Pink Flamingos by Julie Hyde

Let’s have a little fun with cling film and watercolours. You will need watercolour paper and paints and a couple of pieces of cling film.

1. Lightly draw the flamingo heads and necks.

2. Get two pieces of Cling Film or soft plastic ready, making sure that they fit the bird’s body. Mix puddles of:Light Blue

Darker Blue

Orangey Red

Crimson

With a mop brush, wet all the paper with clean water so it stays glossy wet. Add patches of the various colours, adding more of the reds down the neck and into the body. While this is still wet, drop the cling film onto the body, encouraging it to crease in the direction of the feathers. LET IT DRY.

3. Head and neck. Using small puddles of:-

Orangey Red

Crimson

Alizarin Crimson + Ultramarine Blue (strong dark red/purple)

With a small brush, carefully dampen the face and neck with clean water and then tickle in the Orangey Red, leaving the front edge light and, while this is still wet, add a little Alizarin Crimson and the reddish purple to the shadowy areas. You may want to put cling film back on the bottom of the neck. Add a little weak red to the bill. Repeat on the second bird. LET IT DRY

4. Bill and details. On to dry paper, add the eye with a little:Yellow

Add the bill and the iris in the eye on to dry paper with:Ultramarine Blue + a touch of Burnt Umber (or Indigo)

Add a hint of the legs with a weak:Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson

5. Flick on a little of the reds around the body.

Art Classes for all!

Watercolour painting classes with Julie Hyde are held in Meriden Village Hall on Wednesday mornings and afternoons. Also Zoom classes are available on Thursday mornings.

For more information email:artyjulie39@gmail.com or phone 01676 523357

Hosting a ‘route tour’ and running a STEM works hop for the 2nd Balsall C ommon Scout g roup in April We were excited to welcome them to our Park Lane site, where they were given a thorough safety induction and a virtual route tour using helicopter footage, then introduced to some of our young employees working on the project The route tour began at the new village Hall in Burton Green, then visited Cromwell Lane where they saw the piling works and the Burton Green Tunnel south entrance and continued via the Kenilworth Greenway to Waste Lane. They finished the tour by investigating some of the environmental measures put in place to protect wildlife, such as newt and amphibian fencing, bird scarers and attenuation ponds To round off the trip, BBV Skills, Employment and Education (SEE) colleagues then ran an interactive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) session This encouraged the scouts to build structures with Meccano and perform problem solving activities, and we hope that it inspired some of engineers of the future!

Hosting a Balsall C ommon Viaduct Feedback event HS2 and BBV held a feedback event in Feb to showcase how we have incorporated community feedback in our latest plans for the Balsall Common Viaduct Over 250 people came to view the plans and ask questions. Our plans focus on environmental sustainability, landscape integration, visual connectivity, and public access. We will soon be inviting residents of Meriden to see how we have incorporated their feedback into the designs of the River Blythe Viaduct.

You are invited

We are holding drop-in sessions on Jun 22nd , Jul 27th and Aug 24th , from 2-4pm, in Balsall Common Library, where a member of your local Community Engagement team will be on hand to meet you and answer any questions Scan the QR code to find out more You do not need to arrange an appointment We look forward to seeing you there

Dates for Hoistin g the Flag o n

Meriden G reen: -

17th June – Official Birthday of H is Majesty th e King

21st June - Birthday of the Prince of Wales

24th June – Armed Forc ed Day

17th July – Birthday of Queen Camila

15th August – B irthday of the Princess

Royal

Visualisation of completed Balsall Common Viaduct

Solihull Council has received funding through the Home Upgrade Grant to support properties who do not use gas as their primary source of heating We are working with our partners Act O n Energy, a registered charity, to support this scheme

Two events are being held at Meriden Pavilion for residents to attend, to talk through the new funding or gain some energy advice. These events are:

For the funding, your home may be eligible if you are not using mains gas for heating. If you are a homeowner and your property meets the criteria needed, this would be a fully funded scheme without requiring private match funding. Private rented and social rented homes are funded differently; however, they may still be included. We can discuss options with your landlord, who can call Act on Energy to discuss further. Only properties that have an Energy Performance Certificate Rating (EPC) of D-G are eligible. If you don’t know your EPC rating, we can check this. If your property doesn’t have an Energy Performance Certificate, we can carry out a free assessment for you. More information will be available closer to the dates.

Bubbles Hand Car Wash

Quality Hand Car Cleaning

Find us off the A45 in Meriden

Phone 07538 238 005

Open 9.00am - 7.00pm, 7 days a week

Price depends on car size but starts from £10 for wash and leather dry, or £20 for inside and out, including full vacuum, windows and dashboard.

Please note that we only accept Cash

** £2 OFF when you show the Meriden Mag **

Please be aware that the entrance from Shepherds Lane is closed. This means that motorists from Meriden need to drive to the Stonebridge Island and U-turn back towards Meriden to access us from the A45.

