Road Re-Surfacing Plans - From Erdington Conservatives
"Roads to be resurfaced in 2011-2012;

Avalon Close, Baldmoor Lake Road, Beechmount Drive, Blossom Hill, Chase Grove, Edwards Road, Fern Road, Glendon Road, Harcourt Road, llford Road, Lydget Grove, Madehurst Road, Mason Road, Pitts Farm Road, Sandon Grove, Sheddington Road, Shrub Lane, Somerton Drive, Spring Lane, Trafalgar Road, Western Road.

Pavements to be resurfaced in 2011-2012;

Baldmoor Lake Road, Berkswell Road (roundabout), Bowcroft Grove, Court Farm Road, Enfield Close, Harcourt Road, Hervey Grove, Osbourne Road, Orphanage Road, Regan Crescent, Tedbury Crescent, Western Road."

Goosemoor Lane Speed Warning Signs
From Erdington Conservatives;

Erdington Conservatives - www.facebook.com/people/Erdington-Conservatives/1151875226

Public Holiday Bus Service Levels For April & May 2011
National Express West Midlands and National Express Coventry have announced the levels of service being operated over the Public Holidays in April and May 2011;

Good Friday - 22 April - Saturday level of service (Sunday level of service in the Coventry area)

Easter Monday - 25 April - Sunday level of service

Royal Wedding Day - Friday 29 April - Sunday level of service with some additional journeys in the Birmingham area

May Day - Monday 2 May - Sunday level of service

Late Spring Bank Holiday - Monday 30 May - Sunday level of service

http://nxbus.co.uk

Pensioner Dies In Fire At Erdington Housing Complex - Perry Common
From the Birmingham Mail at www.birminghammail.net

`A PENSIONER died and another man is seriously ill in hospital after fire ripped through a ground-floor sheltered housing flat on a Birmingham estate.

The woman died in the blaze at Sycamore Court, a sheltered housing complex run by Witton Lodge Community Association, in Buxton Road on the Perry Common estate in Erdington. Firefighters said the blaze was started by "smoking materials".

A man, thought to be a relative aged in his 60s, is being treated in hospital after suffering chest pains when he arrived at the flat while fire crews were fighting the blaze at 8.30am yesterday. His condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Paramedics also treated another man at the scene, aged in his 50s, for smoke inhalation. Emergency services have not named the dead woman or the other casualties.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said the woman was killed in the fire and not by the resulting smoke.

"She died in the fire itself which we think was caused by smoking materials," he said.

Part of Buxton Road, a quiet residential street, was closed at the height of the fire. Crews spent several hours damping down the property and the scene was still cordoned off late yesterday afternoon.

The woman has lived at the ground flat for about a year. Other residents at the housing development were too shocked to talk about the incident.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said:

"An elderly woman has died following a fire at a property in Erdington. Ambulance crews also assessed and treated a man in his 50s for high levels of smoke inhalation. The casualty was stabilised at the scene and later transferred to hospital."

The Sycamore Court complex, which was opened in 2005, houses 40 self-contained apartments. It offers non-residential care to elderly residents. Grieving relatives refused to talk about the fire or reveal the identity of the dead woman.'

West Midlands Fire Service, www.wmfs.net
Fire Kills, http://firekills.direct.gov.uk

Giving Up Smoking, www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
Quit (smoking), www.quit.org.uk
Action on Smoking and Health, www.ash.org.uk
Gasp (anti-smoking), www.gasp.org.uk
Help (giving up smoking), http://uk-en.help-eu.com

From Jack Dromey MP - Two Issues
"Buses:

There was a great deal of worry about changes to local bus routes - in particular the 68 and also the 638 which people want extended so that it reaches the ASDA. Concern was expressed about the lack of bus transport to the Dove Medical Centre. I have a meeting planned with the relevant authorities shortly where I will raise these matters.

Housing:

The flats outside the bungalows in Jerry's Lane were going to have security cameras but nothing ever happened. I have been in touch with the Housing Department."

Park Lights!
The new tarmac paths running through Short Heath Park now have (seemingly solar-powered and charged during the day) lights on the ground at night! Also at The Ring at Witton Lodge Circle. Hopefully they won't confuse passing aircraft that it's a runway!

Damaged Car - Court Lane - Gone
A small green Ford Ka - number W 711 PDM - had been parked empty for ages at the side of the road with serious front-end damage at the notorious accident black-spot that is the Court Lane S-bend by The Greyhound pub. Now gone.

Former Erdington MP Sion Simon (Labour) Defends His "Redundancy" Payout
From the Birmingham Mail at www.birminghammail.net

`Sion Simon, the former MP for Erdington who is now campaigning to become Birmingham’s first directly-elected mayor, said he had received a redundancy payment like any other public-sector worker who lost their job.

He was one of 20 former West Midland MPs who pocketed payments of up to £64, 766 following last year’s general election.

Politicians were entitled to payments known as resettlement grants whether they fought their seat and lost or simply chose to stand down, but they only received the money if they applied for it.

Mr Simon and former Black Country MP Sylvia Heal, who represented Rowley Regis and Halesowen, spoke about the grants when the Birmingham Mail contacted them yesterday (7/4/2011).

Others, including former Birmingham MP Clare Short (Labour), former Redditch MP Jacqui Smith (Labour) and former Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride (Conservative), who all received the payments, did not immediately return our calls. Payments were based on length of service and Mr Simon, who was an MP for nine years, was eligible for £32,383 after he stood down.

He told the Mail:

"After nine years of the tremendous privilege of serving the people of Erdington in Parliament, I got six months’ redundancy, which is broadly comparable to local government or other public sector schemes. Contrary to common perception, not all former MPs want to be directors of banks or walk straight into other jobs. I am in Birmingham working in the community."

Ms Heal was entitled to £43,393.22 based on her length of service in the Commons.

She said:

"It is almost like a form of redundancy, in terms of giving people time to adjust and time to find alternative employment. I understand people’s concerns. All I can say to that is it is part of the terms and conditions of employment that you accepted when you became a member of Parliament. Compared to the type of bonuses many people get, certainly bankers, it is not so enormous."

Westminster officials have only now revealed which MPs chose to apply for the money, after trying to keep the details secret for almost a year.

Commons authorities released the names after the case was referred to the Information Commissioner, the official freedom of information watchdog.

It emerged 220 MPs from across the country accepted the grant and only five, none of them from the West Midlands, chose not to apply for it.'

Work Going On In The Park - By The Car Park
In the far corner nearest the Court Lane/Jarvis Road junction, looks like the car-park is being re-surfaced.

