Recognition for North Solihull's litter picking heroes

HARD-working volunteers in North Solihull have been recognised for their efforts to clean-up their community.

Clean & Green was singled-out for praise at a national awards, which honours the growing number of groups dealing with the rubbish blighting their neighbourhood

Judges were especially impressed with the blitz on litter in the north of the borough and the work being done to bring residents together.

The Cleaning up your Community competition is organised by cleaning company Robert Scott and is now in its second year.

Clean & Green received £500 worth of cleaning products and a day's support from the firm.

Paul Sultana, among the local volunteers, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as winners, especially knowing that there are so many groups up and down the country doing some wonderful things. 

"That the judges are from such a knowledgeable and exacting panel makes us really proud."
Stan Atkins, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said the standard of entries was "extremely high".
"Many worthy causes were represented and their initiatives around cleaning truly help those in the community. Congratulations to Clean & Green and all the runners-up."

Axe found hidden by busy Chelmsley Wood road

A FEARSOME looking axe has been found hidden among the bushes in Chelmsley Wood.
Earlier today (Wednesday) police had carried out a thorough search of the vegetation along Birmingham Road and uncovered the object.
The axe, which had a rusty head and metal handle, was photographed lying among the leaf litter and on the bonnet of a patrol car - giving an indication of its size.
Officers welcomed the fact that another weapon had been "taken off the streets".
Today's discovery follows a raid at an address elsewhere on the estate last week, during which both drugs and a cache of various swords and other weapons were allegedly seized.

Car turns over on busy Castle Brom road

EMERGENCY services were called after a car overturned in Castle Bromwich yesterday (Wednesday).
The vehicle flipped over following a collision and was later photographed upside down on Chester Road, near the junction with Cedar Drive.
It is reported that a woman had escaped the wreckage, with police and paramedics arriving on scene at just before 3pm.
Despite significant damage to the black-coloured vehicle, with the bodywork crumpled and debris lying in the road, the driver is said to have escaped serious injury.
The incident caused some disruption during the peak school run period, with National Express having confirmed that its X12 service was diverted.

Marston Green parking clampdown considered

ROAD chiefs will consider introducing tough new parking restrictions in Marston Green in the coming months.
Plans for a clampdown have been drawn up amid mounting frustration about vehicles clogging up village streets.
A number of factors are fuelling the problem, including parents on the school run, commuters who can't get into the station car park and air passengers trying to avoid long-stay charges.
The ongoing issues have led the highways team to draw up a list of restrictions in a number of roads, including: Elmdon Lane, Elmdon Road, The Greenway, Canterbury Drive, Land Land, Station Road, Bickenhill Road, Coleshill Road and Hall Drive.
Some residents have welcomed the proposals, although others fear it could see their visitors slapped with fines.
Solihull Council is currently sifting through the responses to an official consultation exercise and Coun Ken Hawkins, the cabinet member for the environment and highways, is expected to consider the options in the coming months.
The decision comes after it was announced that transport issues have been divided up between two different portfolios as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
Going forward Coun Hawkins will handle issues such as parking and requests for restrictions, while Coun Ted Richards will oversee larger transport decisions - including those relating to HS2.

Growing support for allotments project

GREEN FINGERS: Coun Flo Nash, left, at the official opening last week

HOPES are high that a new allotments project in North Solihull will help tackle loneliness among the area's ageing population.
The gardening area has recently been created at Birmingham Business Park, near Marston Green, and two of the plots have been allocated to Age UK Solihull - the site's Charity of the Year.
Older residents will be able to visit the facility, cultivate vegetables and take home some of the produce.
The allotments were officially opened by Solihull's then Mayor, Coun Flo Nash, last Tuesday.
Lorraine Hart, Age UK's fundraising manager, said: "It is estimated that 4,000 over 65s in Solihull see themselves as intensely lonely.
"These allotments offer a fantastic opportunity for older people in Solihull to get out and connect with nature, be active and enjoy the company of others.
"Our clients thoroughly enjoyed the launch event, and we hope that more older people will visit the allotments throughout the year."
The four other plots on the parcel of land will be available for use by Business Park staff during their lunch breaks.
If you are over 50 and would like to tend the allotments, call 0121 704 7842 or email: events@ageuksolihull.org.uk.
Tools and seeds are provided and the landscapers can tend to the beds in between visits. You will need to be able to make your own way to the Business Park.