*Dog Walker * Pet Sitting Services

DBS Checked, Insured & Pet First Aid

Qualified

Email : tilliestailwaggingwalkies@gmail.com

Website: www.tilliestailwaggingwalkies.co.uk

Rural Group Walks, Individual Solo

Walks, P uppy Visits & P et Sitting

Contact Dawn NOW to book your dog in

Telephone :07 825 68 4 539

Richard Naughton Bespoke

Joinery

*WINDOWS* *DOORS*

*PORCHES* *STAIRS*

*GREEN OAK PORCHES*

Traditio nal and contemporary bespoke work

Free quotes

Call 07836

3388 14 and leave a message rich ardnaughton@ live.co.uk

Tippers H ill, Fillongley CV7 8DJ

Lavender Hall Lane Berkswell CV7 7BN

01676 530 299 / 07949 119 436

Cafe open to the public from 8.30am – 1.30pm 7 days a week

Serving hot and cold food

Specialising in an all-day Breakfast

We look forward to serving you, come and visit us soon.

Gates open at 7.30am close at dusk

CAMEO meets at the Village Hall, usually on the 4th Friday of each month at 2 – 4 pm

Please contact Joan Tel: 01676 522666 for more information. Everyone will be made very welcome.

Here’s what we’ve been up to.

In March, we went for a meal at the Cottage in Fillongley. As usual, the food was very good and the staff pleased to see us. We have been going to The Cottage for a while now and the staff know us. We were all having such a good time nobody remembered to take any photographs. Whoops !!!!!.

In April, we celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III. Our theme was his love of plants. So we had a demonstration of what to plant in a pot or hanging basket. Who would have thought we would be doing this so soon after the Platinum Jubilee of our dear

Queen? God Save the King!

In May, the fire service came to give us a talk on fire safety. As usual, when we have a talk from any of the emergency services, we always learn something. We must take our safety seriously and do whatever is advised. The fire service is such a vital service to us all but we hope we never need to use them.

Summer Meetings are planned as follows: -

June 23th - Our outing this year is to Planters Garden Centre A mini bus will be used for this visit

July 28th - We will be having our usual strawberries and cream as well as our favourite poems or readings Aug 25th - We plan to have an outdoor meeting at the Pavilion and will be serving scones with jam and cream and cakes If the weather is not good, we shall be inside

News from HS2 Action Group

Three months ago, opinions on HS2 planning applications were getting heated. Now, the applications are still in the works, and one has to sympathise with the Planning Officers, wrestling to square the ‘fait accompli’ attitude of HS2 Ltd. with the demand from Parliament for "a truly consultative approach. with an element of dialogue and choice, not a one-way information flow"

The Q.C. representing the Department for Transport had promised "the community will be engaged in the emerging designs, before those designs have actually been locked down" Well, we are where we are: no options have been offered, so it's pointless trying to discern public preferences It turns out that, whilst a lot more architectural thought went into the viaduct in the Colne Valley than those round here, Hillingdon Council objected to the "value engineering" of the original architect's concept However, the Planning Inspectorate ruled against them with the words: "the submission design would be a landmark structure which achieves a high degree of elegance and sophistication" . So the design being constructed in London meets all the function and value requirements of HS2 Ltd. and has been approved by the ultimate Planning authority. That design is an option that could, and should, have been offered as an alternative to the hideous overbearing concrete proposals deemed suitable for the Midlands.

Our problem is symptomatic of the way the project has been run from the start. Whether by choice or necessity, HS2 Ltd. seems to have sub-contracted everything. Everything. The lack of continuity and responsibility is evident in their inability to deliver key features of the project, the cost and schedule over-runs, the broken promises, the lack of supervision and coordination, and the broken complaints system. We lost the link to the Channel Tunnel. We lost the link to Heathrow. We lost the link to the East Midlands We're even losing the link to Euston

What of the legal agreement with Solihull to minimise the loss of trees? Their contractors were paid to fell the lot, and paid again when they sent the wood for chipping. What of the limit of 24 truck movements a day per site? They pretend all the others are going to other sites What of the Ofcom guidance on blockage of TV and phone signals? Apparently, a 15 metre high viaduct won't block anything. How about a viaduct with neat piers and transparent noise barriers? We don't live in London, so hard luck!

And when the trains start running in ten years’ time, where are the passengers? Sorry, the guilty have emigrated/ gone to the Lords/ died/ have no recollection (or any combination of those)

Richard Lloyd – Chairman H of E High Speed Railway Action Group

Your ward councillors continue to support individual residents where possible, but believe it best to work with Meriden Parish Council on matters of community-wide interest. We write here about three topics upon which we are jointly working with the PC.

The Quarries

We have re-established the quarry liaison group. The first meeting was packed with representatives of the quarries and we had to get more chairs on two occasions. Chaired by ward Councillor Burrow, three representatives from the Parish Council and three from Solihull Council also attended. A working group was established to plant more Trees and eco areas. It was also reported that A & A Recycling are to submit a planning application to bring much of their shredding operation inside a building, as well as other dust reduction measures. Opportunities for sponsorship of community facilities were also discussed.