Latest Local Planning Permission Applications
Fosseway Drive, New Oscott Retirement Village - Extension to existing car-park to create an additional 32 parking spaces for use by New Oscott Retirement Village

Safer Routes For Schools - Osborne Road
Chris Davison, Highways attended an Erdington Ward meeting and displayed drawings of the two options proposed for the Osbome Road safety scheme.

Option 1, one-way traffic system running down from Station Road

Option 2, two-way traffic system incorporating a crossing-point, a table and three cushions

Consultation had taken place in 2010 and it was hoped that a final decision would be made this week with work planned to begin in February for completion in March.

Members and residents raised concerns which included the following points:

A one-way scheme would not work due to parked cars

There would not be sufficient space for passing cars

There would not be sufficient space for emergency vehicles

Why were there to be three cushions?

In response to a question from the Chairman, Chris Davison confirmed that the table would be placed at the junction with no loss of parking. He further explained that cushions were designed for emergency vehicles to straddle, and that the width of the road and regulations determined how many cushions were needed.

After further consideration of the scheme, the Chairman thanked Chris Davison for attending the meeting.

With fewer locations and a reduction in opening hours, it is likely that you will have to travel further to access your service and it is likely you will have to wait longer for an appointment - it is already taking up to 3 weeks to get an appointment!

Your Neighbourhood Office will no longer be your local community-based office.

You will face:

A future of fewer interviews with an advisor - Because the Council will force you to seek to resolve more of your queries over the telephone or via the Internet.

From Erdington Conservatives on the topic;

`Move sends the wrong signals - LONDON Midland Trains has made an application to the Department of Transport to alter the hours of operation of station ticket offices in the West Midlands form the summer.

Part Of Witton Lakes Is Set To Be Transformed Into A Community Orchard
From the Sutton Observer newspaper - www.thisissuttoncoldfield.co.uk

`A DERELICT corner of Witton Lakes Park is to be transformed into a community orchard showcasing traditional local varieties of fruit.

Forest Schools Birmingham - part of the Trees for Cities initiative - has won £20,000 worth of funding from toilet-tissue brand Velvet.

The money will pay for a walled compound on the edge of Witton Lakes Park to be cleared and planted with pear and apple trees as well as soft fruit plants.

The project will reintroduce some of the ancient varieties of Perry tree that once stood in the area. Eventually the area will be used for community-projects and outdoor education in local schools.

Afric Crossan, Forest Schools Birmingham Co-founder, said:

"This is such an exciting community project and we really want to hear from local people interested in getting involved in the orchard - from planting right through to harvesting. The chosen site is currently a derelict site, but will be transformed, with the efforts of local people, into a vibrant, fruitful community space."

Members of the community are being urged to get involved with the project even at this early stage.

Anyone in the local area who has an old apple or pear tree in their garden is asked to get in touch so grafts can be taken of unique local fruit varieties, which will then be grown in the orchard.

The public is invited to help with the planting on Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6, at the site, to the west of Witton Lakes Park, between 10am and 3pm.

To get involved call the Forest Schools Birmingham team on 08456 340 556 or just go along.

Linda Burt Death - Trident Close, Erdington - West Midlands Police Pay Damages
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

"THE family of a Birmingham teaching assistant who died in police-custody has received damages and costs from West Midlands Police following a seven-year battle for justice.

Teaching assistant Linda Burt, aged 49, was arrested for an alleged breach of the peace after an argument with her elderly mother at her home in Trident Close, Erdington.

She suffered a cardiac-arrest shortly after being handcuffed and was taken to Good Hope Hospital, where she died, on September 27, 2003. Her family waited six agonising years for an inquest.

Finally, in October 2009, a coroner’s court jury at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall concluded that a catalogue of police failings, combined with an undiagnosed heart-condition, led to her death.

Ms Burt suffered pain while being restrained by the arresting officer and began to experience breathing difficulties, the inquest heard.

The jury found the arresting officer was not justified in handcuffing her and officers did not act quickly enough to help her.

And when her condition had been acknowledged, police officers continued to make failings by allowing a member of the public to help, resulting in Ms Burt being placed in the wrong recovery position.

The jury’s findings contradicted those of the Independent Police Complaints Commission which ruled no officers should face disciplinary action over the incident.

Neither West Midlands Police nor Linda Burt’s family would reveal the amount of damages given.

Solicitor Iftikhar Manzoor, acting on behalf of Linda Burt’s family, said the out-of-court settlement was reached shortly after the defence was filed late last year.

A police spokesman said:

"Any death is a tragedy, and West Midlands Police regrets the fact that Linda Burt died whilst in our care. We have taken time to carefully consider the extensive narrative verdict of the jury to establish if lessons can be learned from Linda’s tragic death."

"I am writing to let you know that details of my advice desks for 2011 are now available on my website. Please click here for further details. 

I will also be holding a coffee afternoon on Friday 25th February. The event is an informal way for you to let me know about things that are going on in your area and any concerns you may have.

If you would like to receive an invitation to this coffee afternoon please click here.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should need my help,

Best wishes

Local Bus News From Guy Craddock, Area Manager - Centro Transport Operations Birmingham
"Centro welcomes the opportunity to meet with members of the public to discuss public transport related matters. We host approximately thirty public meetings each year across the West Midlands County that are always attended by Centro Officers. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of requests for our officers to attend other public meetings, it is not always possible to provide a suitable attendee.

I hope the following text helps to answer the concerns about the services 68A and 68C.

The bus services 68A and 68C were withdrawn by National Express West Midlands back in July 2010. At the time Centro worked hard with National Express and other operators in the area to ensure that all of the areas covered by the routes 68A and 68C were still served by buses. We even talked to other bus operators about them taking the service over as a whole but this sadly came to nothing mainly because of the alternatives National Express put in place which would not have made it viable for them to operate on a commercial basis.

Service 68A and 68C provided a circular bus service running every 20 minutes in each direction linking Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Good Hope Hospital, Walmley and Castle Vale together and had been operated for well over 15 years without any subsidy from Centro.

The section from Erdington to Sutton Coldfield is now covered by a revised service 66 and 66A. The section from Sutton Coldfield to Walmley is covered by a revised service 71 (the frequency of which was increased to compensate for the loss of the 68A and 68C). Alternate 71 's are now numbered 71A so as to cover all of the roads in the Castle Vale estate that were served by the 68A and 68C.

The link from Erdington to Castle Vale continues to be provided by service 638.

The only section that would have been left uncovered would have been areas of Pype Hayes and Centro got our contractor, Central Connect, of the subsidised service 168 to divert the route to cover this area.

