Solihull Castle Brom, Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood and Marston Green
MAY 2017
Other Side Of
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Row over school funding grows
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General Election: Who’s standing locally?
Shake-up leaves bus users stranded BUS passengers fear that a dramatic shake-up of local services will cause problems for those in North Solihull who rely on routes to get to school and work. There has been an outpouring of anger after National Express announced sweeping changes to the network late last month. People have packed into public meetings in Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurst and Tile Cross and a number of petitions have been launched. The operator has made a number of concessions following the backlash – most notably announcing a school service to take account of the fact that the
Parade’s double delight WHAT a pair of jokers! Comedy doubleact Laurel and Hardy – or a duo who looked rather like them – were entertaining the crowds at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens earlier this month. The funnymen were among the parade of characters who had dressed in period costume for the venue’s 1940s weekend.
No 94 will no longer travel down Cooks Lane. However, locals are still pressing for further adjustments, amid concerns that “chaos” could ensue from June 4. Local resident Nicola Roberts has set up a dedicated Facebook group to protest against the changes. Her original complaint related to a double-decker No 14 service which will start to use Tile Cross Road and Chapelhouse Road – she described the change as “an accident waiting to happen”. “I obviously had major concerns about this and when I looked into it, I soon found there were so many people angry about these changes for all
sorts of reasons,” she said. “I think the consultation process was very badly run.” Politicians from various parties have been quick to wade into the row. Councillor Karl Macnaughton (Green, Chelmsley Wood) said that Kingshurst would suffer particularly badly following the changes – losing the No 71, 56 and 59 and seeing a “torturous” extension of the No 55 service to Birmingham. “The main problem here is that buses are run by private companies whose main motive is profit,” he said. “As a result they’re not really interested in routes, or times of day, where specific journeys don’t make them money. As a result, it’s often easy to get somewhere in the day but problematic getting back home again in the evening. “Public transport really needs to be publicly owned and run on a ‘service provision’ rather than ‘forprofit’ basis.” Caroline Spelman, currently seeking to be re-elected as Meriden’s MP said she had been “dismayed” at changes to the No 72, which she has said will have a significant impact on Marston Green. National Express has said that the changes it had laid out took account of “changing customer use”. In a message which has been put up in shelters around the area, the company said: “New and updated timetables are designed to counter increasing traffic congestion and delays.”
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Page 2 Other Side of Solihull
You choose, but please vote “THEY’RE all the same” and “It doesn’t change anything” are two of the most common reasons that people give for not voting. Except that definitely isn’t true this time round. In fact, the two main parties have not gone into a General Election campaign on such different platforms for 30 years. And that’s just Labour and the Tories. In Meriden you can also choose to cast your vote for the Lib Dems, Greens or UKIP. Unfortunately apathy is still a major problem. While turn-out across the entire constituency was a relatively respectable 64 per cent two years ago, the proportion of people eligible to vote in the north of the
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR borough who actually did so was rather lower. This is cause for concern because it is specifically areas where wages are being squeezed, jobs are less abundant and crime is slightly higher, that the decisions taken by parties at Westminster are likely to have even more impact on residents. If you’re still convinced that what happens in Parliament is somehow separate from the lives of people in Chelmsley Wood or Kingshurst then
l Nominate your hero TIME is running out to nominate unsung heroes for this year’s Solihull Civic Honour Awards. The annual event recognises people who have played a key role in their community. All entries must be received by July 31. Download the nomination form at www.solihull. gov.uk/solihullcivichonours
take a look through this month’s edition. Whether it’s changes to public transport policy, rising cases of domestic violence or arguments over education funding, there is a direct consequence here, in our community, to the decisions made there. Other Side of Solihull takes pride in being non-party political. We believe that all those who stand and serve have a right to be heard and every argument held up to scrutiny. On this basis we have no intention of following the example of the national press and telling you which box to cross on June 8. We only ask you take the time to read the policies, think about what matters to you and get down to the polling station.
