The attached newsletter gives readers the oportunity to understand what is happening around Solihulls rural edges. There are contact details of officers if you have any concerns about the various issues.
HHPC News
Hockley Heath Parish Council meetings are open to all residents, interested parties and the press. However, the number of people attending recent meetings has dropped. This matter was discussed in September and Members took the decision to change the start time of the meetings in order to make them more accessible. As a result, with effect from the 15th October 2015, monthly meetings will now start at 7pm at the Pavilion, Hockley Heath Recreation Ground.
The volunteers in Hockley Heath Gardening Club have been brightening up the village for over 15 years. Each year the group plant up over 30 planters and planting areas. We work closely with the Parish Council, who support us financially. There are currently seven active members.
If you have any spare time and would like to join our team we would love to welcome you. The time commitment is very flexible. We meet up about four times a year and agree who will be responsible for each of the displays, then individuals will plant up and look after their allocated areas at a time that suits them. You do not need to have previous gardening experience. If your time is limited, but you would like to get involved, you could just adopt an individual planter to look after.
To find out more please email us: HHGardenClub@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook Hockley Heath Gardening Club.
Since 2011 the Mobile Library for Solihull has been provided through working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council. It has been decided to review the service that is provided to find out if the service meets the service needs of our customers. As part of this review we are carrying out a survey to see if our customers are happy with the service being provided and the convenience of the stops that the Mobile Library visits.
The survey will be taking place between week beginning 14th September and will finish Friday 23rd October. The survey will be available on the Mobile Library van on the following dates and areas:
Monday 14th September and Monday 5th October for Romeo Route A – Knowle, Dorridge, Bentley Heath, Monkspath and Star and Garter
Monday 14th September and Monday 5th October Titania Route A – Solihull Shirley area
Thursday 17th September and Thursday 8th October Hamlet Route D – Solihull – Hobs Moat area
Tuesday 22nd September and Tuesday 13th October Romeo Route G – Balsall Common
Thursday 24th September and Thursday 15th October Hamlet Route J – Solihull North of the Borough and Villages
Friday 25th September and Friday 16th October Romeo Route K – Sunrise, Cheswick Green, Hockley Heath
Thursday 1st October and Thursday 22nd October Romeo Route O – Solihull – centre all day
Friday 2nd October and Friday 23rd October Titania Route P – Shirley and Olton
The survey is also available online via Surveymonkey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YMLGCSS
Solihull Council is obliged to publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan for its area, and to review it periodically. This aspirational documents seeks to outline priorities for the management and development of the local rights of way network.
The original Rights of Way Improvement Plan for the area was published in 2007 and is now due for review. part of the review process includes consultation with key stakeholder groups and local users of the rights of way network. If you wish to assist in the review and have an input in the future management of the local rights of way network you may do so by completing an online questionnaire. This may be access via the following link:
http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Leisure-parks/fitness/walking/improving-rights-of-way
At the meeting of the Hockley Heath Parish Council on Thursday 17th September, the police will be attending to answer your questions about the traveller incursion at the recreation ground over the summer. Please come along to the meeting which starts at 7.45pm at the Pavilion, Hockley Heath Recretion Ground.
The Travellers have been successfully moved on from the Park today at 6.00pm. It has been a good example of effective communication and good decision making based on regular informed interaction between Residents, HHPC, SMBC professionals and the West Midlands Police.
I would particularly like to thank Alan Brown, SMBC Head of Environmental Services and his team at SMBC for working so effectively and quickly on behalf of the Hockley Heath Community and Parish Council.
The decision made this evening by the responsible West Midlands Police commander of resources at the scene was intelligent and judged the situation perfectly. Ably abetted by the SMBC Environmental Services team on the ground with the Police. Well done!
This action helps to restore confidence to Hockley Heath residents and businesses in the effectiveness of West Midlands Policing and their much improved coordination with the SMBC Environmental Services professional team.
