Meet the Local Police

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Kit Barlow

The next Police Tasking Meeting – an opportunity for local people to meet up and discuss concerns and issues with the police – is on Monday 19th October  7pm at Acocks Green Police Station.   On the agenda at the next meeting is the anti-social behaviour taking place along the alleyway, beside Cottesbrooke Junior School, leading to Stockfield from Yardley Road.  Does this affect you?  Come along for a discussion on the best way forward.

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Cooking The Books at AG Library

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Interested in cookery?  Interested in books?  Then here is an event for you.  Next Saturday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm, 17th October Acocks Green Library hosts a launch of new Foodie novels.  There will also be a cake icing demonstration by Pam from Acocks Green’s Icing World shop.  Also enjoy a photography exhibition of some of the local traders.  Refreshments will be served.

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Where are they now?

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Kit Barlow

We have received a request from the BBC for information on a previous resident of the forum area.  Can you help?  See below details of request and if you have any advice or information then do get in touch via this page.

” We are trying to track down an elderly lady, Susanne E James who lived (lives) in the area. We believe she lived at 1286 Warwick Road. She was married to a Ron James who died some years ago. Possibly Susanne/Sue moved in with her family, although we understand her son Peter, an accountant, now lives in the US.

This is all part of a story we are doing for BBC radio.”

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Introducing Chief Superintendent Phil Kay

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Chief Superintendent Phil KayWe have received notification from the local constabulory of the new  Chief Superintendent Phil Kay, Commander of E3 Police Operational Command Unit, which covers our local area, The police have developed a set of local priorities based on the new Chief Constables vision and welcome meeting and speaking to local people about the issues that matter most.

In policing the area the priorites is to inspire the highest levels of trust and confidence in the communities they serve. In order to do this they have been asked to:

·         Always put citizens at the heart of everything they do

·         Better understand the needs of communities by genuinely listing to and engaging with them

·         Deliver a first class service all the time

·         Continue to reduce crime by transferring fear from the victims to offenders

·         Protect communities from harm

They have also introduced some changes that they believe will have a positive impact on our communities

·         They have introduced dedicated anti-social behaviour patrols to respond promptly to reports of ASB and address the issues contributing to it.

·         Relocated the Sparkhill neighbourhood team from Edward Road Police Station to Sparkhill Police Station, so they are based right in the heart of the community

·         Encouraging Police Officers to make far greater use of community bases resolutions in order to achieve the best outcomes for victims of crime

·         Invested in more Police Officers in frontline policing

·         From 7th September they will have reopened Front Offices at Woodbridge Road and Sparkhill Police Stations during the day to provide people with greater access to these local services.

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Greening the Green Update

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Kit Barlow

If you would like to get involved with helping the Greening the Green project  then meet outside the library on Sunday 14th October at 10am.  Just an hour or so is enough to make a difference.

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Greening the Green Project

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Kit Barlow
Weeding the planters on the Warwick Road, Acocks Green

Weeding the planters on the Warwick Road, Acocks Green

Local people regularly meet up once a month or so to with Melinda Brown (Town Centre Manager) to do some planting, weeding and tidying up of our green spaces.  This Sunday a few of us did some dead heading and weeding of planters and beds.  More volunteers are always wanted, maybe you would like to come along next time? 

Because September has been exceptionally dry a lot of the little plants had shrivelled up.   Its such a shame that all they needed was a little water to continue to flourish for a few more weeks.  Do you live or work close to the planters and beds on Warwick Road?  Even if you don’t fancy gardening, maybe you could occasionally water a planter during dry weather?  Watering cans will be supplied if you haven’t got one.  Perhaps you live above the shops and would like a little bit of greenery to nurture?

Please get in touch to play your part in making Acocks Green a more pleasant place to live and work.  An hour a month can make a difference!

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Report from Public Meeting – 17th September

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Kit Barlow

The meeting welcomed over 30 members of the local community.  Also the Forum was very thankful for the Guest Speakers –

Jeremy Shields, Head of Waste Management

John Green, Ward Operations, Waste Management

Bari Aziz, Ward Support Officer

Sgt David Mirams  from Acocks Green Police, John Hemming MP, Councillor Roger Harmer and Melinda Brown, Town Centre Manager were also present to answer any questions and update the meeting on local news.