There are no area once served by the 68A and 68C without a bus service. What users unfortunately have to change buses to make some journeys across either Erdington or Sutton Coldfield Town Centres that could have been made on one bus via the 68A or 68C routes. Unfortunately there is no way Centro can justify subsidizing any replacement services.

For example there are many bus many bus services from Sutton Coldfield town centre and Good Hope Hospital (routes 71, 71A 110, 115, 119,604, 757, 914, 915) which equates to around 19 buses an hour on this corridor so unfortunately if one of the routes does not provide a direct link it is necessary to interchange in Sutton Coldfield.

At the time of the changes Centre and National Express both received a large number of complaints from both users and elected members in the area their concerns went a long way to influencing the changes e.g. the diversion of alternative service 71 in the Castle Vale estate as service 71A and the diversion of the 168 service in the Pype Hayes estate.

In terms of subsidized services in the area Centro continues to provide subsidy as we have done for many years now for the evening and Sunday journeys on routes 66/66A and 71 plus the daytime service 168.

Centro holds regular Birmingham Transport User Forum every two months. The next one is tomorrow night on Tuesday 18 January 2011 at Centro House, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham and the next one after that on 15 March 2011 at a venue to be agreed in South Birmingham. These are designed for public transport users to raise any transport issues/questions at the forum.

The meetings are chaired by a Birmingham Councillor who is a Member of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority and representatives from all of the main public transport providers are invited to attend to answer questions. Being a formal meeting there are mechanisms in place to ensure anything raised is followed up in a proper manor.

We identified that less than 20 people per day have been affected by the break in the cross Erdington link

In terms of the full service offering, we believe that 95% of passengers have retained their existing links to local centres

Pype Hayes estate - the road layout makes serving the estate too costly to sustain commercial services

Some new links were generated by the revised Service 66 to the City Centre

Service 66/a was unreliable when introduced, but is now operating satisfactorily following the addition of an extra bus and revised timetable

Service 28 will have a revised timetable from 27 March designed to improve reliability

Service 628 Perry Beeches to One Stop is to be withdrawn on 27 February, with Service 952 providing an alternative

Service 907 will have a new timetable introduced form 27 march designed to improve reliability

Service 71/71 a/72 timetable will be revised from 27 March to improve the service offer to every 10 minutes to Sutton.

Hospital direct service. We are considering an extension to the 907 to provide a link to Good Hope direct, evaluations are underway to identify the best way to deliver this."

Do you agree with these points? National Express West Midlands Buses - http://nxbus.co.uk

Woman Hurt In Smash - Chester Road
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

"A WOMAN was taken to hospital with neck injuries after a three-car smash in rush-hour. Police were called to the junction of Chester Road and Fernwood Road, in Sutton Coldfield, at about 5am yesterday (Monday 13/12/2010).

The road was closed off for a short time as the 34-year-old casualty was dealt with.

No-one else was was injured."

Planning Application Submitted To Build On The Old Allotment Site
From Erdington Conservatives;

"Dear Resident,

A planning application to build houses on the old allotments between Jarvis Road and Baldmoor Lake Road has been submitted. The application is for 124 new dwellings. We have written to raise concerns about the application on a number of grounds. We are concerned over the access to the site, they have suggested either building a road through the tower blocks on Jarvis Road (this would be a very intrusive addition and add considerable noise, pollution and traffic to the area) or demolishing houses on Goosemoor Lane to access the site as well as an entrance from Baldmoor Lake Road.

Both of these are clearly unacceptable and lead to a loss of private housing and green space. We have also raised concerns about a loss of public open space and a lack of enough high quality replacement public open space when the properties are built.

A loss of privacy to the current homes bordering the site and the fact that the new homes will be overlooked by tower blocks as well. Erdington has a need for family housing and so we have raised concerns over a lack of 3 and 4 bedroom properties on the site with to many smaller units or flats being suggested.

Below we have attached contact details to enable you to responded to planning yourself on the application.

Please do as this maybe your only chance to raise objections to the application. In the meantime, if you would like to contact us about these plans, please do not hesitate to do so.

(Cllr. Bob Beauchamp is a member of the Council's Planning Committee and is prevented by law from expressing any view on any planning issue, before it formally comes to that committee)

Planning Management
Birmingham City Council
PO Box 28
Birmingham
Bl ITU

Telephoned 121 303 1115

Fax 0121 303 4838

E-mail planning.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk

Electricity Substation Was Open - Goosemoor Lane
Either by careless workmen or by (very dangerous) trespassing, the electricity-substation opposite Bowling Green Close had been left open at the back, fixed.

Path Alongside The Erdington New Testament Church Of God, Goosemoor Lane -  Cleared Again
From that Church earlier;

`We (New Testament Church Of God - Erdington) have been in correspondence with the Probation Service recently, and as part of the work we will be doing with them we arranged for the "walkway" alongside the church to be cleared.

As well as the bushes etc. encroaching over our fences, we are also aware a lot of residents use that path as a shortcut from Jarvis Rd. The path should be a lot clearer now; free of the overgrown grass, cans, broken bottles, needles etc - for the time being at least - so a little bit safer to negotiate!!'

www.newlife.org.uk

Fire - November 2010 - Number 4 Goosemoor Lane - Pictures

Garden Shed Fire - Turfpits Lane
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

"FIREFIGHTERS were called to a garden shed fire on Turfpitts (sic) Lane in Erdington around 1.30pm yesterday (Nov 16 2010).

No one was hurt during the incident."

West Midlands Fire Service, www.wmfs.net
Fire Kills, http://firekills.direct.gov.uk

Erdington MP Jack Dromey Made Shadow Minister
Jack Dromey this week spoke of his pride after being given a top local-government role within the Shadow Cabinet. He was named as part of the new Department for Communities and Local Government team headed by Caroline Flint, whom Ed Miliband named as Shadow secretary for the department.

Mr Dromey will work alongside Derby North MP Chris Williamson, and Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley. The team will be responsible for "big society", housing and regeneration, building-regulations, Race-equality and community-cohesion.

Mr Dromey took his new Front Bench seat for first time this week during Prime Minister's Questions, and vowed to do all he can from that position to help his community – as well as the country as a whole.

He said:

"Ed Miliband has made the best possible start with his appearance in Prime Minister's Questions and he has proved to be a good leader of the Labour Party. It is an honour therefore for me to have been appointed to the Front Bench of The Commons and to be there for my community as well as local governments nationwide. As a front bench politician I promise to speak up for local people in Erdington."

