Solihull Castle Brom, Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood and Marston Green
JUNE 2016
Other Side Of
Residents see red over business park plan Page 3 Reverend gets royal award Page 2
West End stars arrive in Chelmsley Page 5
EU final countdown Are you in or out? WITH only days remaining until the crucial vote, local politicians are making their last ditch arguments for and against Britain’s EU membership. As polls suggest that the result of the referendum is hanging in the balance, those on both sides of the debate know that the votes up for grabs in communities like North Solihull will prove vital. In recent weeks, Meriden MP Caroline Spelman has been out campaigning for the UK to remain part of the 28-nation bloc. She joined the Chancellor, George Osborne, for an event in Birmingham and represented the ‘Remain’ campaign at a Bank Holiday hustings. “The EU wasn’t just created for economics – it was created for peace,” the former Environment Secretary told the crowd, before emphasising the importance of engaging with everyone from first-time voters to pensioners. Councillor Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) has also made the case for remaining, arguing that Brexit would be “a disaster”. Supporters of the EU are likely to point out the amount of money from Europe that has been
invested in local developments, including the Chelmund’s Cross Village Centre and the North Solihull Cycle Network. By contrast Coun Debbie Evans (UKIP, Kinghurst & Fordbridge) argues that Britain sends millions to Brussels each day and has lost control of its borders. “We only voted to be in a trading arm in the first place,” she said. “We need to leave for the good of our country and its future.”
Coun Evans, who became her party’s first councillor in Solihull two years ago, may be buoyed by previous polls which suggest Solihull is generally more Eurosceptic than the region as a whole. When Other Side of Solihull asked local people for their views earlier this month it was clear that opinions were deeply divided. Derek Thomley said that the EU was dominated by “faceless bureaucrats” and that it was time for Britain to take back control. Another resident keen to quit is Ian Davies, who objects to the “millions of pounds” that the UK sends to the continent each week. On the other side of the argument, Dean Haycock argued that membership was good for the environment and civil rights. These views were echoed by Joseph Carbery, who said: “We need to tackle crime, terrorism, and climate change inter-governmentally not as an isolated nation on the fringes.” l The EU referendum takes place on Thursday, June 23. Polling stations around the borough will be open from 7am-10pm.
Digital device to keep the borough’s roads safe A NEW speed camera will be switched on in Castle Bromwich in a matter of weeks, Solihull Council has confirmed. The device, which will be installed on the Bradford Road/Chester Road, will be fully operational as of July 18. It is one of eight cameras being installed across Birmingham and Solihull as part of a new road safety initiative.
In 2013, the authorities had switched off every camera in the West Midlands citing a lack of funding. The decision to launch a new scheme three years on seems at least a partial admission that the move towards mobile speed traps has not been as successful as had been hoped. Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said: “This new
digital technology will play a very important role in keeping the region’s roads safe. “The cameras, and associated signs, are very noticeable; the only people being caught are those who choose to ignore them.” A separate proposal to reintroduce a camera on the Collector Road was eventually dropped.
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HS2’s future still uncertain ONE damp Thursday five years ago I set out on the final leg of a journey walking the rough route that HS2 would take through Solihull. A fortnight earlier I’d been traipsing through farmers’ fields near Balsall Common, a week later I’d tramped over the overgrown verges running alongside the A45 and that dreary afternoon I was on the home straight in Chelmsley Wood. It’s fair to say that the impact on residents living in Yorkminster Drive had been largely overlooked when the proposed route was published earlier that year. The emphasis up until that point had been on the country lanes and woodlands in the more rural parts of the borough and it was only at
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR that point that it became apparent just how close the 200mph carriages could come to Chelmsley’s outskirts. I learned a lot from my three-part trip – the value of map-reading, the importance of sensible footwear (I probably should have told the university student accompanying me to bring her flats) and just how many crisp packets festoon the side of our dual carriageways. But most importantly I came to understand the strength of feeling in the communities on the frontline of
l Home a no-go zone
the rail development. Inevitably there was and is a lot of concern among the local people about the noise levels, the loss of green space and the increase in traffic on nearby roads during the construction period. It’s pretty dreadful that the shadow of uncertainty still hangs over the people worst affected, despite five years of committee meetings, consultation exercises and negotiations with HS2 bosses. It turns out that walking the walk – crisp packets and all – is rather easier than talking the talk. • Next edition, Other Side of Solihull will look at the latest HS2 news and the ongoing battle to get a better deal for residents.
