BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS AND OSCOTT LIBRARIES SAVED

A BUSY OSCOTT RESIDENTS WARD COMMITTEE

At a packed meeting of the Oscott residents Committee today the Committee Councillor Barbara Dring, Councillor Tristan Chatfield and I heard that our lobbying with the help of the Great Barr Observer on behalf of local residents had paid off and the proposal to build on the Burford Playing Fields had been with drawn

We also heard that the issues relating to gating of the site were still under review and there would be further feed backs from officers.

The Police informed us of a number of local policing issues and that there was a new sergeant in charge locally Gary Blackman.

Amey Highways representatives took away a number of issues raised at the meeting regarding street maintenance

Councillor Marje Bridle gave a talk on the Local Innovation Fund and how it can help local communities.

Representatives from the Witton Lodge  Community Centre and Council officer responsible for libraries informed the audience how with the help of the Oscott Council we have saved the Oscott Libraries from closure and hope in the future to extend their range of activities.

I also gave an overview of the Oscott Schools Road safety and parking problems committee which met yesterday.

It was good to be able to give good news to a well attended meeting which included the Kingstanding Councillors.

Sadly Jeanette and Ken who worked so hard last year obtaining several hundred signatures on a " save our field" petition ( which I handed in for them last year) could not be at the meeting last night I am sure this helped the situation.

OUT AND ABOUT CHECKING THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

I was pleased recently to be able to find some time to look at some of the on going projects that are and will be going ahead during this year in the Queslett Nature Reserve.


Members have planted some strips ( small trees shoots) in the reserve to help protect fencing.

I have also been looking at a potential site for a pond which hopefully amphibians will use. Preparations for this work have started.

 I have also been taking a look at the wonderful scenery and wild life in the reserve.

OSCOTT ROAD PARKING AND ROAD SAFETY COMMITTEE TRY TO WORK OUT TOGH PARKING PROBLEMS

I chaired the meeting of the Oscott Schools parking and Road safety committee this afternoon. I was pleased to see that most of the schools in Oscott sent representatives as did the Police, The Perry Barr District,the Fire Brigade, the BCC Transportation department and other Road safety Representatives. An extremely knowledgeable pupil called Luke also attended on behalf of the Perry Beeches Academy.

At these meeting there are updates from past meetings and long term possible solutions are examined. It is acknowledged by all there are no simple solutions and that actions to deal with one schools issues may well have a knock on effect at anther school and for residents.School best practises and possible funding initiatives as they apply to road safety are also explored at these meetings.

 

I would like to thank the Perry Beeches Academy for hosting the meeting

Local residents will be given an update and a chance to comment at future Ward Committee meetings.

PERRY BEECHES ACADEMY CHILDREN PAY THE COUNCIL HOUSE A VISIT

It was really pleasing to spend time with a group of pupils and staff from the Perry Beeches Academy, at the Council Housing this morning. They enjoyed a tour of the building including being allowed into the Lord Mayor of Birmingham's rooms.

Later in the Council chamber we were joined by Councillor Tristan Chatfield and went through a question and answer session ranging from the role of Local Councillors to why there is a shortage of Housing for rough sleepers and the homeless.
I hope those who came on the visit enjoyed it as much as I did.

IT GOOD TO BE OUT AND ABOUT MEETING OSCOTT RESIDENTS

Its always good to be out and about meeting the people that matter OSCOTT RESIDENTS and hearing what they have to say.
It is also important to meet as many residents as possible   all year around and not just at the run up to elections
I may not always agree with what people say to me but I respect their views even if we have to agree to differ.

I also do what I can "no promises" to do what I can to help with any problems they have.

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH OSCOTT RESIDENTS

I have recently been made aware that we Councillors should in this age of the internet should use it more to inform residents about what we are doing in our wards.!

I would like to remind anyone reading this blog currently in its 10th year,  that I am also on Face Book and Titter although if you would like me to try and deal with a concern you have you should still contact me by

 Email Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk
By phone 0121 360 3032039 ( messages)
By writing care of the Birmingham City Council House. B1 1BR
By attending one of my Surgeries  ( 4th Tuesday of the month 9.30am at the 610 Community Centre)
By sending in if you have one  of my " free post"  return card which are also available in the Oscott Libraries or at the 610 Community Centre.