Mr Dromey added that his experience in Erdington would help in his new role. He said:

"Erdington people have a long and honourable track-record of trying to build a better community. I will use what I have learnt representing the community to help build a better local government. I will also expose the 'Big Britain' that David Cameron is trying to promote as nothing but a big series of cuts that will harm the local community. The 'Big Britain' policy is one that will only harm the people of Britain."

Erdington's Cllr Gareth Compton Was On Newsnight
Monday 4/10/2010, BBC 2, 10.30pm. I didn't see the entire show, so perhaps he was in it lots, but I only saw him in a very short segment though - a bunch of  minor Tories at their Party Conference in Birmingham were being asked why they hadn't won an outright Majority at the last Election.

I'm with the guy from The Wall Street Journal in the segment (who said their overall message was confused - had they modernised or not?) but our own Cllr Compton got a chance to stick his oar in, and he blamed the Expenses Scandal - in fact I'll let him speak for himself;

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk25 (40 minutes and 20 seconds in).

(Well done Gareth - not exactly 15 Minutes, more like 15 seconds - but well done anyway! Did Douglas Hogg throw you in his moat afterwards?)

Erdington's MP Jack Dromey made a speech at the Labour Party Conference but I can't find a broadband link, send in stuff like that.

Latest Update - Tributes To Wylde Green Barman With 'Heart Of Gold' - Killed In Erdington
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`TRIBUTES have been paid to a barman "with a heart of gold" who died after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver.

Paul Hearty, aged 36, was fatally injured in the collision just yards from the pub where he worked on September 7 and died two days later.

A young woman was later quizzed by police in connection with the incident.

Heartbroken pals have described Mr Hearty, from Wylde Green, as a "true gent" who "touched our lives in so many ways".

Mr Hearty was at the junction of Summer Road and Machin Road, in Erdington, when the collision happened at about 10.55pm.

He was taken to hospital with multiple injuries but died on September 9 despite the best efforts of doctors to save his life.

A 21-year-old woman was later held on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of a collision.

She was questioned by road traffic collision investigators before later being released on bail pending further inquiries.

It is understood that Mr Hearty worked as a barman at the New Inn pub, in Summer Road.

Friends and family gathered at the pub last Friday to pay tribute to Mr Hearty.

One drinker said: "It was a really sad evening, people were in shock at what had happened. He was well-known in the community and very well liked. He was a very jovial host."

On the Facebook tribute site, Karen Williamson wrote: "You touched our lives in so many ways, and I for one am honoured that I knew you."

Suzanne Pettifer added: "You will be sorely missed, a good friend. You never failed to make me smile."

Jeanie Norman added: "You’re such a gent with a pure heart of gold and there’s not many with both."

A West Midlands Police spokesman said investigations were on-going and a woman had been questioned and released on bail pending further inquiries.'

Plans To Build On The Old Allotment Site Between Jarvis Road And The Topcroft Estate - Latest
From Erdington Conservatives;

Serious Road Accident - Gravelly Lane/Summer Road Area
(This might have been a Crime since excessive speed was cited) Sunday 22/8/2010 around Noon. By the bridge and the South Road junction a car crashed, one occupant had to be cut out.

Leaning Parking Restriction Post - Gravelly Lane
Opposite the Trident Close junction. Reported.

Community Chest Grant Approvals - 2009/10

I do know that neighbours have lost fish to these herons, and they are particularly active at the moment, so watch out if you have just re-stocked a pond in your garden.

My email address is gina.mair@blueyonder.co.uk

Hope to hear from someone else who sees these birds on a twice daily basis."

Pictures from 2007 and 2008;

Lionel Felton - in younger and happier times with his wife Irene

"Please accept this gift -- I got it just for you! I hope you like it!"

"Carry on to the other side,
Have some fun on the other side
You were always trippin' on your feet
'Round the wrong way down the one-way street

Since the day when you found your wings,
You awake to much better things
Now you'll never get the chance to see,
What's been goin' on inside of me
Don't forget all the love I gave you on your way

Chorus:
Don't send flowers, just give me some hours
Just a minute of your time, would really make it shine, so think it over
Don't send flowers, from ivory towers
I just wanna see your face, forever and always, please think it over

Find your way through uncertainty,
Then one day, please come back to me
I'll be waiting in the wings for you
If you find you don't know what to do
Darling, come back to me forever, but till then

Chorus
Don't send flowers, just give me some hours
Just a minute of your time, would really make it shine, so think it over
Don't send flowers, don't send flowers, don't send flowers."

Fire Engine Was On Gravelly Lane
Friday 25/6/2010 around 10pm. One was parked by the new apartments down by South Grove with it's blue-lights flashing etc. Not sure exactly what the drama was though.

Fire Engine On Court Lane
(This might have been arson - Crime - we shall see if more info comes in). A fire-engine was parked right across Court Lane at the Jerrys Lane junction with it's blue-lights flashing. Wednesday 16/6/2010 around 10.15pm. I don't know what the drama was though.

Loads Of Broken Glass On The Land Between The Topcroft And Jarvis Road Estates
From Fix My Street;

"Massive amounts of broken glass and rubbish - had to rush my son to hospital and he needed an operation after falling onto glass."

www.fixmystreet.com/report/120512

A Car Was Stuck Under Chester Road Railway Bridge
Wednesday 9/6/2010 around 7pm. A car broke down on Chester Road, the to-Streetly way, right under the railway bridge. It was stuck in gear and an automatic etc so was stuck solid and could not simply be pushed into nearby Knipersley Road etc, so traffic chaos was quick in coming! A passing police patrol car was alerted. Don't know for how long that car was stuck there though.

Latest Erdington Community Chest Approvals;

Erdington Constituency Investment Statement - Erdington Ward Projects;

Meteors Showers
Occasionally we've been getting weird lights in the sky recently, e.g. Sunday 16/5/2010 around 10.30pm, and Saturday 5/6/2010 around midnight. Looks like it's meteors.

Woman Cut Free From Car After Erdington Crash
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`A STRICKEN motorist was cut free from her car after it flipped onto its side in a collision with another vehicle in Birmingham.

The woman was trapped in the wreckage until firefighters cut her free following the crash near to the Cross Keys pub in High Street, Erdington.

She was immobilised with a spinal board and taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield for back injuries. The male driver of the other car was not injured in the accident at about 7am yesterday.

The road was not closed.'

Chester Road/Beggars Bush Traffic Lights - Better - But Still Need Improving
The traffic lights at this junction now often back the traffic up to the Sycamore Road junction each day even around midday! Yet the other junctions (Jockey Road and Kings Road) often clear on each change. Meanwhile traffic coming towards Castle Vale on Chester Road always clears easily.

