REPLACEMENT TREES FOR THE ALDRIDGE ROAD RECREATION GROUND

I was pleased to hear that Birmingham Trees for Life are donating and arranging to have planted 10 new standard trees.

These trees will be planted by the children from the Great Barr Primary in conjunction with the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve Environmental Group in the Aldridge Recreation Ground.

This will go some way to make up for trees vandalised or stolen from the site last year.

We need trees on sights like this where they have room to grow and can make the recreation ground  look better.

THE FQNR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP IN ACTION AGAIN

I

It was nice to be out and about with some of our most active friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve members doing a path leaf clean up and litter pick followed by a patrol of the reserve.

We try and keep it as tidy as possible and try and keep an eye open for any ASB.
All FQNR member and users of the reserve are asked to report anything ssuspicious

GEORGE KNOWN AS DEREK READE R.I.P

It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death today of Derek Reade.

Shortly after Inspector Peter Schuck and I founded the Oscott Neigbourhood Police Initiative more years ago than I care to remember Derek  cam along to volunteer and become a senior co ordinator.

Derek  worked behind the scenes until a few years ago when illness preventing him from taking a more active roll.

Derek was not a moaner but a hands on and help person who cared about his community.
 He will be missed and I would like to pass on my deepest Sypathy to his wife Valerie and his family.

GETTING JAPANESE KNOT WEED INTHE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE DEALT WITH

I was pleased to see when out and about in the Queslett Nature Reserve this week some of the Japanese Knot weed I have reported in the reserve has been dealt with

This introduced plant is a notable plant which can do harm to the environment.

Along with other members of the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve Environmental Group we are always on the look out for out breaks of this weed.

If you find you have it in your garden seek advice before trying to get rid of it.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE OSCOTT PARKING AND ROAD SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS MEETING

I would like to thank all those Oscott Schools who took the time to send a representative to the all "Oscott Schools Parking and Road safety meeting."

I would also like to thank representatives from the Fire Brigade, the Police , Road safety officers of various sorts and Councillor Barbara Dring for attending. Sorry If I missed anyone.

I would also Like to thank the Great Barr Academy for the use of one of their rooms.

Most Of all I would like to thank the Perry Barr Acting District Director Neal Da Costa for all the behind the scenes work he puts in organising these meeting.

Sadly a few schools did not send a representative. I was pleased however to hear form all those who attended that they fully understood parking and road safety near schools is a very important subject. It is problem their school recognises and want to do something about. They also indicated they found the meeting useful.

We have not come up with any magic solutions or money trees, but there was a lot of useful back ground information and we have agreed to meet again in the new year, to see if some of the ideas that were discussed can be progressed.

If your school was unable to attend and you feel that parking issues and road safety near the school where your child goes to or (if you are a near by resident), you may wish to remind that school to attend the next meeting.

It is a great shame that it takes a tragedy and the often knee jerk reaction to it, to make some people get involved rather than working to try and prevent one.

At these meetings we also consider how to improve the air quality around our school which is so badly effects those with breathing problems and the local environment. We need to reduce the need for parent to take children to school and park with their engines running a lot of the time. Its bad for the Children, triose living near schools and yes ultimately the climate

By working collectively we may help deal with some of these major problems.
We do however need those working at a higher level to take an interest and show their support as this would go a long way to help what we are trying to do.

 Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about this meeting and to have an impute on the subject at the next Ward Residents meeting on the 26th of October. The venue will be the 610 Community Centre and the time 7pm. The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Barbara Dring.  I will also be attending.

NEW LIGHTING FOR FORGERS WALK TUNNEL

REF NEW STREET LIGHT FOR FORGERS WALK TUNNEL

Checking the last new street lamp that was put in place

Councillor Barbara Dring and I  have now arranged with the Housing Department to have a second street light installed near the run up to the Forgers Walk tunnel at the end of your road. The work is expected to be completed by the spring.

This should help make residents feel safer when using the tunnel after dark and it will complement the one we have erected last year.

We would like to thank the Oscott Residents Association for their assistance with this matter.

