contact Email- briannpi@yahoo.ca

A MESSAGE FROM THE N.P.I

DON’T LET DOGS FOUL OUR PAVEMENTS

AND OPEN SPACES

The N.P.I has had so many complaints about anti social dog owners who let their dogs foul on our pavements and open spaces.

There is a small minority of these dog owners who give the many decent, caring, dog owners a bad name.

The NPI call on the Police and Council to do more, they should prosecute and name and shame these bad owners.

Residents should be prepared to give evidence against dog owners who let their dogs foul our streets without getting it up. This endangers our children’s eye sight and can ruin people’s carpets and so on after it has been trodden in homes.

 Doggie bags are cheap and easy to obtain and thanks to Councillor Keith Linnecor, (who is always a great help) a number of vandalised litter bins have been replaced in the Oscott area and there are also a number of new ones. Dog mess can be bagged and put in these or simply taken home to be disposed of

If you would like a NO DOG FOULING sticker or notice board please contact us

OSCOTT GROT SQUAD LITTER PICKERS HAVE BEEN OUT DESPITE THE COLD.

The Oscott Litter pick squad led by Brenda W has been out in and around the Shady Lane area again  today.
 I heard a number of complimentary comments but it was Brenda’s efforts and motivation that was the most pleasing thing.

 Well done Brenda as ever you have worked so hard.  But gosh it was cold out there today.


Our Grot squad always needs new volunteers who care about trying to clean up our local community
 so anyone who would like to be a member of the Oscott Grot Spot litter pick squad please email me.


Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk

REMIND OSCOTT SCHOOLS TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE ROAD SAFETY MEETINGS

If your child goes to a school in Oscott, ask that School to get involved with the meetings I have helped set up to look at,  problem parking and road safety issues around Oscott Schools.

 I have asked them all to get involved I am pleased that some have taken up the offer already but not all of them.

It is a tough set of problems but by discussing these issues collectively and with Council agencies, the Fire brigade and the Police some improvements may be found.

There are no magic solutions especially in these tough financial times but we have to try.
 Each of the schools in Oscott have been asked to send a representative to these meetings  so please remind your school to get involved, after all it can do now harm.



The results of these meetings are fed back to residents via the Oscott residents committee.

MY NEXT COUNCILLORS ADVICE SURGERY 24TH JAN

My next Councillors surgery will be on the 24th of January at the 610 Community Centre at 9.30am.
The 610 is disabled friendly and my surgery is held to the rear of the building.
I do carry out home visits for those with genuine mobility issues.

If you would prefer I can be contacted by email Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk or you can leave me a message on 303 2039. Please do not forget to leave your full contact details.

I do not promise to resolve all the problems I hear about and I do not have a magic wand but I will try and help if I can.

TRAVELLERS MOVE AWAY FROM THE QUESLETT ASDA CAR PARK

I was pleased to see the Travellers who moved onto the ASDA Queslett car park have peacefully moved on and not left a mess behind.
I would like to thank those who were Involved ,who made sure this occurred.
The Birmingham development plan does ensure there will be spaces ( in the inner city area) for some travellers to use in the future.

STILL CHECKING OSCOTT GRIT BINS

Although (as yet) there has been no snow this winter the chances are it will be on its way at some time soon. With that and the fact that many of our side roads are icy I have been out and again checking grit bins in the Oscott area are topped up.

Most seem not to bad but I have asked Amey Highways who are responsible to ensure our grit bins are on the list for a top up.

I would also remind residents that the grit is many foe the high ways only.
I cannot check every bin in the ward and if you notice one that is empty please let me know and I will chase it up with Amey Highways

PETITONS AGAINS THE ALDI OLD HORNS DEVELOPEMENT GO IN

AS requested I have now handed in 2 petitions on behalf of local residents who are very angry at the proposals to build an Aldi store next to the ASDA Queslett Old Horns Crescent.

To summarize the concerns.
The road in the area are already very congested.( this has a wide reaching effect)
Parking near the store will get worse
The road layout near by is not designed for the extra traffic.
The store is not laid out well and this will have an adverse on the near by Queslett nature Reserve.
The site its self will lose to many trees and the wild life will be effected.

A lot of genuine concern is felt by those


Whether you agree with these comments or are in favour of the application you can still contact the Birmingham City Councils Planning department and express your views.

YOUNG AT HEART GROUP AT OLD OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE

The "Young at Heart" elderly residents group are back in action.
This group of friends meet at the Old Oscott Community Centre ( Age UK) Birdbrook Road every Tuesday 2-4pm.



Their activities include-

Skittles
Quizzes
Toss bean bags
Horse racing
Entertainers
and trips out.

New members are more than welcome

Pop in for more info

NEW YEAR BOOST FOR OSCOTT RESIDENTS NEEDING HOMES.

Following weeks of pressure from  Oscott Councillors the Birmingham City Councils Housing department have got their contractor to start the conversion work for 2 to 8 Oscott School Lane.

These properties had been on a long term let to the NHS as a medical centre.
Work has now started to convert them back to 4 much needed flats.

This work will take some months as new internal walls, roofing, electrics and plumbing are all needed for the conversion.

I am pleased to see this work started there have been issues of security with the abandoned building and 4 new flats are needed to reduce the waiting lists for housing in the Oscott area.