Hunt For Village Hero Starts All Over

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Following on from Jeffries Hardware winning the first ever ‘Village Hero’ award, our Village Partnership wants to know who you think should be crowned our next Village Hero. 

 

The competition is now open to anyone you think makes a valued contribution to life in the Village be it a trader, organisation, service or individual.

To nominate your Village Hero simply pick up a nomination form from Acocks Green Library or click on the link to download the nomination form. This can then be emailed back to our Town Centre Manager – Melinda Brown (pictured above with Ian Jeffries of Jeffries Hardware) 

Village Hero entry form

email form to:   acocksgreentcm@birmingham.gov.uk

closing date 7th April 2010

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New Bus Service – no. 40

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Many people are probably now aware of the changes of buses in Acocks Green that took place in January.  (See earlier post ‘Bus Changes in Acocks Green’).

photo:  Karen Strunks

A local resident contacted us to say that another new bus service is now in operation.  The number 40 runs from The Baldwin in Hall Green through Acocks Green via Dolphin Lane and then back to Hall Green.  It operates hourly – Monday to Saturday – daytime only.  For more information click on the link:  No. 40 bus timetable.    It covers parts of the old 41 bus service that has is not covered by the new services.

Thanks to Amanda Baker for the information. 

How do you feel about the bus services through Acocks Green?  Why not let us know, make a comment on this post.

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Historic Bridge Officially Named

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Check out the new sign that British Waterways have recently added to our Grade II listed bridge.  Although it has locally been known as Vineries Bridge for at least 100 years,  it now has an official name plate and date.  BW have also added the name of the road on their Canalside Walk plaque.  This will help walkers and boaters pinpoint their whereabouts.

It is thought that the name of the bridge originates from a market garden that grew soft fruits in large glasshouses close to the canal.  This business operated up to the beginning of the 20th century.  But perhaps the name goes further back than this.  Have you got any memories or stories of the bridge? Why not let us know.

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What is Acocks Green Village Partnership?

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Pictured is the recent meeting of the local village partnership, established in June 2008 following the appointment of the Town Centre Manager.  It comprises of key stakeholders who have an interest in the improvement and future of Acocks Green Village.  The Village area is defined as Acocks Green Centre and Dudley Park Road and Yardley Road, up to and including the junction with Francis Road. Its stated aims are to bring together the local businesses and traders, community groups whose objectives are to represent local peoples views (such as Neighbourhood Forums), Service Providers, Statutory Organisations (Police and Schools), City Council Officers (including  the Town Centre Manager ), Faith Groups and our Councillors.  The Partnership meets on a regular basis and holds an Annual General Meeting.  It works to help co-ordinate and promote improvements for a positive future for our village. It also consults and engages with other groups and organisations within the wider area, to help promote an improved quality of life.

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Cottesbrooke Walkers

Posted on February 5, 2010 by davidtreadwell

An  invite to all intrepid adventurers to join a local group of walkers, open to all to meet at 0900hrs at Cottesbrooke Junior School. Meet at the main school gate, in Cedars Avenue every Wednesday mornings during school term times. Routes vary around the Acocks Green Area and last for around an hour and with an opportunity to finish with a chat and coffee.

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Bus Changes in Acocks Green

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Kit Barlow

 ******UPDATE**********January 2012 ************* Day Return on 37 is still available but costs £2.70.  The Forum isn’t sure whether the weekly ticket is available, let us know if you know.

To promote the 37 bus service, which runs from Solihull to Birmingham City Centre, National Express West Midlands (formerly Travel West Midlands) have introduced a special £2.50 day return ticket and £8.50 weekly bus ticket for use on the 37.  This is great value if you only need to use this service.

                                  photo: Karen Strunks

From 31st January some of the bus services in Acocks Green are also changing .

No. 41 and No. 32 Buses Withdrawn

National Express have decided to withdraw the no. 41 and no. 32 buses and parts of these routes will be covered by two new services; the no. 42 and no. 3A services as well as an extention to the 31 route.

