WE ALL NEED TO USE THE KINGSTANDING CIRCLE SHOPPING PRECINCT SHOPS MORE

While doing one of my Councillors roving surgeries near the King standing Circle shopping precinct  the other day I was sadden to see its continued decline.

I spoke to a number of Oscott residents who all felt the same.

 I have asked the Perry Barr District office if they could get officers to look into this decline and offer any help assistance they can to traders and to encourage the owners to do what they can to improve the centre.
 I have also asked our Perry Barr MP to try and get the government to see if they can help with additional funding to centres like this.

Clearly one thing all those who are concerned about the running down of the centre and the amount of shops that are leaving can do is use the centre more for their shopping.

however Many of the residents I spoke to admitted, while they would like to see more shops in the Centre they still use the large super markets in the area much more and would probably continue to do so. This is a shame.

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY DAY

Many thanks to the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve volunteers who were out today as part of an activity session on the reserve.

There was a fair bit of pruning over hanging bushes which were beginning to encroach some of the paths.
I would also like to thank a number of youngsters who joined in.

MYSTERY ANNOYING HISSING NOISE IN THE SHADY LANE AREA.

I am currently working closely with the hard working local Community champion Brenda Wilson to find out, from where an annoying all day long hissing noise is coming from. This mystery noise has been annoying residents living in part of the Shady Lane area, for some time.

We have now called in the Environmental health Team who are investigating the matter.
If you have any information that could help please let me know.

GRASS ON SOME OF OSCOTTS OPEN SPACES NEEDS TO BE CUT MORE

It is sad to see due to the huge cuts it faces  the Leisure Services are having to face up to many issues.

The Birmingham City Council (Government cuts to  the Birmingham City Council is over 650 millions over the last few years) are reducing the budget for grass cutting on many of our open spaces There are some stark options being faced.

Currently a small pot of funding which was found last year has eased the grass cutting issue on the Glenmead site and there is a possibility of some sponsor ship in the future.

However the Aldridge Recreation Ground is now only having its top section cut on a regular basis. This is enough to keep pitches in use for foot ball clubs. As far as I am aware there has not been enough enquires for pitches by clubs which would lead to the need for more grass cutting of the bottom section of the site? Hopefully this may change.?

Sadly however the bottom section is not been cut and had been left to grow. This has an advantage in the long run by easing the pressure on the soil from cutting and use and wild life is benefiting  from the situation.

I have had complaints from some dog walkers who have issues with picking up their dogs mess when the dogs are in the longer grass.?
Firebreaks are in place which may help those wishing to use the bottom section for exercise.

 However Councillor Barbara Dring and I have been asking for this section of the field to be cut and have been told it will be later in the year and we will be urging this take place.

I have also been recently been assured that in a number of cases to help joggers and walkers, the way fire breakes are cut will be a more imaginative in order that more enjoyment of the sites can be obtained.

BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELD RESIDENTS TO BE CONSULTED AGAIN

Following my request residents in Burford Road living near the playing field will once again be contacted by the Education to see whether they would be willing to see an opening placed opposite their homes to allow access to the field.

There is currently one in place the second being closed due to complaints from a number of residents about ASB resulting from it being in place.

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I are doing what we can to get a solution to this issue.

COUNCILLORS SURGERY

I have a Councillors Surgery today (Tue) at the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road, Time 9.30am.

If you cannot get there you can Email me Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk or leave a message on 303 2039.

MISSED WASTE COLLECTION UPDATE

I am still being asked what the situation is regarding the strike action which is effecting the waste collection / emptying of wheelie bins. Below is the latest information I have

Further talks on refuse dispute week ending 21st July

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Talks took place this week between Council senior staff including the Interim Chief Executive Stella Manzie and Trades Unions including Unite who are currently taking disruptive industrial action.

Ms Manzie said: “In the talks both sides set out their issues. The Council restated the very fair and reasonable options it had given for refuse workers affected by reorganisation proposals.

There will be no job losses for those who wish to remain with the council and there are options ranging from alternatives at the same grade, to promotional opportunities to staying within the refuse service, or taking redundancy.

 “The Council is operating in difficult times. We are focused on providing reliable, effective refuse collection for citizens and we want to work with trades unions to do that. If that means taking difficult decisions the Council will do so, even where at times it means difficult industrial relations which we are actively trying to resolve

 

“We will be cleaning up rubbish over the weekend and next week.”

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Clearly the situation is clearly annoying to all concerned. If your bin has not been collected leave it out for collection at a later date. I am happy to pass on your concerns if it continues not to be collected.

