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.

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).

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.

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

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?

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/

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!