OSCOTT WARD ADVISORY BOARD HAD TOUGH RECOMEDATIONS TO MAKE

The Oscott Ward Advisory Board met yesterday (This is made up of local Oscott Community leaders, Third sector representatives and other agencies) to put forward their recommendation's regarding Community Chest applications for the Oscott Ward.
Sadly this year the Community Chest was slashed by 50% which meant a number of worthy applications would have either to be turned down or receive less money.

As usual the elderly, young people and the Environment groups IN OSCOTT were top of the WAB 's agenda and received a good proportion of the money available.

A full list of recommendations will be submitted to the Oscott Ward Committee in July for a finale decision
As Chair of the Oscott WAB I would like to thank all those who attended and helped with the process.

Those who submitted applications for funding will be notified of the Oscott WAB,s recommendations and the date of the Oscott Ward Committee shortly.

WHERE ARE OSCOTT'S MISSING LITTER BINS?

I am chasing up a number of missing litter bins at the moment.
The reason for some disappearing are obvious like those missing from Delhurst Road. (Amey) have been carrying out major pavement repairs, however other missing bins like those in Kinstanding road seem to have just vanished. I home we are not going through another period of litter bins being stolen for their metal content.
I am doing what I can to get missing bins replaced as we may well need them more than ever in the future.

CHANGES TO OSCOTT COUNCILLORS SURGERY DETAILS

There will be changes to the Oscott Councillors Surgery time tables from JULY 1st.

The new Oscott Councillors Surgery time tables  from July 1st will be as follows.

THE FIRST AND 4TH SATURDAYS IN MONTH 10.30am - AT 610 COMMUNITY CENTRE*

1st WEDNESDAY IN MONTH 7pm- 610 COMMUNITY CENTRE*

1st THURSDAYS DAY IN MONTH 3pm -  PERRY COMMON LIBRARY

2nd TUESDAY IN MONTH 9.30am - OLD OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE

4th TUESDAY IN MONTH 9.30 am - OLD OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE

* Induction loop available

Councillors operate on a rota.
Councillors carry out home visits for those with a genuine mobility problem.
Please ring to confirm attendance.

COUNCILLOR      KEITH LINNECOR          -360 6486
COUNCILLOR      BARBARA DRING          - 360 7565
COUNCILLOR     TRISTAN CHATFIELD     - 0777 910 2292

HAWTHORN ROAD PARKING PROBLEMS MAY BE EASED IN WEEKS RATHER THAN MONTHS?

The joint problems of improving the parking on the Hawthorn Road (middle section) and getting the waste land on the corner of Warren Road and Hawthorn Road has taken a step nearer to being resolved.
Since I managed to get the leaders of the Elim Church to meet with the son of the owner of the land in question it has been agreed if the Elim Church can get the site cleared traders may be allowed to park on the site freeing off car spaces along the Hawthorn Road for customers. At the very least it is hoped those attending church should be able to use the park thus freeing of some car parking from near by roads.
The site could also be used for those using the Elim church, which would again increase car parking available on the Hawthorn Road and surrounding area.
There may also be an opportunity for Elim Church or the Hawthorn Traders Association to use the land for community events.
All parties involved are seeking funding (the Oscott Ward Committee comprising off  Cllr Barbara Dring, CllrTristan Chatfield and myself is helping with this) and it is now hoped the land may be cleared in weeks rather than months and would also be a good thing if this land did not look such an eye saw. Let us all hope the much needed clean up will take place ASAP.

THE 76 BUS SERVICE IS TO BE PARTLY REPLACED BY THE 88 SERVICE AND OTHERS

A hundred or so local residents have handed me a petition calling for wither the 76 bus route to continue or for it to be partially replaced. may resident from Servite house need to be able to get to the Kingstanding Circle to do their  shopping and go to the post office for example.

Now after some weeks of wrangling with Centro I am pleased to announce that although the 76 bus route is to be withdrawn from service the 88 route will now take in part of the 76 route.
This will mean Kingstanding Road part of Dyas Road, Part of Old Oscott lane and Old Oscott Lane will now be covered by the 88 which will go on to the Kingstanding circle on an hourly basis during the day from June the 9th.