Knifepoint robbery in Marston Green Park

A TEENAGE boy was robbed at knifepoint during a terrifying incident at Marston Green Park.
The 15-year-old was threatened with the blade after being approached by two men on Sunday (May 19).
The pair had initially asked for directions, before pulling out the weapon and holding it to the victim's stomach.
They had demanded that the boy and his friend hand over their mobile phones, before fleeing the area.
Police confirmed the incident had unfolded in broad daylight, with the robbery happening at around 3.45pm.
Anyone with information about the incident should call officers on 101.

Decision over plan for historic hall is delayed

A RUMPUS over whether Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel should be allowed to have a marquee in its grounds will be dealt with at a later date.
The Chester Road venue had recently applied for retrospective planning permission for the structure, designed for weddings and larger functions.
The plans were due to be considered by Solihull's planning committee earlier this week but were withdrawn by the hotel at the eleventh hour.
This follows concerns from organisations including Historic England and the National Trust about the impact on one of the borough's oldest buildings.
With the council's conservation experts also unhappy and planners set to refuse permission, the application was pulled and a fresh one is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
In the report which would have been considered by councillors, there were concerns that the plans were out of keeping with the Grade I-listed Hall, which sits inside the area's wider conservation area.
Although the hotel business, which opened in 2011, had argued that hosting large events would help offset the significant costs of maintaining the historic building.

Castle Bromwich Hall: The Jacobean mansion dates to the 1500s and has had a long and colourful history. It fell into decline following the Second World War and underwent extensive renovations when it was bought by its current owner around a decade ago. The hotel officially opened its doors several years back.

Tributes paid as Solihull Mayor hands over the baton

TRIBUTES have been paid to a local councillor and Chelmsley Wood resident, whose term as Mayor came to an end this week.
Coun Flo Nash (Lab, Kingshurst & Fordbridge) has brought the curtain down on a whirlwind year of festivals, fetes and public events.
She was the latest resident from the north of the borough to wear the chain of office and the first Labour member to serve in the role since her husband Alan more than a decade earlier.
Speaking at Full Council on Tuesday, Coun Nash thanked all the people who had supported her in the past 12 months.
She said that singing Vera Lynn songs at Solihull's Star and Garter Home and a church beer festival were among the highlights.
"You'll come out legless, but you'll enjoy it," she joked.
Coun Kate Wild (Con, St Alphege) paid tribute to a "wonderful" Mayor.
"Personally I was especially pleased that you were Mayor in this year of the centenary of the end of World War One. And you laid the wreath at the War Memorial on November 11.
"Your military background as the wife of a former officer of the Irish Guards set you apart from the rest and you knew what you were doing. You knew what all of that was about."
Coun Nash will now serve as deputy to the new Mayor, Coun Stuart Davis.

Date set for popular village event

THIS year May Market will be taking place in Marston Green on Saturday (May 18).
There will be stalls, a model railway, a tombola and both maypole and country dancing.
Always a popular event, the 2019 market will be taking place at the Parish Hall between 10am-2pm.
Admission is £1 for adults and children get in free.

Wildlife Ways work in Castle Bromwich

THERE will be roadworks in Castle Bromwich in the coming weeks, as work starts on the latest stage of the council's Wildlife Ways project.

Over the next month, contractors will be installing a new crossing on Hall Road, creating two new sections of cycleway along Bradford Road and making changes to road markings.

Hall Road will also see cycle lanes on the stretch between Bradford Road and Chester Road.

The alterations are part of a borough-wide scheme to encourage walking and cycling and improve habitats. Workmen will be on-site from Tuesday (May 14).

The three-year scheme, which has a budget of more than £16 million, will see activity at sites across Solihull.

In Castle Bromwich things got underway in March, with around 1,000 sq metres of wildflower turf laid along the verge in Hall Road.

