ELDERLY OSCOTT RESIDENTS TUCK INTO THEIR LUNCH AT THE AGE CONCERN CENTRE BIRDBROOK ROAD

Councillor Barbara Dring and I were pleased to visit the Age UK  Birdbrook Road Centre again yesterday.
Age Concern do a lot for the Elderly in Oscott and it was good to see how the staff helped looked after a group of elderly residents when they were having their lunch.

If you would like to know what services Age UK offer locally why not pop into their Birdbrook Road Centre for more details.

OUT AND ABOUT IN OSCOTT

I have been out and about again checking out litter grot spots ( and reporting them asking for a clean up. I have also ben identifying damaged street furniture  and checking grit bin levels. Another busy day.

ELLISTON TO MEADTHORPE ROAD PUBLIC R.O.W REPORTED FOR CLEAN UP

I have been out and about again reporting public right of ways which need cleaning up.
Elliston Avenue to Meadthorpe is one I have had to report.

OUT AND ABOUT LITTER PICKING AGAIN

It was great to be out and about again with some of the Friends of Queslett Nature Reserve Environmental Group  Grot Spot Litter Picker.
This group of dedicated Oscott residents operate in small teams litter picking some of the grot spots in Oscott.
We are looking for more volunteers who care about Oscott and its environment. Being an Oscott resident means you are helping your own area and community to keep our area that bit cleaner.

If you would like to volunteer Please Email me Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk

OVER 50 ! WHY NOT GO ON A TRIP WITH THE SAINT MARKS COMMUNITY HUB

St. Mark’s Community Hub Outings

For people over 50


 

Thursday 22^nd February

Cadbury’s World

Depart 10.00 Return 4.30

Cost £3.00 plus £12.25 Admission

Lunch extra

Thursday 22^nd March
             Himley Hall
 
 

Lunch at the Crooked House

Depart 10.00 Return 5.00

Cost £3.50 Lunch extra

Thursday 26^th April

 

Chatsworth House

Depart 9.00 Return 5.30

Cost £12.00 plus £16 admission

including 1 hour tour

Morning Coffee £3.50 Lunch extra

To book your place contact Keith on 0121 360 1884. All trips depart from St. Mark’s Church Centre, Bandywood Crescent, Kingstanding, Birmingham B44 9JX.   

We can take wheel chairs on our vehicles – ask for further details and conditions.

Return times to St. Mark’s are approximate and subject to traffic conditions. We reserve the right to alter the programme.

WHY NOT JOIN THE OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS GROUP

After many year of attending their meetings The Oscott Elderly Residents Group) and entering their raffles I have finally won a prize. A box of biscuits.

This group meet regularly every third Wednesday of the month at 11am at the 610 Community Centre.

They have a lot of laughs, get the chance to meet friends, have occasional guest speakers like me, hold little raffles and go on  trips.

Maureen Byrne is their wonderful organisor.
For further information if you would like to become a member either call in at the 610 Community Centre during the week or pop in to one of their joint information sessions on the Fist Saturday of the month at 10.30am at the 610 Community Centre.
There is also a chance to meet with Oscott Resident Association members.

DOG FOULING ON OUR STREETS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I have been campaigning for some time to remind dog owners of the need to take and bin their dogs mess.
Possibly due to the recent bad weather or the dark nights, there have been reports of an increase in dogs fouling our pavements.

Today I have been out chatting to a number of dog owner and with exception they have all had doggy bags and are getting their dogs mess up. Most dog owners are responsible like the one in the picture above.

Sadly it would appear a small minority who seem to slip out at mainly at night do not. They must realise the potential harm to children's sight their dogs mess can be.

I have been asking the Dog Wardens to investigate in the Oscott area and given the correct evidence they may well prosecute offenders.

Please bag and bin or take home your dogs mess.

TREES VANDALISED I THE ALDRIDGE RECREATION GROUND

While out and about today meeting Oscott residents I have investigated yet more reports about vandalised trees in the Aldridge Recreation Ground.

2 more trees which were loving planted by some young children from the Great Barr Junior school, following the trees being donated by Birmingham Trees for Life have been broken.

This is very sad, the efforts made by those young children who planted the trees has been ruined by mindless vandals who need to find something useful to do.

Councillor Barbara Dring and I would ask anyone seeing any acts of vandalism to contact the Police by using their 101 number.

VISITING ELDERLY OR DISABLED OSCOTT RESIDENTS

Meeting elderly and disabled residents is important. This is why I try to visit elderly or disabled Oscott residents when I can.

If you or a friend living in Oscott are elderly or disabled and would like me to pay a visit ( or phone) to discuss a concern  please let me know.

You can leave Councillor Barbara Dring or myself. a message on 303 2039

M.P SURGERY 3rd FEBRUARY

Just a reminder that the Perry Barr M.P Khalid Mahmood holds his Oscott surgery on  Saturday 3rd February ( and every first Saturday in the month) at the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road. The time is 10.30am.