This service may be complemented by an extended 934 bus service between Walsal, Pheasey and Kingstanding with new links to to Perry Barr and Birmingham. When combined with the 935 it will mean 4 bus journeys per house to Walsall from Kingstanding.

Centro are holding meetings as part of the North Birmingham  Bus Review (working with private bus companies) to explains a number of bus changes in the area to local residents and bus users.
Meeting venues include Mon 3rd June at the Collingwood Centre 10am to 3pm. Tue June 4th at One Stop shopping centre near the escalators 2pm to 6pm and Wednesday 5th June 1pm to 6pm at the mecca Bingo Hall Kingstanding Circle.

A GOOD TURN OUT AT THE PERRY BARR PENSIONERS CONVENTION

Due to a cancelled meeting I was able to accept an invitation to attend the Perry Barr Pensioners Convention today.
There were a number of interesting questions which I hope I manageed to answer. These meeting are always well run and well attended.
These meeting are usually held at the Great Barr Leisure Centre for further details ring 675 2349

KINGSTANDING FUN DAY WENT WELL

There was an excellent turn out at the Kingstanding Fun day held at the Wheldon Rec today.
Well done to the organisers, all those who had stalls and so on.
The wall climbing, and Falconry displays were very popular although it must be said no one has seen Kingstanding Councillor Peter Kane since the birds of prey were put on displays.

There were a number of stalls which seemed to do well including the Queslett Nature Reserves and their volunteers, Brena, John, Bob and Brian. It was also good to see the Local Police Team there.
Finally well done to the DJ who as ever did a great job.

YOUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT MATTERS (ESSEX STREET)

If you have any complaints or concerns regarding Public Transport pop along to the Your Public Transport Matters which is being held in Essex Street. (behind the Bull Ring).
There will representatives from Private bus companies, Centro Officers and some ITA Councillors there to listen to your concerns and help deal with any issues you have.
The event tales place between 10am and noon today.

THE BATTLE FOR SPEED CAMERA'S GOES ON

While many may have given up trying to get the return of Speed camera's I have not.
I am still push MPs to get the government to change their mind and fun modern Speed Camera's.
Do they not realise the cost of a serious accident. How many times have you gone past an accident to only to see Fire Engines, ambulances and Police all in mass attendance. All this cost money not to mention the cost of the disruption closing a road can cost to the economy.
I would suggest everyone gets in touch with their MP and asks them to lobby the government and everyone else involved.
I would also like to thank all those who have contacted me with their views regrading this matter.

THANK YOU FOR VEIWING MY BLOG

I noticed this morning that the total number of views on my blog has reached 60.000. I am really surprised about this as my blog is only intended as a simple news and views blog or residents in my ward to help keep them informed.
It is rely nice to see the interest in my blog.

I only write about a small part of my activities and if you want to know more or for residents wanting to let me know there concerns / problems may I remind you my email No is Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk or you can leave me a message on 303 2039.
I am also on twitter regularly but very rarely use Facebook.

OSCOTT ELDERLY RESIDENTS MEETING WAS FULL HOUSE

AS usual I received a warm welcome yesterday when I joined my ward Colleague Councillor Tristan Chatfield in visiting the Oscott Elderly residents groups coffee morning.
It was good to see someone else receiving a grilling during the Q  and A session at the packed meeting although I could not resist joining in.. The Questions ranged from Wheelie bins to buses.

The OERG always have a good turn out, they hold raffles discussions, invite guest speakers and some times hold extend exercise classes.
The main thing they due is give elderly residents an opportunity to get together for a good chat over tea and biscuits every 3rd Wednesday. For more information please ring 681 1826

KINGSTANDING FUN DAY SAT 18TH MAY

 The Kingstanding Fun Day will be on 18th May on the Wheeldon Recreation Ground Kingstanding Circle near Greggs from 10.30 to 2.30.

There will be a wider range of activities than ever this year including a falconry display and a climbing wall.

There will also be a range of stalls including one manned by volunteers from the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve and the Oscot Neighbourhood Initiative.

Tombola's gifts and much more

WARREN FARM ROAD WALK IN CENTRE TO REMAIN OPEN

     Warren Farm Road Walk NHS in Centre is not now to close it has been announced.
This being the case I would like to thank all those who contacted me about the subject and also wrote in to complain.