Introducing:
A MAJOR arts event will be celebrating its third year in a few weeks’ time. Shardfest – a modern-day reinvention of the old Shard End Carnival – will take place on July 23-24. This year’s line-up will include R&B singer Lemar (pictured) and former X Factor winner James Arthur.
l Honour for cadet Dale DEDICATED cadet Dale Watt – from Castle Bromwich Squadron – received a special presentation last month. Dale joined the Cadets when he was just 13 and is due to leave later this year after seven years with the group. In recognition of his dedication to the organisation, he has been promoted to Cadet Warrant Officer (CWO).
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Is that the same as an MBE? It’s part of the Honours system, but it’s slightly different. The BEM – sometimes referred to as the “working class” gong – was reintroduced in 2012 to recognise the hard work of people in their local communities.
TWO men from Chelmsley Wood have spent a year perfecting their Peaky Blinders costumes. John Brophy and Roy Short are die-hard fans of the BBC drama series and scoured the country looking for authentic items to complete their outfits. The pair were recently invited to the premiere of the third series at Birmingham’s Mailbox and were praised for their attention to detail by the show’s star Cillian Murphy.
l Shardfest days
Editor: David Irwin Design: Justine Flavell
I hear a trip to the Palace is on the horizon? That’s right, the Rev’d Roberts – from Chelmsley Wood’s Baptist Church – has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).
l Fans play a Blinder
CASTLE Bromwich curry house Jeera has been named as one of the hottest eateries in the local area. The restaurant and takeaway, based in Chester Road, was this month nominated for the Birmingham Mail’s King of Curries award. Voting is open now with the winning premises set to be announced later this year.
Solihull
Neil Roberts, Baptist Minister
A CHELMSLEY Wood home has been made the subject of a Closure Order following drug offences at the address. Jason Clarke, 41, was served with a Closure Notice for the Arbor Way property, which was previously raided by police. The Closure Order, issued by Birmingham Magistrates Court, prevents anyone entering the dwelling for the next three months.
l Jeera’s a curry king
Other Side Of
So the Reverend is well-known locally? Yes. He moved to Chelmsley more than 20 years ago and has recently been a driving force in the refurbishment of the church’s Three Trees Centre. He was also a key figure in the ultimately successful campaign to have Craig Croft rechristened Chelmund’s Cross.
Meet the Tweeter @Bosworth Centre Tweets: 83 Followers: 169 Who are they? Official account of Bosworth Community Centre, in Fordbridge, updating residents on everything from mental health workshops to First World War exhibitions. A typical tweet: “The dulcet tones of folk music are floating through Bosworth today.”
What does he have to say? Tweeting after the Birthday Honours List was made public, he said: “It’s amazing what the community can achieve when we work together and we’re honoured that it’s been recognised in this way.”
Month in Numbers
Out & About EXPECT to see men decked out with swords and shields stepping out in Chelmsley Wood next month. This year’s annual Chelmund’s Day event will be taking place at Bishop Wilson School on July 16. There will be live music, stalls and historical reenactments from 11am-3pm.
• Chelmsley Wood mum Louise Houghton admits that juggling debts with eight payday loan companies left her living on £25-a-week. • Solihull’s population is set to increase by 5,800 by the year 2039. • Eight arrests made in North Solihull as part of a recent crackdown on off-road bikes.
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Tower view HERE is a view of North Solihull that you might not have seen before. The photo was taken from the top of Coleshill Parish Church, which stands a couple of miles to the east of North Solihull. The Medieval tower commands impressive views of the surrounding area, with Chelmsley’s tower blocks and the CTC Kingshurst among the local landmarks that are visible.
Expanded business park ‘a threat to green space’ Grants for local schemes COMMUNITY projects across the north of the borough are to be awarded grants as part of efforts to boost the local economy. Every year, the North Solihull Partnership puts aside around £150,000, with the money shared out between schemes which provide jobs or improve employment opportunities. Eight initiatives in the local area are to benefit from the latest wedge of funding, including: Solihull Moors FC – The football club is to establish a training and employability programme for young people who aren’t in work or education.
l Scout’s June Gala MARSTON Green Scout Group will be holding their 2016 Gala later this month. The event will be taking place at St Leonard’s Church on Saturday, June 25. There will be a street parade through the village at 12.30pm, with the gala opened at 1pm. Visitors can look forward to traditional stalls, a barbecue and a bouncy castle.