New lighting to go here in the New Year thanks to the Oscott Labour Team working with local residents

See also blog post 16th November 2016

OSCOTT WARD RESIDENTS COMMITTEE MEETING 26TH OCTOBER

There will be a meeting of the Oscott Ward Residents committee (Chaired by Councillor Barbara  Dring and attended by all Oscott Councillors) on 26th October@7pm the venue will be the 610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road.

On the Aenda will be

Amey will present their Oscott Tree survey.
 ( A number of roads due to have been pruned in the late summer have been delayed but work is expected to carried out through out the rest of the year) 

An update on the recent All Oscott schools problem parking and road safety meeting

A report from the Local Police Team

A.O.B

All Oscott Residents are welcome to attend

OUT AND ABOUT IN THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

I was pleased to be able to find some time today to be out on patrol in the Queslett Nature Reserve meeting users and helping to keep an eye on the reserve to detect anti social behavior. The FQNR asks resident to help keep an eye on the reserve and report acts of anti social behavior.
Today for example yet again life rings are to be seen floating in the lake.

I also managed to do a little light pruning and was pleased to see how clean FQNR members are keeping the reserve.

Please note report act of ASB but do not put your self in and sort of confutation just walk away if you see any acts of ASB being carried out.

OSCOTT WASTE COLLECTION BACK TO A WEEKLY CYCLE FROM NEXT WEEK

The latest information I have received from the Cabinet member responsible for Household waste collection is that Oscott residents can expect their bins to be emptied on a weekly basis again from next week until further notice.

Should you bin be missed please contact either Councillor Barbara Dring or myself and we will try and help if we can

OSCOTT SPONSORED SKATE BOARD IS AS BUSY AS EVER

I was very pleased to see how busy the Skate Board Centre in Perry Barr park was the other day.

This skate Board Sponsored by the Oscott Ward and championed so well by Councillor Barbara Dring ( with my support) is really popular with young people from Oscott and else where.
It is in a really good location easily accessible by foot or public transport. 997  33 934 and so on

This is just another of the ways we are trying to help local youngsters in the area.

OSCOTT BINS COLLECTION NEXT WEEK 7th ON

I  Have been informed Oscott residents should have their bins emptied as usual next week (7th on) so keep you bins out on the edge of your property as usual

If your bin is missed email me (or leave a message on )121 303 2039

IF YOUR CHILD ATTENDS AN OSCOTT SCHOOL ASK THAT SCHOOL TO ATTEND OUR ROAD SAFETY MEETING

The next meeting of the Oscott Schools Parking near schools and Road safety meeting takes place on the 11th of October.At the Great Barr Academy Aldridge Road Great Barr (by invitation)

All the School in the Oscott area have again been invited to send a representative to this meeting where issues of concern regarding parking near schools and road safety are discussed.

Also invited are senior Local Police Officers, Fire brigade representatives and also officers from the Birmingham City Council who deal with road safety issues.

As chair and with the help of our Council organiser PB Act District Director Mr De Costa of these meetings (and who works so hard to do so despite a lack of resources) I do not pretend there are any easy solutions to the problems being discussed, but every school can meet with other Oscott schools to discuss how they deal with road safety issues near their school and learn from others what they do.

The Police, Council Officers and Fire brigade, offer their advice and listen to the concerns of the various Oscott schools and by all working together in this way we try and resolve some of the issues.

There is no magic wand and we still face the continued cuts in funding but just sometimes good practice and an opportunity to learn from others can help.

The Police who like the Council have faced awful cuts in their numbers can also meet with a  number of schools at one time which helps save their stretched man power and ensures they hear the issues faced by local schools, together in one place.

I would urge all parents to remind the school that their children go to in Oscott, to send someone to the meeting. (Local residents living near one of the schools could also remind the school?)  Details have been supplied to all the various schools.

Member of the public are given an update on these meeting at Oscott Ward Residents Committees Chaired by Councillor Barbara Dring. Residents are also encouraged at these ward meetings to discuss their concerns which are passed back to the Schools Parking and Road safety Committee.

(Next Oscott Ward Residents Committee 26 October 7Ppm at the 610 Community Centre. (All Oscott residents are welcome)

HOW TO CONTACT ME

Reminder. I do not deal with case work via Social media.