It also has to be said Jack Dromy MP whose constituency the Walking centre is in has  led a great campaign, along with a number of local Councillors in his constituency from all parties, to stop the Birmingham Walk In Centres, including the one in Warren Farm Road from being closed.

With the well publicised problems the A&E departments in the area have, these walk in centres are even more important to Oscott residents and others.

KINGS LODGE MAY BE UP FOR PUBLIC AUCTION IN JULY

The Former Childrens home Kingslodge, Kingstanding Road is likely to be  offered for sale by public auction on the 4th of July 2013  following the conclusion of finale consultations.
The venue for the auction will be the Big wood Auction to be held at the Holte Suite Aston Villa Football Ground, Villa Park Birmingham.

There will be further announcements in the local press regarding this sale near the time.

It is a great shame this home has had to be sold but with the cuts in funding to local councils by the Government and reorganisation within the service have necessitated in the selling off of this and other sites.
The closing and selling of Kingslodge was not an easy decision to make but its sale may help make up the short fall in the funds available to the Council.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF WORK ON OUR PAVEMENTS AND CARRIAGE WAYS

The Considerate Contractor Scheme was set up to monitor the majority of street works taking place in Birmingham. Lay assessors are an important part of the monitoring process; collecting data on how highway and utility contractors are performing on the city highway. Lay assessors provide a snap shot, random audit, of a site. This data set is a crucial part of the analysis process.
Everyone has the potential to be a lay assessor. The City Council welcomes volunteers from all parts of the Community. We are particularly keen to involve people; with disabilities, from ethnic minority groups, of all age groups
Lay assessors complete regular performance monitoring forms; this enables the City Council to collect a wealth of impartial data about how contractors are working on the Streets of Birmingham. This data is then fed back to managers and the contractors to improve standards and develop good practice, whilst carrying out work on the highway. This helps us ensure the standard of work on our street remains as high as possible and helps identy where work is not up to standard.
If you would like to become a volunteer Lay Assessor or would like more information please ring me on 360 6486

DISCUSS PROPOSED BUS CHANGES WITH THE OPERATORS 5TH JUNE

The 76 bus route is to be withdrawn by the Private company operating it.
However following discussion with Centro who have been dealing with the company I can announce there will be some cover for the route. The 88 will now divert on an hourly basis along Kingstading Road, Part of Dyas Toad and Old Oscott Lane before traveling to the Kingstanding Circle via Old Oscott Hill.

The 934 will take in part of the route extending from the Pheasey to Walsall on an half hour basis.

These and a number of other bus route changes are part of a wider review and NX and Centro are holding discussions with bus users in a number of locations including at the Mecca Bingo Hall at Kingstanding Circle on June 5th from 1pm until 6pm

PDSA SHOP HAWTHORN ROAD IS ONE OF THE BEST

I was pleased to hear the PDSA Charity Shop on Hawthorn Road has been named one of the best in the country by the PDSA,
The PDSA is a very worthy cause doing so much to ease the suffering of animals,
The volunteers who work in the PDSA shop on the Hawthorn Road with their friendly helpful service certainly do their bit to help raise funds for the PDSA and I know from my own experience they have a number of real bargains to sell. Well done to all concerned.

KING STANDING ROAD TRAFFIC LIGHTS NEED SORTING OUT

There are still problems with the Hawthorn Road, Dyas Road, Kingstanding Road traffic lights. despite having them adjusted several times the phasing still does not seem right leaving build ups of traffic on Dyas Road in particular.
I have once again called on traffic engineers to look into this problem and also complaints about the pedestrion crossing elements of these signals.

WORK DONE ON OUR ROADS AND PAVEMENTS NEEDS TO BE CARRIED OUT QUICKLY

Kingstanding Road and others in the Oscott area are still having their street lamps replaced which is good news.
The not so good news is the time it is taking to replace the lamps once the work has begun, barriers are all over the pavements sourounding holes and newly errected street lamps which have not been finished.
While I welcome these street lamp upgrades I am calling on Amey the contractor in charge of doing the work to get the work done and the road tided up aftwards as soon as possible.

This also applies to where work is being carried out to improve pavements like in Delhurst Road hopefully with better weather in the summer the work will be carried out more quickly.