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HISTORIC QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD ‘DEPOT’ SET TO BE AUCTIONED, DESPITE COMMUNITY OPPOSITION A historic building in Queensbridge Road linked to the Cadbury family is set to be sold in a public auction, following a recommendation made by a key committee of Birmingham City Council. The recommendation that the Queensbridge Road depot be put up for auction will come as a blow to the Moseley and Kings Heath Shed, a community group who have repeatedly expressed a wish to occupy the depot building and seek a ‘community asset transfer’ by which the Council would lease the building to them. Queensbridge Road depot was built as part of the estate of Uffculme Hall, which was built by Richard Cadbury. The depot building was then inherited by Mr Cadbury’s daughter Helen. The building became Council property and was used as a vehicle workshop for the Council’s Parks department until 2010. It has remained empty since then. The depot is of historic interest because it is where Helen Cadbury founded the Pocket Testament League when she was a Moseley schoolgirl. The Pocket Testament League was responsible for printing and distributing 110 million pocket-sized bibles across the English-speaking world, and there is evidence that the first bibles for the League were actually printed in the Queensbridge Road depot, so many local historians regard it as a special site which should be saved. Moseley and Kings Heath Shed charity, the group interested in occupying the depot, has the objective of providing a community workshop for people over the age of 50, where they create and mend items, but also make new friends. The Shed is currently located in The Old Potting Shed, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath Park. Martin Mullaney, who is chair of the Shed, has said: “The Shed in Kings Heath Park is bursting at the seams since it is so popular. Every week there are sessions in stained glass construction, tile mosaics, furniture restoration, woodwork and drawing classes. If the Shed occupied Queensbridge Road depot, it would allow us to expand into extra

activities such as pottery, metalwork and toy steam engines. The outside would be available for horticultural projects and we would provide space for the volunteers of Highbury Orchard. We would also be interested in converting the front hall section of the building into a community theatre space. “From our external and partial internal examination of the building, we believe the cost of repair would be appropriately £100k, which we would seek to fund via various grants available to us. Even if refurbishing this building was too much for the Shed to do, it would be great to see some community organisation take it on. I’m afraid that the depot will most likely be bought by a property developer, who will demolish the depot and build houses there.” A petition to save the depot was set up two years ago and is at https://www.change. org/p/birmingham-save-queensbridge-roaddepot-buildings-the-historic-site-of-thepocket-testament-league. So far 66 people have signed it.

Martin Mullaney

MOSELEY MAN CHARGED WITH DOUBLE MURDER As we went to press a Moseley man had been charged with the murder of two women in Belle Walk on Monday16 March. Tamer Moustafa, from Belle Walk, was charged and appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 18 March where he was remanded to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 20 March. The 40-year-old is accused of killing his wife, 43-year-old Nelly Moustafa, at their home address and their 52-year-old neighbour Zahida Bi. Nelly Moustafa was found with stab wounds at her home in Moseley. Post mortem examinations have been carried out Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police by calling 101 anytime. Please quote log number 1212 of 16 March. ebds

MORE THAN 500 CANNABIS PLANTS FOUND IN CHURCH ROAD CUL-DE-SAC A “cannabis growing facility” with more than 500 plants has been discovered in Grayfield Avenue, a cul-de-sac off Church Road in North East Moseley. The discovery of the drugs was made by staff working for the UK Immigration Service. The plants were at various stages of growth and discovered in the loft of the premises. Investigations are ongoing. In another drugs related investigation in Moseley, West Midlands Police reported “a positive result” after executing a drugs warrant assisted by Operational Support Unit on an address in Anderton Park Road. A large amount of controlled drugs and cash were seized. Investigations are also said to be on-going. At time of going to press there were no further details of either of the two drugs related incidents.

MOSELEY IN BLOOM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS AND MORE GARDENS IN NORTH MOSELEY Moseley in Bloom (MiB), the charity that helps to keep Moseley looking lovely, is keen to hear from anyone who has a few hours to spare. They are particularly looking for someone who is a whizz at admin., and commitment levels would be entirely up to you. The group says it will take any time you can spare. Helping MiB is a great way to be part of the local community: there are loads of different initiatives going on and it is an opportunity to meet new people. You don’teven have to be able to garden, you just have to want Moseley to remain an attractive place in which to work and live.For further details please contact Amy Maclean, Co-Chair, Moseley in Bloom, on 07712 877689 or email her at amy.maclean@moseleyinbloom.org.uk. Moseley in Bloom is excited to announce that this year’s Open Gardens event will take place on the weekend of June 27 and 28. They are aiming to introduce some new gardens this year and are particularly looking for gardens in North Moseley, in Woodstock Road, Queenswood Road, Bloomfield Road, Sandford Road, Merton Road, Mayfield Road and Anderton Park Road. They already have the offer of a never-before-opened garden in Cadbury Road but need another two in the vicinity to make a coherent destination for visitors.MiB stresses it is not looking for “show gardens”. Rather, this is a community event which aims to reveal something of the great variety of gardens, large and small, to be found in Moseley. An individual garden would be open on one of the two days between 1.00 pm and 5.30 pm. Full support from MiB includes ticket sales, publicity and volunteer assistance on the day as well as liability insurance to cover any claims for damage. If you are interested and would like further details please contact Kate Stocks on 07853 244917 or email her at kate@moseleyinbloom.org.uk.

MUSACH IS ON THE MOVE One of Moseley’s most long-standing businesses, Musach Beauty and Nail Salon, which has been based in its present premises at 144 Alcester Road for around 20 years, has moved. The salon is now based at a new location in Balsall Heath at 28 George St. The phone number remains the same – 0121 449 0358. Ian Cook Moseley B13 Magazine