According to the bus company, the no. 41 is a “complicated, unpopular and most complained about route”.

New 3/3A Bus route

The 3/3A is a new service, replacing services 12, 41 and 32.  Service 3A will run from the city centre to AG via the current route of the 12 to Shirley (Haslucks Green Rd), then via the route of the 32 and 41 to AG.  This will run all day, linking parts of the Gospel Oak estate with the city centre, as well as Yardley Wood, Shirley Station and Wake Green every 30 minutes.

Extended 31 Route

Service 31 is being extended to Shirley Church from its current terminus point at the Gospel Oak pub.  This will run down the current route of the 32 to Robin Hood, then along the Stratford Road to Shirley Church every 15 minutes. This provides a new all day link to Shirley from Gospel Oak and also reinstates an all day link between AG and Shirley.  31 will run as far as Robin Hood evenings and Sundays.

New No. 42 Route

The new 42 service will run from Solihull Station to Yardley Swan via the current route of the 41.  From Yardley the 42 will run via the current route of the 32 to AG.  Service will run every 30 mins Mon – Sat

Presumably new timetables will be published soon, or check the website:

www.travelwm.co.uk

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Valentine’s Evening – Saturday 13th February

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Kit Barlow

Our fellow community group and friends from Hazelwood Road have organised what promises to be a friendly and fun night to celebrate St Valentines Day.  See below for all the details. 

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Happy New Year Acocks Green

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum wishes everyone in the area a Happy New Year and here’s hoping 2010 is a good year for our community.  If you would like to share your views or thoughts on what makes Acocks Green a good place to live or what would make it better please get in touch.  All comments are welcome.

There is lots happening in Acocks Green, there are great community organisations working hard to enhance lives here in the village.  Find out more by putting our website on your Favourites list.  If you are involved in community events then let us know so we can perhaps help promote them.

Once more Happy New Year!

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Reducing Speed Limits in Residential Areas

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Following the talk at our recent Public Meeting from Friends Of the Earth regarding their campaign to reduce speed limits to 20 mph on Birmingham’s residential roads,  you may have seen the subject in the news in recent days.  Britain has some of the safest roads in Europe but there are government targets to reduce road accidents further.  FOE will be pleased with the adoption of  the new limits in some of the London Councils as reported in the Evening Standard:

“Eight London Councils have revealed they are introducing 20 mph limits on residential roads. Islington has already confirmed it will be the first borough in the country to introduce a blanket limit next month.  Hackney plans to follow suit by 2012.  Merton said research strengthened the case for blanket limits.

Researchers found 20mph zones were associated with 40% reduction in casualties and collisions.  The greatest reduction in accidents was amongst children and seriously injured. Pedestrian injuries were reduced by nearly a third and cycling casualties by 17%.  Reductions were greatest in children aged under 11.

There was no evidence of “casualty migration” to areas bordering the 20mph zones.  The effect of the 20mph zones was that of a steep reduction in casualties and collisions by an amount that has taken over 20years to achieve on roads without 20mph zones.  The evidence supports the rationale for 20mph zones not just in major cities but also in similar metropolitan areas elsewhere”

This information was extracted from The London Evening Standard published on Friday 11th December 2009, who in there editorial welcomed the reduction of accidents from 20mph zones. However, there was a need to find balance in the needs of all road users- including drivers, and the risk from increasing congestion and delays.

On a further interesting point; the option of using 20mph zones were discussed in council at Birmingham, back in mid 2009, were it was stated that there is a need for greater consultation around the involvement of 20mph zones, having been identified.  Although there was a target to introduce 20mph zones outside every Primary School in the City and the possibility of different coloured street furniture around schools to alert drivers was being considered.

What do you think about a 20 mph speed limit on residential roads in Acocks Green?  Let us know by adding your comments.

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New Photo Collection added to our site

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Thanks to local resident Mick Lawley for sharing his interesting collection of photos of Acocks Green.  Go to ‘Photographs’ page and click on the link at the bottom of the page.  This is my personal favourite:

Worked out where it is yet?

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