PATHS AND TRAILS TO BE NAMED IN THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

Following discussions between the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve and the Local Parks Management a number of paths in the Queslett Nature Reserve are for the first time going to be named.
This should help those new to the reserve help find their way around it easier.
A number of small low cost signs will be placed on paths and trails in the reserve.
Names which have already been put forward are Queslett Way, Ashworth Way, Booths Farm Way and ASDA way. Others may also be named in the future.

If you would like to become active and help maintain and improve the Queslett Nature Reserve please Email brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca for further details.

THE BUSY HAWTHORN ROAD TO GET NEW STREET LIGHTS

                                                                                                         

 At long last Amey will be replacing the lighting columns on Hawthorn road. Some columns may be relocated because less lighting columns are required with the new technology used. The new positions are marked in yellow or white paint on the ground.

  All lights in the replacement programme for traffic routes will mainly be replaced with state-of-the-art golden white, high pressure sodium light. There will also be some state-of-the-art Light Emitting Diode (LED) street lights installed as part of this scheme. The new LED lights are more economical and energy bills and carbon emissions will be reduced by between/or up to 50-60% each. The lights direct light downwards reducing light pollution and the ‘orange glow’, this minimises light pollution into people’s houses.

The new columns will generally be positioned at the back of the footpath in line with new national standards. This minimises the risk of motorists hitting the column and causing injury to themselves and pedestrians, and at the back of the footpath, the new street lights will illuminate both the footpath and the road. 

Work should begin on February 17th and may last up to 40 days. Residents will be notified in advance.

It is hoped the new street lighting will help shopers and residents feel safer after dark.

If you have any concerns regarding this issue please Email me Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE 997 BUS ROUTE LET ME KNOW

As the 997 councillor Bus Route Champion on behalf of Centro I am meeting with the National Express Customer Service Manager next week to travel the route and discuss issues concerning the 997.
If you have an issue with this route (Birmingham to Walsal / Aldridge) please email before 12noon Tuesday and I will pass on your concerns and observations.
My Email Address Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

WHY NOT TRY COMPOSTING THOSE LEAVES

A number of Oscott residents are still concerned about how to get rid of the access of leaves which have come together in their gardens. Composting is easier than you think and may be the easiest answer. leaves and a lot of other things (see below) can be composted.
A compost container is the best bet but
A bin is not strictly necessary - you can just build a heap and cover it over with some polythene or cardboard if you want to keep the cost to a minimum and most Oscott resident have fairly large gardens with enough space. For those with less space a bin may be the best bet.

Composting is an environmentally friendly way of getting rid of organic waste from your kitchen and garden, giving you a completely natural, peat free, compost to dig back into your garden. By composting your own food and garden waste at home you will be doing your bit to stop climate change as food/garden waste generates methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) when sent to landfill.

After 9 -12 months, depending on how much you put into your compost bin, you will have a rich, totally organic compost to put back onto your garden.

There are numerous compost bins on the market to suit all gardens and pockets. The standard 220 litre bins cost £16.98 and the 330 litre ones £19.98 (plus £5.49 delivery). They they are available via www.getcomposting.com or by phoning 0845 130 6090.
You can put into your compost bin:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings (potato peelings, apple cores, banana skins etc)
• Egg shells
• Tea bags
• Cut flowers
• Coffee grounds
• Sawdust from small animals' bedding (e.g: hamster, guinea pig)
• Shredded paper and card
• Inners from kitchen/toilet rolls
• Grass cuttings
• Plant and bush trimmings
• Weeds (although it is not recommended you put in weeds such as bindweed)
• Vacuum cleaner dust
• Leaves
• Twigs (not too large)
• Straw and hay
• Egg boxes
• Feathers, fur and hair
• Ash (so long as it is wood based)

Do not put in:

• Meat, fish or cooked food
• Animal faeces
• Cat litter
• Dairy products
• Soot and coal ash
• Diseased plants
• Large branches
• Glossy or coloured paper
• Anything made of plastic

It is a good idea to keep a balance of greens such as fruit and vegetable peels and browns such as small branches and leaves. If you find your compost is getting a bit too runny, put in shredded or torn up paper or card to bulk it out. Putting too many grass cuttings into a compost bin will produce a smelly, liquid mess!

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FLY TIPPING

There may now be charges for bulk collections and the green waste collection service but this is no excuse for fly tipping in the Oscott area.
No where in Oscott is more than Minute's away by car from the Holford drive Waste Disposal site which operates an excellent service.

