Public appeal to trace missing Chelmsley man

POLICE are concerned for the safety of a Chelmsley Wood man who has been missing from his home for the past 48 hours
Liam Evans, 35, has not been seen since 4pm on Wednesday (August 29).
He is described as white, around 5ft 11 ins, of stocky build with short brown hair and facial stubble.
At the time of his disappearance he was wearing a black or navy top, black jogging trousers and white Nike trainers.
Det Con Robert Sharp said: "Liam may be vulnerable. He has been seen around the shops in Chelmsley Wood and may be using public transport to visit Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham city centre."
Anyone with information can contact the police via Live Chat between 8am-9pm, call 101 round the clock or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Buses are "an essential means of travel for millions"

A JOURNALIST and author raised in Chelmsley Wood has highlighted the difficulties facing those who have to rely on the bus or train to get about.
Lifelong public transport user Lynsey Hanley recently presented a two-part Radio 4 series.
It lifted the lid on the problems that passengers encounter on a daily basis, using services which are “irregular” and often “shockingly expensive.”
In particular the programmes sought to highlight the massive gulf between the quality of connections available in London and other parts of the UK.
Ms Hanley, who now lives in Merseyside, but still relies almost entirely on public transport, spoke to fellow commuters about how they thought the network could become a viable alternative to the car.
“Buses are the mainstay of everyday travel,” said the 42-year-old.
“Not for fancy or far-flung trips, but the essential means by which millions of people travel to work, the shops, to doctors and dentists’ appointments and to visit loved ones.
“Bus networks are the complex cogs which keep cities moving and prevent people in smaller places becoming isolated, or at least that’s what they do in London and what they should do elsewhere.”
Figures quoted during the programme revealed that a third of England’s 35,000 buses operate within the capital.
And in the last decade, 138million miles were lost from bus routes outside London, even as the network within the capital was extended. Because such a large section of the population make journeys via car, Ms Hanley said that many people are baffled that she uses alternative forms of transport.
“I’ve had the nagging feeling of being at best an outlier and at worst a crank.
“When I tell people I get round mainly by bus, it’s as though I’ve told them that I hike into work from space using a pair of Nordic skis...”
Only this month, Other Side of Solihull reported on the discussions that have been taking place to try and improve the often criticised bus services in North Solihull.
Residents have expressed concern that routes don't serve the Chelmund's Cross village centre and there is still anger over the changes made to the local network last year.
Mind The Gap: Britain’s Transport Divide is still available to listen to on BBC’s iPlayer.

Police hunt for Chester Road scooter duo

IMAGES of the individuals that police want to speak to after a pair of PCSOs were doused with a fire extinguisher were released this week.

Police are appealing for information after two of their officers were sprayed inside their car by a duo riding a scooter.

The crime took place on the Chester Road, in Castle Bromwich, last Monday evening (August 20).

The PCSOs were sat in a police vehicle, waiting at traffic lights, when the incident occurred at around 5.40pm. 

The force has said that the officers were investigating a disturbance at the nearby Morrisons petrol station at the time.

If you have any information please call Solihull Police on 101 (ext 8912 3027) and quote reference  number 20SH/190172F/18. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Help spruce up estate's Nature Reserve

SMITH'S Wood residents can blitz the rubbish blighting a leafy spot by going along to this weekend's group litter pick.
Local people are welcome to help out at the clean-up event, due to take place at the estate's Local Nature Reserve this Sunday (September 2).
A recent visit to the site revealed that it was strewn with bottles and cans, some of which date back several years!
The session is taking place from 1.00-2.30pm and those wishing to help out are asked to meet at the "Smith's Wood Local Nature Reserve" sign post.
Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Organisers said that children must be accompanied by an adult.