Introducing:
Other Side Of
Solihull Editor: David Irwin Design: Justine Flavell Get in Touch:
Anniversary
A FORMER nursery worker from Smith’s Wood has this month been jailed for 16 years after admitting a series of serious sexual offences against children. Jamie Chapman, 29, of Tamar Drive, had previously pleaded guilty to raping a teenage boy, 21 counts of inciting sexual activity with children and nine counts of taking, making and distributing indecent photos of youngsters.
l Fire on tower block roof
l Brave litter-pickers’ haul A LITTER PICK at The Bradford Arms car park collected bottles, drug packets, condoms and even excrement. The waste, gathered up by Castle Bromwich resident Terrie Knibb and a driver from local taxi firm TC Cars, was enough to fill a builder’s bag.
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Surely everyone who wins the Lottery is lucky? Well yes, but Lucy Dixon and younger sister Annie have more reason to feel fortunate than most. They have just been awarded £300,000, despite accidentally tearing their scratchcard in two during their celebrations.
KINGSHURST Arts Space was transformed into a mini cinema this month. Artists Sarah Taylor Silverwood and Emily Warner screened a series of films at the premises which were inspired by the local area.
A FIRE at a Chelmsley Wood tower block broke out when pallets on the roof caught alight. The incident happened at Chestnut House, Moorend Avenue, on Monday, May 22. Crews from Sheldon, Bickenhill, Hay Mills and Ward End helped to douse the flames. One man suffered minor injuries.
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The Dixon Sisters, lucky Lottery winners
l Artists’ movie moments
l Paedophile gets 16 years
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May 1997: Caroline Spelman is elected as MP for Meriden for the first time. She makes her maiden speech the following month, discussing the EU’s agricultural policy.
Your say ‘I only pay £90 a month and use the system every day, unlike the people who made up this ridiculous plan’ John Woodward [on the changes to buses]
Month in Numbers * Chelmsley Wood optician Shannon Banks (pictured) to cut 16 inches of hair to give to the Little Princess Trust. * Almost 30,000 people viewed our initial news story on changes to local bus routes. * Zero faults registered by an unlucky learner driver, stopped in Cooks Lane mid-test after allegations her instructor’s car didn’t have an MOT or insurance
Oops! The all-important piece of paper had been bought at Tesco Express, Castle Bromwich. It had been folded up in Lucy’s pocket but was accidentally ripped as the siblings jumped for joy. What happened next? The sisters, from Chelmsley Wood, faced an agonising wait while Camelot carried out security checks. Fortunately for them the tear didn’t invalidate the scratchcard, which had been bought on a whim one Saturday night last month. How do they intend to spend their prize? “I want to treat my family to a holiday, maybe Spain,” said Lucy, aged 46. “I’ve never been abroad, only to Ireland where my parents come from. I don’t know about the rest…I haven’t passed my driving test so unlike Annie I won’t be buying a car.”
Out & About AN AWARD-winning film is to be screened in Chelmsley Wood next month. I, Daniel Blake – an emotionally-charged look at Britain’s benefits system – will be shown at The Shed, Three Trees. The screening will be on June 9, starting at 7.15pm. A discussion will follow the film.
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Action group highlights budget crisis in schools PARENTS in North Solihull are being urged to get behind a campaign which was set up amid concerns about a squeeze on school budgets. The action-group Fair Funding for Solihull Schools has warned that growing pressures are forcing headteachers to make cuts to key services. As it stands, borough schools are looking at an £11million reduction in their annual budget by 2019, which works out at a £357 cut per pupil per year.
Mums and dads locally are pressing politicians to ensure that sufficient funding is made available and earlier this month a demonstration to draw attention to the issue was held in Mell Square. Jeni Mills, a parent-governor and member of the action-group, has said that the role local communities have to play in highlighting the challenges should not be underestimated. Speaking to Other Side of Solihull this month, she said that the current situation was putting significant strain on services both locally and nationwide.
“Eighty per cent of school budgets go on staffing costs, so inevitably when cuts come it means that the number of teaching assistants, for instance, is likely to fall,” she said. “Then there are obviously other very important services which will be put at risk, from sports coaching to music tuition. We feel very strongly that education is a right not a privilege. Schools should be properly funded because every child deserves the same opportunities and start in life.” The funding crisis has caused concerns around the country, with thousands of heads having written to parents to highlight the challenges they face and urging them to press Parliamentary candidates for answers during the General Election campaign. The Government had previously outlined changes to the formula which determines how much money is made available, although some have argued the proposed reforms will create problems in themselves. • If you’d like to get involved with Fair Funding for Solihull Schools, you can contact them via their Facebook group.
l Busy little bees!
