Major changes to North Solihull's bus network

ROUTE MAP: National Express' plan of the new network.

BUS services in North Solihull are set for a major shakeup this weekend, two years after the last set of changes prompted a furious response.
Passengers felt that the routes introduced in 2017 were “a joke” and had left Kingshurst, in particular, with a drastically reduced service.
Last month, transport bosses told a packed public meeting that they had listened to concerns and the new network aimed to deal with some of the problems.
But many of the residents who had crammed into the Seeds of Hope hall were still seething about the way the previous process was handled.
And the audience had also launched fierce attacks on buses which arrived late, terminated early or didn’t show up at all.

HEATED MEETING: Residents at Seeds of Hope

Donna Davison, from Smith’s Wood, was among many customers who demanded answers from operator National Express and the taxpayer-funded Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
“I’m peed off with paying £71 a month and a bus isn’t turning up,” she said.
“[I’m waiting] when it’s freezing cold some nights. There’s no traffic at 10 o’clock. The roads are clear...”
Self-employed Ms Davison, whose speech drew wild applause from fellow residents, said she ended up catching a taxi “nine times out of ten”.
Kingshurst & Fordbridge councillors and Meriden’s MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, also attended the event.
Coun Flo Nash (Lab) said many people, herself included, didn’t drive and relied on the bus every day. “Everything that’s been said is absolutely true. We hope tonight that you’ll take all these messages back,” she told the panel.
“There are lots of people who genuinely couldn’t survive without a bus, we must remember this.” Dame Caroline said she had taken “careful notes” of residents’ comments.
“Over 22 years, every time the bus companies suggest they are going to change the route my heart sinks.
“But if out of tonight the bus companies are able to see the very well argued case you make it’s been worthwhile.”

Many residents argued that the current system made travel at night and the weekend very difficult and posed particular problems for schoolchildren and the elderly.
Another local woman said others depended on public transport to get to the likes of hospital appointments.
“Who decided well us in Kingshurst, you’re just peasants, you can get a horse and cart or something? “Spelman must have got a [No] 55 here tonight because she’s late!”
As he left the event, Kingshurst man John Shakespeare accused bus bosses of treating locals “like lepers”, while another resident said there had to be improvements.
“You’ve got to make the buses work and we’ll use them, not the other way round.”
Nick Vane, from National Express West Midlands, said around five million bus journeys were centred on North Solihull each year.
“It’s not in our interest to leave anybody standing at the stop - I assure you we don’t do this deliberately,” he said.
“You’re our customers, we don’t want to give you a service which is inferior to what you expect.”

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When Other Side of Solihull was launched back in 2014 our aim was to give a voice to the people of North Solihull.

We hope over the past five years that our stories have done just that, but we're also considering options for starting a semi-regular series of opinion pieces.

These columns would give those who live locally the chance to have their say on the things which matter most to them.

If you have a suggestion for a comment piece or something you would like to write about then email theothersideofsolihull@gmail.com

Closing date for Solihull Rising Star contest

BUDDING singers have only a few days left to enter this year's Solihull Rising Star contest.

The winning performer will have the chance to perform with North Solihull Singers and alongside Liam Price, who won the 2018 competition.

The victor will also receive a couple of performance coaching sessions and six months' free membership of the Solihull Out Loud Youth Choir.

The closing date for entries is this Friday (August 30) at 5pm. Email info@blacktrainmusic.co.uk to request an entry pack. 

Bank Holiday fun day in Castle Brom

A FAMILY fun day is taking place at Castle Bromwich Cricket & Sports Club today (Sunday).
There will be stalls, games, face-painting, a bouncy castle and raffle to the rear of the pavilion.
For those hoping to make the most of the August Bank Holiday sunshine, the event starts at the Water Orton Road venue at 12noon.
All proceeds go to Duchenne UK and the Immunatherapy Fund.

Health hub to open its doors

TWO local surgeries will be moving to a new home within the next few days.

