ON YOUR BIKE IN SUTTON PARK

This is the time of year i hear Youngster say they have nothing to do.
Well here is a suggestion jump on your bike and go along with friends or family to Sutton Park.
If you do you will find get bike routes on and off road around the park. Many are sign posted.
For example starting at the Wyndley Leisure Centre there is a circular route.
Sutton park is one of the largest city parks and there are loads of things to see in it.

If you have not got a bike you can hire one for either a long or a short term for free. Tel 464 1020 for details

Younger children should be accompanied .

TRYING TO PREVENT THE SUMMER TIME BLIGHT CAUSED BY DOG FOULING IN THE OSCOTT WARD

At a recent meeting of the Oscott Police Neighbourhood Tasking Group meeting I reminded the Police of the issue of dog fouling and how it usually increases during the summer.
Councillor Barbara Dring and I are already chasing up the Dog Warden service regarding these problems,  but I have been further assured that  the Local Police team are doing what they can to cooperate in a better way with the Dog warden service when it comes to enforcement.

The good dog owners of which there is a huge number of, have nothing to worry about but the careless or anti social dog owner who fails to remove his/her  dogs mess from our streets and open spaces need to ensure they do so in future or be liable to a fine.
Dog fouling bags are available from many local shops for just £1 per roll.

So bag it bin it or take it home

REMINDER NEW OSCOTT COUNCILLORS SURGERY TIMES FROM JULY1st

THE 3 OSCOTT COUNCILLORS ARE ALL OUT AND ABOUT IN THE WARD REGULARLY BUT ALSO HOLD SURGERIES.

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

OSCOTT PAVEMENTS LEAVE A LOT TO BE DESIRED IN SOME CASES

I have been passing on a large number of complaints about the state of the pavements in some streets in the Oscott Ward for some time now.
Clearly there has been a deterioration in the standards of our pavements.
Given this situation I am calling for urgent talks with senior officer at Amey**  to discuss the issue.
One of the things I will be calling for is better enforcement where building firms and others are damaging pavements with their equipment and skips. The rate payer should not have to pay for damage to pavements being dome by commercial firms.
Broken and dangers pavement need to be reported (if they stick up more than 20mm or are rocking).
Pavements which simply have cracks in them will not be treated a urgent.

I you are having problems getting pavement repaired please email me on Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk
or ring 303 2039


** Amey are the Private firm given a full 25 year contract to maintain our roads in Birmingham by the last Council Administration.

HELP PREVENT DUCK HUNTING ON THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

I have been receiving a number of reports about people being seen fishing, trying to catch ducks on the Queeslett Nature Reserve and also making fires in there.
Fishing is not allowed catching ducks for food or fun is certainly not allowed and setting fires ( especially in the summer) can be potentially dangerous given the nature of the reserve.
The Police and Ranger Service have been made aware of these reports and will try and patrol the area more regularly as there is concern that some anti social elements are travelling some distance to carry out these activities.

 Member of the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve and  members of the public are also asked to help keep an eye on the reserve and report anything suspicious they see to the Police, but do not put your self at any form of risk. 

THE 997 BUS ROUTE TO GET A BUS CHAMPION

Councillors like myself who are member of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (Centro) are being asked to "Champion" a bus route. The idea is that we use and report on a particular bus route.
While some of us are already doing this to a certain extent it should mean more Councillors get involved with buses through out the West Midland.
Given a number of complaints and issues I constantly hear about regarding the 997 Walsall to Birmingham route (including a large chunk of the Oscott Ward) I have chosen the 997 route to champion.
I think I will have my work cut out but will give it a go.
I will certainly be listening to 997 users and trying to communicate with the Private bus company NX who run the service as well as Centro.
As a regular bus user my self I will continue to pass on first hand complaints about bus services genrally and the complaints I recieve from other bus users and residents.