Emergency loan "means everything" to Chelmsley Wood family

A YOUNG girl from Chelmsley Wood, who is living with a life-limiting condition, has been given a precious opportunity to spend more time with her family.
Jessica Collins (pictured) has Muscular Dystrophy, a disease which affects every single muscle in her body. It means that she is unable to stand and that she suffers breathing difficulties.
Over the last few months the 12-year-old’s condition has deteriorated so badly that she is now unable to use the specialist seat she has downstairs or go to school, which left her completely isolated.
Explaining the difficulties, mum Donna said: “Jessica is like a prisoner in her own room.
“She can hear myself and the rest of the family laughing together downstairs, but can’t be a part of it.
“Her bedroom is filled with medical equipment, including a lift and a hoist, so there’s no room for anyone else in there. She feels completely excluded.”
Struggling to get an appropriate seat from the local authority, the family heard that equipment might be available through Newlife – the charity for disabled children.
The organisation was able to arrange for a piece of kit to be provided through its emergency equipment loan service and because it is fitted with wheels Jessica is now able to move between rooms and, wherever possible, get involved in family life.
“As Jessica’s condition is life-limiting having time with her as a family is very precious,” said Donna.
“We will never get that time back. The loan of a specialist seat from Newlife means everything to us.
“Jessica can spend a few hours with us each day and she is so much happier. It’s given her some quality of life back.”
Newlife has provided urgently needed equipment to more than 1,000 children in the last five years.
Carrick Brown, from the charity, said: “No child should have to wait in agony for equipment which can help them spend time with their family.
“When time is precious Newlife can step in and provide emergency loans while working with the family and local health services to ensure that a long-term solution is put into place.”
To find out more about the charity’s work or to make a donation visit
www.newlife.support/GiveEELA

Community hub to be created at Kingshurst school

PLANS have been approved to turn a school office next to Yorkswood Primary into a community hub.
It is intended that the building in Kingshurst Way offers services such as “knit and natter” sessions and healthcare meetings for new mums.
The application was approved by Solihull Council’s planning committee earlier this month.
One objection was received in response to the proposal, with a resident citing concerns about noise nuisance.
But borough councillors were satisfied by the planning officer’s report, which concluded that the alterations to the premises were very minor.
It is intended the hub will operate Mondays to Fridays, between 8am and 7pm.

"Illegal" bike is seized by Chelmsley police

AN OFF-road bike was seized in Chelmsley Wood earlier this week.
Officers from the local neighbourhood team confirmed that the vehicle had been taken off the road on Wednesday afternoon.
The quad bike had been spotted near Babbs Mill and later a short distance from Chelmsley town centre, prior to being seized by a pair of PCSOs.
Police have pledged to take swift action against any bikes being ridden illegally, which is one of the most common complaints reported by residents during the summer months.

Hopes raised over "badly needed" bus service

PROGRESS has been made in the long-running struggle to get a bus running through Chelmund’s Cross.
Concerns that a route did not serve the village centre were raised by residents earlier this year.
Solihull Council has said that it has been in discussions with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) about introducing a service.
It’s understood that two different options are under consideration with a decision due by September.
One of the possibilities would see the launch of a new shuttle bus, linking local communities to Chelmsley town centre’s interchange.
Coun David Cole (Lab, Kingshurst & Fordbridge) said a better bus service for North Solihull was “badly needed.”
“We are pretty hopeful following the meeting we have had that we might get somewhere with [TfWM] this time.”

Fire extinguisher incident in Castle Bromwich

YOBS on a scooter sprayed a pair of PCSOs with a fire extinguisher earlier this week.
The incident followed a disturbance at the Morrisons petrol station, in Castle Bromwich, on Monday (August 20).
A fire extinguisher had been taken from the Chester Road garage and as the PCSOs sat in traffic, the device was sprayed through the vehicle's open window.
The pair had gone to hospital for medical attention and have since been discharged. No arrests have been made at this stage and officers are asking for help to trace the two scooter riders.
Anyone with information should call Solihull Police on 101, quoting crime reference 20SH/190172F/18 or else ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

