Road repairs - Shirley Road

And still we resurface the roads - Shirley Road from Olton Boulevard to the Warwick Road (into the Green).

The work is scheduled to start during the week of the 18-22 November 2013. It is expected to take up to five days and the crews will be working on site on weekdays between 9:30am and 4pm. Amey will put signs on the road to confirm the precise start date.

As vehicles can't drive over hot tarmac, the section of the road affected will be closed to all traffic while surfacing is being carried out.

Please check with bus operators regarding diversions.

If you require access for medical/personal reasons, you can contact Amey on 0121 303 6644 (option 2), to discuss how access can be arranged. Pedestrian access will be maintained as well as access for emergency vehicles. That number can also be used for any other questions that you might have. 

During working hours, it will not be possible to park on the road. Cars left will have to be removed and this may incur a cost to the registered keeper. There are also likely to be speed and width restrictions while the work is carried out, as well as road closures. 

Sorry for the inconvenience, but this work needs to be done and is usually completed well within the time allocated. 

Acocks Green Library Update

Another site meeting yesterday and another progress report.

The top roof is now almost complete and delivery of the first set of three replacement skylights is due within the week. The new double-glazing units are coated to reflect heat, so will offer additional energy saving over the current plain glass panels.

Weather has taken about three days' work out of the project so far, but there is enough slack at the moment so that the repairs should complete on time before Christmas. It is not likely, however, given the time for handover and recommissioning of the library, that it will reopen to the public until after Christmas.

Time to switch governments.

Consultation - Bus route changes through Acocks Green

CENTRO/Network West Midlands are reviewing some of the bus routes that currently operate through Acocks Green. You can find full details of their proposals affecting all routes here, but in summary, here are the ones around Acocks Green:

2/3 - City Centre - Yardley Wood - Warstock - Maypole - Shirley - Acocks Green
Problem/Idea: It has been suggested that instead of travelling into the City Centre via the Stratford Road, one or both of these routes should operate via Wake Green Road
Options: Either or both services could operate on a changed route via Moseley. Replacement local services would then operate between the City Centre, Stoney Lane, Showell Green Lane and Sparkhill. Route changes between the City Centre and Sparkhill.

3 - City Centre - Yardley Wood - Slade Lane - Gospel Oak - Acocks Green
Problem/Idea: Only a small number of people travel to Acocks Green on this service and it only touches the edge of the shopping area in Shirley
Options: Change the route so that the 3 serves more of Shirley High Street instead of Acocks Green. The route could then serve the Green Business Park (off Dog Kennel Lane) or extend to Solihull. By making this change to the 3, they could introduce a new express bus service between Shirley, Gospel Oak, Acocks Green and the City Centre. This route could be operated via Yardley Road and then the Small Heath Highway. Alternatives would be via Kings Road or Golden Hillock Road.

31/31A - City Centre - Stratford Road - Acocks Green - Shirley/Solihull
Problem/Idea: They are looking an option to change these services so that all buses operate through to Solihull - every 15 minutes during the day.
Options: Would it be better for all buses to operate via Stratford Road between Robin Hood Island and Shirley (like the 31A) or via Streetsbrook Road and Olton Road (like the 31). We would also like to know whether our customers would like a faster service between Gospel Oak and Birmingham City Centre.

If you have views on this, you can either submit them through the web page; by email or by attending one of the exhibitions:

Sat 2 November 9am - 3pm - High Street, Birmingham city centre

Tuesday 12 November 12pm - 6pm - by Marks and Spencer in Solihull town centre

The consultation ends on the 15 November 2013 and any agreed changes are likely to start in February 2014.

Feel free to copy me in on your views too. A little more detail would be helpful, but the implication of these proposals is that 3 would cease to serve Acocks Green, but that a new route would be created running from Shirley, past the Gospel Oak, through Acocks Green and on to the City Centre on a fast route.

20s Plenty Consultation Opens - have your say

Consultation has just opened on plans to reduce speed limits on 90% of Birmingham's roads.

I spoke in Council about this last year - you can read my argument in support of the change here.

Pop across to the council website, read the arguments and let us know your views.

The roll-out will take around 7 years to complete and will largely consist of 20mph limits - signed only - although a very few areas may also get zoned, with additional traffic calming measures. We will prioritise those areas where the risks are highest - that coincides with areas of deprivation - but if other areas are having improvements made (rather like the Warwick Road), then we won't waste the opportunity. This will save lives and reduce injuries.

There's also a chance to meet the project team at Fox Hollies Forum on Greenwood Avenue when they hold a drop-in session on Wednesday 13 November between 3pm and 7pm.

Update on Acocks Green Post Office

The Post Office have issued their proposals for changes in Kings Heath - the branch there is to be relocated into their WH Smiths. 

There are no current proposals for Acocks Green, so at the moment, there is no change planned. 

Diary Date - Acocks Green Ward Committee

Acocks Green Ward Committee
Wednesday 23 October 2013 - 7pm
Fox Hollies Forum, Greenwood Avenue, Acocks Green

Key items on the agenda:

• Update on Conservation area
• Our conservation architect specialist will be attending
• Service Reviews
• A well managed and resilient city
• Developing a successful and inclusive economy
• Support services part II
• Developing successful and inclusive communities
• You can find out more about the service reviews in general here. 
• Environmental health update
• Planning Applications

Planning Applications to the 19 October

Just another two.

2013/07625/PA - 9 Greswolde Park Road, Acocks Green, B27 6QD
Erection of two-storey and single story rear extensions.

2013/07748/PA - 254 The Avenue, Acocks Green, B27 6NU
Erection of single storey rear extension

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Road resurfacing - Broom Hall Grove, Fanshawe Road, Liddon Grove

More roads in Acocks Green are to be resurfaced -
Broom Hall Grove from Broom Hall Crescent to roundabout
Fanshawe Road from Circular Road to Pool Farm Road
Liddon Grove from Nailstone Crescent to the school gates

Cracks and joints in the concrete roads will be repaired.

The work is scheduled to start during the week of the 28 October - 1 November 2013. It is expected to take up to five days and the crews will be working on site on weekdays between 8am and 6pm. Amey will put signs on the roads to confirm the precise start date.

As vehicles can't drive over hot tarmac, the section of the roads affected will be closed to all traffic while surfacing is being carried out.

If you require access for medical/personal reasons, you can contact Amey on 0121 303 6644 (option 2), to discuss how access can be arranged. Pedestrian access will be maintained as well as access for emergency vehicles. That number can also be used for any other questions that you might have. 

During working hours, it will not be possible to park on the roads. Cars left will have to be removed and this may incur a cost to the registered keeper. There are also likely to be speed and width restrictions while the work is carried out, as well as road closures. 

Sorry for the inconvenience, but this work needs to be done and is usually completed well within the time allocated.