Council said they'd look at it, and it was better for a bit. Reported though - again.

I think there is a correct altering and flexible setting throughout the day which they can be put on, the Council still has to find it though.

`DETECTIVES investigating the death of a woman in Birmingham have ruled out foul play.

The body of the 54-year-old, who has not been named was found in her Erdington flat on Friday evening when worried neighbours raised the alarm after not seeing her for several days.

The block of flats on Court Lane was cordoned off for much of the weekend while scenes of crime officers in white suits carried out a fingertip search for clues.

However, a post-mortem examination found she had suffered injuries consistent with a fall.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said that her death was no longer being treated as suspicious and added that the case had been referred to the city coroner.

Shocked neighbours yesterday told the Birmingham Mail of their sadness at her death. She had lived here for about 15 or 16 years and was very quiet but always said hello and smiled when she went past, said one neighbour.'

Gravelly Lane - Erdington Businessman Claims He Lost Out On £4,000 Takings Due To Roadworks
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`A BIRMINGHAM businessman wants compensation after the city council started roadworks at just 48 hours’ notice.

Ken Thompson, who runs Square Deal Car Spares, on Gravelly Lane, Erdington, said he has lost up to £4,000 in takings since Birmingham City Council closed the road for resurfacing work over the last two weeks.

All lanes were closed off by workers between 9.30am-4.30pm every day since February 2 and work is expected to finish today (Feb 12 2010).

Businesses were given two days’ written notice of the disruption, but a council spokesman today insisted this was due to the work being subject to an "emergency reschedule".

Mr Thompson, who has run the store for 18 years, said access issues caused by the roadworks meant small traders on Gravelly Lane were hit hardest.

"The council’s attitude and the way they have dealt with us has been pathetic," the 63-year-old said.

"We only had two days’ notice, so I didn’t have time to tell my customers what was happening, so I’ve probably lost nearly £4,000 because of this."

He said stock deliveries had not reached him since work began, and that trade had slumped at his busiest time of year.

He said: "I will be writing to the Council to give them my thoughts and I’m going to ask for compensation. This could damage repeat business, because if people have trouble reaching us, then they can easily go elsewhere."

A council spokesman said: "We apologise for the short notice. We usually like to give people two weeks’ notice, but in this case the programme of works was subjected to an emergency reschedule and became a larger project due to the recent bad weather."'

Dumping - Osborne Road
From Fix My Street at www.fixmystreet.com

"Someone is dumping all sorts of rubbish from car seats to the latest item, a fireplace surround and general rubbish being dumped behind wooden fence and on path. Now I'm sick and tired of ringing contact Birmingham to firstly ask whether these items have been booked for a bulky waste collection (they never have) I must have rang up over 10 times and have advised contact Birmingham that it might be worth putting up some signs or posting leaflets through the flats doors as suspected where it's all coming from.

Contact Birmingham doesn't seem interested and have done nothing to deter whoever is consistently fly-tipping there, they do get it removed in quick time but why should I have to ring up every time to get rubbish removed when the lazy person who dumps it could make one simple phone call to get it removed on a bulk waste collection !??

Please investigate as it's getting worse now."

3. Belisha Beacon Out
On the Gravelly Lane zebra-crossing - fixed.

2nd Suspected Suicide In Erdington In As Many Weeks
Oh dear - re  the missing person appeal regarding Janice Adetoro of  Erdington, read the Birmingham Mail report here;

www.birminghammail.net/body-found-in-brookvale-lake-in-erdington

Useful websites;

Samaritans, www.samaritans.org.uk
Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide, http://sobs.admin.care4free.net
Shine On Shelly (bereavement by suicide), www.shineonshelly.org

For more Counselling websites, see the Links Page list here;

www.goosemoor-lane.com/links.htm#thingToJumpTo29

Suspected Suicide - Jarvis Road - 25/1/2010
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`HORRIFIED residents have spoken of the moment they found the body of a mother-of-one who died after plunging 80ft from a Birmingham tower block.

Flowers and a candle marked the spot outside Stokesay House on Jarvis Road in Erdington where the 20-year-old was found lying on the grass, at 8.30am on Monday.

The Birmingham Coroner’s office have named her as Jolanta Wielgus, who was believed to be Polish. Neighbours said she was a lovely woman with a young daughter.

Dorothy Burrows, aged 63, was first on the scene when the woman fell from the ninth floor balcony of her two-bedroomed flat.

The grandmother-of-six said:

"I heard a scream and I looked out of the bedroom window and saw her lying there. It was as though she was asleep on her tummy. She wasn’t moving and was just about breathing. She was completely white. I asked her brother to take off his coat and wrap her in it. A lady from the first floor threw down a blanket. The cleaner called an ambulance."

Crews from the Midlands Air Ambulance battled to save the woman but she was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 9am. Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.

Ms Burrows, who is also vice-Chair of Jarvis Towers, said:

"I’m still in shock. People all knew her in the block because she was a mom and there are other mothers here. I didn’t know her name. She was a very, very nice lady and spoke good English. She wasn’t married. She had been in the flat for two or three years and her daughter was getting ready for infant school. I think she worked as a carer but don’t know for sure."

A number of other tearful residents said they were too traumatised to talk but all said she was a wonderful woman.

Jarvis Road was cordoned off for most of Monday and a police tent was erected above the spot where the woman was found.

Helen Chambers, aged 53, who lives in the neighbouring Berkley House, said:

"Suddenly there was a lot of commotion and we had all sorts of flashing lights from the police and ambulance."

A force spokesman said: "Police are investigating the death and the Coroner has been informed."'

Useful websites;

Samaritans, www.samaritans.org.uk
Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide, http://sobs.admin.care4free.net
Papyrus (preventing youth suicides), www.papyrus-uk.org
Shine On Shelly (bereavement by suicide), www.shineonshelly.org

For more Counselling websites, see the Links Page list here;

www.goosemoor-lane.com/links.htm#thingToJumpTo29

Scrap-Dealers In The Area - Latest
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`FED-UP Birmingham residents have declared war on noisy Rag and Bone men who have been waking them up on a "daily basis" from 7am.

The city council has written to at least 18 registered scrap collectors after Erdington residents started demanding action over the racket created by the modern-day Steptoe and Sons.

The new nuisance was blamed on the increase in scrap collectors who are thought to be cashing in on the higher value of metal.

Erdington councillor, Robert Alden (Con), said:

"It has become a daily occurrence. You can hear the noise echoing around the constituency as early as 7am. The rise in the price of scrap metal, coupled with the current economic climate is probably making it more lucrative. The real problem is the noise they make. The issue was raised at our last meeting by a number of residents who were fed up. They have advised by the environmental health officers that there are powers available. Officers urged residents to take down the registration details of the vehicles."