Mud larks! TEACHERS at the CTC Kingshurst Academy have tested themselves – to the limit – in aid of a very good cause. A group of staff tackled the “Tough Mudder” challenge in the hope of raising £2,000 for
Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice. The brave group of fundraisers completed a course through the grounds of Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, which included lung-busting hills, woodland obstacles and lashings of mud.
1ST Marston Green Scouts have helped create a wildflower patch to aid the local bee population. Youngsters have sown an area at Millennium Wood in the hope it will attract the pollen-collecting insects. The plot was prepared over two evenings using seeds donated by environmental group Friends of the Earth.
Bid to save playground continues All’s quiet at centre THE team who run Meriden Adventure Playground have said that the threat of closure has brought those who use the facility closer together. Trustee Ali Wood argued that Solihull Council’s decision to cease funding from this autumn had served to galvanise parents and volunteers, many of whom have thrown themselves into the campaign to keep the site open. “While it has been a difficult few months in many respects, it has also, conversely, made people realise how much they value this playground,” she said.
Earlier this month, trustees attended the playground’s Annual General Meeting at the Bosworth Community Centre, Chelmsley Wood. Those who attended were briefed about recent success stories, including the application for charitable status and the receipt of a National Playwork Award. There were also updates about the ongoing efforts to secure alternative funding, with news that a raft of applications for grants had been submitted to various community funds and charitable bodies. The possibility of applying to parish councils for funds in the local area has also been discussed.
CHELMSLEY Wood Shopping Centre has launched a new programme to help those with disabilities. The precinct plans to make the last Sunday of every month a ‘Sensory Sunday’, designed to meet the needs of customers who can find a noisy environment difficult. On these days, all music in the mall will be turned off and individual stores will be asked to mute or turn down the volume of their own speaker-system. Some store managers will also wear a brightly coloured top, making it easier for visitors to seek them out for help. Explaining the reasons for the arrangements, centre manager Neil Griffin said: “There are many people, including children, that find common sounds painful and overwhelming.”
Page 4 Other Side of Solihull
OSOS looks at those battling to be your next MP
Caroline Spelman
Tom McNeil
The Battle of Chelmund’s Leslie Kaye
Alison Gavin
Antony Rogers
CANDIDATES standing in the General Election will have chance to put their case directly to voters at a special debate in Chelmsley Wood. The hustings, taking place less than a week before polling day, will be one of the last opportunities for the five hopefuls to sway undecided voters. In Meriden, the constituency which includes North Solihull, Conservative Caroline Spelman is the clear favourite – having turned a wafer-thin majority in 1997 into a close to 20,000 vote advantage two years ago. Perhaps surprisingly, given the extent to which the Tories have put the emphasis on Brexit negotiations nationally, Mrs Spelman has thus far fought a campaign very much centred on local issues. In a pitch to voters, she said: “With your support, I will continue to fight for fairer school funding, to protect the Meriden Gap - which remains under pressure for development, defend local NHS services and, work to make sure no one feels left behind or disadvantaged in our community.” Her main challenger is likely to be Labour’s Tom McNeil, a lawyer and human rights activist who was also the party’s candidate in the 2015 General Election.
“The message I’ll be spreading in Meriden... is that we should invest today for a fairer tomorrow,” he tweeted earlier this month. Mr McNeil will be hoping that local anger over school funding, cuts in policing and concerns over the NHS will rack up votes in areas where Labour support has been in steady decline.
The hustings, taking place less than a week before polling day, will be one of the last opportunities for the five hopefuls to sway undecided voters The Green Party have also backed a candidate from the election two years ago, confirming that teacher Alison Gavin will stand again. While the party holds every council seat in Chelmsley Wood and Smith’s Wood, it has fared less well in Parliamentary elections and lost its deposit last time. Mrs Gavin is confident, however, that their message can resonate on the doorstep.