Holford Drive

• Address
  Holford Drive, Perry Barr,
  B42 2TU
• Operating times
  November to end of February
  Mon to Fri: 8am to 6pm,
  Saturday: 8am to 4.30pm,
  Sunday: 8am to 4.30pm
  (Except Christmas Day & Boxing Day)
  
  March to end of October
  Mon to Fri: 8am to 8pm,
  Saturday: 8am to 4.30pm,
  Sunday: 8am to 4.30pm
• Recycling facilities
  
  
  They are able to recycle/re-use the following items:
  Green garden waste, Cardboard, Paper, Glass, Metal, Wood and wood-based products (MDF, chipboard etc), Engine Oil, Car Batteries, Fridges & Freezers, Textiles, Shoes, TVs & CRT Monitors, Fluorescent tubes, Gas bottles, Soil, Hardcore & Rubble.
  Please do not put gas bottles (full or empty) into the metals skip.  Please use the special area provided for gas bottles.  If in doubt, please speak to the staff on site who can advise.
  
  If it helps keep costs down why not get together with neighbours or friends and pool a car trip to the site.

DONT OBSTRUCT THE DISABLED IN OSCOTT

Along with George Hough Chair Oscott Disability Group I am trying to get the Transportation department and the Police to take more action against those who park over or obstruct Disabiliy dropped pavement and peoples dropped curb. This is very inconsiderate parking as well as being obstructive.

The Police need to take a lead on this it is very annoying to those who use wheel chairs/ motorised mobility scooters / mothers with wheel chairs and owners of dropped curbs.

CENTRO'S PUBLIC CONSULTATION TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

 Centro is like many authorities having to face up to the cuts in funding the government is making across most authorities. There is no easy way to deal with expected cuts and this is why Centro is trying to find out the views of local residents and service users.
There is no easy way around making a choice in how to deal with the cuts.
I must be remembered only a small part of their budget is not ring fenced and the remainder which is the only option when it comes to making cuts

Options to be put to the public include:

• Children paying two thirds of the adult fare on buses instead of half
• Removing free local rail and tram travel for eligible people or introducing a nominal annual charge of around £30
• Reducing the grant to Ring and Ride
• Reducing the number of taxpayer funded bus services
• Removing the locally funded ‘add on’ which allows eligible people to travel free on buses after 11pm (free bus travel between 9:30am and 11pm would be unaffected)

Further options to fully achieve the proposed ten per cent reduction would include completely stopping Centro funding for Ring and Ride or for child bus fare concessions.
The eight week consultation will run until  January 19 and views can be made in the following ways: 

• By emailing budgetviews@centro.org.uk
• By writing to Budget Views, Centro House, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD
• By completing an online questionnaire at www.centro.org.uk/budgetconsultation 
• Via Twitter: @networkwm #yoursay

PLEASE MAKE THE BEST OF THE FEW DAYS REMAINING AND HAVE YOUR SAY IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO.

OSCOTT WARD COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22ND

There will be a meeting of the Oscott Ward Committee (the 3 Oscott Councillors Councillor Barbara Dring (Chair) Tristan Chatfield and myself) on the 22nd of January at 7pm. The location will be the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road
Residents will be able to here reports from Council officers and have an opportunity to ask questions regarding the area.

BRIGHTENING UP THE KINGSTANDING CIRCLE

The Birmingham City Council Leisure Services department are investing in some shrub bed reductions on Highway areas to be able to make longer term revenue savings. 

Kingstanding island has been identified as a suitable location to remove the shrubs, they have grown very large and are past their best. 

The long term plan will be to bring it back to grass but as 2014 is to commemorate world war one we are looking to create a wildflower display including poppies.

I my view this is long overdue and I look forward to a bright display of flowers to remember with honour the first world war. I would also be nice if local schools could get involved.

BOOTHS LANE UPDATE

A planning application has now gone forward to the Planning department regarding the Booths Lane Planning application by Taylor Wimpey.
They have in their latest plans recognised the concerns expressed regarding any new homes on the Sandy Lane Boundary having front drives allowing vehicles to use Sandy Lane. These homes will now be the opposite way around and  would use the road inside the estate.
A play area has also been added to the plans.
While I think the plan to keep the existing Booths Lane open while construction work would be carried out on the site and that eventually the existing Road would be replaced (the old section becoming a bike and walking path) is reasonable, Like my Ward Council colleagues I am still concerned about the number of houses proposed and feel more consultation with local residents is needed.
 Improvements possibly traffic lights also need to be considered at each end of Booths Lane
I also think the SINK site on the west of the proposed development could be added to with part of the old golf course site and some of the 106 money could be used to maintain the open space in years to come.

