The alleyway that runs along the side of Cottesbrooke Junior School has been a subject of much discussion recently and we would welcome your comments and suggestions.
At the last Police Tasking Meeting on Monday 19th October it was discussed by local residents, the Police, Bari Aziz (Ward Support Officer) and representatives from the Neighbourhood Forum. The concern raised is that of anti-social behaviour which has caused upset to nearby residents. There has been a campaign to try and get something done about night-time access to this route.
One idea is to gate the alleyway, locking it at night to deter the anti-social behaviour. However this is logistically difficult to do; who would open and close it? At what times would it be opened and closed?
Another answer is to block the walkway off permanently. Perhaps the school could take over the land as an extention to their playground? The police have had many complaints over the years about anti-social behaviour at this site so they would be happy to see this walkway permanently closed. But this is not a solution for those who regularly use the cut-through.
It was concluded at the meeting that people who use the alleyway need to be consulted on such possible developments. It has been in existence for over 50 years and is perceived by many locals, as a Public Right of Way.
What do you think? Do you use this alleyway? It is a useful shortcut to the no.11 bus and the shops for those people living around the Stockfield area. Will closing it stop the anti-social behaviour? The Neighbourhood Forum would like to hear your views.
Many urban areas have a network of alleyways and ‘cut throughs’ for the benefit of pedestrians. Large housing estates often had many such shortcuts built into the design. However this case is definitely not an isolated one. The Ramblers Association, who campaigns on behalf of walkers recognises the common concern.
Click here for article by The Ramblers Association about this subject.
If you have any thoughts or views on this alleyway or have other experiences related to ‘cut-throughs’ in Birmingham then let the Forum know.
December 4, 2009 at 3:39 pm
This is bonkers
We should all be walking more, but here we have proposed something that will discourage walking.
We should focus on fixing the problem, and enriching the life of Acocks Green residents, rather than just moving it onto somewhere else.
How about some improved lighting, weeding, enforcement of existing laws (radical I know), perhaps some wire mesh over the top to prevent stuff being thrown over.
If you close it, ordinary people have lost out and the yobs have won.
November 26, 2009 at 5:11 pm
As a mum of children at Cottesbrooke I find the alley way a quick and safer way of getting the children to school (avoiding Yardley Road) but it seems to be used more as a dog toilet, excessive amounts at that! With that and the overgrown nettles it’s hardly a nice place to walk through. I live on Augusta Road so we don’t get the anti-social behaviour but I feel for the people who have to live next to it. I’d never use it after dark because it isn’t safe and I think if it can’t be maintained then it should be closed off and the land given to the school.
November 26, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I’ve lived in Langworth Avenue for 22 years and I agree with all of the comments posted regarding problems associated with the alleyway. I have noticed over the years that day time use of the alley has dropped since the “new” estate was built so some other route has obviously been found by residents on the estate. The lack of any decent shops now available on Yardley Rd has probably contributed towards this.
With regards to insurance claims, I have found it not viable to claim when my windows, fencing & doors have been damaged because the excess has increased to such a level that it is cheaper to pay for repairs out of my own pocket + why bother the Police when the yobs responsible have already vanished into the night!
I bought this house thinking it was a safe place to raise my family but now it is a millstone round my neck and I am lumbered with it for the forseeable future.
The Acocks Green area in general has detiorated over the years and seems to have coincided with Acocks Green Police Station being open on a part time basis unlike the days when it was a divisional headquarters (“E” Division).
November 21, 2009 at 2:46 pm
It is easy to say that no one was hurt (are you waiting for that before you realise its a serious problem for the residents) and it helps with this and it helps with that, every other day one window or a consevatory is damaged by these youths, who is going to pay the bill, if you are thinking about Insurance than yeah but claiming on insurance increase the premium.
The premium is increasing every year cause people living in the avenue have too many claims recently and the insurance guy’s knows that its a troubled street.
To keep it open is a benefit to you but a loss to people living there, closing it will not be a loss to you as people on the state can access yardley road from Augusta road (which make there journey 80-100m longer), and its not a public right of way anyway.
Mumblers and Jumblers association, whoever they are need to spend sometime educating those youths, if they can stop them causing trouble in (langworth avenue) residents backyards then Resident have no objection on the alleyway remained open.
Don’t shoot the messenger if you cant solve the problem. And dont object to something you feel like its your birth right to object to each and every thing thats happening in the village.
The residents are facing a real problem, they cant allow their kids to play in backyard cause of the fear that a stray stone or cane from a drunk/drugy youth will harm them.
Be part of the solution
November 25, 2009 at 1:18 am
I am trying to work out, from the two responses from Barry and Ubua what the consensus, is, so far, on the nature of the bad behaviour. Barry, mentions shouting and swearing (Which I get, late at night, where I live from the railway track behind my garden quite a lot, too.). Ubua doesn’t mention this, but like Barry seems to think that the main problem is people throwing things. Both mention broken windows and conservatories. Barry says there have been ‘several’ incidents of broken glass. Ubau (who I presume lives in Langworth Avenue though it would helpful if he could confirm this) says there is broken glass ‘every other day’, although I presume he does not intend us to take him literally because this would would imply over 150 broken windows or conservatories a year between the 10 odd properties which seem to be involved.
