COTLEIGH GROVE DANGER WALL STILL NEEDS REPAIRING

As you may recall after a lot of pressure for a number of years the Council finally removed conifers which were damaging a retaining wall near houses in Cotleigh Grove earlier this year.
Now the battle is on to get the retaining wall and a fence on the top of it repaired.
After a number of phone calls to the Local housing team management from my self they are finally getting quotes from contractors to do the work. I will keep the pressure on the housing department to try and get the safety work carried out on the wall and the fence repaired for security reasons. I will also be keeping an eye on the situation in case they try and renege on getting this work done.
If I am successful look out for others jumping in taking credit in their shinny blue leaflets. But remember you read it here first!

TEMPLE TON ROAD RESIDENTS FEEL LET DOWN OF ROAD REPAIRS

A number of Templeton Road Residents have contacted me today saying they feel let down the way their carriage way has been repaired.
A large number of cracks have been repaired but many residents feel the quality of the workman ship is very poor and the road still needs resurfacing.
As a result I have been in contact with Councillor Timothy Huxtable (con) who is the Councillor responsible for the highways, and he has agreed to get his senior officers to look into the complaints. I will keep you post to their decision. re what to do or not to do.

OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS GROUP HAS SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO CADBURY WORLD

As a regular attender of the Oscott Elderly Residents Group monthly Tea and biscuit session (I give advice and try and help out) I was delighted to be asked to go along to help out on their coach trip to Cadbury World today. Councillor Barbara Dring who also came along and I were thrilled to see how this trip brightened up the day of those who went.

Many of those who do not get many opportunities to get out and about and I know they all enjoyed them selves. Both Councillor Dring and myself were pleased to be help by pushing wheel chairs and so on. The free Curly whirly and Chocolate buttons were also a nice treat for all concerned.
Well done Maureen Byrne Chair and main fund raiser for the group for finding the funds and organising the trip.
For more details about this group please ring 464 1869

LOWER SECTION OF BIRD BROOK ROAD TO BE RESURFACED THERE MAY BE ROAD CLOSURE

I am pleased to see following representation from the 3 Oscott Councillors Birdbrook Road (lower half) which has partially been resurfaced, is to be finished off.
Part of this section of Birdbrook Road was resurfaced earlier this year but for some reason the end section was left unfinished.
I have been informed there will have to be some time when the road is closed and this may well cause a fair bit of inconvenienced to Traders and Motorists. However I will be pressing the Transportation department to do all they can to alleviate any problems. It would have been better to have either done this work earlier in the year or after Christmas as not to interfere with the trade of local shops during the run up to Christmas..
The 2 weeks when the road may be closed will be week ending 3rd December and the week ending 17th December warning signs will be on display.

ANOTHER PETITION CALLING FOR ROAD SAFETY MEASURES IN OSCOTT REFUSED.

The Birmingham City Council Transportation department has shown yet again the disdain they have for the residents of Oscott, by turning down yet another petition calling for the introduction of road safety measures. This time it was a petition calling for the Aldridge Road from the Boars head to the Metropolitan College. I suppose we will have to Wait for the next series of accidents to have the needed improvements introduced.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP

The Oscott Residents Association are a ward wide Community Group who actively campaign to try and help residents in Oscott improve the area.
They meet every Saturday at 10.30 in the 610 community Centre.
Why not pop in and have a chat about any concerns you have with some of their members over a cup of tea.

KETTLE HOUSE ROAD GETS SPEED INDICATOR SIGN AT LAST.

After 4 phone calls and 2 visits to see Transportation Engineers this week to chase them up, the long awaited Speed Indicator sign has finally been erected (and more importantly is working) in Kettlehouse Road/ Bandywood Road. I would like to thank all those residents who helped me keep the pressure on the Transportation department to get this Speed Indicator sign.
This is just one step in the right direction but more needs to be done to help safe guard some of the roads on the Bandywood Estate and the Council needs to do more and as far as I am concerned the battle goes on.

METROPOLITAN COLLEGE CAR PARKING UPDATE

At comparatively short notice I attended a meeting with senior Metropolitan college officials (the old Great Barr James Watt College on Aldridge Road.
They were kind enough to give me the latest update re their development plans with particular regards to increasing car parking on the site.
Phase one is now all bar complete and a hundred new car spaces have been found. One of the problems is the contractorS on site need to use some of the car parking available.
Phase 2 will begin soon and should be finished in about 12 months. This could include up to another 100 car spaces. There will also be a new coffee shop on site which should help encourage students to stay on site.
The College officials have agreed to attend a public meeting which I will be arranging with other Oscott Councillor, Barbara Dring, Councillor Green, Council Officers and the public it is important all concerned understand what is proposed and is going on. At this meeting the College officials will give an update and the meeting is likely to be in the New Year.
In the mean time I intend to continue to work closly with Council Officers and College officials to try and resolve any issues which come up.

TEMPLETON ROAD,BANDYWOOD CRESCENT AND MEADTHORPE ROAD CLOSURES THIS MONTH

Templeton Road may be subject to closure during the week ending 19th November due to a number of concrete bays needing substantial repairs.

Bandywood Crescent near Kingsland School will be subject to road closure during the weekending 26th. November . This will be due to major structural work and repairs to the carriage way.

Meadthorpe Road will be subject to closure during the week ending 26th November due to substantial repairs too some concrete bays on the carriage way.

Repairs are not being undertaken along the whole of these roads. Following my informing the Highways department, miss leading road signs indicating road resurfacing work on these roads is to take place are to be removed. The Highways have acknowledge they have made a mistake putting out these incorrect signs and have agreed to replace them.

