Off-road bikes seized in raids in North Solihull

DAWN RAID: Police impounded more than a dozen vehicles

FOUR off-road bikes have been seized from an industrial unit in Chelmsley Wood as part of a police crackdown on boy racers.
Yesterday morning (Monday), officers swooped on addresses across Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands, seizing a total of 14 vehicles.
The operation got underway at 5am, when a warrant was issued at an undisclosed address in Castle Bromwich.
This was followed by a string of other raids, including the move on the premises in Chelmsley Wood.
It was the latest phase of Operation Wraithbane, which was set up specifically to tackle the illegal rallies which have caused chaos on local roads in recent years. Main routes, including the Collector Road, are among those where problems have been reported.
Insp Andy Bridgewater, who led the latest action, said: "We’ve seen off-road bikers clogging up roads, intimidating motorists, jumping red lights, pulling stunts in the street and putting pedestrians in danger.
"Some of the video footage we’ve captured has been truly shocking: bikers ramping up kerbs and speeding along pavements…sometimes just yards away from school children. It’s totally unacceptable and I sympathise with anyone that’s been inconvenienced by these groups.
"We’re taking firm action against offenders: 53 have been arrested and seven have now been charged with public nuisance offences. The rest are on bail and also face being taken to court."
The event came almost 12 months to the day since an infamous 'Ride Out' on Halloween night last year. A gang of around 200 riders descended on local roads, hurling fireworks at other vehicles and at one stage attacking a police van in Yorkminster Drive, Chelmsley Wood.
Police warned that anyone thinking of taking part in a similar event this evening would be met with a swift response from the force.

Petition launched in response to flight path fears

A PETITION has been set up by residents concerned about the impact that changes to Birmingham Airport flight paths might have on North Solihull.
Last week, members of the newly-formed campaign group, Castle Bromwich Airport Forum, met with Meriden MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, at Arden Hall.
Following the meeting, the petition was launched to allow local people to support calls for the airport to mitigate the effects of the alterations.
This petition will be available at Arden Hall's entrance hall until November 14. You can also sign the document online here (scroll to the bottom of the page).

No Trick or Treating card issued

POLICE have advised elderly and vulnerable residents to display their 'No Trick or Treating' card, if they have concerns about being pestered this Halloween.

The force has also advised local people with concerns not to feel pressurised to answer the door if they receive an unexpected call, and to make use of their door chain and spy-hole if necessary

With the clocks having gone back in the early hours of this morning and Bonfire Night just a week away, officers are preparing for the traditional spike in anti social behaviour that can occur at this time of year.

There have already been reports of a number of instances of fireworks being thrown, including a group of youths hurling the devices in Green Lane, Castle Bromwich.
In a separate incident, a resident revealed that a firework had been placed in her wheelie bin at her home in Chelmsley Wood. She reported a sound like "a bomb going off" and a photo posted on social media showed that the container had been ripped apart by the explosion.

• You can download a full-size version of the Trick or Treat card from the West Midlands Police website.

Al-Anon organise open meeting in Chelmsley Wood

AN EVENT to help those who have friends or relatives battling a drink problem will be taking place in Chelmsley Wood next week.
The Al-Anon session, to be held at Bosworth Community Centre, gives people the opportunity to share their experiences.
The open meeting will be held on Monday (October 30), from 10.30am-12noon.
For further details about Al-Anon and the work they do nationwide please call 0207 403 0888 or visit their website.

Facility to tackle homelessness opens in Chelmsley Wood

A NEW development to provide short-term accommodation for people who are homeless recently opened in Chelmsley Wood.
Ipswich House, in Ipswich Walk, can house up to 21 residents and will offer support for those who find themselves in dire straits.
The £2.3million project, which was funded by Solihull Council and the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency, was not without its detractors.
When the plans were first unveiled in 2015, some living locally feared that the creation of a “halfway house” in a residential area might fuel anti social behaviour and parking problems. More than 500 people signed a petition against the scheme.
But others have argued that the development will be a lifeline at a time when homelessness is becoming an increasing problem.
A recent study by the charity Shelter suggested that some 250,000 Britons were classed as homeless.
Four years ago, the borough council came in for criticism after it emerged that many who found themselves in difficulties were being sent to sub-standard B&Bs.
Councillor Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood), who at the time led the calls for a different approach, said the local authority subsequently looked at the creation of alternative types of temporary accommodation.
He said Ipswich House went “above and beyond” in that it will provide support for those who the authorities aren’t legally obliged to help.
“It actually houses people who wouldn’t have been entitled to even a grotty B&B bed,” he told Other Side of Solihull.
Meriden’s MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, who was invited to cut the ribbon of the new centre, also hailed the improvement in services.
“There are many reasons why people find themselves homeless including; the breakdown of a relationship, financial difficulties, having to leave their homes because of domestic violence or crime and disasters like fires and flooding,” she said.
“Having recently supported measures in the House of Commons to help tackle homelessness, including the Homelessness Prevention Act, I was delighted to have the opportunity to open Ipswich House.”

Road chiefs review data from Bradford Road cameras

A DRIVER was caught doing 75mph along one of Castle Bromwich’s busiest routes, following the introduction of speed cameras last summer.
The devices were installed on the Bradford Road last August and have been hailed as “a good news story” by Solihull Council.
Last month, the council’s transport and highways committee was provided with an update on how the technology had performed since it was installed a little over a year ago.
Official figures show that in the first eight months over 3,000 vehicles had activated the cameras installed on the Bradford Road. And a total of 976 cases were referred to the police’s central ticketing offices during this period.
Data released by the council suggests the worst offence was recorded back in January, when one motorist travelled past at more than twice the speed limit.
The local authority said that far more vehicles had been snapped breaking the speed limit than they had foreseen, although it will be a while before reliable data is made available to assess the impact on road safety.
Paul Tovey, the head of highway services, said: “The initial information we’ve had is really positive.
“There have been very few faults with the equipment, so it’s been quite effective in the first 12 months, which has been good to report.”
The Bradford Road camera was one of three digital devices installed in the borough amid concerns that speeding was still a major concern at a number of accident blackspots. Other cameras were put in place on Lode Lane and the Stratford Road through Hockley Heath.
Thus far, more than £50,000 in revenue has been raised from those who were caught on camera, with the money to be reinvested in the scheme.
The cash may later be spent on installing cameras at further sites, with Mr Tovey suggesting that other locations where the old fixed cameras were once in operation would be likely choices.

Our Say: October