"Supreme effort" helped secure playground's future

MERIDEN Adventure Playground has been “humbled and amazed” by the support it has received from the local community.
In its annual report, the facility spoke about the extraordinary effort to remain open following the loss of local authority funding.
“This time a year ago, we were thinking the playground may have to close,” said the document.
“We had a crazy summer doing everything we could to raise funds – fun days, headshaves, quizzes, discos, second hand clothes sales, car washes, begging raffle prizes from local businesses...
“And lots of local mums and dads got involved and came up with new ideas and made a supreme effort helping in both the café and throughout the summer playscheme.”
As was recently revealed by Other Side of Solihull, the playground has now secured sufficient funding for salaries to last until March 2021.
While it still needs to find ways to meet other costs, such as utility bills and paying holiday workers, it said that “the hardest obstacles had been overcome”.

Locals continue to press for changes at Chelmund's Cross

RESIDENTS fighting for changes to parking facilities at Chelmund’s Cross have warned Solihull Council they will not let the matter go.
Heather Turner-Croft, who has played a key part in the campaign to make changes at the village centre, recently expressed frustration that more hadn’t been done to deal with local people’s concerns.
At the council’s most recent transport and highways meeting she argued that too little progress had been made to improve the situation, despite a meeting between herself and an officer from the local authority back in April.
While double yellow lines were painted in to make the current parking restrictions more obvious, the options for creating more disabled bays or relaxing the rules are still being investigated. Any further changes are likely to take effect in the autumn.
“We have been ignored [and] walked all over,” said Ms Turner-Croft. “Be rest assured we will not let this go and will take it further should we need to.
“We need you, council, to hear us and [for] action to be taken, not monitoring.”
Coun Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) said that it had taken “far too long to get to where we are now”, but acknowledged that the council did intend to make changes.
It’s understood that plans are being drawn up to move the disabled parking closer to the chemists, as well as reviewing how long vehicles can remain in bays.
However, the suggestion green space near to the two high-rise flats could be converted into new spaces has been taken off the table, because the council does not believe this will make any real difference.
Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, said that he could not promise the issues would be dealt with “overnight”, but insisted his department was continuing to explore various avenues.
“We will continue to work ... to resolve what is a very difficult situation.”
Concerns about a lack of available parking flared up soon after the completion of the village centre development.
Solihull Council has maintained that it does not want the site to be dominated by cars, but residents fear that the lack of space is leading to many visitors being slapped with tickets.

Supermarket plan heralds further change in Castle Brom

THE Tesco Metro store, in Castle Bromwich, has closed its doors.
It's understood that the Timberley Lane premises is to be refurbished and will be reopening in the autumn as Jack's - a discount supermarket chain that Tesco itself has set up to rival other budget outlets such as Aldi and Lidl.
Last month it was reported that around 60 sites nationwide had been identified to launch the new brand.
The closure of the current store a few days ago is one of a number of changes underway in the middle of Castle Bromwich.
A planning application has already been submitted to change the former HSBC site, on the Bradford Road, into a grilled chicken restaurant.
And an application has also been submitted to Solihull Council for the creation of a new Timpsons outfit at the Morrisons store, on Chester Road.
Both of these proposals will be decided by the local authority at a later date.