A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council said:

"Over the last two years we believe there may have been a increase in scrap metal dealers plying their trade in north Birmingham. We have received an increase in complaints. However, this does not appear to be a citywide problem. The majority of the 18 vehicles identified to us recently are registered in the Walsall area. People should report the complaints and provide as much information as possible. Environmental health officers will investigate the complaint and take action if necessary. If they are using amplification, then the Control of Pollution Act 1974 makes what they are doing an offence. However, if they are just calling, shouting out, or using unamplified musical instruments, then there is no obvious criminal offence. We are currently collating complaints. Letters will continue to be sent to all scrap collectors as they are identified."

Erdington MP Sion Simon added:

"I always support enterprise and business. But, we have to ensure this does not impact on the lives of residents. If this has increased to the point when people are being woken up early in the morning on an almost daily basis, it is important the council uses legislation to tackle these problems."'

Latest Reports To Fix My Street
Dog mess by Erdington police station - www.fixmystreet.com/report/85537

Pot-hole problem on Gravelly Lane - www.fixmystreet.com/report/85464

The big pothole outside 279 Witton Lodge Road already reported by me, but still not fixed, reported by someone else now - www.fixmystreet.com/report/85329

College High School Becomes "North Birmingham Academy"
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`OUT with the old and in with the new! Pupils at a Birmingham school will start the year in a new environment - without moving out of their existing classrooms.

Youngsters at the former College High School in College Road, Erdington, are to start 2010 as students of the new North Birmingham Academy, which opens its doors on January 6.

The academy is the third to be sponsored by the Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust following those at the former Shenley Court Arts College in Selly Oak and The Heartlands High in Nechells.

All three have been taken out of local authority control, with three other Birmingham secondary schools earmarked as academies under different outside sponsors.

Pupils of the new North Birmingham Academy will be based in the existing buildings, but will move to purpose-built accommodation in 2012.

Extensive improvements have already been carried out while designs for the new building take shape.

Former College High head, and now North Birmingham Academy principal Kim Popratnjak, said:

"I’m delighted to be opening as a new academy. We have worked hard to prepare for implementing the new changes. This is an opportunity for us to provide an exceptional learning experience."

The academy will have a new school uniform, including the new academy logo which students helped to design.

Edutrust manages eight academies, including ones in London, Sheffield, and Leeds, with more due to open next year.

Director General Sir Bruce Liddington said:

"North Birmingham will join our other academies focusing on our vision of delivering educational excellence for all. Developing a new academy will make a real difference to the future of the students, as well as providing excellent new facilities to benefit the students and the wider community for decades to come."

Birmingham’s academy programme, which also includes two new 14 to 19-year-old institutions specialising in engineering and the performing arts respectively, is still being opposed by the Anti-Academies Alliance.'

Website - www.nbacademy.org.uk

Troubled Pub The Place 2B Sold
From the Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`THE pub that was owned by shamed TV presenter Ashley Blake when he attacked a teenage customer has been bought by the garden centre next door for £1million.

Blake, 40, was jailed in September after being found guilty of hitting teenager Greg Jones in the face with a large wooden pole outside The Place 2B, in Sutton Coldfield.

He was given a further six months in prison for attempting to pervert the course of justice, by throwing the pole into the garden centre next door, in Chester Road.

Mr Jones, who was 17 at the time of the incident on January 25, needed ten stitches and now has a permanent scar from his lip to chin.

The attack happened after violence broke out at the end of an 18th birthday party at the pub, which Blake co-owned at the time with his partner Jessica Hayes.

The pub was taken on a short term lease after the couple left, but there was another tragic incident nearby in July, which resulted in the death of one man and serious injuries to another.

The venue was put on the market by Punch Taverns and has now been bought by the family business that runs the garden centre next door. Robert Hall, senior partner of Hall’s Garden Supplied, confirmed he had taken possession of the keys this week and that it would be turned into a Christmas spectacular next year.

Mr Hall added: "The pub had been on a long-term lease to Ashley Blake and his partner Jessica. Acquiring The Place 2B will allow a natural progression to our current site adding both undercover showroom area and outside display space. The new addition to the garden centre will initially be open to the public in April with a new coffee shop, while other areas of the building will be opened later."

Blake, a former BBC Midlands Today and Watchdog presenter, had his challenge to his two-year prison sentence rejected by the Court of Appeal last week.

His legal team argued before sentencing that he had already suffered a severe punishment by losing his job. He was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice by throwing the pole away into the garden centre in an attempt to conceal it from the police.

He later admitted to lying to officers on a number of occasions. He was dismissed by the BBC following an internal inquiry.

The pub was built in the 1920s and named The New Oscott Tavern. Hall’s Garden Supplies moved next door in the 1950s.'

Dire Warnings Over Youth Service Cuts In Erdington
From the Sutton News website at http://icsuttoncoldfield.icnetwork.co.uk

`ERDINGTON residents fear the Council’s cuts in youth spending will see the return of anti-social behaviour to their streets. At the Erdington Constituency Committee, which met at Stockland Green School on Monday night (14/12/2009), they dismissed the case made for the Council’s decision by the Head of Youth Service, Harry Fowler.

A full-time Youth Work post at the Malcolm Locker Centre will go and be filled by two trainee youth workers.

The Pype Hayes Community Focus will also close this month. Elsewhere a 17.5-hour-a-week post at the Green Door project, on Wyrley Birch, will end in April.

Linda Hines, chairman of the Kingstanding Neighbourhood Tasking group, warned Mr Fowler the cuts were a mistake.

She said the Green Door worker had helped reduce anti-social behaviour to five incidents a week from 40 a year ago. The 58-year-old said:

"Be prepared. If anti-social behaviour increases other services will have to come in to deal with it."

Area youth officer Jim Shand said in a report handed to the meeting:

"Staff will endeavour to do everything to make the required level of savings and to minimise the impact on services to young people."'

"Dunhill Gardens" By Kirkwood Avenue
If you look in the Birmingham A - Z, you'll see reference to "Dunhill Gardens" over by Kirkwood Avenue. However you'll see too if you actually go to that specific area that it doesn't actually exist! In reality it's merely a continuation of Kirkwood Avenue.

The answer to that mystery, from A-Z themselves;

"The name Dunhill Gardens is one of our copyright signatures which assist us in establishing copyright infringement. This name will be removed in future editions."

