Cllr Julien Pritchard - Druids Heath & Monyhull

Some weeks I wrote to the Post Office asking them to Save our Lindsworth Post Office, including extending the deadline for expressions of interest.

They've responded saying they're doing all they can and might extend the deadline for expressions of interest. This deadline is approaching.

Now's the time to remind the Post Office how important this branch is to our community. If you haven't already signed the petition to save the branch, sign it now. https://www.change.org/p/save-lindsworth-post-office

Promoted by Chris Garghan on behalf of Julien Pritchard (Green Party), c/o 9 Walton Grove, Birmingham, B30 3PW

Great to be out today doing with members of Grassroots Druids Heath doing a quick clean up around Ogbury Close and Bells Lane. 10 bags of litter collected. Watch this space for news of more clean ups!

Promoted by Chris Garghan on behalf of Julien Pritchard (Green Party), c/o 9 Walton Grove, Birmingham, B30 3PW

Monday next week (13th November) is our next Residents Meeting for Druids Heath & Monyhull. We're discussing Highways and Flooding.

We'll have representatives from the Council Flooding Team and Kier Highways (the Council's highways contractor).

Chance to hear about any work going on, and raise any flooding or highways (even if not to do with flooding) issues.

7pm Monyhull Church, St Francis Drive, B30 3PS Hope you can join us!

Promoted by Chris Garghan on behalf of Julien Pritchard (Green Party), c/o 9 Walton Grove, Birmingham, B30 3PW

Another Success! Fytipping on Manningford Road and at the back of Idmiston Croft shops cleared!

Thanks to the local housing team for their work in getting this cleared.

A reminder you can report any flytipping to the Council here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/flytipping

Looks a great Women & Theatre event at Druids Heath Library next week!

Looking for some free half term fun?

Join Women & Theatre community performance club on Tuesday 31st October at 2.30pm for traditional folk tales, fairytales & myths from around the world.
The storytelling will be followed by creative crafts.

Suitable for children aged six & over and their families/carers.

No booking required

Over the past few months I've been pushing the Council and its highways contractor Kier fix the walkway from Pound Rd to Dial Close and Pettitt Close.

A bit of it got done a few months ago, now the rest of it has been repaired. The work to fix it has now been done and it’s definitely a lot better.

A reminder you can report any road or pavement problem to Council highways department on 0121 303 6644 or by going to https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/potholes

You may have noticed Walker’s Heath Park has had the new fencing, gates and bollards installed. This is to try and stop dangerous off-road motorbikes driving through the park.

It follows calls from myself and Rob Grant (Green Party councillor for Kings Norton South) for more protection for parks.

It’s good to have the new fence and gates in, hopefully it makes Walker’s Heath Park a bit safer.

Residents may have noticed some new bins in Lindsworth Park and Brandwood Recreation Ground over the last few months.

Some bins were damaged and removed from these areas in 2021. Since then I've been pushing the Parks Department to provide replacements and extra bins. They were finally installed this year.

It will be harder to get improvements to parks during the council’s current financial crisis. But whatever’s going on I’ll keep pushing for park improvements.

Update on Lindsworth Post Office. I've started a petition for the community to show its support for keeping the branch, and to push Post Office UK to do all it can to keep it going.

You can sign and show your support here:

Sign the Petition Save Lindsworth Post Office

We have the Mobile Household Recycling Centre coming back to our area this Friday (13th October).

It will be on Druids Lane at the junction with Bells Lane, opposite the old Baverstock School site, between 07:00 and 12:30.

Please don't bring any rubbish outside these times and location, and don't leave rubbish if the truck isn't there.

For full details of what you can and can't take, and the precise location see the attached council flyer.

Bad News: The Post Office on Lindsworth Approach is set to close on 31st October, when the current Postmaster retires.

The Post Office have advertised for a new Postmaster on the “run a post office” website: https://bit.ly/runlindsworthpostoffice . The deadline to express interest is 16th November.

I want to thank Postmaster Mandi Multani for her years of service to the local community.

I've written to ask the Post Office to extend this deadline as long as they can, and make every effort to find a new Postmaster and keep the Lindsworth branch.

Post Office UK can’t let our branch close permanently, I’ll do all I can to persuade them to prioritise keeping it.

I've had lots of questions and concerns from residents about the Council's financial crisis and the equal pay issues, and what this will mean for services locally.

The answer is that it's all a bit up in the air at the moment. There is a freeze on non-essential spending, but it’s not very clear what is classed as essential!

