Hockley Heath Gardening Club – Why not join the team?

The volunteers in Hockley Heath Gardening Club have been brightening up the village for over 15 years. Each year the group plant up over 30 planters and planting areas. We work closely with the Parish Council, who support us financially. There are currently seven active members.
If you have any spare time and would like to join our team we would love to welcome you. The time commitment is very flexible. We meet up about four times a year and agree who will be responsible for each of the displays, then individuals will plant up and look after their allocated areas at a time that suits them. You do not need to have previous gardening experience. If your time is limited, but you would like to get involved, you could just adopt an individual planter to look after.
To find out more please email us: HHGardenClub@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook Hockley Heath Gardening Club.

Mobile Library Service CONSULTATION

Since 2011 the Mobile Library for Solihull has been provided through working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council. It has been decided to review the service that is provided to find out if the service meets the service needs of our customers. As part of this review we are carrying out a survey to see if our customers are happy with the service being provided and the convenience of the stops that the Mobile Library visits.

The survey will be taking place between week beginning 14th September and will finish Friday 23rd October. The survey will be available on the Mobile Library van on the following dates and areas:

Monday 14th September and Monday 5th October for Romeo Route A – Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath, Monkspath and Star and Garter

Monday 14th September and Monday 5th October Titania Route A – Solihull Shirley area

Thursday 17th September and Thursday 8th October Hamlet Route D – Solihull – Hobs Moat area

Tuesday 22nd September and Tuesday 13th October Romeo Route G – Balsall Common

Thursday 24th September and Thursday 15th October Hamlet Route J – Solihull North of the Borough and Villages

Friday 25th September and Friday 16th October Romeo Route K – Sunrise, Cheswick Green, Hockley Heath

Thursday 1st October and Thursday 22nd October Romeo Route O – Solihull – centre all day

Friday 2nd October and Friday 23rd October Titania Route P – Shirley and Olton

The survey is also available online via Surveymonkey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YMLGCSS

Solihull Rights of Way Improvement Plan CONSULTATION

Solihull Council is obliged to publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan for its area, and to review it periodically. This aspirational documents seeks to outline priorities for the management and development of the local rights of way network.

The original Rights of Way Improvement Plan for the area was published in 2007 and is now due for review. part of the review process includes consultation with key stakeholder groups and local users of the rights of way network. If you wish to assist in the review and have an input in the future management of the local rights of way network you may do so by completing an online questionnaire. This may be access via the following link:

http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Leisure-parks/fitness/walking/improving-rights-of-way

Hockley Heath Park Traveller Incursion 11/8/2015

The Travellers have been successfully moved on from the Park today at 6.00pm. It has been a good example of effective communication and good decision making based on regular informed interaction between Residents, HHPC, SMBC professionals and the West Midlands Police.
I would particularly like to thank Alan Brown, SMBC Head of Environmental Services and his team at SMBC for working so effectively and quickly on behalf of the Hockley Heath Community and Parish Council.
The decision made this evening by the responsible West Midlands Police commander of resources at the scene was intelligent and judged the situation perfectly. Ably abetted by the SMBC Environmental Services team on the ground with the Police. Well done!
This action helps to restore confidence to Hockley Heath residents and businesses in the effectiveness of West Midlands Policing and their much improved coordination with the SMBC Environmental Services professional team.
HHPC will now be conducting an inspection of buildings and facilities in the Park. However an initial review seems to indicate no serious damage to the grounds, buildings, bowling club and play equipment. However there is considerable waste and litter left on the Park grounds.
This means there is a significant health and safety hazard from bottles, waste and fouling from rubbish left behind on the park and in the surrounding ditches. HHPC has commissioned SMBC Environmental Services to send a crew to clear and dispose of the dangerous mess. In the meantime we have cordoned off the lower park to residents until cleared.
You will be pleased to hear the HH Bowls Club were out in force this evening playing on their pitch once again as the Park returns to normal service. Many thanks to residents who raised the alarm and village organisations that helped communicate information to the village during this distressing episode and also those who helped with the clearing up operations.
The Park main gates on to Old Warwick Road will remain closed whilst HHPC reviews the future security options for the Park. All current Park and Pavilion key holders are now required to open and close the main gates at all times. Once the new security measures are in place we hope normal service can be resumed.
Finally this episode will not disrupt or delay the HHPC upgrading of the children’s play area which commences in September.
Kind Regards, Peter
 