A-Z Map Company, www.a-zmaps.co.uk

Goosemoor Lane Bend - Speeding Vehicle Demolishes Anstey Wall - Yet Again!
For the THIRD time now a vehicle has again mounted the pavement and demolished the Anstey (Goosemoor Lane Playing Fields) brick wall where that has then been hit.

Same place (a few metres further along) that the same wall was hit a few weeks back. You can see the THREE separate places now along that stretch of wall.

It's only a matter of time before a pedestrian is hit along there I reckon, and with the force clearly enough to knock down a brick wall - oh dear.

The Council have inspected the Bend and have said the traffic-calming there is ok, I beg to differ though - and so does that brick wall knocked down 3 times now.

Road Accident - Chester Road - Police Appeal For Witnesses
By the railway station, Friday 27/11/2009 at 5.25pm. Call 0121 606 7845.

Erdington Community Chest Grant Approvals - 2009/10

Number Plate Found - Handed In To Police
The front vehicle number-plate W 384 PJA was found on Station Road, handed in to Erdington Police Station.

Tree In Park Collapses
So a lucky escape here, has fallen over in a little used part of Short Heath Park - at the rear of the electricity substation on Court Lane, the corner by the car-park.

I do report trees in the Park that are obviously a danger, difficult to check each tree for sure though since there are so many and with some it isn't obvious.

Birmingham Flat Blaze Man Dies After Being Rescued
From Birmingham Mail website at www.birminghammail.net

`A MAN died after a flat fire in Birmingham, despite attempts by paramedics and doctors to save him. Firefighters carried him from a second-floor flat of a four-storey block, at Swan Gardens, in Erdington, at about 4pm yesterday. Sep 23 2009.

The man was taken to Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, where he later died. West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: The man was brought out of the building by firefighters and we immediately started advanced life support.

He was then taken on blue lights to Good Hope Hospital but was sadly confirmed dead shortly after arrival.

Today, fire investigators were probing the cause of the blaze.'

http://firekills.direct.gov.uk

Holes On Pavement Outside 58 Goosemoor Lane And At The Amber Court Junction
Both fixed now. Amber Court has only been in existence 5 minutes, so holes in it's pavement already suggest slip-shod building work. The Council should ascertain the standard of initial work done by the developer before agreeing upkeep of it's road and pavement at public expense.

Mysterious Iron "Drain" At The Spinney
All the recent rain has unearthed some puzzling iron thing on the floor by The Spinney. If you stand at the 7/65 to-city bus-stop, there's a grass verge of course. About 5 yards from the Cable box, part of the verge has sunk. An iron grated drain is actually there you can now see - was hidden under the verge.

Unclear how stable that area now is, the iron-grate has holes large enough for (children's) feet to become stuck in (kids do play on that verge - often when waiting for a bus - they could fall onto it too as it's presence is still not that obvious), and it's unclear what it's original purpose was or is - the pit below it MIGHT be deep, that's unclear too.

I've contacted the Council, so they can get to the bottom of it - excuse the pun.

Court Lane Speed Indicator Installed
Wasn't aware there was a problem there, but an electronic speed indicator has been placed on Court Lane near the Jerrys Lane junction. For traffic heading towards Short Heath Road.

From Erdington Conservatives;

"Local Conservative Councillors ....... have been campaigning against speeding traffic on Court Lane."

Blocked Drains - Goosemoor Lane/Gravelly Lane/Summer Road
The recent heavy rain is showing where major blockages are;

On Goosemoor Lane at the junction with Top Croft Road, that big drain STILL blocks up. Work is forever done there and still fails to solve the problem.

On Gravelly Lane opposite the Mona Road junction, a blocked drain causes a HUGE puddle in heavy rain.

Just further up on Summer Road, under the railway bridge, passing cars sometimes get stuck in a big water pool that forms in that dip in the road - blocking traffic of course. The drains do clear the water eventually, but not quickly enough. So another drain needs putting there under that bridge - there are 3 big ones already but it's not enough.

All reported.

Missing Kitten Cleo - Found
8 months old female, was lost on Monday 25/5/2009, black with white splats on lower black, micro-chipped. From the owner;

"Just to let you know we have found Cleo, one of our neighbours took her but she has come home. Thanks again for your help."

The Spinney News
From Erdington Conservatives;

"We have reported The Spinney at the junction of Witton Lodge Road and Court Lane to the City Council. We have asked the Council to clean up the inside, cut back the bushes that have become so overgrown it is now difficult to see out, and for the damaged fence sections to be repaired."

Speeding Incident - Goosemoor Lane
Many makes of car now have the spare-wheel attached underneath instead of in the boot, and we have those two "tippex islands". On Sunday night (6/1/2008) one speeding motorist decided to drive over instead of round the one by Top Croft Road - and tore the spare wheel clean off the bottom of the car and it bounced along the road behind the car for several yards!

It could have been quite a serious incident. Just as well the road was empty. They did stop and re-attached it underneath.

"Punch And Judy" Update
More of this new feature. For the first time since about 1996, the Erdington Ward has a "split" set of Cllrs (2 Labour, 1 Tory in 2006 and now 1 Labour and 2 Tory). See Links page for their details. In the Erdington Constituency ALL three main parties are represented now at Ward level (from all Labour a few years back).

Here I'll be updating any "punch and judy" activity between the 3 that in my view harms Erdington's overall interests. 2 things so far, one fairly minor;

1. At the first Erdington Ward public meeting since the "split" it seemed the 2 Labour Cllrs hit upon a ploy to make sure one of them always chaired the meeting and the Tory never did. One simply (and quickly) nominated the other at the very start of the meeting during the welcoming procedure. Somebody present COULD then nominate the Tory, forcing a vote, but that would hold up the meeting - so it seems no other nomination would get made!

2. From the Sutton Observer www.suttoncoldfieldobserver.co.uk

`Rubbish sparked a party political row between Councillors at a recent meeting of the Erdington Constituency committee.

Conservative councillor, Robert Alden, trashed claims that the constituency's Labour councillors had previously voted in favour of weekly rubbish collections.

"None of the Labour councillors voted in favour of weekly collections," he said, but claims he was branded a "liar" by the Labour contingent.

Cllr Robert Alden produced the results of the vote, taken at a full Council meeting on June 5, which show how each of the four councillors in Erdington, Tyburn, Kingstanding and Stockland Green wards voted, (see results below).

Three councillors - two Conservative and one Liberal Democraat - voted in favour of weekly collections in Erdington.

Four Labour councillors voted against the motion with one abstention and four not voting.

But Labour councillor Penny Holbrook has hit back at the claims saying a vital amendment to the motion was not taken into account.