However, day-to-day things like road maintenance and rubbish collections should still happen as normal.

We still don’t have the details about how the crisis will affect local services. I am trying to find out what this will means for our area.

I share residents concerns. It’s clear to me our community shouldn’t have to pay for this crisis. We’ve already been left behind as it is.

As well as trying to get answers, I will keep campaigning to protect services for our area.

Tuesday next week (29th August) we have the Mobile Household Recycling Centre coming back to our area. It will be on Brockworth Road near the junction with Northleach Avenue (near the shop) 07:00-12:30.

Please don't bring any rubbish outside these times and location, and don't leave rubbish if the truck isn't there. For full details of what you can and can't take, and the precise location see the attached council flyer and map.

Grassroots Druids Heath

I know many residents are concerned about the potential closure of Kings Norton Mobile Household Recycling Centre (the tip) for refurbishment for up to two years. Especially considering Perry Barr tip refurbishment over ran!

The Council have said that they will be providing alternative provision when Kings Norton temporarily shuts. However we don't know what that alternative provision looks like, where it's going to be, and when it will open (and when Kings Norton will shut).

I have written to the Council asking more information about this alternative provision. I will let residents know as soon as I have some answers!

Closed tip to reopen 'before the end of the year' Birmingham City Council said the recycling centre would re-open before Kings Norton's Lifford Lane facility is shut for an upgrade

The Mobile Household Recycling Centre (Mobile Tip) is coming back to our area tomorrow. It's at the junction of Pennyacre Road and Manningford Road 07:00-12:30.

Please don't bring any rubbish outside these times and location, and don't leave rubbish if the truck isn't there. For full details of what you can and can't take, and the precise location see the attached council flyer and map.

Reminder that Monday is our next Residents' Meeting. 7pm at Monyhull Church St Francis Drive. We'll be looking at how to prioritise local funding. Come along to take part in the discussion and have your say!

Following pressure from myself and Kings Norton South Green Party councillor Rob Grant, Birmingham City Council are looking at putting in measures designed to make it more difficult for off-road bikes, scramblers and quads to drive all over Walker's Heath Park.

This money the Council might have to spend on this can only spent on Walker's Heath Park.

Obviously we need to make sure these plans are right, so important residents have their say. You can have a look at the plans and have your say at the link below.

If it's after the deadline, you can email the Parks Manager with thoughts directly. Her email is [email protected]

Walkers Heath Boundary Defence Works - Birmingham City Council - Citizen Space This site contains consultations that are run by Birmingham City Council.

A reminder that our next ward meeting is on Monday 17th July at Monyhull Church.

We were going to be discussing prioritising our limited local budgets.

However the agenda may change, as with the Council's financial crisis not sure if we'll still have this. More updates as we have them

Either way it is still worth coming down and having your say!

A reminder that the Mobile Household Recycling Centre is back in our area tomorrow (Tuesday 20th June).

It's 07:00-12:45 in the Monyhull Church Car Park between St Francis Drive and Collingwood Road. Exact location may change if there are issues.

Please don't bring rubbish outside of those times, or dump it if for some reason the truck isn't there. For full details about what you can bring, check out the Council poster.

The Mobile Household Recycling Centre is coming back to our area next week on Monday 15th May from 07:00 until 12:45.

This time it's at the far end of Gomeldon Avenue (near 51). Exact location may change on the day.

Please take the rubbish to the trucks, don't leave rubbish before or after, or if the trucks aren't there.

For a full list of what you can and can't bring, and full details of how it works check out the Council flyer.

Our next Druids Heath & Monyhull Ward Meeting is Wednesday 10th May 7pm Manningford Hall. We'll mainly be discussing the ward plan priorities.

It's a chance to decide some local short and medium term priorities for our area, and say what Birmingham City Council and partner organisations should focus on locally.

We'll also be hearing from Kier (the Council's highways contractor). And there'll be a chance to raise anything else for discussion too! Join us if you can!

The Mobile Household Recycling Centre is coming back to our area on Wednesday this week (5th April). This time in Jasmin Croft. It'll be there 07:00-12:00. Note the exact location may change if there are access issues on the day.

Please don't leave any items outside of these times, or if the truck isn't there. Any items left will be treated as illegal dumping. For full details, including what you can and can't bring, check out the poster.

ICYMI: Improvements to the the start of the path from Iris Drive to Jasmin Fields. It used to get very muddy down that end and was sometimes downright dangerous. I'm pleased the Council Parks Department have responded to my request and laid a new path at the Iris Drive end.