And more planting is on the horizon, with plans for around 300,000 bulbs and a crop of hornbeam and scots pine trees in the suburb.

A Wildlife Ways spokesman said: "These works form part of a borough-wide project, designed to make Solihull greener. 

"Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the project will open up and improve existing routes, so allowing wildlife to flourish and helping people to walk and cycle across the borough."

It is hoped that by creating corridors to connect up green spaces, it will make it easier for creatures to travel between sites and encourage a greater range of species.

More information about the latest efforts in Castle Bromwich is available at the scheme's official website.

Factbox: 

• Wildlife Ways, previously known as Greening the Grey, was officially announced last year.
• In total, 800 trees and 3.5 million bulbs will be planted across the borough.
• One of the first projects was the planting of some 60 semi-mature trees at Marston Green Park.

Gang rob man at Babbs Mill

A MAN suffered "significant injuries" after being attacked in Kingshurst on Tuesday evening.
The 37-year-old victim was assaulted by a group of three men in Babbs Mill.
The robbery happened at around 8.30pm and Sergeant Paul O'Reilly, from Solihull Police, is encouraging any witnesses to come forward.
The man who instigated the attack is said to be white, while two others - who joined in - are of Asian origin and around 20-years-old
Perhaps you saw the gang prior to the incident or after they had made off with the man's property.
If you have any information about the incident - the latest to have been reported in the vicinity of the park - call officers on 101.

Spitfire flypast over Castle Bromwich

KEEP your eyes on the skies as a Spitfire returns to its spiritual home...
The iconic aircraft, which played a pivotal part in the Battle of Britain, will be passing over Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens today and tomorrow.
The fly-past has once again being organised to tie in with the venue's popular 1940s weekend.
There is obviously a special link between the local area and the famous fighter plane, with thousands of aircraft assembled at the factory just down the road.
You can expect to see a Mark 9 plane pass overhead at around 1.40pm, with a Mark 16 set to arrive at approximately 1.50pm tomorrow.
Originally Sunday would have seen a rare appearance by a Lancaster bomber, but technical issues have meant that the plane cannot fly this weekend.
In the gardens itself there will be a whole host of classic vehicles, a vintage sale and live music. Refreshments will be available on both days.
Full details of opening times, admission charges and the attractions on offer are available at the Hall Gardens' official website.

Cycle event through the heart of Kingshurst

THOUSANDS of cyclists will be passing through North Solihull this weekend, with the arrival of a major bike ride.
The Velo Birmingham and Midlands will be taking place on Sunday (May 12), around a year after it was first announced that the event would run through the borough.
Around a quarter of the 100 mile route takes in Solihull, with one section bringing the riders through the north of the borough.
A route map published by organisers shows that the competitors will approach Solihull via Tile Cross and travel down Cooks Lane, in Kingshurst.
They will cross over the Bacons End roundabout and then exit the borough via the Birmingham Road, travelling on towards Coleshill.
While the cyclists will re-enter the borough later, having wended their way down through Warwickshire and Coventry, the later stages will take in Solihull's more rural roads and suburbs.
Solihull Council is hopeful that the upcoming event will be a welcome boost to the local economy, although there are lingering fears about disruption arising from road closures.
To find out more about the event, visit the Velo's official website.

Trail of destruction after car hits Marston Green home

EMERGENCY services were called to Marston Green after a car careered into a house in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A vehicle has crashed into the side of the property in Maple Leaf Walk, causing substantial damage.
Fire crews from Sheldon and Bickenhill, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Solihull Police attended the scene at just before 6am.
Police have confirmed they are hunting the motorist who abandoned the vehicle following the collision.
In the aftermath of the crash, firefighters worked to ensure that the building was safe.
Anyone with information about the crash should call officers on 101.

