Chelmsley Wood Christmas lights switch-on

CHELMSLEY Wood's Christmas lights switch-on takes place this afternoon.
Children's favourite Peppa Pig will be visiting the shopping centre, with music and entertainment from 11.30am.
There will be a parade from 3.30pm and the lights will be turned on at 3.45pm.
Families can also look forward to chocolate giveaways and can meet Father Christmas.

Councillors reject Marston Green "garden-grabbing" scheme

RESIDENTS were celebrating this week after councillors rejected plans for a "garden grabbing" development in Marston Green.

The controversial scheme, which would have seen ten semi-detached homes built to the rear of homes in Holly Lane, was thrown out at last night's planning meeting.

The application had been heavily criticised by neighbours, who thought the development would add to overcrowding in the village.

Writing on Facebook, Karen Powell said that the recent flood of new homes - such as the 125 dwellings built at Moat House Farm - had exacerbated traffic problems.

"Has anyone tried to drive in or out of Marston Green between the hours of 5.30-8.30pm. Most nights now it's chaos."

The Holly Lane application is the latest of its kind to cause controversy in the village, which has been at the centre of the row about back garden developments.

Aware that the problem was reaching epidemic levels in large parts of the country, the Government previously promised more powers for councils to stop the practice.

Although when Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles visited the borough in 2011, he was confronted with claims that many applications were still being approved - in spite of the changes to planning rules.

North Solihull residents recognised with civic awards

DEDICATION: Marie Hodgetts receives her award from
the NEC's Gary Masters at the Civic Suite

UNSUNG heroes and community champions have been recognised at Solihull's  Civic Honours Awards.
Kris Chase-Byrne, the founder of North Solihull Singers, received the Creative Arts Award.
He arranges music, composes songs, as well as conducting the community choir, who meet weekly at Chelmsley Wood's Three Trees Community Centre.
Also recognised for her tireless efforts was Marie Hodgetts, who won the Community Involvement category.
Marie has volunteered around North Solihull for years, working with organisations including the Friends of Kingfisher Country Park, Chelmsley Wood Residents' Association and IMAGE - a group of local community leaders.
She also helped organised the first-ever North Solihull Cultural Festival, which took place earlier this year.
Kris and Marie were presented with the honour by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Kate Wild, at last week's awards ceremony.
Paying tribute to the winners, Coun Wild said: "The dedication and enthusiasm that the winners of these awards put into their community is an inspiration to us all."
Among those from other parts of the borough to receive an award were teenage cyclist Dannielle Khan, who is hoping to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics, and Abigail Lake, a volunteer for Solihull Life Opportunities (SoLO).

Police front office facilities to close in Chelmsley Wood

CHANGES: Front office facilities are being reduced
across the West Midlands

WEST Midlands Police are closing their front office facilities in Chelmsley Wood as part of the latest round of cost-cutting measures.

The force confirmed that the Bluebell Centre, which is open weekdays and on Saturday mornings, was one of several that will be shutting to the public.

In an announcement today, it was confirmed that only ten front offices would remain open across the region and only one – in Birmingham city centre – would be staffed 24 hours a day.

Elsewhere in the borough, Shirley Station will also be closing its doors to the public, while Homer Road, which currently operates around the clock, will see its hours dramatically reduced.

Some residents have already registered their concern about the decision to remove front office services altogether, only two years after they were moved out of Chelmsley Wood Police Station into the nearby shopping centre.

At the time, the decision to share premises with Solihull Council’s Walk-In centre was hailed as a new way of working for the police.

Reacting to today’s announcement, Councillor Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) tweeted: “Very bad news. Only two years after promise [that the] desk would be future of police.”

David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, defended the move, arguing that these days the public preferred to contact officers via phone or the internet.

“The current service doesn’t meet people’s preferences and is becoming increasingly expensive as fewer and fewer people use it,” he said.

“We need to deploy staff to call centres where possible to free up resources that keep police officers where people want them: on the street, preventing crime and catching criminals.”

The changes will be phased in around the region next year.

• What do you think? Is this a pragmatic or reckless decision? Leave a comment below or email us your views.

Remembrance Sunday events in North Solihull

EVENTS will be taking place around North Solihull to mark Remembrance Sunday.
This year's services will be particularly poignant, coming 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.
Events taking place locally include:
Castle Bromwich Remembrance Parade and Service: A band will assemble at Old Croft Lane and march to the village green. A service, conducted by Rev'd Gavin Douglas, will take place from 10.40am, including the traditional two minutes' silence at the stroke of eleven o'clock. For more information call the parish council office on 0121 747 6503.
Chelmsley Wood Royal British Legion: Members will be commemorating the fallen from 9.15am. All welcome to attend the branch headquarters in Clopton Crescent.
Marston Green Garden of Memory: Villagers are invited to the memorial event, which takes place in the garden on Bickenhill Road. A service at nearby St Leonard's Church will follow.

Chelmsley Wood residents urged to have their say about controversial TV series

HAVE YOUR SAY: Labour supporters, concerned by BBC
series People Like Us, visit Mansfield House, Chelmsley Wood

LABOUR Party activists have urged Chelmsley Wood residents to raise their concerns about a controversial new documentary, which purports to show the real life stories of people living on the estate.
Tom McNeil, who is the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Meriden constituency, is concerned that People Like Us gives a false impression of the local area.
Now he's urging local people to make their feelings about the programme known.
"The people in the TV show come across as nice people," said Mr McNeil. "However, almost everyone I spoke to in Chelmsley had seen the programme and thought it bore no resemblance to their community.
"They were very upset about the false impression it gives to people who do not know the area.
"The people I met were working hard to support themselves and their families, or in retirement after a lifetime of work and want viewers to know that the vast majority of people in Chelmsley are just like that."
His concerns have been echoed by Emma Chidler, the vice chair of Solihull and Meriden Labour Party.
In a joint statement, the activists said: "Everyone has helped pay for this series through their television licence fee and it's only right that their views are taken into account."

Replica WWI trench developed at CTC Kingshurst

A LIFE-sized First World War trench has been dug in the grounds of the CTC Kingshurst Academy.
The impressive defence is 6ft deep and 130ft long - around the same length as four double decker buses.
The replica trench was constructed under the expert eye of former Army officer Carl Hoyles, who now works as facilities manager at the Cooks Lane school.
Complete with a covered command bunker, a first aid station and firing placements, the project will be used to teach pupils about the conditions that soldiers endured during the Great War. It is set to open in the New Year.