Orcas and cycle lanes

Whilst your ward councillors support cycle lanes, the Orcas have prevented proper road sweeping and prevent cyclists safely riding around debris and other road imperfections. We also consider that they represent a hazard to cyclists and cars because they are not easy to see in all conditions, such as darkness and snow. Experience indicates that they can be partially or fully dislodged by traffic. They are a good solution in the right place, but in our opinion, the trial has not been a success in Meriden. We are therefore collecting evidence of the issues for the review that will take place this summer. Part of that “evidence” is community feedback. We have a petition that we would like residents to sign. We are doing some door-to-door signature collection but not everyone is in. To register your support for the removal of the Orcas, please go to this website and sign the petition electronically. www.solihullboroughconservatives.org.uk/campaigns

Flooding at Millisons Wood – Birmingham Road

We are pleased to advise that consultants are to be commissioned to look at the drainage issues on the Birmingham Road, where, on occasions, water spurts up from, rather than goes down the drains. Solihull Council have appointed a new drainage expert in their Highways Team and this will be one of his first projects. It is a difficult issue that has existed since the estates were built, further complicated by the main road being in Coventry where the homes are in Solihull. At least it will be looked at anew and potentially improvements found.

A message from our new Councillor, Heather

Delaney

I would like to thank all of those in Meriden Ward, who entrusted me with their vote in the local elections. I am delighted to have been elected as one of your ward councillors and I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that I will work with passion and dedication to make the Meriden ward an even better place to live. I have lived in Solihull for the majority of my life and in Meriden Ward for the last 10 years with my husband and my two teenage children (and our many pets!).

In my working life, I work to change and improve services for children and young people with additional needs, in Solihull, regionally and nationally. I see the difference, on a day-to-day basis, that working together can achieve and I want to bring this experience of working in a collaborative and solution focused manner to helping more people!

I am currently awaiting my council email address, so cannot share it with you at this point. However, I am sure it will be available on the council website soon.

Please, if I can help or support you in any way, do get in touch.

Heather Delaney

Meriden Sports and Recreational Trust continues to support local non-commercial groups by providing small grants to be spent developing their sporting, recreational and leisure projects. Recent grants provided to local groups include the Chat and Craft Group, Meriden Flower Club and Meriden Play Group. For more info about making your group’s own application please visit our website www.meridensrt.org.uk

Recently the Trust has provided a small grant to Heart of England Aeromodellers towards a shelter providing members with protection from seasonal weather conditions. The shelter is shown opposite with Terry Dingley, Club Chairperson and David Buckland, Trustee.

T hanks to Councillor Diane Howell

I t was with regret that ward Councillor Howell stood down at the May elections. She has relocated to Dorset to be near her Mum who has been very ill. The wonders of modern teleworking have enabled her to continue to work for the same employer but you cannot represent Meriden from Dorset. At the time of going to press, the election was pending. We are thankful to Diane whose energy solved many a problem across the varied communities that make up Meriden Ward.

A message from Diane Howell

It’s been a privilege to represent the residents of Meriden and Millison’s Wood for the last 4 years and I’d like to thank all the residents and organisations who have reached out to me. In particular I’d like to thank Meriden Parish Council: under Rosie Weaver’s Chair they have done some amazing work to support and sustain the community, including establishing the Covid Support Network and steering the Neighbourhood Development Plan through to adoption. It’s been a pleasure to work with the Parish Council and I wish Rosie and Vice Chair Jon Barber well as they stand down after many years’ service. I have also made the difficult decision to step down as changes to my work meant I would no longer be able to devote the time the role required. I would like to congratulate Cllr Heather Delaney on her election; she will work closely with Cllrs Andrew Burrow and Tony Dicicco to continue to represent you all.

Diane Howell

Pro posal fro m Pac kington Es ta te – Q uarry conv ersion to ne w Country

Following decades of mineral extractio n and subsequ ent inert filling, the site o wner, Packington Estate Enterp rises Ltd. and quarry operator, NRS Ltd ., are tu rning their attention to the future use of the former sand and gravel quarry area located i mmediately west of Meriden village. Th e qu arry area in i ts totality extend s to c irca 100 acres and, whilst the site is largely tree-lined, there is the opportunity to create an excitin g p roposition fo r Meriden, with the ability to shape th e remaining fill and deliver a new place. Whilst i t is acknowledged that the current op eration will co ntinue for circa seven years, i t is important to have a shared vision to ensure the landfo rm is sculp tured into space that is usable.

Early D esigns - Th e two parties h ave pro duced a concept design for a country p ark that will h ave access lin ks to Meriden village and the neighbouring Stonebridge Golf Centre and Somers F ishery. The intentio n is to c reate a coun try park wi th extensive walk s around a lake that will h ave views over the surrounding coun tryside, ample parking for visitors and visitor facilities to include refresh men ts and WC s. Th ere will be oppo rtunities to deliver other outdoo r activities th at will complemen t the park.

In additi on to the country park, the vision in cludes the delivery of a business village that will aim to attract local start-up companies th at will create jobs and h elp drive th e rural economy. Th e income generated will contribute to wards the upkeep of the park.

Th e concept design was presented, and w as well received at the Meriden Annu al Parish Assembly on 24th Ap ril and there will b e fu rther opportunities to engage wi th the design as it matures over th e coming month s and years.

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