She said: “Whether it’s speaking out against racism, advocating the living wage or defending our NHS, the Green Party has a proud history of bold thinking that our country now needs.” UKIP’s candidate is Leslie Kaye, who is hoping to capitalise on concerns over HS2 and development in local parkland, although the national polling suggests that much of the party’s support base has flocked to the Tories. “I will work hard to represent your views and interests in Westminster, not like other parties, to impose Westminster policy on Meriden,” he said. The Lib Dems will be pinning their hopes on local businessman Antony Rogers who is described by local activists as having “great initiative and drive.” Meriden has not traditionally been fertile ground for the party and at present they don’t have a single councillor in the constituency. That said, they may find themselves best placed to draw support from the sizeable minority of voters who supported ‘Remain’ in the EU referendum. l The hustings will take place at the Three Trees Centre on Friday, June 2 (6.30-8.00pm). Questions can be submitted in advance to alan@3trees. org.uk
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Man died after losing control of motorbike A CASTLE Bromwich man was killed after losing control of his motorbike on a busy dual carriageway, an inquest has concluded. Former soldier Wajid Fazil (pictured) had hit the central reservation on Fort Parkway on Boxing Day last year.
He died of multiple injuries. The inquest earlier this month heard that the 39-year-old had been travelling towards Coleshill with his cousin Basharat Hakim when the collision occurred. Coroner Louise Hunt said: “An estimation of speed indicated a
minimum of 56mph in a 40mph limit and the deceased was an inexperienced rider.” Following on from Mr Fazil’s death, a charity appeal in his memory raised more than £7,500 to build a well for the victims of the war in Syria.
Worrying rise in cases of domestic violence INCIDENTS of domestic violence remain a cause for concern across North Solihull, a new report suggests. Crime figures compiled for last year show that 1,173 offences were recorded across the borough, an increase of 15 per cent.
In Chelmsley Wood there were 41 incidents in January to March – the highest number out of the 17 wards which make up Solihull. During the same three-month period, there were 40 offences in Kingshurst & Fordbridge and 32 in Smith’s Wood.
Bob’s our new Deputy Mayor MARSTON Green man Bob Sleigh has been appointed as the Deputy Mayor for the West Midlands. Coun Sleigh, who is also the leader of Solihull Council, was chosen for the role following the election of Conservative Mayor Andy Street earlier this month. Mr Street, who beat Labour’s Sion Simon in a close contest, said he was “delighted” Coun Sleigh had accepted the offer to be his right hand man.
Councillor’s year at the top CASTLE Bromwich councillor Mike Robinson has reflected on his 12 months as Mayor. Coun Robinson handed over the chains of office to his successor, Stuart Davis, at the first Full Council meeting of the new municipal year. Having previously said he wanted to bridge the generation gap, the outgoing Mayor said that he had been delighted to meet the borough’s young people.
The report, presented to Solihull Council this month, suggests that support services for victims have been stretched to breaking point. As previously reported in Other Side of Solihull, an additional £640,000 has been released by the Government to help deal with the problem across the West Midlands. But the document suggests this extra help may be offset by a redistribution of resources by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Summarising the situation, the report claimed services were working “at full capacity” and that while staff were prioritising the most serious cases, demand still “heavily outweighed” the help available. The difficulties facing the support network have been well-publicised both locally and nationwide. Last month it was reported that the number of cases reaching court across the region had in fact fallen last year – largely due to a lack of evidence or victims withdrawing support for charges. Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “We know that not all survivors Current members of the STARS programme. of domestic abuse want a criminal justice outcome. “However, what these figures show is that, for those who do, there is still a very real culture of victim-blaming and fear that stops survivors PROMISING young Current beneficiaries from accessing justice.” sports stars are being include the Team GB Other key findings from the encouraged to apply for water polo player Safer Solihull report included: a scheme which provides Helen Mockler and Julie l There were a total of a 12-month pass to Whiting, an under 21s 13,626 offences reported North Solihull Sports hockey player. across the borough in Centre. 2016/17. Applications are now l Castle Brom remains one The Solihull Talented open for 2017/18 and the of the hotspots for burglaries, Athletes Recognition deadline for paperwork with 38 break-ins in the final Scheme (STARS) was set to be returned is Friday, quarter. up following the London June 9. Visit www. l Chelmsley Wood saw the 2012 Olympics to help solihullactive.co.uk for highest level of vehicle crime local hopefuls. more information. in the borough.
Year’s free pass to sports centre for young STARS
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