Police "determined" to bring Babbs Mill attacker to justice

POLICE have knocked on around 1,300 doors as part of a high-profile investigation into a harrowing attack at Babbs Mill Park.
Kingshurst residents were left reeling after the attempted rape of an 11-year-old girl earlier in the summer.
The young victim suffered a cut to her neck in the incident, which happened in broad daylight on June 29.
In an update today (Wednesday), detectives said they continued to work "flat out" to catch the man responsible.
Hundreds of hours of CCTV have been studied and officers have visited more than 1,000 local homes as part of their enquiries. While three people have been arrested during the course of the investigation, all have been released without charge.
Now officers hope that by releasing an artist's impression of the suspect, a member of the public might recognise the person police are desperate to trace.
Det Insp Joe Davenport, who is leading the investigation, said: "This has been a huge investigation, involving officers and specialist staff from around the force.
"I’m releasing the artist’s impression today because most of the work collecting witness statements and viewing CCTV has now been completed, and it was important to focus on gathering that time critical, local information first.
"I’d urge people to take a close look at the image. Is it someone you know? Is it someone you’ve seen out and about in the area. We need to hear from you, even if it’s so that we can rule somebody out of our investigation.
"We are determined to bring this dangerous man to justice, and the information you provide could be pivotal."
The attacker is described as white, with a slightly tanned complexion and short brown/greying hair. He has blue eyes, large hands and a muscular, stocky build.
At the time of the attack, which happened at around 2.50pm, he was walking a dog. The animal in question was a white King Charles spaniel, which had light brown patches on its ears and body.
Anyone with information should call the police hotline on 0121 251 0277 or email babbsmill@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk. 

Wheelie bin defect continues to cause problems

NORTH Solihull residents whose brown bin has split open now face a wait of around seven weeks for a replacement.
The borough council last week apologised to local people after admitting that those whose container has fallen prey to a widespread manufacturing fault will have to put up with a lengthy delay.
Delivery crews are still struggling to clear a massive backlog after cracks began appearing in thousands of bins around the borough.
With not enough replacements available to keep up with demand, the waiting time has crept steadily upwards since the start of the year.
Originally households were warned that they may have to wait 20 working days, although the sheer number of requests had forced the council to admit that it was, in reality, going to take much longer than this.
In a Twitter post last week, it was confirmed that the average waiting time is now around seven weeks.
The tweet continued: "Please make use of clear sacks (available at our libraries, walk-in centres and Bickenhill Household Waste Recycling Centre) plastic tubs or hessian/jute bags while you wait."
The defect - which is present in the wheelie bins which were introduced across the borough in 2014 - has led to widespread recriminations.
Solihull Council's Conservative administration has described the situation as "unprecedented" and said it was looking at options to try and speed-up the response.
But opposition groups argue that the local authority has been slow to acknowledge the scale of the problem and remains concerned about the cost to the taxpayer, despite previous assurances that a compensation deal was being discussed with the supplier.

Watchdog's damning assessment of Chelmsley care home

A CHELMSLEY Wood nursing home has been ranked as "inadequate" less than a year after opening to the public.
It was revealed this month that Chelmund's Court had been placed in special measures, following an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June.
The regulator said its visit had been brought forward because of concerns raised by relatives, staff and external agencies.
The 24-page report ranked the facility as inadequate overall and gave it the same score in five key areas.
Concerns were raised about unsafe management of medicine, low staffing levels, the handling of complaints and a lack of effective checks.
Under special measures, Chelmund's Court is required to make urgent improvements or else see its registration cancelled.
The opening of the care home marked the completion of the Chelmund's Cross village centre, with a ribbon cutting ceremony held in November last year.
The building has room for up to 73 residents, although there were only 58 at the time of the inspection.
Runwood Homes, which runs the site, has apologised "unreservedly" for the problems reported and said it was putting a range of initiatives in place to ensure they never happened again.
The full report is available to view on the CQC website.

Massive boost for mental health charity thanks to singers

CASTLE Bromwich Singers recently brought the curtain down on their 50th anniversary celebrations by presenting their chosen charity with a cheque for £3,500.
In their golden year, the group had been raising money for the Solihull branch of Mind - one of the UK's leading mental health charities.
Dave Skerrett, from the organisation, said that the sum was the single largest amount he'd received and would go "a long way" to providing a number of key services in the borough.
The singers' this week thanked their members and those had who turned out to see their shows.
For the next 12 months, the singers have chosen to support another worthy cause - Guide Dogs for the Blind. They recently invited Sandra Woosnam, and her dog Bailey, to a meeting so they could find out more about the charity's work.
The group's next show will be Prism - Songs in Colour, to be performed at Arden Hall from October 17-20. Tickets are available on the door, or in advance from Greg on 07825 969298 or Stella on 0121 748 7635.