Update on the three empty blocks on Kimpton Close: Saxelby House, Barratts House, and Kingswood House. The Council have told me they should start being demolished at some point during April. So residents should start to see movement on this soon.

Free Easter Holiday Programme for 10-16 year olds at Maypole Youth Centre. Includes arts, crafts, sports, food and fun. More details in the flyer!👇👇👇

Another shout out for the Spearhead Trust who are fundraising for their warm welcome space. They're a fantastic organisation who provide lots of family support, activities and a food bank, as well as their warm welcome space! If you're able to donate please do!

Warm Space The Spearhead Trust at Bells Farmhouse We aim to provide a warm space to our community Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm. We offer hot meals, wifi, and drinks.

More before and after pictures of flytipping I've reported and has been cleared by the City Council Housing Team. You can report any flytipping to the Council here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/flytipping

More breaking news! The Council Planning Department have approved the planning application for homes on the site of the former Royal British Legion. See link for all the information on the application: http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/mvc/listDocuments?identifier=Planning&reference=2022/08203/PA

No further news yet on the third site near Keynell/Sherston Covert

Breaking News: Birmingham City Council Planning Department has given planning permission for housing on the Brockworth Rd site next to the shop. See the link below for all the information on the application: http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/mvc/listDocuments?identifier=Planning&reference=2022/07896/PA

No news yet on the planning applications for housing on the former British Legion and Keynell Covert sites. Although I understand the British Legion site should be decided soon.

Take care out there today everyone. Because of the snow, quite a few buses are being cut short, diverted or not running. To find out what National Express bus routes are running and where check out this page:

Severe weather 27th November 2021 Get the latest updates on the National Express West Midlands bus network here.

Before and after shots of just some of the rubbish I've got the Council to clear over the past few weeks. As always, if you spot any flytipping you can report it directly to the Council here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/flytipping

ICYMI The electronic speed monitoring sign at the bottom of Broad Lane has been replaced!

I reported the fact it was broken at the beginning of last year, and was pleased when it was finally replaced with a working one a couple of months back.

It won't solve Broad lane speeding on its own, but it's a step in the right direction!

The fantastic Spearhead Trust, who provide family support, a foodbank, hot meals, lots of community activities, as well as a warm bank have set up a crowdfunder. This is to help pay the heating bill to keep their warm bank warm!

We know it's tough for everyone right now, but if you can spare any money to keep this warm bank going it'll really help! Co-op Warm Spaces Fund are match funding up to £500. Donate here:

Warm Space The Spearhead Trust at Bells Farmhouse We aim to provide a warm space to our community Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm. We offer hot meals, wifi, and drinks.

If you, or someone you know, needs a chat with a social worker from adult social care, check out the poster. Advice and information available on Social Isolation, Carers Support, Home Safety, Aids and Equipment, Dementia Support, Mental Health Support, Learning Difficulties Support, Physical Difficulties Support.

Last night was Birmingham City Council's annual budget meeting.

There was some good news with free bulky waste collections for those on assisted collection, and some small amounts of new funding for community projects (we don't have the details yet). Things I have been campaigning for for our area.

However, the Labour Council also approved worrying proposals to cut funding for Youth, Libraries and Careers services starting in 2024. We don't have details of what this means for Druids Heath Library and Maypole Youth Centre.

The Green Party proposed an amendment, which would have expanded bulky waste collections to more people, put more money to tackle speeding & road safety, put additional funding into supporting people during the cost-of-living crisis, and safeguarded funding for our library youth and careers services. Unfortunately Labour voted this down.

Youth and Library services are so vital, it's outrageous that the Council is even thinking of cutting funding for them. I will keep fighting any cuts to Youth and Library services in our area, and across the city.

Final reminder that tonight is our next ward meeting. 7pm-9pm Monyhull Church. Come along and have your say on what Council priorities should be for our area.

Out and about yesterday and spotted that the first part of the walkway from Petit Close to Pound Road that I raised with Kier the other week has been fixed. Hopefully Kier will be getting on sorting the rest of it soon!

The next Druids Heath & Monyhull Ward meeting is focussing on the ward plan. Which is where we put together the short and medium priorities for our area.

The meeting is 22nd February 7pm at Monyhull Church

What do you think the priorities are?

What do you think Birmingham City Council and partner organisations should focus on locally?

Come along and discuss and input into the Druids Heath & Monyhull Ward Plan, and help decide the priorities for our area!

See below for more info

Out and about with today Stuart from Kier Highways - the Council's highways contractor. Working to get some walkway and pavement issues sorted in our area.