If you have a concern you would like me to look into please email me. Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk, leave me a Telephone message on 0121 303 2039 or write to me care of the Birmingham Council House B1 1BB

PLEASE ALWAYS LEAVE YOUR FULL CONTACT DETAILS

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

A LOVERLY DAY OUT AT BOURTON ON THE WATER WITH THE OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS GROUP

Councillor Barbara Dring and I had another great day out helping the Oscott Elderly Residents group during their wonderful trip to Bourton on the Water.

Maureen Byrn the Chair and organiser of the group as usual created a lovely atmosphere during the trip. The trip and the meal which followed was appreciated by all.

It was also nice to see by coincidence another group from Oscott ( the Mary Vale club) there to.

MY NEXT COUNCILLORS ADVICE SURGERY

My next Councillors surgery is tomorrow (26th) ay 9.35am at the 610 Community Centre.

NEXT SALVAGE COLLECTION DATES FOR OSCOTT

Wheelie bins due to be emptied on either 27th or the 28th this week.
However due to the catching up of our rubbish collection due to the industrial action I would recommend bins be put out before hand.
The latest information is to allow for collections missed as part of the industrial action to be caught up with collections for the time being will be every other week.

If your bin is missed please ring 303 2039 and leave me a message (leave your full contact details)

I am continuing to urge all parties involved to negotiate a resolution
I also  ccontinuing to urge our  MP who represents Oscott, to carry on urging the Government to reduce their awful cuts to the Birmingham City Councils funding. They have the funds to give out to other parts of the UK, it is time they did the same for Birmingham

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE STATE OF THE BUS SHELTERS IN OSCOTT

Councillor Barbara Dring and I will be out and about again this week checking on the cleanliness of some of the bus shelter in the Oscott area.
These shelter are checked for damage and are cleaned fairly regularly by contractors but we like to monitor them from time to time.
If you have an issue with a bus shelter in the Oscott area please let me know by ringing 303 2039 and leaving me a message (include your contact details please)

Please note although some not well bus stops are being removed from locations across the city (I have objected to this) non are being removed in the Oscott Ward.

THE OSCOTT GROT SPOT LITTER PICK VOLUNTEERS NEED NEW MEMBERS

The Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve Grot spot team ( who carry out litter picks in various spots in the Oscott Ward) are looking for volunteers.

Grot Spot clean up organisorS can supply litter picker picks, bags and so on.
If you would like more information or would like to volunteers to help clear up small grot spots in the Oscott ward from time to time either E.Mail Brenda  <brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca> or my self for more details.
WE welcome Oscott residents who would like to help out in the Oscott area.

THE OSCOTT TEAM OUT AND ABOUT

                                                                                 

As many Oscott residents are aware Both Councillor Dring and I live in the hart of the Oscott ward and know the area very well.
WE have got hundreds of all sorts of jobs carried out on behalf of the Oscott residents and we are so pleased we unlike some do not have to drive into the to try and get to know it.

Barbara and I often do walk about checking things out. Pot holes litter,and many other issues.
To us it is because we line in the area and is not just a stepping stone up the greasy path to the top in politics. We

care about Oscott and its residents.

Times are hard Tory cuts in our Councils funding ( which trickle down to Oscott) but we keep on going on your behalf
We cannot resolve all the issues we hear about and tell our friends neighbours and residents as much, but we do what we can to help.

If you or a neighbour have an issue you think we can help you with let us know and we will try and help if we can. We like you are Oscott residents.

THE DISPAERAING TREES MYSTERY HAS BEEN SOLVED

About 5 years ago a number of cherry trees were donates by trees for life to the Aldridge Recreation Ground.
The friends of Queslett Nature Reserve arranged to have them planted on the Shady Lane boundary of the recreation ground, where there was a gap. A number of residents and our MP helped us to plant these trees in suitable locations.

Recent however these trees mysteriously disappeared leaving just the holes.
Along With Councillor Barbara Dring I have been investigating their disappearance.

I have now found out they were removed by the Council due to lower bark damaged caused either by squirrels or more likely some varieties of dogs which are prone to noring tree bark.

The Council are now looking into having replacement trees donated by Tree loving charities put back with a little more protection, perhaps next year.