The Arran Medical Centre and Green Lane surgery will relocate to the recently completed Smith's Wood Medical Centre from Tuesday (August 27).

The two-storey building, in Burtons Way, is part of the wider development on that part of the estate.

Construction work finally got underway on the facility last year and the building work was completed in recent months.

When the plans were first approved by Solihull Council, paperwork submitted in support of the application argued that the centre would mean improved facilities for local patients.

Concerns had previously been raised that the ageing premises currently in use made it difficult to serve the needs of the local population.

While Arran Medical Centre was ranked as "good" in its most recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the health watchdog had flagged up the Mull Croft site was in need of renovation.

The idea of creating one-stop shops for patients has become increasingly popular nationwide and supporters say that the system eases pressure on the nation's hospitals.

A similar development in Marston Green, which will also bring a number of medical services under one roof,  was given the go-ahead earlier this year. 

"Strong results" at Chelmsley Wood academy

TOP MARKS: BTEC students Katie Schofield, Mustafa Abdi and Darla
Caraher, with teacher Claire Carey.

STUDENTS at Chelmsley Wood's WMG Academy have celebrated a 100 per cent pass rate in their A Levels.
The site also announced that teenagers had chalked up the best ever set of engineering grades, when this year's results were announced last week.
Overall, 97 per cent of those who had taken a BTEC in the subject received at least a 'merit'.
Principal Stewart Tait said: "We are delighted that we have achieved such strong results only three years after opening.
"Our students are a credit to the academy and the hard work of both staff and students has shone through.
"This has been a positive set of results for us, following on from our ‘Good’ Ofsted rating earlier this year.
"We will continue to ensure that future students build on this success and continue to bridge the skills gap in the UK engineering sector."
The WMG Academy Solihull, in Chelmsley Road, welcomed its first students in 2016.
It teaches children aged 14 to 19, offering a range of vocational and academic courses.

Changes to tackle traffic problems at Chelmund's Cross

A TRIAL scheme to tackle congestion on a stretch of road renowned for delays officially starts today (Sunday).
As previously reported, drivers will be prohibited from doing right turns into or out of Hedingham Grove, at Chelmund's Cross.
Road chiefs are hoping that the change will reduce queuing on this section of the A452 Chester Road, following complaints from motorists.
Although many residents argue that more drastic changes are needed, with some calling for the cycle lane to be removed and the route returned to two lanes.
Solihull Council has suggested that the new system is only the first stage of wider plans to deal with jams at the location.
A spokesman said: "The experimental order is being trialled in response to the growing issue of congestion along this busy stretch of road.
"A recent traffic review identified closing this centre gap as an effective option for increasing traffic flow by up to 50 per cent at peak times and reducing congestion.
"It is also anticipated that the trial closure will help reduce waiting times for pedestrians crossing the Chester Road."
Last month, Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for growth and infrastructure delivery, implied the trial would last two months.
However, details on the council website say that the traffic regulation order would be valid for up to a year and a half. But it does go on to confirm the junction could be reopened before the full 18 months are up.
Traffic data, assessing the impact of the exercise, will be used to decide whether to make the arrangement permanent.
And it will also feed into plans to introduce "more long-term improvements" to the notorious bottleneck.
Further information about the changes and about how you can have your say is available on this council webpage.