It was an enlightening and interesting meeting.  Bari Aziz the Ward Support Officer explained his role in the Yardley Constituency area.  He said that the people of Acocks Green were the most pro-active in the area who regularly contacted him for help and advice on local issues.  He welcomed the people of the meeting to phone or email him with any concerns that crop up, he explained that it is his job to wherever possible, resolve problems that  were raised by local residents.

Jeremy Shields, Head of Waste Management was welcomed to the meeting to refuse and recycling.  In order to alay occasional negative media coverage he reassured the meeting that all recycling in Birmingham is recycled and is not shipped miles and miles or does not end up in landfill.  All paper collected from Blue Boxes is recycled in Nechells.  Recycling of contents from the Green Boxes and bags takes place in the Midlands.

One member of the public asked Jeremy what could be done about the spillage from green bags, Mr Shields made an important point that green bags should NOT be tied up because they have to be emptied by the crew and opening bags that have been tied is a more difficult and messy job.  Birmingham now recycles over 30% of its household waste and the point of Jeremy attending this meeting is to ask the public to encourage more recycling amongst their friends, neighbours and families.   He answered several questions from the floor and concluded that if there are any other queries regarding waste disposal the number to phone is 0121 303 1112

Melinda Brown (TCM)  and John Green from Waste Management also updated the meeting on news that more litter bins were to be placed on Yardley Road, to help combat the litter problem in the area.

Sgt Mirams informed the meeting about the regular Police Tasking Meetings.  These are scheduled monthly (see latest newsletter for the list of the dates), at AG Police Station.  They are an opportunity for the public to meet with the local police team face to face, in order to discuss any concerns.  He also informed the meeting that the team will be calling at households to meet local residents and ask if there are any issues or concerns in the area.

The next Public Meeting is Thursday 3rd December at the usual venue.

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11A/11C – An Epic Journey

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Kit Barlow

 bus stop

 

If you have lived in Acocks Green for some time it’s difficult not to know about the Number 11, an all encompasing bus route that touches so many of our lives.   Here is an opportunity to be  part of a shared experience on the famous Outer Circle.   On the 11th of November local journalist and proud Brummie, Jon Bounds, is encouraging people to partake in a pyschogeographical event.   Click the link for more details:  http://elevenbus.co.uk/

(No.11 bus stop outside Acocks Green train station.  Look closely at the sign!)

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Public Meeting – Thursday 17th September – 7.30pm

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Kit Barlow

Come along to our Public Meeting on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Summer on the Grand Union Canal, Acocks Green

The venue is the community hall on Yardley Road/Alexander Road

Everyone welcome, refreshments served.   Guest speakers include:

  • Bari Aziz – Ward Support Officer
  • Jeremey Shields, Head of Waste Management

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and express views.

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Proposed Changes to Bus Routes 1 & 31

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Kit Barlow

National Express, who are responsible for running our bus services, are proposing some re-routing of the 1 and 31 bus around Acocks Green.  See below maps and descriptions of changes.  If you have any comments please add them by clicking  ‘leave a comment’, we will forward them to National Express.

image001

 

Service 1: From city, this runs along Shaftmoor Lane, then from here will run on to Olton Blvd, Olton Blvd East and Shirley Rd, terminating in Acocks Green village. This will be the same on the return journey. The changes on service 1 can be tracked on the map above, between Shaftmoor Lane and Acocks Green.

image003

Service 31 (part one) will be routed to run via Acocks Green village, every fifteen minutes. It will run along Shaftmoor Lane and Olton Blvd as currently, then run along Fox Hollies Road, Westley Rd, Shirley Rd and Olton Blvd, after which it returns to the current line of route into Gospel Lane, terminating in Gospel Oak estate as currently. This will be the same on the return journey, changes can be tracked on the map above.

 

Map of city centre area

image005

Service 31 (part two), to city, will run as currently to Moor Street. From here, it will run along St Martins Circus Queensway (Bull ring tunnel), terminating across from New Street Station, outside the Bull ring Boots Store on St Martins Circus Queensway. From city, the service will start from St Martins Circus Queensway and run along Smallbrook Queensway and Hill Street, returning to the current line of route along Station Street, Dudley Street, Pershore Street, Sherlock Street, Barford Street and back on to Bradford Street. These changes can be tracked on both the above and below maps.

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