COOKSEY LANE PLAYING FIELDS SAVED FROM THE DEVELOPERS

After long and intense lobbying by Councillor Barbara Dring, Councillor Tristan Chatfield and myself  the Birmingham City Council have agreed it will not go into the land portfolio for building purposes.
The 3 Oscott Councillors are delighted at this decision and will carry on the battle to get the Council to find suitable sporting tenants to make the most of the Cooksey Lane playing fields facility.
There is a strong tradition for using this sporting facility for just that, generations of local youngsters have used it and we want to make sure this carries on.

KEEP CLEAR MARKINGS ON THE ALDRIDGE ROAD TO BE REPLACED

I have now had it confirmed the missing keep clear markings on the Aldridge Road carriage way near the Shady Lane junction that vanished when Amey resurfaced are to be replaced

The keep clear signes were requested by some residents to help vehicles turning right at the Shady lane junction (to go towards ASDA).

OSCOTT COUNCILLORS COUNCILLORS SURGERIES SEPT 2014

The Oscott Labour Team unlike some hold surgeries where you can come and meet us

Councillors operate a rota

1st Saturday of the month, 10.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

1st Wednesday of the month, 7.00pm

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

4th Tuesday of the month,  09.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

Ring 464 2268 for conformation

Home visits can be arranged and our other contact details are on the Internet.

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID JAMIESTON

 

Congratulations to David Jamieston who was elected as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner yesterday.
 In Oscott as over the West midland generally he obtained over 50% of the vote. The concerns many had regarding the establishing of this post by the current  government can be noted by the poor turn out.
I am sure David will make the most of this post which many feel should not of been established in the first place. If the post must be there it needs to be filled by someone who will care about it and do their best to make it work.
David has assured me he will increase the numbers of Police officers across the West midland despite continued cuts by the government generally and will coming along to Oscott, where he now knows well from time to time.

Commiserations to the 2 other candidates in the election who fought and lost.

ALDRIDGE ROAD RECREATION GROUND FQNR LITTER PICK

There will be a litter pick carried out by the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve today on the Aldridge Road Recreation ground. This should help compliment the work already undertaken by the Councils own team.
For further info  
Em
brendafoqnr@yahoo.ca

TRESHAM ROAD CARRIAGE WAY RESURFACING

The carriage way resurfacing of Tresham Road is well underway. They may be some minor delays for the next few days but work seems to be progressing well.

TREE PRUNING IN OSCOTT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

 During my battles with Amey to try and get large forest trees pruned more vigorously through out the Oscott Ward they have not responded with any great enthusiasm,.to my requests in my view, for them to take action.

Now they have come up with this.

"We appreciate your concerns, but we are managing the trees to the requirements of Birmingham City Council’s tree policy, our maintenance contact with them, British Standards and industry best practise."
Amey

I am now campaigning to get the Birmingham Councils Policy changed and also the Governments British Standards best practise, which in the case of Oscott seem frankly to be rubbish.

No one is calling for mass pollarding just for Amey to prune the larger type street trees in Oscott more (like happened until they were given the contract by the previous Council administration.

Many residents and myself have witnessed how little so many of the large trees in Oscott are pruned and it is simply not good enough. Simply removing a few branches which overhang a garden or telephone wire is not enough. There also needs to be in a "phased way" more large trees replaced by smaller more suitable native trees. I am in full support of having trees in our roads but they need to be the right ones in the right place.

I will even if I am unsuccessful,  be calling on Amey to do more in Oscott and prune the trees more.

SUPPORT YOU OSCOTT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

OSCOTT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION CHAIR NIGEL QUINN

The Oscott residents Association cover the whole of Oscott with Representatives in many areas.
They campaign for a better Oscott and Lobby their MP and Councillors.
The ORA are part of a wider grouping the Oscott Residents Group and sit on the Oscott Ward Advisory Board which gives advice and opinions to the Oscott Ward Committee..
They hold a Saturday information meeting to discuss with residents over a cup of coffee any local concerns they have. This takes place on the first Saturday in the month at the 610 Community Centre. At 10.30am Oscot residents are welcome to pop in.
They also attend the Oscott Elderly Groups meeting every 3rd Wednesday in the month .11.15am at the 610 Community Centre.
The Booths Lane area  members are currently helping me to set up a working party to meet with the developers Taylor Wimpy to discuss issues related to the new Booths Lane development and the closed road.