Sadly it is not the case that these roads will be re surfaced at this time however both Councillor Dring and I will continue the battle to get them done in the future.
The work which is done is urgently needed and is as a result of continued complaints by various Councillors in the Oscott ward and local residents.
If you have any concerns regarding this matter please contact me on 360 6486.

OSCOTT YOUTH SERVICES PROVISION UNDER THREAT.

The current Council Administration are looking to make cuts in Youth Service provision across the city. In Oscott as a result of cuts the Bandwood Families Project and the 610 Community Centre could well fall victim to any such cuts?. We will have to wait and see what happens next year. Users of the 610 Centre have already started a petition to save their centre.
THIS AREA IS CRYING OUT FOR MORE PROVISION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT LESS

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I are opposed to any such cuts and will do what we can to save Youth Service provision in Oscott.
Barbara Dring at a recent meeting got a commitment from the Birmingham Labour MPs to take this issue to Parliament.

GRAFFITI BEING TARGETED IN OSCOTT

Following a number of complaints a number of Environmental Wardens are coming to Oscott over the next few weeks too target the growing problem of graffiti here.
I have given them a number of hot spots and they have assured me these will be targeted.
Cable boxes street lamps, and so on are starting to look a real mess with the graffiti on them.
If you know of any graffiti which needs removing please give me a ring. 360 6486 and I will pass on you observations.

SPEED CAMERA TO BE INSTALLED THIS WEEK IN KETTLEHOUSE ROAD

I have received another promise from the Birmingham City Council regarding the missing speed indicator sign which was due to be erected in Kettle House Road in September. Apparently the sign must have been found because contractor are now due to install it this week.
I do not think this sign alone will cure the speeding problems in the Kettle House road area on its own but it is a step in the right direction at long last by our apathetic Transportation department. Mind you I wont count to many eggs till they hatch as it were?

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY DAY AT THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

There was another successful activity day at the Queslett Nature Reserve on Saturday. The weather held out and a lot of pruning back off paths and clearance work was carried out. Members also cut back over hanging branches on the Queslett Road boundary even though the Council should have done this work. Stephan Bodnar the Councils Bio Diversity officer was hand to answer a number of questions about the wild life in the reserve. The Friends of the Queslttt Nature Reserve also signed up a number of new members.
On the down side there has been a complaint by one anonymous resident about members of the FQNR parking outside the reserve and making a noise?. I was not aware of any noise ? but I would ask all visitors to the reserve who use the the reserve not to park too close to the Ashworth Road entrance and be considerate to the residents who have to park there.
As a group we are trying to get more done to help our environment.
There is also an entrance to the reserve off Old Horns Crescent near the ASDA super store.

CHECKING OUT OSCOTT'S GRIT BINS.

As you may have noticed Grit bins have been placed around the Oscott area in readiness for winter conditions. These grit bins including 5 new ones which were given to the Oscott ward. Oscott Councilors have helped decide where they went but we still need more.
I have been going round checking many of these grit bins to make sure they have grit available for when the bad weather comes. So far so good they have all been filled.

However at the first sign of bad weather the grit will soon be used on the roads and pavements and if you do notice a bin which has been emptied, give me a ring on 360 6486 and I will ensure the department is made aware of it.

COUNCIL TURNS DOWN KINGSTANDING ROAD PETITION

Councillor Barbara Dring who has been leading a campaign to get the Council to introduce some for of roads safety measures to the Kingstanding Road, has informed me a petition handed in by her on behalf of residents has been turned down
I am not that surprised this Council seem determined not to take road safety in this area seriously.
The have now been a score of such rejections to calls by Oscott Residents in various roads for road safety measure. The one thing you can be sure of is at least Councillor Barbara Dring and I at least will not give up and will continue to try and get action taken by this Council.

MORE FLY TIPPING IN OSCOTT

I am afraid there is more fly tipping going on is Oscott. This time it has happened in Desford Avenue. This is usually a quiet walk though which people use as a short cut. Sadly this green little passage way has found the attention of some anti social fly tippers.

I think the inevitable increase in fly tipping does not seem to have been catered for by those who decided to make cuts in the Bulky Waste home collection service earlier this year. Lets hope more thought is given to the next round of cuts they come up with.

DONT FORGET ANIMALS ON BON FIRE NIGHT

With fire works going off most nights at the moment and with bonfire night fast approaching, it is time to remember our pets. Try and keep dogs and cats in your house as much as possible over the next week as they are often frightened by the noise of fireworks.
Also If you are hold a party for bonfire night let your neighbours know especially if they have pets.

YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT AT THE BANDYWOOD ESTATE BLACK SPOT.

Can you see a Speeding vehicle indicator sign! neither can I.





There has been yet another accident on the Bandywood Road KettleHouse Road over the weekend.
Now It would appears the Transportation department have miss laid a speed Indicator sigh which their chief promised me would be installed on this accident black spot by the end of September.
I have been in touch with senior engineers, as you may expect demanding answers. It is just not good enough. I accept there will always be accidents what ever safety measure you take but not to have put this sign up a month after it was promised is simply not acceptable.

GREEN BAG COLLECTION ENDS NOVEMBER 26TH FOR 10 WEEKS

I have now been informed there will be no green bag collections for 10 weeks between Friday November 26th until Monday February 6th. This is due to the reduction in green waste usually put out at this time of year.
Should you have any green waste during this time it can still be taken to the nearest salvage department. For Oscott residents that is Holford Drive.
Other recycling collections are not effected.