When getting in touch with me please supply your full contact details

I am afraid to say my carrier pigeon post service has been deleted as the pigeon has now retired.

 I cannot promise to resolve all the issues I hear about but I am willing to try and help if I can.

Also in regards to Twtter,  if I re - tweet something it does not necessarily mean I agree with the comments in it.

THE BATTLE TO PREVENT DOG FOULING GOES ON

Any one reading this blog regularly will be aware of my efforts to combat Dog Fouling,
along with the Neighbourhood Police Initiative and Councillor Barbarbara Dring.

Most residents have had the experience of treading in dog mess and trailing into their homes often ruining carpets.

This unpleasant an unnecessary problem will be hard to defeat as there is a small but persisted small minority of dog owners ( who give the huge majority of good dog owners a bad name) that persist in not getting up their dogs mess and either bagging and binning it or taking it home. Some even bag their dogs mess when on an open space and leave hanging in  bushes where children play. You would not credit it would you! Dog mess can lead to serious eye conditions to children.

I have tried to help he situation by having a number of new bins put in place but sadly many of these are just replacement bins for where bin have been vandalised or gone missing. I also help the Dog Warden officers by putting up no dog fouling warning stickers on lampposts. Along with the NPI I help put up notices and supply warning boards.

Despite governments cuts to their funding the Council have kept on a Dog Warden Service and they have been very helpful in the Oscott area despite being small in number. In some cases they are actively monitoring some areas.

I would like to thank those caring dog owners who do the right and sensible thing and clear up their dogs mess.

DYAS ROAD ZEBRA CROSSING IS ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

Working closely with the Neighbourhood Police Initiative , Local residents and my fellow Oscott Councillors I have been campaigning for a zebra Crossing to be located on Dyad Road near the Old Oscott Lane junction. As part of this campaign I presented a petition to the Council.

 Sadly due to a local super market objecting to the idea of  pedestrian crossing because of their  concerns about the effect this would have on deliveries to the store the idea had to be explored further.

 I am now pleased to tell you following my continues request the Transportation have met with the supermarket and through agreement, they no longer oppose the provision of a zebra crossing and support its installation. 

As a consequence The Transportation department will  advertise the provision of the crossing in the local press and, once this is complete, arrange for its installation. 

I am hoping that a zebra crossing will be on site at some point in the summer of this year.

 

My fellow Oscott Ward Councillors and I will be requesting this crossing be installed as soon as possible as this is a busy road which residents have to cross to get to local shops or to catch the bus at stops on either side..

THE LATE LATE YOUTH CLUB FIRE ON ALL CYCLINDERS

It was really nice to be asked along to the Late Late Youth Club today at the 610 Community Centre.

AS is often the case member did not hold back with their questions which covered a number of local and city issues, The Burford Playing Filed, the Hare and Hound pub, Aldi, Council tax, Parking on the pavement, the Kingstanding precinct, Council and Police cuts and many more.

I am lucky I suppose I actually enjoy these grilling and their members shoot from the hip with their questions.

The Late Late Youth club is made up of elderly Oscott residents.

For more details please contact 675 2349

THORNBRIDGE AVENUE MAJOR CARRIAGE WAY RECONSTRUCTUCTION WORK ANNOUNCED.

                                                           

I have now received confirmation from Amey Highways to my latest request for information about when Thornbridge Avenue with regards to when and what work is to be carried out to the Thornbridge Avenue (Oscott side of the motor way to Aldridge Road)

I have been informed that not only is the carriage way to be resurfaced but full construction work will be carried out. The work is still scheduled to take place in the early summer.

The Oscott Councillors have been lobbying to get this work to be done for some time and I will continue to do what I can to keep Amey to their time scale. Motorists should be aware however when this type of work takes place it does take longer and some inconvenience is inevitable.

MY NEXT COUNCILLORS SURGERY 21st MARCH

My next Councillors surgery will take place on the 21st of March. The venue will be the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding road. 9.30am.

If you have an issue you would like to discuss with me please pop in.

