Category Archives: Forum Notes

Minutes from September’s meeting

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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re not been able to hold our usual monthly forum meetings in public. But technology was worked out and we help our first virtual Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum recently.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting. Items arising from our last meeting (way back in March) were discussed, as well as some planning issues, antisocial behaviour and the issue with the trees in Stirchley Park that were accidentally removed by Morrisons. You can read the draft of the September minutes here.

Our next meeting will be on Monday 12th October, again online. If you would like to attend, please sign up to the news letter by emailing stirchley.forumb30@gmail.com if you have not already done so.

A few updates

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Message from BCC – Garden waste subscriptions re-open

Anyone looking for a convenient way to recycle their garden waste can now subscribe to the city council’s paid-for service as it re-opens to new customers following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Residents wanting to now sign up can do so at the reduced rate of £30, which will cover the remainder of the 2020 collection season (a fortnightly service which ends in late November/early December). However due to the way in which the council’s contact centre is working remotely, only online bookings will be possible.

An alternative to the garden waste subscriptions and the HRCs is the city council’s bulky waste service, through which up to 20 bags of waste will be taken for a fee.

To subscribe to the garden waste service, visit:  www.birmingham.gov.uk/gardenwaste and for bulky waste collection, visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/bulkywaste. To book a slot to visit one of our HRCs, visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/hrc

Stirchley High Street Footfall Survey

We are told by the High Street Task Force that we will be expected to conduct another footfall survey as we did back in March. If you took part in the earlier survey I am keen to hear your thoughts on how social distancing can be achieved and how we can improve on the March experience. If anyone would be willing to consider taking part in the next survey please do get in touch.

Hazelwell Park BMX Track

As you may be aware BCC contractors leveled parts of the BMX Track at the top of Hazelwell Park. Normally we would invite all parties to our monthly meeting but of course this is not yet possible.

Cllr Mary Locke has arranged a meeting with BCC officers to which the Forum has been invited. Do you have any thoughts or comments you would wish us to put forward?

Planning Applications

Traditionally this is a quiet time of year but this is not an ordinary year! If any further information comes our way we will send out another Newsletter and put details on our website.

If you know of anyone who would wish to receive these newsletters please ask them to contact me on stirchley.forumb30@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list

Latest news

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Former District Office for rent

We have been informed this evening that the former District Office has now been advertised for rent as D1 Community Centre use at a rent of at least £25,000pa for a term of 3 or 5 years full details are here.

Sub-post office for Stirchley

Is anyone interested in opening a sub-post office in Stirchley? As the High Street has now lost it’s last bank this could be a good opportunity. You can lodge your interest here https://runapostoffice.co.uk/ The post office at Dogpool has been closed since March and we understand that there are plans afoot to redevelop that corner and the former telephone exchange.

Planning

There have been two recent planning applications that relate to the High Street

  • 2020/03996/PA is proposing work that would result in a 6 bedroom House of Multiple Occupation at 1511 Pershore Road.
  • 2020/04099/PA is proposing to turn a current HMO & supermarket storage space into flats. It is Hazelwell House, Hazelwell Road. People living in Warren Road should take a look.

Both applications can be seen on Birmingham City Council Planning Online.

Virtual Hazelwell Station presentation and Q&A

There will be an online public meeting on 22nd July from 6 – 7.30pm about the Hazelwell train station.

Join the meeting online at Teams, the link is here.

A few things to be aware of

  • Teams Live Events can be accessed by downloading the Teams app to your laptop, smartphone or tablet or you can join the meeting via a browser session
  • The public  will be able to see and hear the Councillor and presenters but you will not actually be audible or visible.
  • You are able to write Questions whilst viewing OR send any questions by e-mail to me karen.cheney@birmingham.gov.uk or Mary.Locke@birmingham.gov.uk   prior to the date of the meeting.
  • This is new technology to us all and has been a steep learning curve so please be patient with us.
  • The live virtual meeting will be recorded and then be accessible to the public.

Please feel free to pass on the e-mail to others in Stirchley who you think would like to attend and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Morrisons

We understand that Morrisons is on track for opening on 9th July. It is now possible to take a look through the side window, by the cafe, tables and chairs have now been delivered.

Leaflet – Stirchley together through COVID-19

By now all households in Stirchley Ward should have received a leaflet giving COVID-19 related information. It was very much a collaborative effort and we would welcome your feedback.

June – Planning, licensing, meetings and other things

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Well, it’s June already. Not quite ‘sizzling June’ but give it time.

Planning

A planning application has come in for 1456 Pershore Road (opposite Stirchley School – used to be a newsagent) to turn from retail to hot food take away. Application no. 2020/01992/PA accessible on Planning Online.

