Terrific response to Christmas Food Appeal

GENEROUS GESTURE: This beautifully
wrapped hamper was handed in to Marston
Green Library's drop-off point.

LOCAL people are being asked to support North Solihull's Christmas Food Appeal.
The collection is being co-ordinated by Solihull Council's neighbourhood services team, with special hampers being put together for elderly residents.
There has already been extraordinary support for the appeal, which is understood to have reached tens of thousands of people on social media.
Kerrie Grandison, who is overseeing the initiative, said the scale of the response in the past week had made her proud of the community.
If you can spare a few items of food or would like to donate a complete hamper then there are several
drop-off points around the local area. These include:
Barretts Butchers, Station Road, Marston Green (Mon to Sat, 9am-5pm)
Onward Club, Helmswood Drive, Chelmsley Wood (Mon to Sat, 10am-8pm)
Fordbridge Centre, Nineacres Drive (Mon to Sat, 10am-4pm)
DIAL, 67 Kingshurst Parade (Mon to Fri, 10am-4pm).

• The hampers will be made up ready to deliver to local pensioners on December 14.

Incidents of illegal camps on the rise in Solihull

THERE has been an increase in the number of incidents of travellers setting up illegal camps in Solihull.
In the space of 12 months, Solihull Police received 103 calls in relation to 13 incidents of caravans moving onto parks and open spaces.
In the north of the borough, there were incidents at Babbs Mill Park and Millennium Wood, Marston Green over the course of the summer.
A spokesman for the Safer Solihull Partnership said: “It is not just council land that is used, with reports of travellers on private car parks, private land and farmland.
“This type of anti-social behaviour is a huge drain on resources with days and sometimes weeks and months spent managing the problem.”
In July, the authorities finalised a new action plan which aims to speed up the removal of unauthorised encampments.

Chelmsley's Christmas lights switch-on

CHELMSLEY Wood's Christmas lights will be switched on tomorrow (Saturday).
Father Christmas will be dropping in and families are invited to join in with carols around the grand piano.
"Search for Santa" will be taking place in the town centre from 12noon-3.30pm. The light switch-on will be at 3.45pm.

Casting an eye over Chelmsley Wood's history

Other Side of Solihull takes a look through a new book, which aims to tell the story of Chelmsley Wood through the memories of its residents.

ONE problem with official histories is that they never tell the whole story…
If for instance you type Chelmsley Wood into Google, you will find some rather bland descriptions about a “relatively new” council estate, built as an overspill for Birmingham in the 1960s.
Population density, crime rate and the opening times for Asda are all a couple of clicks away. But what Wikipedia, the Birmingham Mail and Solihull Council’s potted guide won’t mention is the ‘Bogey on the Stick’.
Credit then to this new book for featuring the famous sculpture – perhaps the closest thing that Chelmsley had to a mascot before its removal a few years ago – on its front cover.
A bit of background to begin with. The book has been produced as part of a project co-ordinated by the Three Trees Centre and bankrolled by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The aim over the past couple of years has been to collect and record the memories of local people, including some of the area’s original residents.
It’s remarkable to think that many of the twenty-somethings who made their home on the estate in the 1960s are now drawing a pension and their recollections of the early years are among the most interesting passages of the book.
Sheila Lloyd, who still lives in her original self-build home in Dunster Road, said: “It seems silly now, but this house cost us £4,000 all those years ago. But it was an awful lot of money because we only earned £12 a week.”
Another long-standing resident Ronnie Cashmore has fond memories of a Royal visit.
“They opened up for Her Majesty to come and have a look at this new estate,” he said, in reference to the Queen’s official visit in 1971.
“There was mud everywhere the eye could see because they were still building. When Her Majesty came over they spent quite a lot of money, I believe, actually spraying the mud green, so it looked as if there were grassy areas.”
The book goes some way towards addressing the negative press that “the Wood” has attracted over the years. The community spirit apparent in many of the photos is a world away from the multitude of unkind jibes you will find on social media.
“My overall impression of moving into Chelmsley Wood – absolutely wonderful,” said Stan Hayling. “It was a three bedroom house with a garden. It was all brand new, it was like winning the Lottery.”
But being a book produced by the local community there is also a candour here which you wouldn’t get if the authors had been, for argument’s sake, the council or Solihull Community Housing.
Look out for references to the farcical handling of efforts to rename the old Craig Croft shopping parade and some of the other controversies that have arisen as a result of the North Solihull Regeneration.
There is also a rather rueful look at the mysterious disappearance of almost all of Chelmsley’s pubs (a gallery of photos provides details of the ultimate fate of The Prince Hal, The Trusty Servant and The Southern Cross).

• From Then ‘Til Now: The Story of Chelmsley Wood is available from the Three Trees Centre for £3.50. You can find out more about the project at www.chelmsleywood.org/

Council goes to court following drugs discovery in Chelmsley Wood

COUNCIL bosses went to court last week to secure a closure order at a Chelmsley Wood home.
Police had searched the Alder Drive address on November 13 and the tenant, Tyrone Borland, was found to be in possession of a Class A drug.
Related paraphernalia found at the property suggested he was dealing from the house.
Two years ago, a dozen cannabis plants were discovered at Borland's home and he was warned at the time that any further incidents would lead to Solihull Community Housing taking legal action.
The discovery earlier this month prompted the authority to proceed to court and the closure order, which will last three months, was granted by Birmingham Magistrates.
The housing department has confirmed it will now apply to take possession of the property.

New health centre to open in Chelmsley Wood next week

A STATE-of-the-art doctor’s surgery and community hub will be opening its doors in Chelmsley Wood at the end of this month.
The new-look Croft Medical Centre – part of the Chelmund’s Cross Village Centre – is set to welcome its first patients on November 30.
The two-storey facility, which will also bring a dentist’s practice and pharmacy under one roof, has
been described as a major investment in the local area by Meriden MP Caroline Spelman.
During the construction phase, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was invited to visit the site and briefed about how the new centre would operate.
Practice manager Veronica Parkes said: “The team have been involved in the design and development of the new building from day one. We really hope patients will enjoy the new building.”

Man seriously hurt following late-night attack in Castle Brom

A MAN remains in a critical condition after being attacked and left unconscious in a Castle Bromwich car park over the weekend.
The 41-year-old was discovered lying behind Arden Hall, in Water Orton Road, late on Saturday (November 21). The victim had sustained serious head injuries in the attack.
Paramedics were called to the scene at around 11.30pm and the man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Officers are trawling CCTV in an attempt to identify the assailant and are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened.
Det Insp Caroline Corfield said: "It is understood a large number of people were at a private event at the cricket club and there will be witnesses to what took place.
"We would like to speak to anyone who attended the event and in particular anyone who is a witness to events leading to the victim’s injuries, or who has any other information which would assist the investigation."
Call detectives on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.