Gro-Organic – The awardwinning social enterprise set up by Sarah Gill (pictured) has been involved in projects such as Chelmsley Wood’s Victory Garden. Their Roots to Employment scheme will allow residents to develop skills in landscaping, gardening, food growing and carpentry. Northern Star Arts – The organisation, which is based at the Three Trees Centre, will be taking on an apprentice for another year. Bullfinch Cycles Ltd – A new manufacturing business that will bring the construction of bike frames back to the West Midlands for the first time in a generation.
PLANS to expand Birmingham Business Park have been widely criticised in Marston Green, with one resident claiming that constant development risked turning the village into “an industrial estate.” A planning application has been submitted which, if approved, would see the creation of four new buildings, with associated car parks and service yards. There are particular concerns that the scheme would have a serious impact on those residents living in nearby Coleshill Heath Road and Blackfirs Lane. Bickenhill & Marston Green Parish Council have said that “utmost care” must be taken to ensure that locals don’t suffer as a result of the development. The concerns they have raised include the imposing design of the new buildings and the increase in noise and activity on the site, which at the moment is predominantly made up of office buildings. They have urged Solihull Council to impose strict conditions on operating hours, amid fears that deliveries and other work would take place throughout the night. Mark Rutter, who lives in Blackfirs Lane, said that development of the land would impact on a “semi-
‘The traffic on the park at peak hours is already an issue, with long traffic queues’ rural” part of the community. “The traffic on the park at peak hours is already an issue, with long traffic queues,” he wrote on Facebook. “Despite the application showing low noise, I don’t accept this in reality and noise will be an issue.” Joseph Carbery described the proposals as “outrageous” and complained about plans to build on another area of green space – already a source of controversy in a community which has lost large tracts of land in recent years. U+I Group, who own the land, held a public exhibition earlier this month and invited local people to attend. In a letter sent to residents, they pointed out that the site had already been earmarked for employment-led development by Solihull Council. Marcello Burbante, development manager, said: “The team are keen to listen to local people and hear their views.”
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Our new mayor aims to bridge generation gap BRIDGING the gap between generations will be the top priority of the new Mayor of Solihull. Castle Bromwich councillor Mike Robinson spoke of the importance of building greater understanding between the old and young and said it would underpin his time in office. “As the world gets faster, families become more fragmented, simple values get lost in a melee of modern living,” said Coun Robinson, in his opening address. “People are living longer and the gap between generations is becoming ever greater. “It dismays me when I hear that the elderly and the young refer to each other as ‘them and us’, when of course it should be ‘we are as one and not two’. “What I would like to do is promote a closer
Nature notes
collaboration between the generations, so leading to a better understanding across the age groups.” Coun Robinson, who received the chains of office last month, is the first Mayor to represent an area of North Solihull for 10 years. Prior to becoming a councillor, he had run a number of companies and as a young man had lived for a brief period in Durban, South Africa. He was elected 12 years ago and while he has remained on the Conservative group’s backbenches he is well respected as a ward councillor, serving as a governor at Park Hall School and a trustee at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. He has chosen the Eve Appeal – a women’s cancer charity – as one of his Mayoral charities. The organisation has personal importance to the Mayor and his wife, Jenny, who lost their
A few weeks ago it was discovered that a family of Great Tits had made a nest under a traffic cone at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. The stripy marker had been set down next to a flower bed and one volunteer was startled to discover a nest had been woven inside – the birds using a tiny hole on top to get in and out. While it might be surprising that the parents chose such an unusual location to lay eggs, it is one of many examples of birds finding ingenious ways to adapt to their environment. Only the other week I saw a family of Collared Doves were taking twigs up into the roof of a local railway platform, while a friend of mine recently found Robins nesting in her outhouse. While it is easy to dwell on the impact that urban development has had on wildlife – and it’s been pretty horrendous in many cases – it’s reassuring that many species are versatile enough to make the most of surroundings which have changed dramatically over the years.
Mayor – Councillor Mike Robinson eldest daughter Emma to cervical cancer several years ago. “She so wanted to live and fought so hard to overcome this terrible affliction. It was a horrendous experience, which I sincerely wish noone else has to suffer.”