The Forum policy is currently to oppose any such application, particularly as this is so near the school and the City Council has a policy of supporting healthy eating. Unfortunately the Planning Officer has given the impression that they will have no objection which seems a little strange. Please take a look and let us (and Planning) have your thoughts. Consultation ends 22nd June.
https://eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Home.aspx?formButton%253Areport1=Access+Planning+Online

Licensing

There has been a new application for an alcohol license for 1469 Pershore Road (near Stirchley School currently Stir Stores) which has planning permission for use as a cafe during standard retail trading hours. A recent planning application for late night opening was withdrawn in the face of objections from people living nearby. Maybe those of you who did such a good job in putting together objections to the Mary Vale Road licensing application would take a look and let us know your thoughts? Closing date for comments is 17th June.

Morrisons

Many of you will have noticed that building work has restarted on the site. We are told that, subject to any changes in government advice, the proposed opening date is 9th July. They have had over 1,000 applications for 80 jobs.

Meetings – virtual ward forum meeting

Karen Cheney has informed us that there will be a virtual Ward Forum meeting on 10th June (please note that this is the Council meeting not Neighbourhood Forum meeting). 

Items on the Agenda include;  

  • Birmingham Transport Plan
  • Update from Kier on Roads (taken over from Amey)
  • Covid-19 Response and Experience in Stirchley 
  • Bournville Lane – Lorries Update
  • Any Further Q&A

She says, ‘We are starting a trial of holding virtual ward forum meetings and Stirchley Ward is one of the wards within the pilot. The Stirchley virtual ward forum meeting will be held on June 10th 6.30pm- 8pm 

The virtual meetings  will be run on “Teams Live Events” and in order to join the Stirchley Ward Forum meeting you need to use the link below

Link for joining Virtual Stirchley Ward Forum Meeting

A few things to be aware of

  • Teams Live Events can be accessed by downloading the Teams app to your laptop, smartphone or tablet or you can join the meeting via a browser session
  • The public will be able to see and hear the Councillor and presenters but you will not actually be audible or visible.
  • You are able to write questions whilst viewing OR send any questions by e-mail to me karen.cheney@birmingham.gov.uk prior to the date of the meeting.
  • This is new technology to us all and has been a steep learning curve so please be patient with us.
  • The meeting will be recorded.

Please feel free to pass on my e-mail to others in Stirchley who you think would like to attend and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Neighbourhood Forum Meeting

Monday 8th June should have been our June meeting.

We now have the facility to hold meetings using Google Meet. If you are interested in attending such a meeting please let us know and we will arrange a meeting and send you an invitation. This is very much in the nature of experiment but could be a bit of an adventure!

Likewise if anyone would like to take minutes it would be greatly appreciated!

I hope that you have found this of interest. Please contact us on stirchleyforumb30@gmail.com if you wish to join a meeting on 8th or wish to contact us for any other reason.

May Forum meeting

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This is the time in the month when Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum committee members and helpers are usually busy preparing for our monthly evening meeting (second Monday in the month 7.30pm at Stirchley Community Church). Of course, for the time being, this isn’t possible.

We’re aware that you haven’t heard from the Forum for a while. At the beginning of the crisis, after an early flurry of information about changes to services, contact details, etc which we wanted to convey to you, things settled down. We didn’t want to bore you with reiterating the same information.

Updates

After speaking with city planning officers we understand that the proposed gin bar in Maryvale Road will not be going ahead, although the licensing application was approved.

Bournbrook Hotel will be opening when they are permitted to do so.

Work on Morrisons new store has temporarily halted (manager has been on paternity leave and staff temporarily redeployed). The Forum has been in contact about the increasing level of graffiti which is appearing on the building.  We will let you know when we hear anything further from Morrisons.

Planning

Amended plans have been submitted for the application for 1386-1392 Pershore Road which has extended the date for comments to be made until around 22nd May. 

Based on previous applications in the area, the Forum has concerns about the size and mass of the building (in particular the height), the lack of parking (except for 2 spaces for disabled parking) and the apparent use of wood on the elevations when red brick is more in keeping with the locality.

Take a look for yourselves and let us know your thoughts.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/planningonline
Application number 2019/10502/PA by Stirchley Cooperative Development.

West Midlands Police Update

Recent reports from PCSO Blackford suggest that there have been a number of thefts (mainly from sheds and garages) and thefts of and damage to cars in the area.

Many of you will also know that the container in the car park at Stirchley Baths has been broken into and all items within it have been stolen, this includes: a number of bicycles, tools and equipment belonging to Friends of Stirchley Park; gazebos belonging to the Forum; and equipment relating to Halloween and Christmas events held in the park.

Councillor 

Councillor Mary Locke cannot hold surgeries in the usual way but is keen that residents of the ward know that she is available by email or telephone if you have any issues that need her help. She hopes that residents are keeping safe and well.
mary.locke@birmingham.gov.uk or 07703372981

Future Meetings

It appears that it is going to be a while until we can hold our usual meetings (with social distancing in place of course). We are looking at how we might be able to hold ‘virtual’ meetings if residents would find them helpful.

We’d be interested to hear from you if you feel that Zoom meetings (or something similar) would be of interest to you.

Written on behalf of Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum Committee
by Sandra Cooper – Vice Chair and Planning Officer