ITS TIME THE COUNCIL ROAD ENGINEERS AND THEIR LEADERS LISTEND.

The non appearance of the Birmingham City Councils Transportation department at last weeks Oscott Ward Committee is a disgrace.
Councillors ask these Officers to attend, to listen to our concerns on important issues like the Nova Court Junction and the dangerous state of Booths Lane and they fail to turn up.

The Oscott Residents Association have also again called upon the Birmingham City Transportation department to take action to reduce the amount of speeding traffic on the Aldridge Road.
Chair Nigel Quinn say "Only the other day there was a Police chase on the Aldridge Road, which involved speed Quad bike. Every day many of those living on the Aldridge Road expect to see or hear of another accident on the Aldridge Road. Safety measure are badly needed on this road"

SAVE OUR WARDEN

The Oscott Residents Groups are completely opposed to any City wide plan to change how Environmental Wardens operate. Wardens should work in a particular ward (like the one is Oscott does) where they can pick up local knowledge which will help them in their job.
We say leave our Warden alone to get on the job of keeping Oscott clean and ask the Council not to make any changes.


ORG

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE BAT WALK ANNOUNCED

There will be another Bat walk on the Queslett Nature Reserve. This will take place on Friday August 1st. The starting point will be the Ashworth Road entrance to the reserve. The start time will be 9pm.
Every one is welcome to join, the Freinds of the Queslett Nature Reserve on this walk. A leading wild life expert will be there with bat detecting equipment.
You are advised to where appropriate clothing and shoes. Children are welcome but must be accompannied by a resposible adult.
For further details please contact FOQNR Chair Councillor Keith Linnecor Tel 360 6486.

Please bring a torch.

BOOTHS LANE CARRIAGE WAY, AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN

The state of the carriage way in Booths Lane is disgusting. We feel the Council should make the owner of this land repair his carriageway immediately before there is an accident.
Various members have reported the state of this carriage way to the Transportation department on a number of occasions but it looks as if they will wait for an accident to happen before they do any thing.
If you have to use Booths Lane take great care.

ORA

TO SAVE GREENHOLM POST OFFICE NEEDS COMBINED EFFORT

The ORG call again on all Councillors in the area to combine forces to try and save the Greenholm Road Post Office. Letters like those from Councillor Green in the Great Barr Observer 18th July 08, do not help and we hope he thinks again and works with the other Oscott Councillors, to save our Post office. We must all work together to stop the Post Office Counters closing the Greenholm Road Post Office.

POLICE TASKING GROUP TO LOOK AT BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELD

There is to be a site meeting by members of the Police Tasking Group on Monday 21st July.
The Community Groups on this tasking group will be looking with the Police to see what can be done to help stop anti social behavior there

SAVE GREENHOLM POST OFFICE

ORG on behalf of all its members call upon the Post Office not to close the Greenholm Post Office.
This Post office is well used by the community and is a life line to many elderly residents in the area. The Owners do not want to loose the Post Office facility and we support them.
Please sign the petition being organised by the Local Councillors and write to the Post Office Counters Ltd to object.

MORE FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH AND OTHERS IN OSCOTT

The Oscott Residents Group were delighted to be part of the Oscott Warrd Advisory Board which gave advice on how to allot funding to various applications for the Community Chest 100k for Oscott.
Although this money is less then in previous years and we could do with 10 times more, at least we believe this money will be spent wisely.

Youngsters in the are will have the bulk of the money to help find them things to do.
For example the Tree Hurst Community Centre on the Beeches Estate, gets 2K. Base KS KettleHouse Road, get 8K,
The Link Play Group Lambeth Road gets 5K, The Bandywood Families Project (they help find youngsters things to do and give them advice) get 25K.
10k will go to youth activities in the area. £1500 will go to a Police initiative to take children horse riding in the summer.Sundridge School and Kingsland School also get small grants.

Other grants include-

A project to modernise the Perry Common Library gets 13K this year and a guarantee of more money next year.
Pensioner tax Benefit take up initiative's, get 6K
There will be 15K to keep the Oscott Environmental Warden.
£800 will go to to the North Oscott Forum for organising a coach trip to the Black Country museum
There will also be small grants for a number of the community organisations in Oscott.

ORG would like to thank the Officers and Local Councillors for working so hard in helping prepare the bids for funding.

N.P.I NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER

Crimes such as shed brake in and opportunist burglaries often increase during the summer months. This is often because doors and windows are left open.
The NPI need your help to counter this. There are number ways you can help prevent this type of crime.
1. Lock your doors and windows when you go out. (Lock down stairs windows at night)
2. Lock your sheds and garages
3. Keep rear access way gates locked.
4. Keep garden gates locked and maintain your garden fence
5. Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your property if you go on holiday.
6. Report anything suspicious you see to the Police
7. Join the NPI --(ring 464 1869 for details.)

ALDRIDGE ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING PETITON TO BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL

A petition containing hundreds of names, requesting sensible traffic calming measures be introduced to the Aldridge Road, will be presented to the Council today (July 8th) by Councillor Keith Linnecor.
Nigel Quinn Chair of the Oscott Residents Association along with his members and members of the public, have worked hard collecting these signatures and hope the council will now listen to residents and take action.
"What is needed is new signs, speed awareness signs like those now on the College Road, new traffic controls and possible speed cameras says Nigel"

MORE DISABLED DROP CURBS NEEDED

George Hough the Oscott Disability Group Chairman has called on the Birmingham City Council Transportation department to install more disability drop curbs in the Oscott Ward.
George said " We have made a good start on this issue but there are many more of these crossings needed and I have supplied the Transportation department with a list which need doing. Disabled residents need to be able to get on with their lives and keep as mobile as possible."
Locations such as Courtenay Road, Goodway Road and Burford Road are just some where requests have been made.

HELP KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE SUPPORT 20MPH ZONES NEAR SCHOOLS

The ORG are getting behind Councillor Keith Linnecor and his attempts to get the Council to introduce 20MPH Zones around schools in Oscott. This is a worth wile thing to do as it should help safe guard our children when they go to school. Motorists should slow down and the Police if they are introduced should enforce these zones.
THe Council need toget on and do this ASAP in our view.