"Councillor Alden's claims are not true," she said. "We fully support weekly collections but only while there is a need for them. Who can tell what will happen in five or ten years time when recycling is at its peak? But while it is feasible and while the public feel there is a need we will always support weekly collections."

For retention of Weekly rubbish collections:

Cllr Robert Alden, Erdington, Conservative; Cllr Gareth Compton, Erdington, Conservative; Cllr Ann Holtom, Tyburn, Liberal Democrat.

Against weekly collections:

Cllr Lynda Clinton, Tyburn, Labour; Cllr Mick Finnegan, Stockland Green, Labour; Cllr Penny Holbrook, Stockland Green, Labour; Cllr Peter Kane, Kingstanding, Labour.

Abstensions:

Cllr Catherine Grundy, Kingstanding, Labour.

The remaining four Labour councillors did not vote.'

(Sutton Observer tends to be more Tory-friendly than Labour-friendly - just thought I'd point that out!)

Dropped Kerbs - More
This came up some months back, the Council wanted all of those with driveways for cars to have dropped kerbs installed on the pavement. Here is the Council page;

Council dropped kerbs page, www.birmingham.gov.uk/droppedkerbs

Minor Bus Crash - Court Lane - The Spinney
(This might have involved a traffic offence - we shall see - so scant details here). Wednesday 13/6/2007 around 3pm. One of the "independent" buses was in collision with a car. Police were in attendance but I don't think anyone was injured. A very young child was aboard one vehicle.

Traffic Survey/Speed Check - Jarvis Road
(Courtesy of Cllr Alden) Police conducted a speed check on Jarvis Road during the last week in April. Over all they found that only approx 5% of traffic speeds could be actionable. Although not as serious as elsewhere, they did admit that some cars were going very fast.

Suspected Drunk-Driver Arrested After Large Crash On Goosemoor Lane
On Thursday night/Friday morning 26-27/4/2007 around 0.15am  a driver was arrested by police after a road incident at the Kirkwood Avenue junction in which no-one was injured. More on this after any court proceedings.

Cllr Robert Alden is looking into road-calming.

(This report will be moved to Crime Page depending on those court proceedings).

These Issues Have Been Raised By A Resident With Cllr Alden - His Responses
1. Rubbish left for weeks by the Council bin on Goosemoor Lane opposite the Church of Christ.. This is now causing more rats in the area.

"We have contacted the licence department regarding this to find out the details ........ "

Man Found Dead - Gravelly Lane/Jarvis Road Junction - Yet More
From the Sutton Observer, www.thisissuttoncoldfield.co.uk

`A middle-aged man lay dying, face-down on a grass verge at the side of a busy main road in Sutton. He was obviously in trouble, yet dozens of people walked on by. Their actions have sickened one of the two Sutton men who did stop to help.

Daniel Woodward, aged 23, who lives in Boldmere, was driving down Gravelly Lane last Monday (February 19) at around 12.30pm when he noticed a young man trying to get assistance from passers-by. Then he saw the older man lying face down on the ground near the junction with Goosemoor Lane and stopped in his tracks.

"I was on the way towards Erdington when I saw a man on his mobile phone looking shocked and worried and there was an older man lying on the ground," recalled Mr Woodward. "People were just walking past."

"I parked up and went over to help. We turned him over and he was blue and had stopped breathing. I quickly realised that all the time this guy had been dead on the floor."

Yet despite their obvious difficulties, nobody offered to help or to call an ambulance.

Mr Woodward continued: "Several people walked by and two men stopped, but when they found out he was dead they just ran off."

The ambulance arrived and the paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Police also attended and, after interviewing Mr Woodward and the other man, allowed the pair to leave.

Now Mr Woodward says he is 'sickened' by the behaviour of passers-by who chose to ignore their pleas for help.

"It was absolutely sickening," he said. "If that was a member of their family I'm sure they would like to think someone would help them.

"I've got no first aid knowledge at all but at least I tried to help. Everyone's got a mobile phone on them nowadays so they could have called 999 at least.

"Even if they thought he was drunk they could have seen what the problem was and sorted him out."

Steve Parry, spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, confirmed the incident, saying: "Ambulance paramedics did attend the scene at around 1pm.

"It was a male thought to be in his late 50s who had collapsed in the street.

"Paramedics certified the patient dead at the scene. It was natural causes."

Now of course I wasn't there but this was right at the end of our road. Some Press accounts had people walking over the poor stricken man (I suspected that wasn't true). The most probable version would be, lying on that grass-verge by Jarvis Road is NOT that unusual - and when people saw others then helping and with a phone just left it at that. As for people running off - that's probably paranoia about the possibility of being falsely accused.

(The number of times I'm warned over the website - that police might accuse me of doing the stuff I'm mentioning! And an idiot Council employee then did of course. Famously happened at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics too of course - a security guard found a bomb, was then accused of planting it! The real bomber then later found).

So the area hasn't quite covered itself in glory, not quite what appeared in some quarters though.

More from later issues of the same newspaper.

`The family of a man who was left lying on a busy street after he had collapsed has thanked the people who stopped to help him.

Cornelious Collins, known as Con, died of natural causes on Monday, February 19 after he collapsed on Gravelly Lane, near to his home. He was 51. Then, the Observer reported how most people walked by, but that he was helped by 23-year-old Daniel Woodward and an unknown man.

Now Con's sister, Eileen Hatfield, has contacted the Observer to publicly thank the people who helped her brother during his dying minutes.

"Con was a kind and generous man who fell on hard times towards the later days of his life," said Eileen.

"But we are sure that put in the same situation he would have been there offering assistance.

"Our family would like to thank Daniel Woodward and the unnamed person who stopped to help our brother.

"We thought it was really kind and we just wanted them to know."'

Spinney Now Cleaned Up
(The fenced off woodland at the junction of Court Lane and Witton Lodge Road - the 7 and 65 bus terminus). From Cllr Robert Alden

"It's not perfect but much better than before. We are asking for it to be regularly cleaned from now on to stop it getting back to the situation it was in. Also we will be starting a campaign for a bin to put there as it clearly needs one for all the people getting on and off buses there."

Parking On The Pavement - Gravelly Lane
I got a complaint about cars parking on the pavement between the Oliver Road and Station Road junctions (both sides). Cars half on and half off the pavement. Very few houses there have garages. The pavement is often obstructed to buggies etc.

This has now been passed onto police by the Council.

However;

Be aware that situation allows Gravelly Lane at that stretech to always be clear in BOTH directions for traffic to move. Anything that makes residents park completely in the road WILL congest that busy road.