He can help Oscott residents with many issues including those related to the NHS, universal creadit the DWP and many issues resulting as a result of this governments awful aurstority policies.

CHECKING OUT GRIT BIN LEVELS AGAIN

Councillor Barbara Dring and I have been out and about again checking Grit bins to see if they have been topped up.
We have been doing this for some years, usually before the bad weather is upon us. It is no good just doing when the weather is bad.

We cannot get to all the grit bins and so if you are aware on a bin that needs topping up please Email me Keith.Linnecor@Birmingham.gov.uk.

FQNR OSCOTT LITTER PICKERS BACK IN ACTION

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve Environmental Group were out again today in their role as volunteer Grot spot litter pickers. After snow and or high winds there is always a build up of litter and it was good to see the litter pickers back in action.

The Grot spot litter pickers are all Oscott residents who volunteer to do small litter picks in Oscott.

It was great to see Local Councillor ( and resident) very busy Licencing Chair Barbara Dring could find time in her hectic schedule to help out again.

Many thanks also to co organisers Brenda and John.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying  out a litter pick in the Dunedin Road and Templeton Road and other areas

 

  

 If you live in Oscott and would like to be a volunteer litter picker please email me. Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

 

WASTE COLLECTION IN OSCOTT TO REMAIN WEEKLY

During question time at this weeks full Birmingham City Council meeting the Cabinet Member responsible for Waste Management admitted there had been some unacceptable delays in residents having their waste collected. A combination of early bad weather, snow, ice and high winds along with the Holiday period have not helped.

She did however in the strongest terms allowed condemn some of those responsible for what she considers completely and deliberately miss leading statements and leaflets stating Birmingham was heading for a 2 weekly  household waste collection service.

"Birmingham will retain its weekly waste collection service"

There is to be a reviews of the things which went wrong and lets all hope everyone pulls together and the issues are sorted out.

Councillor Barbara Dring and I will continue to monitor the situation and do what we can to help any delays is Wheelie bin waste collections in Oscott.
We will also continue to request the Government treat Birmingham fairly and reduce or even return some of the huge amount of funding cuts they have made to our cities budgets,

COFFEE 'N' CAKE AT THE CEDAR CHURCH EVERY WEDNESDAY

I was a pleasure to pop into the Cedar Church yesterday and take a look at their "Coffee 'N' Cake Cedar Room with a brew facility.

If you fancy a break with a coffee and cake why not pop into the Cedar Church Lambeth Road 10.30am every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome and it is a chance to meet new people and have a chat.

GETTING OSCOTT GRIT BINS TOPPED UP THOUGH OUT THE WINTER PERIOD

Through out the winter I have been reporting grit bins in Oscott which need topping up.

Yet again  I have been out and about again with fellow Oscott Resident Councillor Barbara Dring recently checking on our grit bins in Oscott. WE live in Oscott and understand how important this is in our area.

 we cannot get to all of them so if you live in Oscott and have spotted one which is empty please let me know. By leaving me a message on 303 2039.

Eg see also 14th December post.

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL MISSED WHEELIE COLLECTION STATEMENT

Birmingham City Council has today (03/01) released an updated statement on recent missed refuse collections in parts of Birmingham in recent weeks:
“We are aware of ongoing issues with missed waste and recycling collections in parts of the city. Crews were already working to catch up on collections missed due to snow and subsequent ice in mid-December, but this was compounded by further snowfall just after Christmas, particularly in the south of the city, with additional side waste as a result of Christmas and missed collections also having an impact.

“We apologise to everyone who has experienced a missed collection and understand their frustration, but the safe operation of our wagons for the public and the crews must always come first. While many crews were able to continue working despite the conditions, this was simply not possible in the worst affected areas of the city.
“We would ask people in affected areas to leave bins and bags out so that we can collect them as soon as possible.”

You can report a missed collection here https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/99/report_a_missed_bin_or_sack_collection

Councillor Barbara Dring and myself your Local Labour Council Team will continue to monitor the situation and would like to thank our fellow Oscott residents for their patience.

OSCOTT TREES WILL STILL BE PRUNED

Sadly the high winds and heavy rain we are currently experiencing mean Amey Highways are having to divert their tree pruning staff away to the inevitable emergencies which are taking place.

Sadly this means, there will a delay in the tree pruning which is to take place this year.

I have been assured by Amey however, this work (as agreed with the Oscott Labour Team as part of our consultation with residents during  our campaign)  (1700 hundred trees to be pruned and 200 to be replaced) will still take place this year during the early summer in some cases.

Councillor Barbara Dring and I will continue to monitor the situation

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I would like to wish everyone a Happy and peaceful New Year