North Solihull's MP knocks back Labour leader's plan

NORTH Solihull's MP has said she won't help Jeremy Corbyn become "temporary" Prime Minister in an attempt to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Dame Caroline Spelman was one of four Tories who had received a letter from the Labour leader earlier this week.
Mr Corbyn had asked the Conservative backbenchers - all of whom publicly oppose a "no-deal" exit - for help in blocking Boris Johnson's plans.
But Dame Caroline has since ruled out any move to install Mr Corbyn as the leader of a caretaker government.
The Guardian reported that the former Environment Secretary had said: "I could not support a Corbyn government, end of."
The Labour leader's plan would be to oust the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, via a vote of no confidence.
He would then rely on a coalition of opposition parties and a handful of Conservative rebels to form a time-limited administration, preventing Britain leaving without a deal and calling a General Election.
In his letter, Mr Corbyn said: "Our priority should be to work together in Parliament to prevent a deeply damaging 'no deal' being imposed on the country, denying voters the final say.
"Following a successful vote of no confidence in the government, I would then, as leader of the opposition, seek the confidence of the house for a strictly time-limited temporary government with the aim of calling a General Election, and securing the necessary extension of Article 50 to do so.
"In that General Election Labour will be committed to a public vote on the terms of leaving the European Union, including an option to remain."
While some MPs have said they would be willing to meet Mr Corbyn, assembling the numbers to execute the plan would be immensely difficult.
Dame Caroline is thought to have been among those who could be persuaded because of her previous comments about the economic risks of crashing out without a deal in place.

Kingshurst Primary unveils building plans

A GROWING demand for places has seen plans put forward for Kingshurst Primary to further expand.
The proposals for a new block, submitted to Solihull Council earlier this month, will enable the school to complete its transition to a three-form entry system.
The application lodged with the planning department reveals that the building will include a trio of new classrooms.
It will also provide a new home for Caterpillars nursery, allowing it to move out of the "dilapidated" temporary base it has occupied for the past six years.
Since the new block will be built on the site of the current nursery premises, the pre-schoolers will use the primary's inclusion centre during the construction period.
Paperwork accompanying the application notes the need to meet growing demand for school places across the borough.
When Kingshurst Primary was built back in 2007 - as one of the first major projects of the North Solihull Regeneration - it had enough places for 420 pupils.
But the roll-call had already risen to more than 480 at the start of 2018, following two previous extensions at the School Close site. These were completed in 2014 and 2017.
Solihull Council has previously confirmed that the birth rate has increased across the borough and that it also needs to find enough places to cope with new housing developments locally.
The scheme will be considered by the local authority in the next few months.

New cafe plan in Castle Brom gets the go ahead

AN EMPTY shop in Castle Bromwich is set to reopen as a cafe/restaurant after plans were given the nod by councillors.
Solihull's planning committee last week approved a change of use to the vacant premises at 15 Green Lane.
Earlier this year an application had been submitted to allow the former hydroponics store, just down the road from The Farthings pub, to reopen as an eatery.
Although there were several objections from local residents, who feared there wasn't enough parking on the small shopping parade and that the outlet would add to noise and litter.
Planning officers were satisfied that there were enough spaces to meet the needs of customers and pointed out that no changes would need to be made to the outside of the shop.
Coun Maggie Allen (Green, Shirley West) said she had "no hesitation" in supporting the scheme.
"I think to change the use of this shop would be much better than to leave it empty."
The plans received unanimous approval at the meeting last Wednesday (August 7).

Fly tippers strike at Kingshurst park

LITTER pickers have blasted the "lazy idiots" who have dumped black bags and other waste at a Kingshurst park.
Clean & Green, a group of local volunteers, condemned the latest case of fly tipping near to the old boathouse car park, at Babbs Mill.
Pieces of metal pipe, cardboard boxes and the remains of a wooden frame were also spotted amidst the undergrowth
Solihull Council was notified last week and will be investigating the incident, with officers set to try and find clues which will link the waste to the culprits.
The local authority was criticised earlier this year after it emerged that only one person had been fined for fly tipping in the borough in close to a year.