Red flag raised over green space proposals

CONCERNS have been raised that “precious” patches of land in North Solihull could be built on.
Last month, Solihull Council set out plans to dispose of three sites at Clopton Crescent, Auckland Drive and Anglesey Avenue.
Councillor James Burn (Green, Chelmsley Wood) admitted that he was worried about the threat to the areas of open space.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, he feared that children could be deprived of places to play on in an already built-up area.
He described the Auckland Drive site, just next to Bedford House, as “the only scrap of green land” for local youngsters.
“When I think about what we’ve spoken about before about problems with obesity, the problems with health inequalities, particularly for children in North Solihull, I think from a public health perspective getting rid of that piece of land I find quite troubling.
“The same is true for the land off Clopton Crescent, which again is a playing field with a football pitch in the middle – which is one of the better used plots of land in the north.”
Coun Burn had also asked about the results of the public consultation, which was mentioned in a council report.
Arguing that previous discussions had been quite “fraught”, he was concerned that greater detail about residents’ responses wasn’t included in the document.
Coun Ian Courts, the cabinet member for managed growth, insisted that a lot of work had gone in to identifying suitable pieces of land.
“This hasn’t just popped up, this has been going over a number of months,” he said.
“You know, I’m under constant criticism for not providing affordable housing and it’s no good providing affordable housing miles away from where it’s needed.
“So these sites have come up and we have brought them forward on the basis here is an opportunity to have 50, 60 – or whatever the number is – affordable homes.
“I don’t think we can have our cake and eat it. If you want affordable homes, there is a price to be paid.”
Coun Bob Sleigh, Leader of Solihull Council, said that it was important to make clear that this was just the first stage of the process.
“We are not agreeing a planning application, we are not agreeing a development scheme, we are simply agreeing to a notice of our intention to dispose of this land as public open space.”

New edition of Other Side of Solihull

THE latest edition of our digital newspaper is available now on Issuu.

Email theothersideofsolihull@gmail.com for stories and suggestions for next month.

First set of results at Chelmsley Wood academy

SIXTH form students across North Solihull received their results today.
This morning marked the first set of grades at the WMG Academy Solihull, which opened its doors in Chelmsley Wood two years ago.
Today it confirmed that it had achieved a near 100 per cent pass rate in the key subject of engineering.
Principal Stewart Tait said: "Our students have worked incredibly hard to become the engineers of the future and are moving on to some impressive destinations.
"We are proud that our first ever sixth form cohort has achieved an engineering pass rate of 98 per cent across Cambridge Technical and BTEC Engineering qualifications.
"We will continue to ensure that future students build on this success and continue to bridge the skills gap in the UK engineering sector."
Leavers have secured a wide range of apprenticeships at firms including Virgin Media, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Balfour Beatty, with others heading to universities such as York, Sheffield and Newcastle.
At the Grace Academy nearby, students achieved the best ever set of results for the fourth year running.
Ninety-four per cent of students managed to get three A Levels or equivalent.
Faye Butler, who got two As and a B, said: "I’m really pleased with my results and glad the hard work has paid off."

Chelmsley man jailed for tea-time burglaries

A "SNEAK-IN" thief - who stole into two Chelmsley Wood homes on the same evening - has been jailed for six years.
Adrian Griffiths, 41, of Kington Gardens, had been founded guilty of burglary earlier this month.
Police said that Griffiths had walked into a house in Coralin Close on January 24, picking up a purse and the resident's car keys.
Although he was unable to steal the vehicle after being disturbed by the owner and fleeing.
Officers also linked the defendant to another incident, which happened minutes later in nearby Larch Croft.
He had scrambled onto a porch roof and entered a first floor window, although he fled empty-handed after waking the couple asleep inside.
Griffiths had also tried to prise open the door of another neighbouring property.
He was  subsequently arrested on February 7. CCTV footage showed him leaving and returning home around the time of the crimes - which happened in the early evening. In addition, clothing matching that worn by the culprit was found during a search of his home.
He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court on August 6 and police confirmed that the purse stolen from the first address had been recovered on a nearby roof.