 

I will also continue to urge all involved to keep talking and to try and resolve this dispute urgently

THE HARE AND HOUND PUB NEEDS TO BE PUT RIGHT OR RE DEVELOPED

On behalf Of Oscott and Kingstanding Residents I have raised the condition of the former Hare and Hounds  public house on the Kingstanding Road at this weeks Planning Committee.

As you may recall a planning application calling for housing to be put on the site was turned down by the Planning Committee ( following a site meeting which I called for, where the issue could be discussed with residents.) Many residents were very unhappy with the proposal put forward, access being a major concern.

Sadly the building then court fire some time later leaving the building looking a real mess. This has gone on for far to long.

With the help of Oscott Councillor Barbara Dring I am pressing for the developers to be encouraged to come forward with new proposals or at least demolish or rectify the state of the building.

YET MORE FLY TIPPING HAS HAD TO BE DEALT WITH

Before

                                                                        

After

Sadly YET AGAIN there continues to be fly tipping hot spots in the Oscott Ward despite the fact rubbish can be taken to the Local Holford Drive Salvage department just minutes down the Road off the Aldridge Road.

All fly tipping is a disgrace THERE IS NO EXCUSE even when there is an industrial dispute going on. Mattresses arm chairs and so on should never just be dumped.

 I have again had to get the  hot spot sorted out near the corner of Dyas Road and the Aldridge Road access way cleaned despite warning signs.

  Residents can help by reporting anyone dumping to the Council. Registration numbers and so on could be a help evidence should the Council decide to prosecute. We should all remember we are paying when other people dump rubbish

It should also be remembered that rear access ways are privately owned and are not the responsibility of the Council in most cases. Residents can help prevent fly tipping by ensuring their gates if they have them are locked.

 I will continue to press the Council to try and do more and will be working with a local resident group to help make residents more aware of the problems.

THE M.P. FOR PERRY BARR CONTACT DETAILS

I occasionaly receive requests for assistance or advice which would be better addressed by the MP for Perry Barr.( National issues, issues concerning the DWP and NHS and so on)
 I often pass these on, but to help Oscott residents receive quicker responses from him these are his details.
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Khalid Mahmood M.P. for Perry Barr

Parliamentary

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Tel: 020 7219 8141

Fax: 020 7219 1745

Email: mahmoodk@parliament.uk

Constituency

18 Heathfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B19 1HB

Tel: 0121 356 8264; 0121 356 8268

Fax: 0121 356 8278

Web & Social media

•                 Website: www.khalidmahmoodmp.co...

He also holds a surgery in the Oscott Ward on the first Saturday in the month 10.30am at the 610 Community Centre.

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Please do not hesitate to contact me with issues relating to local matters and matters relating to the Council.

I am also interested in you general thoughts and concerns about the Oscott area.

 Although I cannot resolve all the issues I hear about I am always will to try and help if I can.

When contacting me please always leave your full contact details.

         

YOUTH CLUB FOR THE KIDS ON THE BANDYWOOD ESTATE

 Youngsters living on the Bandywood Estate aged 10 to 19 there is now a Youth club based at the Emanuel Church Kettle House Road.
The YMCA Triple A project.

They offer


Fun workshops
Quizzes and card games
Pool
Life Coaching
A chance to hold onto old friends and find new ones
a chance to raise your aspirations.

Why not give it a go.

They operate every Saturday 11.30am .to 2.30am

For more Info Ring 354 5614

THE BATTLE FOR A CROSSING ON DYAS ROAD HAS BEEN WON

I would like to thank the Neighbourhood Police Initiative organiser Brian Brookes for all his help in organising petitions asking for this crossing which I presented to the Council last year along with other letters from residents. I am also pleased despite the delay, the Coop supermarket near to where the Zebra crossing is to be located agreed to its installation. This has been a real battle but I have now been told this crossing will be installed over the next moth or so.

This is a busy stretch of the Road and my fellow Ward Councillors Barbara Dring. Tristan Chatfield and I have worked hard over the last year or so to help ensure this crossing would be installed.

It should help those using nearby bus stops on both sides of the road and to the local shops as well as hopefully reduce speeding in the road.

Clearly there are a number of other locations in the Oscott ward where Road safety improvement's of all sorts are needed and I will keep trying like I have at this location to get things done there to. Like at this location I will not be giving up.

THE NEXT FQNR ACTIVITY SESSION 29TH JULY

There will be an Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve activity day on the 29th July at 11.30am
There will be litter picking, some light pruning and some improvement work is to be undertaken.

Please where study shoes and be prepared for the weather. ( we may have to cancel due to heavy rain?)
Children are welcome under the strict supervision of an adult.
We will be meeting at the Ashworth Road entrance. If you come by car please do not obstruct residents drives.
 Please keep an eye on the FQNR Face Book page for more details.
...