If you would like to let me know your views  or concerns please Em me Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.

DONT LEAVE BAGS OF GREEN WASTE ON THE STREETS

I have noticed a number of residents are still leaving piles of green waste bags out on then street.
I would advise this does not happen as a the collection period is over and be from later this year only those have paid for the service will receive a collection.
bags left out on the street will not automatically be picked up and some may be left for some time while the department investigate who has dumped them.
If you are not intending to pay for the green waste service you will have to take green waste to the nearest Salvage department or possible compost it.

If you have a genuine problem with a missed last collection if you let me know i will do what I can to help. Em Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk

JANUARY OSCOTT POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD TASKING MEETING

At the Oscott Police Tasking Group meeting yesterday it was agreed to keep parking near, Oscott Schools,preventing Shed and garage break -ins,  monitoring the Kingstanding Circle for Anti Social behaviour and the Oscott Community Speed Watch as some of the priorities.

WHEELIE BINS UPDATE

I have received a number of enquires from Oscott residents wanting to know when they will get their wheelie bins (for household rubbish)
Having spoken to the Cabinet Member who is responsible and it now looks likely it will be in the late spring of next year. (this is still not set in stone)
I understand for a number of residents this may seem a long time to wait but the process of distribution in a city of the size of Birmingham means not everything can be done at once.
On the other hand those resident not wanting Wheelie bins because of space concerns and so on will have a time to prepare to try and deal with their arrival and make arrangements to receive them.
There will also still be an opportunity to say why you do not think your property is suitable for having a Wheelie bin or to request assistance to move them if you are elderly or disabled..

If you have any concerns regarding this issue please contact me Email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.com or Tel 303 2039 (messages) and I will try and address your concerns as best I can. (Please leave your full address and contact details)

JULIE MIDDLETON RIP

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve have asked me to pass on the following information. The Police have confirmed the body found at Queslett Nature Reserve on Tuesday is that of 73-year-old Julie Middleton.
The pensioner went missing from her Queslett Road home on Sunday evening.
Hundreds of people shared her photograph on social media networks in the hope that should would be found, but police searching nearby sites discovered a body in open water at the nature reserve, behind the Asda superstore, on Tuesday afternoon.
A police spokesperson has thanked the community for their support in the search.
Julie Middleton is thought to have left her house on Queslett Road at some point last Sunday night and was reported missing just after 9am on Monday (December 30).
The body was discovered in open water at the Queslett Nature Reserve, near to Asda Queslett, shortly after 3pm.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious. Her family has been informed.
The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve offer their condolences.

DELAYS IN OSCOTT REFUSE COLLECTIONS

Refuse and recycling collections have been hit over the holiday period due to lack of drivers.
I have now been informed crews will be out in Oscott over the weekend to try and catch up.

BOOTHS LANE PLANNING APPLICATION YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT

PLANNING APPLICATION 2013/9475/PA
Site: Land at Booths Lane / Sandy Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham, B42
Proposal:
Clearance of driving range and associated buildings and redevelopment of site
to provide 249 new build dwellings together of realignment of Booths Lane, other
works to include children's play area and associated works
The above application was accepted by the Council on 27/12/2013. The Planning department are interested in your comments on
the application, preferably before 24 January 2014.

This is your opportunity to have your say about this planning application.

OBSTRUCTED PAVEMENT CLEAR AT LAST

I am pleased to say at long last I have managed to get the Council to cut back the overgrowth at the corner of Dyas Road and Old Oscott Lane. After months of indecision the Housing department accepted it was their responsibility and the offending bushes have been cut back to allow better access for pedestrians.

SEASONS GREETINGS

I would like to wish readers of this blog

 A Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year

DON'T FORGET THE ELDERLY DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON

Don’t forget to keep an eye on elderly friends and neighbours over the festive season. This can be a lonely time for some of them.

Why not pop in and say hello and offer to fetch them a bit of shopping when you go for yours. Or simply give an elderly resident or friend a ring to see how they are. A few words may well break up the day for an elderly resident living on their own.