New fitness suite opens at North Solihull Sports Centre

IMPROVEMENT work at North Solihull Sports Centre has been completed.
The new-look gym was unveiled at the Chelmsley Wood-based facility last month, with new equipment having been installed.
Leisure operator Everyone Active, which manages the site on behalf of Solihull Council, said that some of the new apparatus was specially designed for disabled visitors, while the kit can also be linked with fitness apps.
Last week, Councillor Joe Tildesley, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and sport, visited the centre for a tour of the upgraded fitness suite.
Cllr Tildesley said: "I was particularly impressed with the new kit for people with disabilities and the increase specialist classes for people with long term health problems.
"It was really encouraging to see so many people at the gym using the equipment and improving their fitness levels."
A total of £1million has been invested in the Sports Centre and its sister facility, Tudor Grange, as part of a deal struck between the local authority and Everyone Active.

Exotic sighting near North Solihull river

HAVE you lost a lizard?

A large reptile, said to be up to 20 inches long, was found near the river running alongside Chapelhouse Road, in Chelmsley Wood.

While lost pets are not unusual, the sight of something rather more tropical than a missing moggie caught locals by surprise.

It's understood that residents contacted a reptile rescue team to come out and collect the creature earlier today (Sunday).

Driver was hospitalised following incident in Cooks Lane

WANTED: CCTV footage from the van's dash-cam gives a glimpse of the
man police want to speak to, crossing the road in Cooks Lane.

POLICE have appealed for help in tracing a man wanted in connection with a vicious attack in Kingshurst earlier this summer.
A delivery driver had been punched repeatedly in the face - and was left in need of hospital treatment - after he tried to stop a would-be thief driving off with his van.
Police revealed that the incident had happened in Cooks Lane on June 25, when a man got out of a passing vehicle and then leapt into the unattended van.
The driver had given chase as the van started to move off and tried to grab the crook, at which point he was hit in the face several times.
The vehicle crashed into a bollard in the centre of the road, prompting the attacker to abandon it and speed off in the blue Peugeot 207 he had gotten out of moments before.
The victim had suffered lacerations to his face during the incident, which took place at around 11.45am.
Footage from an on-board camera was posted online earlier this week in the hope that someone might recognise the suspect.
He is described as having two tattoos on his arm and curly black hair, with a distinctive high top hairstyle and beard.
He is Asian or possibly mixed race and in his mid to late 20s. Standing around 5ft 10ins tall, and of slim build, he was wearing a dark blue or black t-shirt, jeans and blue sports sunglasses.
Solihull Police said: "We are keen to identify this man who is believed to have carried out a nasty attack on an innocent man, leaving him hospitalised."
Anyone with information can call the force on 101, quoting crime reference number 20SH/141996P/18.

Family vow to help others after "unbearable loss"

MUCH-MISSED: Tracy Stonehouse with daughter
Kerry Ann O'Connell and son Lewis Cottrill.

