BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS AND OSCOTT LIBRARIES SAVED

A BUSY OSCOTT RESIDENTS WARD COMMITTEE

At a packed meeting of the Oscott residents Committee today the Committee Councillor Barbara Dring, Councillor Tristan Chatfield and I heard that our lobbying with the help of the Great Barr Observer on behalf of local residents had paid off and the proposal to build on the Burford Playing Fields had been with drawn

We also heard that the issues relating to gating of the site were still under review and there would be further feed backs from officers.

The Police informed us of a number of local policing issues and that there was a new sergeant in charge locally Gary Blackman.

Amey Highways representatives took away a number of issues raised at the meeting regarding street maintenance

Councillor Marje Bridle gave a talk on the Local Innovation Fund and how it can help local communities.

Representatives from the Witton Lodge  Community Centre and Council officer responsible for libraries informed the audience how with the help of the Oscott Council we have saved the Oscott Libraries from closure and hope in the future to extend their range of activities.

I also gave an overview of the Oscott Schools Road safety and parking problems committee which met yesterday.

It was good to be able to give good news to a well attended meeting which included the Kingstanding Councillors.

Sadly Jeanette and Ken who worked so hard last year obtaining several hundred signatures on a " save our field" petition ( which I handed in for them last year) could not be at the meeting last night I am sure this helped the situation.