We are are volunteers trying to improve the reserve

 

CUTS NEED TO BE CUT

Birmingham is not the only large Council being hit by the Governments cuts to their funding from the Central Government but being the biggest council it has seen the biggest cuts –over £650 million from its annual budget since 2010. With far more to come.

We rate payers may feel we pay a lot of tax but Birmingham only raises about eight per cent of its money locally through council tax, which compares with an average of 25% per cent. Sadly lower value properties generally in Birmingham and high deprivation leads to less council tax income. Inflation which is now rising steadily rising also does not help the situation.

You have to live within your budget but they must be fair.

Despite what some people who are sadly in denial in my view may think, this means the Government grant has a far more damaging effect in Birmingham than elsewhere. The cuts are affecting everything the council does or wants to do and it is the resident like those in Oscott who are feeling it and often do not understand why.

It is because being a densely populated cosmopolitan city with high levels of unemployment in some areas with a lot of child poverty there are complex problems which require much more action to deal with.

 Another major issue for example is there are more frail elderly people who, unable to afford private care, rely on council services.

While in a desperate attempt to ease the effects of cuts, what are considered lesser important ( to some) services like grass cutting in parks and so on are being reduced.

Birmingham has just about coped with these horrendous Government cuts in their funding and the awful Austerity policies the Government are so wrongly fond of. There must be a re think. The policy has long past its sell by date

We have seen in the case of Northern Island for example, money can be found. That being the case it should be shared with larger cities like Birmingham and devolved fairly down to all parts of them including Oscott.

 

MY NEXT COUNCILLORS SURGERY IS ON THE 25TH JULY

My next Councillors surgery will be held at the 610 Community Centre on the 25th of July at the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road, The time will be 9.35am.
If you would meet with me to discuss an issue or concern please pop in and see me. I am also interested in your views about the area.
The room I use is fully disabled friendly and the centre has a hearing loop system.
There is parking available at the rear.

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

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Please note I use Face Book and Twitter as an information outlet often rather than bombarding residents with leaflets.(I DO NOT DEAL WITH CASES ON THESE MEDIUMS)

However if you have an enquiry or concern that you feel I should know about please contact me by either Email Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk , leave me a Phone message on 303 2039 or right to me care of the Birmingham City Council House B1 1BB
If you have one of my post free return card you can also send that to me.
Please note remember to let me have you full contact details.

KEEP OUT OF THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE LAKE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY

It may be warm during the summer holidays  but never be tempted to cool down by entering the lake in the Queslett Nature Reserve.

The lake may be dangerous to swimmers.
It may look cool and pretty but the water has not been treated, it is full of bacteria and there are hidden obstacles in it including broken glass, old trollies and logs

It is not even safe to paddle in or allow your dog to enter.

Please keep out of the lake for your own safety even if you are a good swimmer.

COMING SOON KNIFE DROP IN AMNESTY FOR OSCOTT

Following my recent request the Local Police team are to look at introducing a Drop in knife amnesty at one of their future Police activity events in the Oscott Ward.

Sadly given some isolated incidents in the vicinity I feel this could be a way of trying to reduce knife carrying in the area.
 In the mean time I would urge anyone considering carrying a knife to think again it is not worth the risk.

THE DISPUTE OVER THE WASTE COLLECTION NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED ASAP

I would like to thank those resident who have contacted be regarding their wheelie bins or bags not being collected.

Like My fellow Councillors Babara Dring and Tristan Chatfield I have been notifying the department regarding bins not being collected due to the industrial action taking place. All this is clearly not good enough and very annoying

I have managed to help in a number of cases but sadly it is very hard going. I will keep passing on missed collections for residents who supply me with their full contact details.

 I will also naturally keep urging those involved on both sides of this complicated dispute, to get together around a table and continue to try and thrash out an end to the dispute as quickly as possible..

The advice I have been given is if your bin has not been collected leave it out for collection and it should be got to as soon as possible

ALDI MAY APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT RE QUESLETT STORE PLANNING APPLICATION

“ Clearly it is of some concern that Aldi appear not to wish to re look at the Plans they have put forward with a view to modifying them to ease the concerns of a lot of local residents.

They are now clearly attempting to by pass the Local Planning department and take their case to the Governments inspectorate un changed which I find disappointing.

Should they do this ANY decision will be in the hands of a City Council Government officer not the Birmingham City Council who remain opposed to the Plans put forward so far by Aldi

The Government officer should consult with Local Resident who have had a view but how effective this will be is anyone’s guess.

