Hockley Heath Academy to take part in Neighbourhood Activity Programme – why not join in?

YOUR VILLAGE WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTIVITY PROGRAMME – 9th NOVEMBER, 10am – 3pm

 We are delighted to confirm that the school have joined in this activity and a group of children will be going to the park to plant bulbs.

There will be a litter pick on the day and hope parents will us join in this activity.  In fact I am relying on the children to come up with a catch phrase that will identify Hockley Heath as aiming to be a litter free village

There will be a book voucher for the winning phrase

‘Come on children thinking hats on’                                           

We will use this to create a litter picking initiative where residents can adopt a Road, Avenue, Grove or Street, in fact anywhere that litter collates

PLEASE BRING YOUR SUGGESTED CATCH PHRASE INTO SCHOOL – do not attend Hockley Heath Academy?  No problem send your idea to hhpc2009@hotmail.com

Please give your name address and school you attend

GOOD LUCK

Thank you on behalf of Hockley Heath Parish Council and SMBC

Congratulations Tracie Pal – recipient of a Solihull Civic Honour

On Tuesday 18 October the borough’s unsung heroes were recognised at the annual Solihull Civic Honours awards ceremony.

The event, which is in its sixth year, took place in the Council Chamber of Solihull Council’s Civic Suite. The winners were invited to receive their awards from the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Mike Robinson, and to meet representatives from local businesses and organisations. The ceremony also featured a performance by students from Stagecoach, Solihull.

Over recent months Solihull residents were invited to nominate people who have helped to make the community a better place. The judging panel of councillors, officers, representation from community groups and the main sponsor were then left with the tough task of reviewing the long list of nominees and selecting this year’s winners.

The Mayor said: “It was a lovely evening and one of the highlights of my mayoral year. I was delighted to have been able to meet these marvellous people and to thank to them for their dedication, hard work and enthusiasm in helping to make Solihull such a wonderful place to live. I am truly honoured to represent Solihull knowing we have so many inspiring citizens who willingly contribute to make this such a strong and caring community.”

This year’s winners are:

THE MAYOR’S AWARD (sponsored by Touchwood): Tracie Pal

Tracie has devoted nearly 40 years to improving her village in Hockley Heath. From the age of 10 she has arranged and run numerous fundraising events for charities, local groups and local churches. She also ran the Hockley Heath Fete for five years donating funds to the Parish Council to turn an over grown wooded area into an open play area for young children to ride their bikes and explore nature. Funds were also raised to install a defibrillator in Hockley Heath making it accessible to the whole village. Tracie then arranged training sessions on the defibrillator for people in the village, which now has over 30 people trained in resuscitation. Her latest community involvement was to set up a Village Watch Group developing links with the local police and encouraging and helping other areas to do the same. 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by Xoserve): Olton Station Gardening Team

Set up by two commuters who dreamt of creating station gardens like the old days, this group has been working voluntarily for over 26 years. There are now 14 volunteers who all tend the floral displays at Olton Station funding most of the materials – plants, bulbs, compost, decorations etc. – from their own pockets. They work all year round – planting summer hanging baskets, tending spring planters with colourful bulbs and putting up Christmas decorations in the waiting room. The volunteers also pick up litter and keep an eye on vandalism.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by Birmingham Airport): Syd Ashby

Syd has worked tirelessly for many years as Chairman of the Solihull Pensioners Conference, a group which aims to help improve the quality of life for people during their retirement. He has been a great role model and community champion, regularly keeping pensioners informed of matters in their interests. Syd organises monthly meetings at Solihull Methodist Church Hall, arranges visits from guest speakers and organises various social activities for members.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Sponsored by The St Johns Hotel): Felix Kupay

Felix has supported hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers of all ages in Solihull. A review he carried out found that they were struggling with essential things like housing, employment, registering with doctors and registering children in local schools. With great commitment and determination he decided to form Entraide in 2010, Solihull`s first and only refugee support charity. Facing many obstacles and with limited funding to get Entraide off the ground, Felix worked tirelessly part-time with no salary for around two years. The organisation is now self-sufficient and employs two full-time members of staff.

