July 2008

The Arden Residents Association

NEWSLETTER JULY 2008

There is a lot going on in Acocks Green at the moment , all of which is of interest or concern to us all. 

·        We have a Town Centre Manager, Melinda Brown, who has been appointed to help improve Acocks Green as a shopping area – she works with local traders and local groups and is running a project called “Putting the Green into Acocks Green”.   If you are interested in being involved contact Melinda Brown on 07823 534935.

·        A proposal for a Conservation Area, covering most of Acocks Green, has been submitted to the Conservation Department by the Acocks Green Focus Group (see below).

·        Eastbourne House School has closed and a developer has submitted a proposal to erect 14 houses on the site.   For more information visit www.acocksgreenfocusgroup.org.uk  

COMMUNITY GARDENING – TIDYING ROUND THE TREE

You may have noticed the addition of flower baskets and planting in Acocks Green village.   This work has been undertaken by members of the local community with funds generously donated by businesses in the area.   Now members of the Arden Residents Association are planning some forthcoming “community gardening” on our patch.  

The first event will be to tidy the whole area  around the Arden Road oak tree.   This will take place on the morning of Sunday 14th September from 8.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m. to avoid traffic.  If any residents wish to assist they are welcome!   Please bring a pair of gardening gloves and wear bright/high visibility clothes – green refuse bags are welcome too!   Hopefully we will have access to litter picking sticks.   Unfortunately, it is best if children are not brought along due to occasional irresponsible drivers that use the road as a racetrack!   But if you have only 15 minutes and one green bag it will help.  

And remember, you will be able to sit back and relax at the annual BBQ that same afternoon!   We hope there will be further projects which will include Autumn planting and a “plant swap” in Spring next year.   If you have any offers or suggestions we would love to hear them. 

LINKS WITH HAZELWOOD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Some of you may be aware of the work that the Hazelwood Residents’ Association has done to improve the look of Hazelwood Road – in fact, in 2007 they won an award from the Royal Horticultural Society as part of their Neighbourhood Award Scheme.   

As a result of our wish to improve our area and also to link into the “greening the Green”  project, we recently had a visit from two of their members, who walked around our patch and gave us many ideas for improving the look of our roads, from litter picking to planting in small areas of ground.   They kindly gave us some snowdrops to start us off and we shall be planting those in the near future.  

 If you have any suggestions for locations for these, please let us know.  They also offered to help us once we get started.   As mentioned above, we are starting in a small way by cleaning up around the tree.   We do hope some of you will get involved.    

CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT FOR ACOCKS GREEN

The Acocks Green Focus Group is trying to set up a Conservation area for Acocks Green.  The introduction to their submission to the Conservation Department states that:“Acocks Green exemplifies the historical growth of the City of Birmingham more effectively than any other suburb. “They feel that the character of  “the Green”  relates to the Victorian development around Acocks Green Railway station and  other residential and commercial developments between the 1850s and the Second World War.   

They are concerned at the number of recent developments that have undermined the character of the area and the fact that there appears to be substantial pressure for even more inappropriate development.   A conservation area would help to put a curb on this. For more information on this project please contact: jon.214morris@bt.internet.com  or stewart_Stacey_2000@yahoo.co.uk  

A.G.M

The Annual General Meeting of Arden Residents’ Association took place on Tuesday 6th May last.   The current committee members were all re-elected. Alan Nicholson presented the Chairman’s report, bringing members up-to-date with the matters dealt with by the Committee in the last year – planning applications, traffic problems, events,  etc.   He also reported on our links with the Acocks Green Focus Group (see above) and Hazelwood Residents’ Association (see above), and the Ward Advisory Board. 

Jane Somervell presented the Treasurer’s Report.   The balance in the Association account as at 31.12.07 was £410.35, much of this raised at the annual Barbecues. 

The meeting was also attended by the new Town Centre Manager for Acocks Green, Melinda Brown, who explained that her role is to encourage more people to shop in Acocks Green by liaising with local traders and local groups to create a better Acocks Green. She spends her time 50/50 with traders and local groups and is currently involved in the planting scheme around the village. 

We wish to thank the City Mission for allowing us to use their hall for our meeting and Mandy Cadge for providing very tasty Indian snacks as welcoming refreshments. A copy of the minutes and reports can be found on our website – see below. 

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

You will be aware of the recent applications made by E.H. Smith for 42-44 Flint Green Road and also for their now vacated building on the corner of Flint Green and Sherbourne Roads.  Permission to develop the site at 42-44 Flint Green Road was granted by the Planning Department but the application to develop the corner of Flint Green and Sherbourne Roads has recently been withdrawn.   There is  currently no news of either site and we understand that E.H. Smith may have been taken over by another company.  We await further developments. 

TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE PLANS

We continue to be thwarted in our efforts to get any response to our efforts in this direction.  Despite numerous emails and phone calls we get no replies from the Highways Department, even with regard to the traffic count which was recently carried out.   We shall be making yet another formal complaint to the Department. 

THE SENSITIVE ISSUE OF DOG MESS

 After several complaints about this issue, including one at the AGM, the City Dog Wardens have been contacted and they have agreed to do the following: Wardens will walk the area and can take appropriate action (e.g. fines) if: -         dog owners do not clean up any dog mess,-       dog does not have a collar with name and address of owner attached. They will also distribute leaflets in the area. 

N.B.  Bhatia Wines, 908 Warwick Road (Arden Road/Warwick Road service roads) has agreed to hold a supply of dog bags to hand out to customers with dogs.   We wish to thank them for helping out with this matter. 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

 We have recently set up a website for the Association.   Keep up with what is on in our area by visiting www.e-voice.org.uk/ardenresidents 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

 Tidy the Tree morning:   Sunday 14th September, 8.00 am – 11.00 am.   Come and help if you can – bring gardening gloves and bright /high visibility clothing.

Barbecue:   Sunday, 14th September at 76 Arden Road (Brian and Mandy’s),1 pm - 5 pm.   This is always a great event with plenty of choice of food and drinks at reasonable prices.   A menu is attached.   All residents are welcome!   If you have not been before, why not come this year? – it’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Christmas Carols:   Sunday, 14th December.   Please note this is a week earlier than usual to avoid a clash with the carols at St. Mary’s. 

How to contact us:  If you have any matters you would like the committee to look into or you have an item for the newsletter, please contact any Committee Member (details below).   However, you will appreciate that we are unable to get involved in neighbour disputes. 

Alan and Maggy Nicholson, 90 Arden Road,

Paul Bayliss, 41 Arden Road,

Mandy Cadge, 76 Arden Road,

Roger Peckett, 912 Warwick Road,

Helen Roberts, 111 Arden Road

Jane Somervell, 5 Greswolde Park Road,

Sara Walton, 104 Arden Road       

 ARA Barbecue Menu  

Vegetable Samosa                        40p

Barbecue Chicken (free range)   70p

Pork Sausages                              30p

Roast Vegetables                          50p

Baked Potatoes                            30p

Garlic Bread                                 30p

Sweetcorn                                     20p

Pasta Salad                                   30p

Tomato Salad                               30p

Rice Salad                                     30p

Fresh Cream Meringues              80p      

Lemon Traybake                           50p      

Double Chocolate Fudge Cake    80p  

Eat in and meet the neighbours, or take away!