Alternatively you can email me Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk , leave me a phone message 303 2039  ( in either case please leave your full contact details)

You can also write to me Care of 
The Birmingham City Council
The Council House
Birmingham
B1 1BB

PARKING AND ROAD SAFETY NEAR OSCOTT SCHOOLS

As parking and road safety around schools in Oscott is such a major concern to may I organise meetings on the subject which all the Schools in Oscott are invited to attend.

At these meeting schools along with Council Road safety teams, the Transportation department , the Fire Brigade and the Police and to discuss collectively the various issues of concern.

These problems are extremely difficult to resolve but working together, good practice, new ideas and practical solutions are examined.

There are no easy solutions and cuts in funding to schools, the Police and the Council by Central Government do not help.

All the Oscott schools have been invited to send a representative to the next  meeting and if,  as a parent or local resident,  you have a concern you can let your local school know and remind them to attend the meeting. The meeting will take place on the 28th March and a feed back to the public is given at the Oscott Residents Committees.

BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS

Thank you to all those who have contacted me on this subject.

Clearly as the Councillor who first had the gaps in the Burford Road playing field site to allow residents onto the site without them having to resort to keep cutting through the fence,  this situation is very saddening to me.

This is an education field  and they were willing to allow residents young and old to use the site, but over the years a small minority  have  abused the site, destroying the changing rooms and acting in antisocial ways, abusing the site often leading to the Police having to be called.

Others have used the site without paying for the use which has not helped either those organisations wishing to use the site officially or residents just wishing to use the site for recreation.

There is an urgent need for new housing in the city and the Government have put the pressure on with their one million new home to be build in the country target over the next few year.

Like other cities Birmingham have to respond and are now desperate to find space for these new homes and are even resorting to have to have them built on Green belt land.

  However like my colleagues  Councillor Barbara Dring and Tristan Chatfield  I still feel Burford playing field should not be built on if possible

I have called on the Education assets department to ensure residents are notified and consulted with before any decisions are made. No decisions have ben made and it I still early days.

OSCOTT WARD RESIDENT COMMITTEE 29TH MARCH

The next Oscott Ward Residents Committee will be on Wednesday 29th March at the 610 Community Centre. The time will be 7pm.

On the Agenda will be A feed back from the Oscott Schools parking and road safety committee, Policing issues and the Burford Road feed back From the Education Assets department
The committee consists of the 3 Oscott Councillos (Chaired by Councillor Barbara Dring.)
Council officer attend along with invited other agencies, to discuss local issues of concern and to report to residents.
Oscott residents are welcome to attend

OSCOTT SCHOOLS MAY LOSE OUT

Many schools in Oscott may lose out due to the Central Government’s vicious cuts to Birmingham’s schools. This could have  possible implications in terms of staffing levels, class sizes, delivery of the curriculum and the effect on(extra curricula activities, trips and visits, sporting activities ) parents may have to pay for some of these

Per-pupil funding for schools in urban areas like Birmingham are set to lose out to those in more rural areas

Oscott parents could write to their local MP or even directly to the Secretary of State for Education The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP and, to try make the Government see sense.
 Birmingham Schools collectively will lose over 93 MILLION POUNDS by 2019.

LITTER PICK FOR TRESHAM LITTER PICK

Another day another litter pick with the Friends of Queslett Nature Reserve. environmental group.

I am also calling for another litter bin for the road.

PART OF THE BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS TO BE SOLD FOR HOUSING

It is sad that it has been decided to look into selling off part of the Burford Road playing fields for Housing.
Clearly the need for housing in Birmingham is urgent (80 Thousand) and the Governments housing targets must be met however it is still sad. Although no finale decisions have been made I understand part of the field will be sold off while the other section will become for the first time genuinely public open space.
Constant reports of anti-social behaviour on the ...field and the abuse of the field by some who are not paying the cost of renting the field for sporting activities have not helped.
My ward Colleagues Councillor Barbara Dring, Tristan Chatfield and I will do what we can to ensure residents are consulted over various proposals as we are made aware of them. We would certainly prefer to see the site left as it is as an open space and will be letting those who make the decisions know this.
We hope to learn more at the next Oscott Residents committee on the 29th of March and residents are welcome to attend

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE GROT SPOT TEAM

Have been out and about with the Grot Spot Squad Team making sure the Rodlington Avenue to Corbridge Avenue Right of way.