CREATIVE ARTS (Sponsored by Genting Arena): Greg Whitton

Greg is a local photographer whose work has seen him win the ‘Light on the Land’ category of Outdoor Photographer of the Year, a competition which attracts more than 10,000 images from professional and amateur photographers across the globe. His winning photograph was taken on a trip to Iceland when a fleeting moment of stunning lights illuminated the Icelandic peaks. Greg also went on to be crowned Overall Winner at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show in 2015. This year he won the ‘Live the Adventure’ category of the same competition. He offers a number of workshops and photo walks in the UK throughout the year and has released his first quality photo book entitled Mountainscape.

SPORT (Sponsored by Business Over Breakfast Club): Peter Jones

Peter is the founder member of Solihull Canoe Club which he started 28 years ago. The club has since grown to a current membership of more than 100 paddlers. Peter spends two nights a week during the summer, every Saturday and several Sundays a year training, organising or helping to run kayak events across the country. He trains people from the age of 8 upwards with the eldest being in their late 50s and another representing GB at World Championship level.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (Sponsored by NEC Group): Sylvia Blaine

Sylvia has volunteered at Blossomfield Infant School four days a week for over 15 years. She listens to the children read, giving them time and space and building their confidence as early readers. Sylvia knows each child by name and they look forward to the time they share with her. She frequently goes above and beyond, and her commitment and devotion to the school community has enabled pupils to achieve a lifelong love of reading.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (Sponsored by the Worldwide Magazine Distribution Ltd): Sarah Marks

Sarah has devoted the last 20 years voluntarily as the Girls Brigade Captain at 2nd Solihull Girls Brigade at Lyndon Methodist Church. Her role involves leading a 40 strong membership group of girls aged from 4-18 years. She manages the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme and produces seasonal projects and materials for occasions such as Christmas Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Sarah is also involved in organising camping weekends, entertainment outings and countryside visits for all different age groupings of her troop.

INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PERSON (Sponsored by DM & Co.): Tom Lusty

Tom was awarded the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineering (CIBSE) Education Award not only because of his academic achievements but also in recognition for his volunteering. He has been exceptional in his support for Solihull College and in sharing his enthusiasm for engineering and apprenticeships with young students across the West Midlands. He is now studying towards his degree at Coventry University and in his spare time fulfilling his other passion of canoeing. He has represented Great Britain in the International Canoe Federation Spring World Cup and competes regularly with his sights set on Tokyo 2020.

Campaigning for Safer Nights

 

Solihull Council is working with local organisations in a bid to lower anti-social behaviour and illegal sales of fireworks in the borough over the coming month.

The campaign, starting on Monday 17 October, will see the Council’s Trading Standards team co-operating with West Midlands Police and Fire Service officers to target illegal firework sales.

Test purchases will be carried out at local outlets while neighbourhood teams will make regular visits to retailers to remind them of current legislation.

The Council will be aiming to raise awareness of the danger of fireworks, the sale of illegal fireworks and unauthorised bonfires. It will also be encouraging residents to assist local authorities in tackling crime over the course of the campaign.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be communicating with local shops, asking them to limit the amount of eggs, flour and toilet roll sold to young people in a bid to combat anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Dicicco, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour over this period is really important. If we can limit this behaviour within the borough we can ensure that residents have a safe, exciting and enjoyable Halloween and Bonfire experience.

“Cracking down on the illegal sales of fireworks will improve levels of anti – social behaviour while keeping our events safe from poor and potentially dangerous products.”

Complaints about firework misuse in public places should be reported to the police on 0845 113 5000.