Cafe plan for Castle Brom shopping parade

PLANS have been drawn up to open a new "community cafe" in Castle Bromwich.
An application was submitted last month to change the use of an empty premises along the row of shops in Green Lane.
The 44-seat eatery would take the unit which was previously used by Grow Green Hydroponics Ltd.
According to the documents submitted to Solihull Council, the cafe will serve breakfasts and lighter meals later in the day.
It is argued that the business would increase the number of visitors to the shopping parade and that this would benefit existing businesses, which include a convenience store, hairdressers and long-standing pet shop
It is proposed that the outlet would be open from 8am-10.30pm.
The council's planning department is likely to make a decision in the next few months, with the application dealt with by the officers themselves or referred to councillors for a decision.

Warning after failed cashpoint theft

GOOD Samaritans came to the aid of a resident who was the victim of an attempted robbery in Castle Bromwich.
Passers-by had stepped in and managed to retrieve the cash after a would-be thief struck outside an ATM machine, on the Chester Road.
Thanks to their intervention, the female suspect fled the scene empty-handed.
Police have appealed for any information about the offence, which took place on Friday, April 19, at around 2.20pm.
The incident had come after the police issued an appeal, warning people using cashpoints to be careful following a recent spate of incidents.
Solihull Police said: "Go inside the bank if possible or choose a busy location where you can be seen."
If you have any information about last month's incident call Solihull Police on 101.

Local election results for North Solihull

TWO seats changed hands in North Solihull during one of the most dramatic election days the borough has seen for several years.

In Castle Bromwich, the Greens once again claimed victory after defeating the Conservatives for the second year running.

And in nearby Kingshurst & Fordbridge, Labour edged the Tories in a fight to win a seat previously held by an independent councillor. The gain means they have an all-red ward in Solihull for the first time in several years.

However, the party is failing to make in-roads into neighbouring Chelmsley Wood and Smith's Wood, former heartlands where the Greens now dominate.

This year the sitting councillors were once elected with thumping majorities, in Chelmsley Karl Macnaughton secured more than 80 per cent of the vote and it is thought to be the safest Green seat in the country.

In Bickenhill there had been rumours early on that Coun Bob Sleigh could face a battle to hold on in a seat he has held for some 20 years.

As it was, the Marston Green man - who announced last month that he was standing down as Leader of the Council - was re-elected.

It remains to be seen if he will sit as a backbencher or be offered a more senior role in his successor's cabinet.

Across the borough as a whole the ruling Conservative group suffered losses at the hands of both the Greens and Lib Dems and have seen their majority reduced to one.

A backlash over Brexit was blamed for many Tory voters choosing to stop at home or switching allegiance to other parties.

Coun James Burn, leader of the official opposition, was delighted by the gains which briefly made the Green group the largest in the country - it was overtaken by Brighton when results were declared there a few hours later.

He said the party had benefited from events nationally but believed there was also frustration locally about the Tories' handling of the environment and inequality.

"Solihull is one of the most unequal boroughs in the entire country ... I think people are saying 'actually this is getting embarrassing now and it needs to be addressed'."

Coun Ian Courts, deputy leader of the Conservative group, admitted it wasn't the group's "greatest night".

"Nationally the party is defending a very strong position [from results four years ago], so locally and nationally inevitably things may happen."

But he defended the party's record locally, saying that the council had a good reputation for delivering services and suggesting that anger was born out of events nationally.

Turn-out across the borough as a whole was around 30 per cent, but far lower in many wards in the north.