Plan to elect head of seven council areas SOLIHULL Council have given their support to proposals to elect a Mayor who will represent the whole of the West Midlands. While the Mayor of Solihull is a largely ceremonial figure, the new role will be voted into power by the public and command considerable powers. Whoever is elected will be the head of a new combined authority covering seven council areas: Solihull, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall. Leader of Solihull Council, Bob Sleigh, had urged members to back the proposals, arguing that they would unlock greater investment in the region and make it easier to tackle issues such as public transport and air pollution. He said that the devolution deal would bring over £36million additional money into the West Midlands every year for the next 35 years. “I don’t think we can turn our back on this proposal quite frankly.” The arrangement hasn’t been universally popular, with concerns that the individual authorities could lose much of their autonomy. Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) said there had been a lot of previous opposition to the idea of a Mayor, although he accepted the Government had made the creation of the role a condition of handing down additional powers from Westminster. “We really have to focus on how we are going to hold him or her to account,” he said.
‘Shoplifting capital’ CHELMSLEY Wood town centre has been named as one of the “shoplifting capitals” of the West Midlands. Recent research suggests that there were 146 incidents reported in the vicinity of Asda between March 2015 and February this year. This places the area ninth in the region in terms of the number of offences recorded, with Merry Hill, in Dudley, reporting the most incidents.
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Fears over borough’s alcohol consumption MORE than 40,000 people in Solihull regularly drink a dangerous amount of alcohol, a Solihull Council study suggests. Across the borough as a whole, there are estimated to be in excess of 27,000 binge drinkers and more than 6,000 who show signs of alcohol dependency. Data compiled by the local authority shows that heavy drinking places a hefty burden on the local economy and can fuel crime – around four in 10 of all violent offences in Solihull are alcohol-related. The report, which was presented to councillors last month, said: “The vast majority of people who drink alcohol
in Solihull do so responsibly, however a significant number of the borough’s population drink more than they realise. “Stronger alcohol and generous home measures are contributing to damage to people’s health, often without them realising. Every year we are seeing more and more people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related conditions.” The authorities take a number of different approaches in an attempt to tackle the problem, including public awareness campaigns, encouraging responsible drinking, and treatment programmes for those in particular difficulties.
West End stars bring magic to Grace stage A HOST of stars from London’s West End will be taking part in a musical spectacular in Chelmsley Wood. Solihull’s own Karl Loxley, who shot to fame on BBC’s The Voice, will be among those joining a 200-strong choir for a performance at the Grace Academy. Rachael Louise Miller, who has appeared in Les Miserables, and David Covey, who has previously wowed audiences in The Phantom of the Opera, are also set to appear on the school stage. Joining them will be students from the academy itself, local primary schools and budding singers from around the local area. The Magic of the Musicals show was first conceived three years ago by Adam Hepkin, who is responsible for developing the arts programme at the Grace Academy and its sister schools in Coventry and Walsall. He said: “The major difference between The Magic of the Musicals and other ‘songs from the shows’ concerts is the inclusion of a vast community choir, made up of enthusiastic local singers and students. “It’s about inspiring young people to get involved in the performing arts and enjoy the theatre experience as a whole. “The show has gone from strength to strength over the past Karl Loxley appeared on last year’s series of The Voice, mesmerising the few years and I am delighted that Karl will be joining us this audience with a performance of Nessun Dorma. year along with the other incredible performers. This show has something for everyone.” Adam said that the performance would feature well-known numbers by some of the biggest names in BOXES of biscuits were recalled by a Chelmsley Wood-based POLICE were contacted following a recent musical theatre, including Andrew store after it was found the labels were in a foreign language. incident in which a child at Castle Bromwich Lloyd-Webber, Stephen Sondheim Customers who had bought certain boxes of Kellogg’s Junior School was allegedly threatened with a and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Special K Biscuit Moments Cioccolato from Heron Foods were penknife-style tool. The performance will take place asked to return the snacks. It has been claimed that the 10-year-old girl at the Grace Academy on June 19. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) had warned that those had the device brandished in her face by a Tickets are £5-10 and available on with allergies may be at risk if they can’t read the ingredients. classmate. The school is working with officers 0121 239 4600 or online at www. Boxes affected are those with ‘best before’ dates of July 9 and the parents of both children to reach a positickets.co.uk and July 14, 2016. “community resolution solution”.
Labels spark biscuit recall ‘Knife’ incident at school
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