FRIENDS OF QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY DAY DATES ANNOUNCED

There will be activity sessions of the Queslett Nature Reserve on the 13th and 20th of July. (expect if the weather is very poor).
The events will start at 11.am and the meeting place will be the Ashworth Road entrance.
If you travel by car please park away from the entrance and local residents homes.
Children are welcome under the supervision of an appropriate adult.
Please come prepared to either prune back bushes or litter pick and where appropriate clothing.
The FQNR are organising this even with the help of the Ranger Service.

The FOQNR are looking for new member who care about wildlife and the environment in a practical way rather than just talking about it.

For further details please ring 360 6486

CAB OPERATING FROM PERRY COMMON LIBRARY

Having visited the CAB Kingstanding team at work at the Perry Common Library I can only say the new working arrangement seem to be working well.
They have moved from their Kingstanding office and now work on a resident walk in basis 2 days a week at the perry Common Library.
They operate from the Library when the Library is shut on Tuesdays and Wednesday with no appointment needed. 9.30AM TO 4.30PM
Their contact no is 08444 77 10 10.

The CAB do a great job of work for residents and you can rely on their help.

BATTLE TO GET THE 28 TO GO TO ONE STOP GOES ON

Residents and bus users will just not give in when it comes to trying to get the 28 bus service to got to Perry Barr One Stop. Dozens of residents have for the second time signed a petition calling for bus companies to go back to their old route system which took in the perry Barr One stop as part of their 28 bus route.This follows last years rejection to a similar petition by bus companies.
The old system meant some 28 buses (A) went to One stop while others when to the Scott Arms.
The One Stop service was withdrawn a few years ago.
I have handed in the petition on residents behalf to Centro and will continue to put pressure on to get the revised service for residents.

DELHURST ROAD PAVEMENT RESURFACING IS GETTING THERE

I am still battling with Amey ( the private contractor doing the work) to get them to finish of the Pavement replacement program in Delhurst Road.
For some weeks now on behalf of residents I have been pointing out poor workmanship or places which have not been finished off correctly.
Although there is still some small amounts of work to do the job is slowly getting there.
I am also chasing up some litter bins which have been removed while the work was being done. Having a school in their road, Delhurst residents really need these bins replacing as soon as possible.

STILL PROBLEMS AT THE HAWTHORN ROAD/ DYAS ROAD KINGSTANDING ROAD TRAFFIC LIGHTS

I am still having a number of complaints regarding the phasing of the traffic lights at the Dyas Road/ Hawthorn Road/ Kingstanding Road junction.
Dyas Road in particular seems to be suffering from major tail backs (when heading towards Kingstanding Road) and delays.
 I will continue to press the Transportation department to try and deal with this issue although I understand from previous complaints I have made  they seem to think there is not a problem when clearly there is.

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN LIBRARIES ARE NEEDED

If you would like to see our Libraries remain open and operate better why not think about becoming a volunteer at one of our libraries.

If you can help with events, people to use computers or running a coffee morning you may be able to help.

A few spare hours a week could make a difference. For more details please ring the Community Library support unit 0121 675 2453 or 0121 675 2455.
Oh and don't forget to use our libraries as often as possible.

NO FIRES ON THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE PLEASE

I have had a number of complaints regarding open fires being used on the Queslett Nature Reserve.
These are clearly not allowed as they have the potential to be not only to be a problem for the wild life their but also could easily get out of control and be a danger to those who use the reserve.
For example Sparks from open fires can result in the open grass land catching fire and these sorts of fires spread very quickly under the right conditions.
Having a picknic on the reserve is no problem but please do not lite fires and don't forget to take your litter home.

20 MPH ZONES ARE NEEDED

I am coninueing to put pressure on the Transportation department to introduce 20 MPH Zones around some of oscott Schools. I am also asking them to consider looking at introducing some 20MPH speed limits in some roads in Oscott.
For example Old Oscott Hill needs action however there are a number of others as well.
If you would like to let me have your thoughts on this subject please email me at Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk