CHEERLEADING
Ages 5-10 Years
Weekly cost £3.50
610 Community Centre Kingstanding Road Kingstanding B44 9SH
Thursday 5:00-6:00pm

Elite Futures is giving a unique opportunity for young people to develop their Cheerleading skills under the coaching and tuition of qualified coaches.

All staff are CRB checked.

For any queries please contact us at 07805 137597 or elite.futures@live.co.uk

Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau launches appeal for support from local Birmingham community

Birmingham CAB (BCABS), the oldest and largest CAB in the UK, is appealing to the Birmingham community for support to enable it to continue its drop in advice service that has served the people of the city for 72 years, including the one in Kingstanding. BCABS is urging people to consider the local charity when deciding which worthy cause to make a regular contribution to.

Cuts to essential funding and seismic changes to the way funding is allocated has left a gap in the finance needed to keep the ‘drop in’ provision open and the predominantly volunteer lead service able to see clients who are in desperate need of advice .

Yvonne Davies, CEO of Birmingham CAB said ‘It’s a common misapprehension that BCABS is funded entirely via central or local Government grants. This is sadly not the case. We are an independent charity with no fixed central income. Now, more than ever, we have to fundraise locally and ask the public for support. The most useful support for any charity is regular contribution and that’s why we are asking people to set up a monthly standing order for as much as they can afford to enable us to keep this vital Birmingham service alive’.

Jack Dromey, MP for Erdington, said ‘I am proud to sign up for the BCABS appeal and support such an established and essential Birmingham charity. BCABS has done life changing work with countless Brummies in crisis and the loss of the Open Door Drop In service would be keenly felt by all in need of independent, impartial, confidential and free legal advice. I am setting up a standing order for £10 per month and I would urge others to think local when considering their charitable giving’.

The standing order form can be downloaded at www.bcabs.org.uk. Gift Aid information can be found at the same site. £10 per month would enable a client to get an hour’s free legal advice regarding debt, welfare benefits, housing, immigration, employment and many other crucial topics. BCABS is also approaching the Birmingham business community for similar ongoing support.

It was attended by:

• 1 Police officer (Sergeant Dave Bebb)
• 2 Police Community Support officers (Wendy Woakes & Sally Gough)
• 1 Priest (Father Tony Jones)
• 2 Councillors (Dring & Green)
• 1 B44 blogger (yours truly)
• 25 other B44 residents

We were first welcomed by Father Tony Jones, Maryvale’s Estate Director, who briefly outlined Maryvale Institute‘s role as an educational centre for people of the Catholic faith.

Sergeant Bebb (picture by Andy Mabbett, CC-BY-SA)

Sergeant Bebb then introduced himself and his two PCSO collegues, explaining that other members of his team were busy patrolling the local streets to ensure that we weren’t burgled while we were at the meeting! He said he had been in his current, Oscott Neighbourhood Team, role for 18 months, but had been a police officer for 20 years, including some time as a detective.

He said that he and his team want to address local people’s concerns, and get a wide cross-section of the community involved in their work. He explained that his team covers the whole of the Oscott Ward, and has good recent record for reducing crime, although vehicle crime (theft of and from vehicles) had seen a 9% increase in recent weeks.

Right-of-Way

However, in and around Templeton Road, the crime rate is higher than rest of ward. In particular, three recent break-ins had occurred when thieves accessed properties from the right-of-way linking Templeton Road and Old Oscott Hill. Sgt Bebb said that this had been the cause of long term problems.

Father Jones commented that £15,000 of lead had been taken from the roof at Maryvale in November; the thieves removed a concrete wall to reach it.

A local resident asked “Why can’t we have gates, we’ve been broken into three times in 20 years”, to which Sgt Bebb explained that a legal right-of-way cannot be closed without agreement after a public consultation, and that some users of the right-of-way have objected to the proposed closure. He would support closure, and in the meantime regular police patrols check the right-of-way.

A suggestion to stop unauthorised vehicles without blocking row for pedestrians, as a “plan B”, received some support.

Father Jones said that if the right-of-way is not closed, then it would need to be very well lit, as women staff at Maryvale currently won’t use it at night.

Another resident called for the use of CCTV and Sgt Bebb commented that it the cost of this is currently being assessed.

Recent burglaries

Discussion then turned to two clusters of recent burglaries. These have taken place during late afternoon/ early evening, as people’s houses are dark & empty. Entry has mostly been made via a rear door or window; or in some cases by using flat roof to reach an upstairs window.

Sgt Bebb encouraged residents to take precautions, including:

• use a timer switch to have a light come on at dusk, even if the house is empty
• make sure access gates are always kept locked
• check boundary fences are in good order
• remove newspapers/ circulars left sticking through letterboxes; push them through, for your neighbours, if they’re out

Suggestions of possible drug dealing at a named location, reported by a resident, will be investigated.

Vehicle Crime

Sgt Bebb gave advice on avoiding thefts from vehicles, including always cleaning SatNav sucker marks from windscreens and not keeping SatNavs or other valuables in glove-boxes when the vehicle is parked.

Speeding

A resident complained about dangerous speeding on Oscott Hill, especially given the schools there. Sgt Bebb agreed to conduct speed checks.