THE family of a Chelmsley Wood woman murdered by her husband have said they do not wish for her death to be in vain and have vowed to help other victims of domestic violence.
Arthur Stonehouse, 73, was this week jailed for life after admitting killing his wife Tracy in April.
On Monday, a Judge at Birmingham Crown Court ordered that Stonehouse serve a minimum of 13 years and four months behind bars.
Detectives revealed that the defendant's relationship with his wife had become strained before her death.
On the evening of April 6, the couple had argued at a local club before returning to Stonehouse's Coralin Close flat.
It was here that he attacked his wife, inflicting blows to her head and face, strangling her and finally stabbing her six times.
Det Insp Caroline Corfield said: "He then sent texts and made phone calls to a number of family and friends admitting to attacking her after she stated their relationship was over. Police and paramedics forced entry to Arthur’s flat and found him with Tracy’s body. Tragically, nothing could be done to save her.
"Arthur was 73-years-old but Tracy was only 51 and had so much to live for. Tracy leaves behind a wonderful family who are devastated by her loss. I know the outcome of the case offers them little consolation and our thoughts remain with them."
In a statement, Tracy's family said: "She was a huge part of all our lives. She was the glue that held our family together. The impact this has had on our family is unbearable.
"She will always be in our hearts and thoughts. We love you so much Mom and miss you millions."
Daughter Kerry Ann added: "We don’t want Mom’s death to be in vain. We are working with Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid to help other families of women suffering domestic violence. No family should ever have to go through what we are going through."
Anyone suffering at the hands of an abusive partner can get help by calling 101, visiting the West Midlands Police website or dialling the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Smile stones scattered around Castle Brom

CASTLE Bromwich has become the latest neighbourhood to have been caught up in the "smile stone" craze.
Hand-painted rocks, with a range of colourful designs, are being hidden all around the suburb for residents to discover.
Local people are being encouraged to get involved by painting up their own stones and putting them somewhere for a fellow resident to find.
In recent days designs discovered include a fetching fox and a country cottage.
Similar projects have sprung up in towns and cities around the country and have been praised for encouraging people to hone their art skills.
Have you found one of the smile stones? If so, why not post a picture on our Facebook page?

HS2 drop-in session scheduled for Chelmsley

A DROP-in session taking place next week will give residents the chance to find out about the HS2 construction project.
The event will be held at the Three Trees Centre, in Chelmsley Wood, on Tuesday (August 14).
There will be representatives from HS2 Ltd, National Grid and Western Power Distribution on hand to answer questions about the construction process. Visitors are welcome from 5-7pm.
Details about the event have been released as debate over the impact the scheme will have on North Solihull continues to rage.
Last month, Meriden's MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, voiced concerns about plans for preliminary works to take place in Heath Park during the six week break.
Speaking at a meeting of Solihull Council's HS2 Implementation Advisory Group, she warned that removing an open space may fuel concerns about trouble on the neighbouring estate.
"Do they have to do the burying of the high voltage cables in the school holidays?
"The only reason I'm asking is, look at the temperature out there at the moment... And we had a lot of problems last summer with youths who had not enough to do constructively. I mean really very serious problems certainly on Kingshurst and Chelmsley Wood.
"Once they go back to school it's different, but it's a precious patch of time [and] it's a green space where you can kick a ball.
"This is a community that's going to have to take some disruption but actually good will gestures during the pressure point of the school holiday period can be really, really helpful."
Concerns about nuisance behaviour last summer eventually came to a head during a meeting at St Barnabas Church, in Kingshurst.
Dame Caroline said that there had been a lot of work to avert the same problems rearing their head this year and Supt Simon Inglis, from Solihull Police, had previously revealed that his team started their planning for the summer in December last year.
In response to the MP's comments, HS2 representatives said they would consider the timetable.

• Find out more about HS2 and what it will mean for local people in the August edition of our digital newspaper.

Family bat walk around Kingshurst park

HEAD out on a bat walk at Babbs Mill later this month.
Park rangers will be taking visitors on an evening stroll around the park, using detectors to seek out the flying mammals.
It is an excellent time of year to see the creatures, with young born earlier in the year now joining adults in flight.
Babbs Mill, which has hosted walks on a number of previous years, is a great location to spot a number of different species - with insects over the water proving to be rich pickings.
The event will be held on Wednesday, August 15 and runs from 8-10pm.
Tickets are £4 per person or £12 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children under 16).
Places are limited, so please call 0121 704 8000 to book in advance.

