Planning application for Fordhouse Lane

The council has received a planning application for the vacant land adjacent to 17 Fordhouse Lane.

The owners would like to change the use from vacant plot to car sales business accommodating 22 cars and erection of single storey office building. Above is a screenshot from google maps, although the area has been levelled with tarmac over and has a series of cars parked on it over recent months.

If you have any comments on the application, in support or opposition, please make them known to Birmingham City Council on their planning application website using the application number 2023/00492/PA. Comments need to be in before the 3rd August.

Mobile recycling vans return

The Mobile Household Recycling Centre will be returning to Stirchley. On Wednesday 12th July from 7am until 12.30pm, the vans will be parked up at the back of the Morrisons car park ready to collect your excess waste.

CAN BE RECYCLED: Recycle any household rubbish that cannot be reused; standard recycling materials that usually go in your recycling; garden waste; bigger items like toys or small household items. Batteries, lightbulbs, small electronics etc can be recycled.

NOT ACCEPTED: Building materials, white goods (like fridges), hazardous materials and larger items will not be accepted. No commercial waste can legally be accepted at any of the MHRC’s and any such material will be turned away.

Changes to bus services in Stirchley

From Sunday 2nd July, National Express West Midlands are making frequency changes to bus services as they introduce their early summer timetables. The following routes that serve Stirchley Ward will be affected by these changes:

11A | Birmingham Outer Circle: The Monday – Friday peak frequency will be reduced to every 9-10 minutes, off peak frequency will be reduced to every 10 minutes, and Saturday frequency will be reduced to every 11 minutes.

11C | Birmingham Outer Circle: The Monday – Friday peak frequency will be reduced to every 9-10 minutes, off peak frequency will be reduced to every 10 minutes, and Saturday frequency will be reduced to every 11 minutes.

45 | Birmingham – Longbridge: The Monday – Friday frequency will be reduced to every 15 minutes all day. There will be a permanent change to the 45, which will terminate at West Heath after 9pm and no longer serve Longbridge. The frequency will also be reduced to every 20 minutes, combined with the 47 service.

47 | Birmingham – Longbridge: The Monday – Friday frequency will be reduced to every 15 minutes all day. There will be a permanent frequency reduction to every 20 minutes, combined with the 45 service, to journeys after 9pm.

For information on what other services are changing, visit the NXWM website here.

Delays to Pineapple Road station reopening

An unfortunate series of events means the Pineapple Road train station reopening to passengers will likely be delayed until the end of 2024.

An unstable wall that borders a locally listed building at Pineapple Road has had to be rebuilt brick by brick. Meanwhile, a previously undocumented Victorian well at the Kings Heath site, linked to the historic Highbury Hall, has meant a redesign of the area. Over in Moseley, badgers, who are protected species, have been discovered on the grounds and can only be moved at certain times of the year.

Despite these challenges, much of the structural work to prepare the site has now been completed at Kings Heath and Pineapple Road and the platforms are taking shape. Whilst the stations may not reopen until later, Transport for West Midlands have are of the view that most of construction work will be finished early next year.

Neil Gaskin, programme director for Network Rail’s Central Route, said: “These stations unlock the railway to three vibrant communities in Birmingham, which will bring benefits and opportunities to thousands of people and businesses. They will be worth the wait and we will continue to work with our partners to support them opening as soon as possible.”

Mini Caribbean festival coming to Stirchley

Leaf Creative Arts and Love Hertz are bringing Good Vibrations to Stirchley as they host a mini Caribbean festival in August.

The event, which takes place on Wednesday 9th August at Stirchley Baths, includes a steel pan troupe, reggae-aerobics & Calypso dancing, a Caribbean silent disco, dominoes tournament, and fruity refreshments.

All ages are welcome to this free event, which is family, carer and dementia friendly. The organisers have asked people, if possible, to let them know if they’re attending so they can have an idea of numbers. However if you turn up on the door they’re unlikely to send you away.

For more information, email leafcreativearts@gmail.com or call them on 07746642387.