For more information regarding the ORA please ring 675 2349

SKATE BOARD FACILITIES WITHIN EASY REACH FOR OSCOTT YOUNGSTERS

When I was out and about recently I was asked by a recently arrived new family where there were any skate board facilities in the area.
For those who do not know there is an Oscott supported Skate Board facility in Perry Barr Park about a hundred metres from the Boars Head junction.( just off the Aldridge Road and next to the BMX track) Councillor Barbara Dring is negotiating with Council officers with regards to trying to get this facility extended in the future.
There is also a Skate Board facility on the Wheldon Recreation Ground off the  Kingstanding Road opposite the Kingstanding Library. These facilities are well used and easy to get to.

AGE UK LUNCH AND LAUGHS IN OSCOTT

Age UK hold Lunch and laugh sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at the Old Oscott Community Centre Birdbrook Road.

The Centre has had a face lift over the years and is now a bright and breezy place to come and have your lunch with a chat and often a good laugh. Its a good chance to get out of the house have and have something to eat and meet new friends.

These lunch sessions run from 12.30pm to 1.45pm.

Call Age UK on 437 0033 for further details.

POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER VOTING DAY 21st AUGUST

Out and about with Councillor Tristan Chatfield (New Street Station) supporting David Jamieson who is the Labour candidate for the vacant West midland Police and Crime Commissioner post.
We need someone reliable and who knows Oscott, in this post which is why I am supporting David.
Voting day is August 21st.

UPDATE OLD OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE

During discussions wih Age UK recently the following information was relayed to me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happily, Oscott Community Centre continues to grow. Lunch clubs are increasingly popular.

I have copied our Service Manager, Annette Gregory into this email. Annette is better placed to describe the recent changes at Oscott Community Centre.

Kind Regards,

Rosie Barrett

PA to Chief Executive

Age UK Birmingham 

08.08.2014

GLENMEAD AND BURFORD PLAYING FIELDS GRASS CUT TODAY

I was pleased to see that both the Glenmead and Burford Road playing fields were cut today after persistent requests from the 3 Oscott Councillors and residents.

The fields now look a lot better and residents can use them again.

OSCOTT WARD COUNCILLORS SURGEY DETAILS FROM SEPT 1st

Oscott Ward Councillors surgery details from September 2014 are listed below.

Councillors operate a rota

1st Saturday of the month, 10.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

1st Wednesday of the month, 7.00pm

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

4th Tuesday of the month,  09.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).


Home visits for those with genuine mobility difficulties can be arranged.

ANY ISSUES RELATING TO THE 997 BUS ROUTE

As the Councillor who is championing the 997 bus route I would welcome and comments or concerns regarding this route.
I am  regular bus users as many of you know and I am in touch with the 997 route manager which means I  can inform him of any concerns you have.

To contact me Email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk.

Many thanks to all those who have already been in touch

BOTH GLENMEAD AND BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS NEED A LONG TERM SOLUTION

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I have both been in contact with Councillor Ian Ward the Birmingham City deputy leader regarding the long term future of both Glenmead and Burford Road Playing Fields. He has been reminded that work is expected to start soon on replacing some of the fencing on the Burford Road site and that the Glenmead Road site has in the past had money spent on security fencing around its changing room facilities. We have also reminded him that while we (including Councillor Tristan Chatfield) understand Government cuts in Council funding has been unprecedented,  we need these playing fields as there is such limited open space in Oscott for its children to play on.

Many of you may recall some years ago following my campaign both sites were opened up for public use rather than be sealed for use only by schools. and left empty most of the time with children forced to play ball games on the street out side.

The outcome  of our discussions with the deputy leader is the fields will be maintained to the end of the the year.

He will be signing for the updating the fence on Burford Rd immediately for work to commence.

He will also looking for funding from Sport England and the FA for all weather pitches etc.

This is progress and good news as many have forgotten that there is the need for a long term strategy to improve these Playing field areas.

The 3 Oscott Councillors are  also continuing in the short term to get the current department responsible for these sites to improve the grass cutting on them despite the cuts they face in funding. The grass on these sites is due to be cut shortly