Road diversions for Remembrance Services

Remembrance Sunday Parades – Temporary Road Closures
The Council, in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as amended by the Road Traffic Regulation (Special Events) Act 1994 and being satisfied that traffic in the vicinity of the local roads, below, should be restricted or prohibited in the interests of public safety to participants and spectators during the Remembrance Sunday Parades, hereby gives notice of the following restrictions on Sunday 13th November 2016 between the hours of approximately 9.30am and approximately 1.30pm:
Castle Bromwich – 1000hrs to 1200hrs – The Green and Old Croft Lane between the B4144 Bradford Road and the B4119 Chester Road.
Dickens Heath – 1000hrs to 1200hrs – Hensborough (between Old Dickens Heath Road and Willowherb Way), and Old Dickens Heath Road (between Hensborough and Buckridge Lane).
Hampton in Arden – 1030hrs to 1200hrs – B4102 High Street (between Marsh Lane and Old Station Road), Shadowbrook Lane (in the vicinity of the War Memorial), and Fentham Road.
Hockley Heath – 1230hrs to 1330hrs – A3400 Stratford Road (between School Road and Spring Lane), and B4438 Old Warwick Road (for 50 metres from its junction with A3400).
Knowle – 1000hrs to 1300hrs – A4141 Warwick Road and High Street (between Arden Vale Road and B4101 Station Rd), B4101 Kenilworth Road (between High Street and Wilsons Road) and Wilsons Road.
Marston Green – 1030hrs to 1230hrs – Elmdon Road (between Hidcote Grove and Station Road), Land Lane (between Elmdon Road and Station Road), and Station Road (between Chelmsley Lane and Land Lane).
Meriden – 1030hrs to 1130hrs – B4102 Main Road (between Leys Lane and the Triumph Hotel), Berkswell Road (between Main Road and Heart of England Social Club).
Shirley – 09.45hrs to 12.00hrs – A34 Stratford Road (northbound carriageway between School Road and just north of Stanway Road), Church Road (between A34 and Bills Lane), and the Service Road leading to the Library Car Park (between Church Road and School Road). No Right Turn – Solihull Rd into Stratford Rd northbound on two occasions between the above hours to allow the Parade to pass Solihull Rd junction. 1045hrs to 1115hrs – A34 Stratford Road (southbound carriageway between Longmore Road and Union Road.
Solihull Town Centre – 08.00hrs to 12.30hrs – Church Hill Road (from Oliver Bird Hall to The Square), New Road (from the Ramada Jarvis Hotel to the Square), and The Service Road from the exit to the Council House car park to its junction with Church Hill Road. Alternative local diversion routes for vehicular traffic shall be signposted as and where appropriate. Access for the emergency services and pedestrian access to all properties within the restriction and access through the restrictions will be maintained along defined routes throughout the period of closure. Further information on these closures: contact M McDonnell – telephone 0121 704 8004.
NICK PAGE Chief Executive Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Manor Square, Solihull, B91 3QB 28 October 2016

Halloween activities for your children

Have a horrifically good Halloween

Haunted by the prospect of having nothing for children to do during the half term holiday?  Having nightmares about trying to keep the little ones occupied?  Solihull Council has got a couple of tricks up its sleeve to turn an autumn break with the family from a horror show into a happy holiday!

Firstly, the Wicked Workshop and Terror Trail will be taking place in Elmdon Park on Wednesday 26 October, 11.00am – 1.00pm.  Young visitors should wear their best Halloween costumes for a chance to win the fancy dress competition – there are petrifying prizes for the best-dressed boy and girl!

There will also be a spooky ‘terror trail’ around the park, followed by a creepy craft activity.  The event costs £1 per child, payable on the day, and the meeting place is by the car park on Tanhouse Farm Road.

Then, on Saturday 29 October, the popular Haunting Halloween event returns to Brueton Park!

Again, there will be prizes available for the best Halloween themed fancy dress, and there’ll be a scary walk around the park to meet Smelly Nelly the witch, as well as spooky stories, magic and lots of other things that go bump in the night!  The event will finish with a craft activity at the Parkridge Centre.