Conclusion

In closing, Sgt Bebb thanked everyone for attending, and Father Jones for the use of the hall. He reiterated his wish to have more engagement with the community, which would help to reduce crime, and encouraged people to report suspicious activity, and to feel free to contact him or his colleagues about any concerns. Finally, he reminded everyone that, despite the issues discussed, Oscott is one of the safest places in Birmingham to live.

The West Midlands Police Oscott Neighbourhood Team can be contacted on oscott@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or the new West Midlands Police non emergency number 101, extension 7851 6962. In emergency, dial 999.

The team’s next public meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Thursday 2 February 2012 at Greenholm School, Greenholm Road, Great Barr.

Local B44 bus services are to be moved around in the City Centre over the next year starting from February the 16th. Services affected include the 33, 56, 907, 934/a, 935/a and 997.

Both the City Centre bus stop locations and the bus routes in the City Centre will be affected throughout the period.

More details about the changes can be found here

It is all part of the public transport expansion in the City Centre over the next few years which can be read about here

All being well, we’ll have someone there to cover the event.

We’ve just seen this flyer, currently being delivered around B44.

It says:

Like Music? Interested in competing with the UK division two national champions?

Already have a gift with music or fancy trying something new, why not come down and see what you think? With a wide variety of instruments from brass, drums and percussion or colour guard to interest those dancers out there, you’ll be sure to find something that interests you.

Beeches Cadets are searching for new talent to compete with us in our 2012 season.

We rehearse every Tuesday at Cardinal Wiseman School. Old Oscott Hill, Kingstanding. From 7pm — 9pm.

Why not come along and see what you think? We begin our rehearsals on the 10th January 2012. and every Tuesday following. We look forward to seeing you.

Also, Father Christmas is coming to a street near you on Tuesday 20th December. Raising money for Beeches Cadets, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Any questions please call Andrew Dallison (Director) on 07786 254051

The footpath in question runs from beside 144 Templeton Road, alongside Maryvale Institute and comes out between Maryvale Primary School and the Viridian (formerly Servite) sheltered accommodation building at 111 Old Oscott Hill. You can see it on the map they sent with their letter.

The council say:

Dear Sirs/Madam
RE: GATING OF PUBLIC FOOTPATH BETWEEN OLD OSCOTT HILL AND TEMPLETON ROAD

Due to a number of complaints from members of the public about anti-social behaviour in and around the above public footpath, we are currently considering a request to gate the public right of way under Section 129 of the Highways Act 1980 which allows for the gating of highway as a measure to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
The effect, should the gating take place, would be to erect gates with or without a fence at points A and B on the attached plan which would be similar in construction to those currently existing at point C (6 foot tall palisade fence/gate).

There are 3 options with regards to the gating off the route:

1. Permanently gate the route (24 hours a day 365 days per year).
2. Gate the route for certain times of the day (i.e. dusk till dawn)
3. Do not gate the route (leave the route as it is)

It is a requirement for us as the Local Authority, to consult with residents and statutory consultees prior to proceeding with a gating order. This consultation is being carried out to gather opinions from the public as to what is the best course of action for this path.

The consultation will run until Friday October 14th 2011 and so any responses will need to be sent in writing to the Council by this date at the address below indicating which of the three options you favour.
Please contact me if you need any further information or wish to discuss the proposal in more detail.

Yours faithfully

Amelia Murray
Safer Places Officer
Birmingham West & Central Birmingham Community Safety Partnership

Our Reference: DS/TD/HIS/MM/FP289

Public Rights of Ways
PO Box 14439
Birmingham B2 2JE

Amelia.murray@birmingham.gov.uk
Telephone No. (0121) 303 6604 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (0121) 303 6604      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Facsimile (0121) 303 1368

You can see what’s meant by “6 foot tall palisade fence” in our picture — it’s the grey metal fencing.

The council have confirmed to us that responses by email will count as being “in writing”.

What do you think? Have you seen, or been affected by, “anti-social behaviour” on this footpath? Would you be inconvenienced by its closure?

…for the conservation of wild birds, other wildlife and the places in which they live, in a wide variety of ways.

RSPB Local Groups are groups set up and run by RSPB members, to support the work of the RSPB and to organise activities and entertainment for RSPB members, and guests.

For example, they have evening meetings with talks and slide shows or films about birds and other wildlife, and arrange field trips to RSPB and other reserves around the country. Some also organise local week-day walks.

While we don’t have an RSPB Local Group within B44, we’re lucky in having three within easy reach, and all a single bus-ride from Kingstanding Circle. They are in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall.

Their next meetings are:

• RSPB Walsall Local Group: Wednesday 21 September 2011. Mike Lane presents ‘A Lane in Brazil’, featuring birds, Jaguars and River Otters
• RSPB Sutton Coldfield Local Group: Monday 3 October. Chris Ward talks about the exciting birds and landscapes of West Mexico, in ‘Pirates, Pelicans and Potoos’
• RSPB Birmingham Local Group: Thursday 20 October. Ray Sturdy talks about ‘Tanzania, The High & The Wild’

The Walsall group has a week-day walk in Sutton Park, on the morning of 29 September, starting at the part of the park nearest to B44, Banners Gate.

Novices who simply like to watch their garden birds, and experienced birders, are all welcome at any of these events, and being involved with a group is great way to improve your bird recognition skills.

[Andy Mabbett is an RSPB volunteer, and committee member of the RSPB Walsall Local Group.]