VISITING DISABLED OSCOTT RESIDENTS IS IMPORTANT.

I am always happy to pay Oscott disabled resindents a home visit to doscuss any issues or concerns they have, They must never feel that their concerns do not matter.

RAY HASSALL R.I.P

I was very sad to learn of the sudden death of Councillor Ray Hassall  Councillor For Perry Barr (Lib)

Ray who was a former Lord Mayor of Birmingham was one of a handful of charlectors on the Birmingham City Councillor he was hard working carry and really dedicated to Birmingham.

Ray and I had been very friendly rivals for many years who often spoken to each other giving advice in private and happy to banter with each other in public.

I will miss ray and my condolences go out to his family and friends.

QUESLETT ROAD TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN BARRIERS NEEDS REPLACING AND SOON

Despite many warnings and requests damaged central reservation barriers are still impeding those trying to cross the Queslett Road ( near the edge of the Queslett Nature Reserve and start of the houses there.
I understand there was an accident that badly damaged the existing pedestrian barriers and they have been replaced by temporary flimsy plastic barriers.
These are a waste of time as they keep falling over blocking the central pedestrian reserve.

I will continue on behalf of concerned residents to try and get this sorted out

WELL DONE TO THE FRIENDS OF THE QUESLETT SPRING CLEAN VOLUNTEERS

The weather held up for the friends Of the Queslett nature Reserve Environmental groups big spring clean. Many thanks to all those who turned up to help.


It was also pleasing to see my Ward Councillor Colleague's Councillor Barbara Dring and Tristan Chatfield come along and offer their support.

Over 20 bags of rubbish was collected from all around the out side of the reserve and part of the Queslett Road and Ashwoth Road.

Brenda and John were again stars helping me to organize the event and a big thanks to them to.

DARLEY DALE AVENUE DE CLUTTER DAY GOES WELL

It has been great to be out and about meeting residents in Daley dale Avenue and helping some of them de clutter by getting rubbish out on the street for removal.

 

This has been part of the Housing department sponsored De Clutter and activity day.

 

The Oscott Labour Team ( Councillor Barbara Dring, Councillor Tristan Chatfield and myself) were happy to support the idea.  The Police came along to discuss issues with residents, the Fire bride came to offer help and advice to residents and the well-known Dog Warden Debbie was out and about chatting to dog owners.

 

The Housing department and Clean-up crews were excellent and are getting on with the clean up.

 

 

 

Given the amount of rubbish it pleasing to hear that many residents have took on board the recycling message and are taking rubbish to the Holford Drive Salvage department. Just 5 minutes by car.

 

There are no more clean ups due in the fore see able future due to the amount of cuts in their funding from the Government the Council faces, so let’s hope everyone gets this recycling message

 

I would like to thank all those who were and are involved.

HARLESTON ROAD TREES TO BE PRUNED THIS YEAR

It would appear that my tree campaign for Oscott is starting to have a little success as following representation  Harleston Road residents are finally to get their trees cut.

I have been notified they will be pruned this year.

You can be assured this little but hard fought for victory is not the end of my campaign and with the support of my ward colleagues Barbara Dring and Tristan Chatfield the battle will go on to get other roads in the ward trees pruned.

The battle goes on.

Please note you read this here first

IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE BIG SPRING CLEAN IN OSCOTT

Hi

As part of the Big Spring Clean that is happening all over the country. The Friends of Queslett Nature Reserve will playing their part by doing a litter pick and possible some light pruning along the perimeter metal fence along Old Horns Cresent opposite ASDA and into Queslett Rd. If possible we would like to try and clean some of the litter the other side of the fence. We will be meeting on Thursday 9th March at 2:30 by the Old Horns entrance of the Queslett Nature Reserve. Hopefully, the weather will be kind. Look forward to seeing you there.

 

Regards

Brenda Wilson The Friends of Queslett Nature Reserve Environmental Group


All Oscott residents are welcome to join in.

 

For more details please email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

Keith Linnecor
Chair  FQNR