Bickenhill (inc Marston Green) - CON HOLD

Trevor Barker (Green) - 380

Reece Colley (Lib Dem) - 185

Bob Sleigh (Con) - 1537

Nick Stephens (Lab) - 506

Castle Bromwich - GREEN GAIN

Matt Bond (Lab) - 135

Steve Caudwell (Green) - 1971

Gail Sleigh (Con) - 903

Chelmsley Wood - GREEN HOLD

Karl Macnaughton (Green) 1622

Hazel Dawkins (Lab) 221

David Skelding (Con) 98

Kingshurst & Fordbridge - LABOUR GAIN

Eleanor Aldworth (Green) 352

Marcus Brain (Lab) 616

Alan Feeney (Con) 575

Smith’s Wood - GREEN HOLD

Adrian Duffen (Ind) 103

Bill Lloyd (Lab) 226

Mark Wilson (Green) 1070

Angus Young (Con) 128

Appeal after "attempted abduction" on Chelmsley street

POLICE have issued an urgent public appeal following the "attempted abduction" of a teenage girl in Chelmsley Wood last month.
It was reported that two men in the vehicle were seen acting suspiciously in Blackcat Close, near North Solihull Sports Centre, on April 11.
At around 7.10pm, a 15-year-old was walking along the road when she was approached by the Alpha Romeo, with the men inside asking the time.
She replied that she didn’t know and continued on her way. At this point she felt someone grab her shoulder and, when she turned around, the passenger door slammed shut and the car drove off.
The driver is described as a white man in his late 20s, with blonde hair, stubble and chubby cheeks.
The passenger was also white and a similar age, with dark brown hair and  stubble. He was wearing a grey jumper and dark blue jeans.
Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who saw the car in the area on that Thursday evening or who has any other information which could help the investigation.
This week, a CCTV image of the vehicle was released by the force.
Call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

North Solihull set to go to the polls

LOCAL elections will be taking place in Solihull tomorrow (Thursday).

A third of the borough's council seats are up for grabs - 17 in total - with a number of closely-fought contests expected.

While a number of campaigners have admitted that the national drama over Brexit is repeatedly being raised by voters, parties are also locking horns on local issues as the campaign enters its final stage.

Ahead of polling day, Other Side of Solihull looks at how the parties stand locally.

Conservatives: The party has been in overall control of Solihull Council for the past eight years and has a six-strong majority at present. However, this year's election will be a challenging for the ruling group, who are defending more than a dozen seats. Locally this includes Castle Bromwich and Bickenhill (the ward which includes Marston Green). While both would normally be considered safe seats, there was a major upset in Castle Brom 12 months ago - with the Greens winning by a landslide. Ahead of the election, the party has said it has a "strong track record" running the local authority, keeping council tax low and ensuring a strong economy. However, opposition parties have criticised the Tories for failing to do enough for the environment or to tackle inequality. There has also been criticism over a major shake-up of support services, which took effect last month.

Green Party: Since winning its first seat 11 years ago, the party has grown to become the borough's official opposition. If the results go its way tomorrow then Solihull could become the largest council base that the Greens have anywhere in the country. The party will be defending its seats in both Chelmsley Wood and Smith's Wood, where is has had a clean-sweep of councillors for several years. It will also be pushing hard to snatch another victory in Castle Bromwich. The Greens say they have worked hard to push a number of issues - including homelessness and the environment - up the political agenda locally. However, the Tories have accused them of lacking a coherent strategy when it comes to issues such as housing. Their rivals also questioned the decision not to put forward an alternative budget a couple of months ago.

Labour: Last year Labour defeated UKIP's Debbie Evans to win a second seat in Kingshurst & Fordbridge. Former UKIP man Robert Hall - who has more recently sat as an Independent - is standing down for health reasons and Labour now has a chance of holding all three seats in a Solihull ward for the first time in a while. They have chosen to focus on local issues, such as cuts to the area's bus services and the delayed redevelopment of Kingshurst Parade. However, the Conservatives are also likely to be pushing hard in the seat - where they have also had councillors in the not so distant past. Labour has said it has fought hard for improvements in local services, although it was criticised by the Greens for supporting the Conservative group's budget back in February.

Lib Dems: The Lib Dems have seen a dramatic decline in support in Solihull over the course of the past decade, although even before the losses of the past few years they didn't have an especially strong base north of the A45. The group argue that they have a proven track record in fighting on the local issues that are bread and butter for ward councillors - such as road safety and anti social behaviour. Locally they are only contesting Bickenhill this time around.

Other: For the first time in several years, there will be no UKIP candidate on the ballot paper anywhere in the borough. And the two new parties to have emerged in the past few months, namely Change UK and the Brexit Party, will not be fighting in these council contests (their first candidates will be tested in the upcoming European elections). The only other person standing locally is Adrian Duffen, in Smith's Wood, who is not representing a party. 

Polling stations are open 7am-10pm and results will be announced at North Solihull Sports Centre the next day. A full list of candidates standing where you live is available here.