Hours cut back at Chelmsley's Connect Centre

OPENING hours at the  Solihull Connect centre in Chelmsley Wood have been cut back.
The alterations, which will initially operate on a trial basis, took effect last Saturday (August 3).
The walk-in service, which is available inside the Bluebell Centre, will now be available on Monday to Friday (9am-4.30pm) and 10am-4.30pm on Wednesdays.
This is half an hour less than under the old arrangements.
A decision has also been taken to axe the service on Saturday mornings, with residents having previously been able to drop in from 9am-1pm.
While the council has defended the shake-up, it had been accused of cost-cutting when details about the changes first emerged earlier in the year.
Following a backlash, it was agreed that the alterations would be temporary to begin with and a particularly controversial proposal to scrap the face-to-face service in Shirley altogether was dropped.
Coun Alison Rolf, the cabinet member for stronger and safer communities, said: "We are continually looking at how we can make our services more efficient and meet customer demand.
"While the majority of residents choose to contact us digitally or use the self-serve machines, there are some that still like to talk to an advisor in person or over the phone and this cannot be undervalued."
During the trial, local people are being asked to give their views. You can have your say on the council's website.

Drama in Fordbridge street following "dog attack"

ARMED police swarmed Fordbridge after a dog allegedly attacked a woman yesterday (Wednesday).
Officers arrested a man on suspicion of owning a dangerous dog following dramatic scenes outside Linacre House, a high-rise building on Heathmere Drive.
It is claimed that a middle-aged woman suffered serious injuries to her arm after being mauled by a "Pitbull-type" animal.
Solihull Police confirmed that they had dispatched officers to the street at around 7.30pm.
A male suspect was detained in the vicinity of the tower block and an animal has also been seized.
The 59-year-old woman was taken to Heartlands Hospital to receive treatment for her wounds.
In a statement issued earlier today, a West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of owning a dangerous dog and remains in police custody this morning (Thursday, August 8) as enquiries continue."
Eyewitnesses report that close to a dozen police cars had descended on the scene and armed officers were among those who attended. Paramedics had also been called to the incident.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 - which was introduced to clamp down on canines which could be a risk to the public - four breeds are banned in the UK.
The most famous is probably the Pit Bull terrier, although it is also illegal to own Japanese Tosa, bred for use in blood sports, and the Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero - which originate in South America and were originally used to hunt puma and other wild animals.
Anyone with information about yesterday's incident should call officers on 101.

Castle Brom-built Spitfire leaves on 24,000 mile mission

SILVER LINING: The plane will travel through Russia, India, Japan and
the United States during its epic journey. Photo/Ministry of Defence.

A SPITFIRE built at Castle Bromwich has been given a brand new mission more than 70 years after it first rolled off the production line.
This week two pilots have set off on an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in the newly-restored fighter plane.
Matt Jones and Steve Brooks left Goodwood aerodrome, in West Sussex, yesterday morning (Monday).
Together the daring duo will be taking it in turns to pilot the iconic aircraft.
The pair will make more than 100 stops in 30 countries during their round-the-world trip, which will take around five months.
By the time that the Spitfire once again touches down on British soil they will have clocked up more than 27,000 miles.
The Mark IX was originally built in Castle Bromwich in 1943 and has been dubbed the Silver Spitfire - because of its metallic colouring.
Having seen service in the latter part of the Second World War, it took more than a year to restore the aircraft to its former glory.
According to its official website, no airworthy Spitfire anywhere in the world has more original parts.
You can find out more about the plane and the extraordinary journey ahead here.

Chelmsley police warn locals after homemade hook is seized

SEIZED: The homemade hook

A PRIMITIVE tool - believed to be used to hook keys from inside people's homes - has been discovered by Chelmsley Wood police.
Over the weekend officers had discovered the adapted fishing rod, with part of a coat hanger attached to the end.
They have now warned homeowners to be on their guard against thieves and keep keys out of reach or in a drawer.
Chelmsley Wood Police said: "We are asking people to be vigilant when at home, after we recovered this adapted fishing rod last night; designed for hooking car keys through a letter box!
"Don’t leave keys on show or near the front door!"
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the increasingly sophisticated kit that crooks use to steal vehicles, such as high-tech relay devices.
However, Saturday's discovery shows that even "makeshift equipment" can serve the criminals well.