PARKING STLL AN ISSUE NEAR P.O SORTING OFFICE IN OSCOTT

I have complained yet again to the Post Office Management Team regarding the lack of parking for their staff at the Kingstanding Road sorting office.

Staff for some time have not been able to park on site which has led to some of them having to park all day out side residents homes and on the near by central reservation.

This situation is annoying for residents near by and potential dangerous when it comes to parking on the Central reservation.

I am calling on Post Office Chiefs to look again at this issue.

OSCOTT TREE CAMPAIGN THORNBRIDGE AVE TREES TO BE PRUNED

Following the Oscott Tree campaign which I am leading (many thanks to Councillor Barbara Dring and Councillor Tristan Chatfield for their unstinting support) it has been announced that Thornbridge Avenue is now to have its trees pruned.

The battle goes on however we want to see the campaigns aims better tree pruning and a sensible tree replacement take place across the Oscott Ward.

Amey Highways have as a result been carrying out a comprehensive survey of all the trees in the ward. An update of this will happen in the later this year.

 Already a number of deceased trees have been spotted and they are being removed.

This is not a quick simplistic quick fit traditional approach and it is hoped that in time the whole ward will benefit.

There is also to be a scrutiny report on the issue of tree pruning.

The battle goes on.

CATCH THE BUS WEEK

          

I have been out and about again today trying to help promote the use of buses this week
Today I was at the Mel Square with the Transport for West Midland Team and officers from the Safer Travel Team.

Tomorrow they will be in the High Street in Birmingham and at the Perry Barr One Stop shopping Centre on Thursday Afternoon.

Let the team know of any Public Transport issues.

610 COMMUNITY CENTRE DETAILS

610 Youth & Community Centre

Record details

Manager Steve Joseph

Youth centre

610 Youth & Community Centre

Phone number

0121 464 2268

Address

610 Kingstanding Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham B44 9SH

FOR THE RECORD I HOLD MY SURGERY HERE 9.30AM ON THE 4TH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH. PLEASE RING FOR CONFORMATION

OSCOTT WARD MEETING WITH TREES ON THE AGENDA JULY 5TH

The next meeting of the Oscott Ward Committee will be on July 5th (Wednesday) at 7pm.
The venue will be the 610 Community Centre. Kingstanding Road.

Councillor Barbara Dring will be chairing the meeting with Councillor Tristan Chatfield  and myself in attendance.

On the agenda will be Police reports for the area and an opportunity as part of the Oscott TREE campaign for residents to inform an officer of their concerns about tree pruning or replacement. ( These concerns will be fed back to the relevant tree officers who are working on a full survey of the trees in Oscott. (a report of which is expected later in the year.)

Oscott has a lot of elderly large overgrown trees which are causing numerous issues. I am calling on the authorities to have some removed and replaced in a sensible phased way ( not to many at once but over a period of time)

All Oscott residents are welcome to these meetings.

THE BATTLE FOR ROAD SAFETY AT THE ALDRIDGE ROAD THORNBRIDGE ROAD GREENHOLM ROAD STILL GOES ON

OSCOTT RESIDENTS CAN HELP


I am still waiting for the Local Police and the Birmingham City Councils Transportation department to come up with what I consider the correct information relating to the Aldridge Road /Thornbridge Road/ Greenholm Road junction.
The Local Police team has explained that finding this information does take time. Clearly with the cuts to their numbers due to the Governments cut s in funding to the West Midlands this does not help.

However I will continue to press for this information and with the help of Councillor Barbara Dring the campaign for this junctions safety to be improved will go on.

Residents can still help in a practical way my letting me know dates and so on when accidents involving any injury has taken place.

I have also asked the Great Barr Observer for their assistance in the matter.

I have helped get some improvements at this junction and near by like speed indicators. 
I have been unlike some been battling for some years now to try and get improvements and I wont give up. The continued accidents at this junction proves to me that I am correct to carry on and I hope residents can help.

The issues of speeding road lay out and in some cases the ways cars the way cars are parked near this junction need to be addressed.

 I am also lobbying our MP to get the Government to give more funding ( there is clearly money in their coffers as we have seen following the election) to help councils like Birmingham to improve Road safety.

NEVER BUY GOODS OR SERVICES AT THE DOOR AND AVOID SCAMS

I am campaigning along with the Oscott Neighbourhood Police Initiative

Brian Brookes NPI and Cold Calling Champion Brian Brookes

to try and prevent unwanted sales respresentatives form conning peole and to warn against scans which are on the increase.

The CAB also give advise and help make people aware of this matter.

If you you live in Oscott or any where else don't get conned. Never let any one into your house without  checking on their Id.