Ubau also goes on to say that insurance premiums are increasing in Langworth Avenue because of the number of claims. Good – I mean not good for Langworth Avenue, but because this seems to be something concrete to go on, which, up until now, I think is what we have lacked in this discussion. If there have been a number of insurance claims for criminal damage, then, each time, there would need to be a police log. Insurance companies require this. So there will be a record. How many police logs for incidents of criminally damaged glass on the relevant side of Langworth Avenue are there? It should not be impossible for residents to obtain their own logs, and to bring them to a meeting to discuss. I think I am right in saying it takes up to 42 days to get the information after an application is made, but I am sure the police would be able to advise on the procedure, and time involved.
November 19, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I was brought up on council estates and you will never be able to stop anti-social behaviour. The problem will just move to another part of the estate i.e. back to the park. Once these youths get fed up of it and do move on, you’ll then get the next generation of youths and so it will go on.
Personally, I think closing the alley will cause a more problems. Has anyone thought about the increase in volume of traffic and kids using the Cedars Avenue entrance to the school. More driveways having their access blocked by inconsiderate drivers. More cars flying up and down Cedars Avenue, like they do, along with the extra pedestrians. How long before a child gets knocked over?
November 2, 2009 at 10:30 am
I would like to point out that the alleyway has been a problem for the residents of Langworth Avenue for many years forcing some residents to move house because of the danger of bricks stones bottles etc being thrown over from the alleyway and has been more so in the last (MAYBE)15 years or so since the caretaker at the school stopped locking the gate which was at the bottom of the alleyway and now removed. One comment was that so far no one has been seriously hurt, should someone be hurt before action is taken. I for one do not think so. Several windows have been smashed by cans, bottles and stones etc being thrown over fences some narrowly missing children either in the houses or playing in the garden. The resident near the park have petitioned the police to stop the youths drinking in the park but all that has done is move the problem to the Alleyway, where lighting has been vandalised graffiti spread and abuse and bad language shouted at all times of night, ask yourself WOULD YOU LIKE IT IN YOUR BACK YARD.
November 2, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Just one correction before a misunderstanding develops. I did not say that ‘No-one had been seriously hurt.’ I asked if anyone had been hurt (ie seriously or otherwise) it sounds as though not?
Would it be possible to keep a log of these incidents, over, say, six months, to assess just how serious the problem is? The youths have been moved on from drinking in the park? Presumably if they are prevented from using the alleyway they will go either somewhere else, where they are likely to continue to be a nuisance to someone else … or back to the park? Dare I suggest it might be less nuisance to allow them to use the park? OR – better still, perhaps it is time to think about providing somewhere where they could go? Vaporisation of annoying youths might seem tempting, but I don’t think it is a solution currently on offer in Acocks Green!
November 3, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Further to this debate – just in case anyone has missed it, might I suggest this link:
Looks like the matter will be discussed at the next Ward Meeting, on Wednesday, at Severn Road School.
http://rogerharmer.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/10/31/acocks-green-ward-committee-weds-4th-november/
October 28, 2009 at 2:05 pm
[...] Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum have started a debate on their blog. Should we protect our rights to use our alleyways in Acocks Green. What do you think? Read their posting, and leave your comments, on their blog, which you can link to here [...]
October 28, 2009 at 12:16 am
I don’t use this route myself much, but do use other alleyways in Acocks Green. I can guess that the anti-social behaviour is annoying, but it does not sound as though anyone has actually been hurt? I am inclined to agree with the comments by the Ramblers Association. We could stand to lose more than we gain if alleyways like this are closed. My guess is we would be penalising a lot of law-abiding people who find the route convenient, and, possibly, making it very difficult for elderly and disabled people who want to get to the Yardley Road shops and the 11 bus?
Perhaps we need to look in more detail at what the anti-social behaviour actually is, and what lies behind it? If it involves teenagers, there do not seem to be a lot of places where younger teenagers in Acocks Green can meet up in the evenings, for example.
Other footways in Acocks Green also attract problems. The pedestrian railway bridge between Alexander Road and Rookwood Road quite often has a little gang on it who local people suspect are selling drugs, for example. I use this route regularly and feel irritated, but not in any particular danger. I certainly wouldn’t want my short cut to the village, via this route, to be closed off.
I am also wondering if there is a danger that the problem could simply end up being transferred elsewhere to another secluded spot, for example?
One alleyway in Acocks Green which was closed, some years ago, apparently because of various behaviour issues, was the one at the side of Wilkinson’s in the village. These days, every so often, at a local meeting, someone suggests re-opening it, because closing the alleyway has caused other problems, with fewer cars using the car park the alleyway was intended to give access to, more cars seem to be inconveniently parked on places like Dudley Park Road.
Closing alleyways can sound like a nice easy, quick-fix, solution to some problems, but I think we need to think things through very carefully.