Illuminating Woodcock Lane

Stewart and I have been working very hard on keeping Woodcock Lane at the top of the list for urgent replacement of the streetlighting on the road, pushing Amey to prioritise it, given that it is probably the worst lit street in the ward and has some blocks of accommodation used by our most vulnerable residents.

I'm delighted that we can now announce that this is about to start.

The work is due to start on the 13 May and is scheduled to take about 30 days in total, working between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, with the possibility of some Saturday work. It isn't unusual for there to be a delay between the new columns being installed and for the connection to the power supply to be completed - this part of it is done by electricity operator and not Amey, so has to work to their timetable.

The new lamp posts will be installed towards the back of the pavement so that they cast light across both the road carriageway and the footpath.  This also means that they are less likely to be hit by motorists. The new lamps will be LED types, which save up to 60% on energy bills and because they direct the light downwards - where it is actually used - they reduce light pollution. The difference is striking.

Streetworks - Elton Grove - footway repairs

The length of Elton Grove from Fox Green Crescent to the end. Patch repairs will be carried out using asphalt as part of the 5 year upgrade of Birmingham's highways. This is expected to start during the week commencing 12 November and is expected to last for up to two weeks, being carried out between 7:30am and 5pm weekdays, with the possibility of Saturday work as well.

Access will be maintained to homes, but there may be times when it is temporarily restricted. When they are working on your stretch of footpath, please make sure that cars aren't parked alongside.

If you have any further queries, you can let me know or contact Amey directly on 0121 303 6644.

Woodcock Lane and Yarnfield Road improvements well under way

Both of these important projects are now well under way. The Woodcock Lane improvements are designed to help slow traffic heading towards the bridge and to improve crossing facilities for residents in the flats, so that they can have easier and level access across the road using the new build-outs.

Yarnfield Road is now one-way from Walden Road to the junction with Briarfield and works are well under way to calm that short stretch of road and make it safer for children attending Yarnfield School.

Streetworks Update

A couple of projects kicking off at the moment.

The most important one is the works down on Yarnfield Road around the school. To improve road safety for pupils and local residents, the road is to be made one way and traffic calming added from Walden Road to Briarfield Road. This is long overdue and I have been pushing on this with Highways since I won back in May. This was due to start on Wednesday, but the contractor has been delayed and will now be starting work on Monday.

Secondly, work is about to start around the Woodcock Lane junction, installing raised paving to provide level access for residents in Needwood House and hopefully act as something of a deterrent to drivers speeding towards the narrow, one-way bridge over the railway. This was due to start today, but has been delayed for about a week as a temporary traffic order will be required to close the road during working hours. I'll be following this up with the Highways team, as access will be difficult to properties in the road if this is the case.

Streetworks Update - Greswolde Park Road Footpaths

As part of Amey's ongoing refurbishment of the City's road network, the pavements in Greswolde Park Road are to be resurfaced. This work is due to take place in the week starting the 22 June and planned to take about two weeks, with work scheduled during normal daylight hours 7:30-17:00, with Saturday working a possibility. 


Access to properties may be restricted from time to time while the work is being carried out, but residents should be able to get to and from their properties. The contractors do ask that when they are working on your section of footpath that you don't park on the road outside your home.


If this is going to cause any resident problems, they need to get in touch with the contractors on 0121 303 6644. 


If there are any houses in the road without a dropped kerb to allow access to off street parking, there is a special deal whereby this can be installed for just £150 - a significant saving over the normal cost. This applies for a crossing covering up to 3m of footpath from the kerb line to your property. If you wish to have this done, you need to contact the City Council helpline on 0121 303 6644 before the resurfacing work starts - so don't delay. 


Dropped kerbs can only be installed where there is a hardstanding area to the garden or where planning permission has already been obtained. Planning permission must be obtained for all hardstanding areas and you need to contact the planning office on 0121 303 1115 to discuss this. 


There are reasons why kerbs cannot be dropped:

• If there are trees/utility boxes or manhole covers/street lights/cables in the way
• If the depth of the garden from the rear of the public footpath to the building is less than 4.75m
• Crossings cannot be installed on a bend, at traffic lights or on a road junction.

Also worth pointing out that the current planned highways works programme is being reviewed at the moment - I should have the new version within a few weeks.