Peter T. Rayson
Chairman
Hockley Heath Parish Council

New Play Facilities at Hockley Heath Recreation Ground

Hockley Heath Parish Council are pleased to announce that in September 2015, work will start on developing  new play facilities adjacent to the pavilion at the Recreation Ground.  The new play area will have fencing to stop dogs entering, a new climbing frame, swings and other features.  Following on from that, a new multi use games area will be created on the site of the existing one and shouild be completed by October 2015.

Scheduled roadworks on the motorways starting 29th June 2015

M40 – Junction 3a/M42 & M42 Links. Carriageway works
The Northbound Links at Junction 3a (M42 links) will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 1st July until 6am the following morning (2nd July). A diversion route will be clearly signposted

M42 Junction 2 to 3, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The Northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 29 June until 4 July. A diversion route will be clearly signpost

M42 Junction 3 to 2, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The Southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 30 June until 27 July. A diversion route will be clearly signpost

M42 Junction 3a, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The M42 Eastbound Link to M42 Northbound Link will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 2 July until 6am the following morning (3 July). A diversion route will be clearly signpost

 

What to do now Broadband is in Hockley Heath…

We are delighted to inform you that superfast broadband is now available in parts of Hockley Heath! Cabinet Lapworth 1 has been upgraded, meaning that many properties connected to it can now order the improved service.

What should residents do now?

1. Check that their property is connected to this cabinet by going to

www.dslchecker.bt.com and entering their landline number

2. Sign up with an Internet Service Provider for superfast services. They should remember to check different providers for the best rates to meet their needs. For more information residents should check out an independent reviewer such as: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband

What are the benefits?

Having access to superfast broadband not only lets you browse the web faster, but helps businesses stay competitive and allows individuals, families and communities to make use of opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible:

· Choose the Internet Service Provider you want- the CSW Broadband project ensures that you are not limited in your choice of suppliers

· Get online instantly with no slow dial-up connections

· Talk face-to-face with friends and family using Skype or other software

· Stream HD films, TV shows and videos without buffering slowing you down

· Quickly and easily share your photos with friends and family

· Upload pictures and documents seamlessly

· Work from home when you want- now you can really compete in the global marketplace

· Reduce workplace costs by introducing remote working and hot-desking

Get the word out

Now that superfast broadband is available, it’s important to make sure that all residents in your area can take advantage of its benefits and we need your help to do this. We are looking for people who live and/or work within our local communities to help us inform people that the new service is available. This would involve putting up posters on local notice boards and delivering leaflets to households in your area.

If you feel enthusiastic about the benefits of superfast broadband and would be willing to help us spread the word please email us at broadband@cswbroadbansd.org.uk

Please Note: Even though this cabinet has been upgraded, not every property connected to it is guaranteed to achieve superfast speeds due to some properties’ distances from the cabinet and/or quality of copper connections.

BroadBand has arrived!

Just to let you know that the Lapworth Cabinet 1 has just lit up and you can now order the BT Broadband upgrade to SuperFast.

Thanks to the CSW team for all their hard work and running a great project so successfully.

The village will no longer have those with and those without SuperFast Broadband.

Ground Maintenance at the Recreation Ground

From April 2015 a new contractor took over the maintenance and care of the recreation ground at Hockley Heath.  Solihull Neighbourhood Rangers have the contract for 1 year following competitive tendering.  Unfortunately there was a delay with the mowing of the main field as their large mower was temporarily out of action.  The Rangers apologise for the unsightliness of the fields while they waited for a replacement mower.

The fields were all cut on Tuesday 26th May and the whole site looks a lot better for the mow.

If anyone has any questions about the upkeep of the recreation ground, please contact the parish clerk using the Contact Us tab at the top of the page.