Police saved five-year-old doused with petrol in Kingshurst

THREE policemen have received bravery awards after rescuing a five-year-old boy, who had been doused with petrol by his father.
The horrifying incident had unfolded in Kingshurst last October, with officers arriving on the scene to find the terrified youngster trapped inside a car and his dad threatening to strike a cigarette lighter.
Sergeants Neal Marsh and Gareth O'Sullivan and PC Carl Anderson managed to calm the man down and co-ordinated an emergency response, which involved armed officers, West Midlands Fire Service and paramedics.
Noticing that the boy wasn't wearing a sea tbelt, they seized an opportunity when his father was briefly distracted, pulling open the car door and plucking the son to safety.
Sgt Marsh wrestled the lighter from the 53-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and managed to detain him with the help of Sgt O'Sullivan.
The man was subsequently charged in connection with dangerous driving, attempted arson with intent to endanger life and child neglect and sentenced to three years imprisonment. He was also handed a restraining order.
In recognition of their brave efforts, the trio were recently awarded a West Midlands Police Chief Constable's Commendation and a Society for the Protection of Life from Fire Award.

Low-cost car club to be piloted in North Solihull

NORTH Solihull residents are invited to a series of events to find out about plans for a new low-cost car club.
Solihull Council has joined forces with not-for-profit firm Cenex, Ecar and Solihull Community Housing (SCH) to looks at ways to establish an affordable electric car club for local people.
Announcing the pilot scheme this week, the council has said that it will offer a pay-as-you-go, no subscription fee.
People living in the following flats are invited to a series of consultation events in the next few weeks:
Mansfield House - Tuesday, August 7 (3-5pm)
Pembroke House - Wednesday, August 8 (3-5pm)
Westham House - Tuesday, August 14 (3-5pm)
Wadham House - Wednesday, August 15 (3-5pm)
Digby House - Thursday, August 16 (3-5pm).
Electric cars are expected to become increasingly popular over the course of the next few years, with more than a million vehicles forecast to hit the road by 2022.
Solihull has previously been identified as having one of the highest levels of electric car ownership anywhere in the country, although in common with most local authorities there are concerns that there are not enough charging points to meet the increasing demand.

Man gets life following Kingshurst murder

TRIBUTES: Flowers line the street in Kingshurst last summer.

A YOUNG man will serve at least 26 years behind bars after being convicted of a fatal stabbing in Kingshurst last summer.
James Atherley, 22, was today found guilty of the murder of Callum Lees, who he had stabbed in the neck during a house party at Westminster Court, in Hopwas Grove.
The 20-year-old victim had been found collapsed in nearby Haselour Road on August 6 and later died in hospital.
Atherley, of Wells Road, Solihull, had fled to Newcastle. He booked a hotel room under an alias but after a couple of days he was openly telling people his name, where he was from and enjoying nights out in the North East
A witness later saw a photo of the defendant in a police appeal on Facebook and alerted officers to the fact he was in the area.

He was arrested at the end of August and denied murder, arguing he had stabbed Mr Lees in self-defence.
But he was convicted following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court and this afternoon a Judge sentenced him to life in prison, with a minimum of 26 years in custody.
Det Insp Jim Colclough, said: "Our thoughts today remain with Callum's family - he was a young man who had his whole life ahead of him that was cruelly taken for no reason.
"This tragic case shows all too clearly the terrible consequences of carrying a knife and Atherley didn’t think twice about carrying and using one that fateful morning. He then selfishly went on the run to Newcastle putting Callum’s family through even more pain and heartache.
"I would like to thank the witnesses who have provided their evidence to the court. Their willingness to speak to the police demonstrated their courage and their desire to seek justice for their lost friend."
The killing sent shock waves through Kingshurst and was one of a number of serious crimes on the estate which prompted urgent calls for increased policing.