HHPC will now be conducting an inspection of buildings and facilities in the Park. However an initial review seems to indicate no serious damage to the grounds, buildings, bowling club and play equipment. However there is considerable waste and litter left on the Park grounds.
This means there is a significant health and safety hazard from bottles, waste and fouling from rubbish left behind on the park and in the surrounding ditches. HHPC has commissioned SMBC Environmental Services to send a crew to clear and dispose of the dangerous mess. In the meantime we have cordoned off the lower park to residents until cleared.
You will be pleased to hear the HH Bowls Club were out in force this evening playing on their pitch once again as the Park returns to normal service. Many thanks to residents who raised the alarm and village organisations that helped communicate information to the village during this distressing episode and also those who helped with the clearing up operations.
The Park main gates on to Old Warwick Road will remain closed whilst HHPC reviews the future security options for the Park. All current Park and Pavilion key holders are now required to open and close the main gates at all times. Once the new security measures are in place we hope normal service can be resumed.
Finally this episode will not disrupt or delay the HHPC upgrading of the children’s play area which commences in September.
Kind Regards, Peter
Peter T. Rayson
Chairman
Hockley Heath Parish Council
The Hockely Heath Park has been invaded by a significant sized group of Traveller families comprising approximately 10-12 vehicles and caravans. Access to the park was obtained via a padlock having been removed from the park grass area entrance: only used by emergency services or Park maintenance contractors.
The police have been in attendance, in force, to contain the situation. The police can take no action at this time as trespass is a civil not a criminal activity. The civil action response has to be a court order which can only be obtained on Monday morning. HHPC are working directly with SMBC to ensure this is done along with getting the bailiffs in to move the Travellers on ASAP.
In discussion with the Police Inspector the advised course of action for HHPC is to allow this group on to the Park and localise them for the police to keep watch and monitor their activities rather than barricade the Park and scatter them all over the village. Whilst this is a major issue for HHPC and the residents surrounding the Park it is deemed the safest approach for all concerned.
The Police can only act if there is criminal actions taking place, for example: damage to property, abusive behaviour, theft and any other criminal activity. If any villager sees or is impacted by anything of this sort involving these Travellers then they must report it to the police immediately. These reports will all be logged and will be hugely important on Monday morning when the court injunction is served because criminal activity can be and will be acted upon.
In the mean time HHPC and SMBC advice is to ensure all your property and belongings are secure. Also do not take matters into your own hands as this can easily escalate and cause more harm and damage for both the village and the Travellers who have young children amongst them.
On advice from the Police, the Park main gates will not be locked tonight or Sunday night as they are usually at dusk. HHPC has been assured by the Police that they will be monitoring on every hour for the duration of the incursion all Park facilities, to ensure they are not broken into or vandalised.
If any Villager sees any threatening behaviour or fighting they are to call 999 immediately and the Police are alerted to respond at once.
Whilst this is completely unacceptable behaviour by the Travellers; we will be working closely with SMBC and the West Midlands Police to try and find a safe and swift conclusion to this incursion.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Rayson
Chairman
Hockley Heath Parish Council
Hockley Heath Parish Council are pleased to announce that in September 2015, work will start on developing new play facilities adjacent to the pavilion at the Recreation Ground. The new play area will have fencing to stop dogs entering, a new climbing frame, swings and other features. Following on from that, a new multi use games area will be created on the site of the existing one and shouild be completed by October 2015.
M40 – Junction 3a/M42 & M42 Links. Carriageway works
The Northbound Links at Junction 3a (M42 links) will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 1st July until 6am the following morning (2nd July). A diversion route will be clearly signposted
M42 Junction 2 to 3, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The Northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 29 June until 4 July. A diversion route will be clearly signpost
M42 Junction 3 to 2, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The Southbound carriageway will be closed overnight between 10pm and 6am from 30 June until 27 July. A diversion route will be clearly signpost
M42 Junction 3a, West Midlands. Carriageway works
The M42 Eastbound Link to M42 Northbound Link will be closed overnight for one night from 8pm 2 July until 6am the following morning (3 July). A diversion route will be clearly signpost