Walks take place at 5.30pm; 5.50pm; 6.10pm; 6.30pm and 6.50pm and cost £3 per adult and £2 per child.  Places are limited so please contact 0121 704 8000 to reserve a place and make payment in advance.

A devilishly good time is guaranteed for all!

Appeal for witnesses after three large fly-tips discovered in the borough

Solihull Council has been alerted to three separate and very large incidents of fly-tipping located on land off Stonebridge Island on the A45, off Aylesbury Road in Hockley Heath and at Meriden Mile in Meriden.

The Council’s Environmental Crime team has launched an investigation and is examining the locations of the illegally dumped items, which include household waste, clothing and commercial waste, for evidence.

The Council is asking for members of the public to get in touch confidentially if they believe they may have witnessed the fly-tipping taking place or in transit, or have any information which could lead to the prosecution of those responsible.

It is not known precisely when each of the fly-tips occurred or whether they are linked although the Council was first notified of them on Wednesday 5 October.

It is anticipated that it will cost thousands of pounds to remove the fly-tipping from the three sites.

If members of the public have any information about these incidents please report it to the Council by calling 0121 704 8001, emailing connectcc@solihull.gov.uk or reporting it online via the Council’s website.

Councillor Tony Dicicco, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, said:

“This is an obscene amount of waste to dump in our green spaces and the Council will not hesitate to prosecute the perpetrators of fly-tipping when we catch them. We will use evidence gained from witnesses and the covert cameras that are in operation at various locations in the borough.

“There is no excuse for anyone to fly-tip. There are plenty of legitimate ways people can dispose of their waste in the borough, including our waste and recycling centre in Bickenhill, and other paid-for collection services.”

West Midlands Combined Authority – October update

Latest update from Councillor Sleigh

Cllr Bob Sleigh

Dear resident,
 
Firstly I would like to thank those of you who completed our recent survey regarding the powers a mayoral West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) should have.
 
Areas covered by the proposed powers include transport, housing, developing a low emissions strategy, High Speed 2 (HS2) growth, finance and skills and employment.
 
report summarising the findings from this public consultation has been delivered to the Government, showing broad support for how a mayoral combined authority will work to deliver the first Devolution Agreement.
 
The Secretary of State will consider the consultation findings and then prepare a draft order to be laid before parliament.

 

DCLG has set the seven local authorities within the WMCA a challenging timetable to approve the draft orders, which is expected sometime in mid to late October. For Solihull it means the following timetable for discussion and decision making on the draft order:
 
Scrutiny – w/c 14 November (date TBC)
Cabinet – 1 December
Council – 6 December
 
The Devolution Agreement is key to fast-tracking the Council’s economic growth plans and will see an unprecedented £636 million of investment into transport infrastructure in Solihull over the coming years.  In total the 30 year £36.5 million annual devo-dividend will unlock a region-wide investment package worth £8 billion.
 
Party Conferences
The WMCA has had a presence at both the Labour Party and Conservative Party Conferences, selling the West Midlands to politicians and the new government.
 
I also wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Teresa May as the Conservative Party arrived in the West Midlands for the conference.
 
I will be in touch with further updates in due course.
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Councillor Bob Sleigh
Leader of Solihull Council & Chair of the WMCA
combinedauthority@solihull.gov.uk

Waterloo Housing Scheme – update

Despite strong representation against the proposal, SMBC have approved the development of 19 houses on the site off Stratford Road last week.  At the time of writing, the details of the approval are not available but the Parish Council will continue to voice their objections and look to a possible appeal if this option is available to us.  To see a webcast of the discussion please at the planning committee click here.  When you are on the website, scroll down on the right hand side until you see the planning application listed: 8 PL/2016/00723/PPFL – Land Adjacent To 2440 Stratford Road then click on the WATCH symbol.