CONSTITUENCY, CITY COUNCIL

NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 1 SPRING 2009

CLEANING UP OUR ACT...

Constituency staff work ing over 200 flytipping plus others. closely with partner or- hotspots since July ganisations and local 2008. also offers a service for residents to improve the Our Environmental War- free bulky waste collection local environment. Our dens work closely with - you can call Contact Bir- dedicated Environ- the Hit Squad to identify mingham on the number mental Wardens make sites that require atten- below to arrange a regular visits to their tion, as well as having ‘special collection’. A Local volunteers cleaning up Wards and are here for powers to fine people maximum of six items will the Chinn Brook area you to report any envi- for dog fouling, putting be collected free of ronmental incidents to. rubbish out too early charge. Your Wardens contact information is listed at the end of this article. Environmental Warden Contacts: ______Richard Green - Constituency Street Scene Officer - Contents Tel:(0121) 464 9072 In 2008, the Constitu- Teverai Masike - Constituency Environmental War- ency received funding Environmental 1 from BT and Virgin to den—Tel: (0121) 303 9984 paint over cable boxes Roy Greaves/Mike Barnett - Billesley Ward Environ- Neighbourhood 2 mental Wardens - Tel: (0121) 464 5842 and cabinets that were advice service blighted by graffiti. Nathan Campbell - Ward Environmental Since July 2008, the Warden - Tel: (0121) 303 9764 Sport and leisure 3 Constituency Hit Squad Royden Dawson - Ward Environmental has painted over 200 Contact us 4 cabinets. In that time Warden - Tel: (0121) 464 9072 the Hit Squad have also Bob Jones - Selly Oak Ward Environmental Warden - carried out an addi- Tel: (0121) 303 9984 tional 500 graffiti re- Contact Birmingham - Bulky Waste Collection - moval jobs on walls, Tel: (0121) 303 1112 fences and other sur- faces, as well as clear-

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH PESTS!

In 2007 young people, ‘Monument of Billesley’ duce a full sized sculp- aged 10-14, from the and for this to be placed ture from a fallen Oak Warstock area were where local people tree. asked to compile a list of could see it during their The project continued to places they wanted to walks. A local artist, grow and, soon after, see included as part of a Graham Jones, was the Environmental ‘Seven Wonders of Billes- commissioned, through Youth Street Champions ley Walk’ (Billesley Warstock and Grendon project was initiated with Ward). Whilst this walk NRF Community Pro- the help of West Mid- was being developed, the ject, to use the young Constituency Street Scene lands Police. They young people involved people’s designs and funded the work for 4 Officer, Richard Green also wanted to create a work with them to pro- PAGE 2 ENVIRONMENTAL / NEIGHBOURHOOD ADVICE SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH PESTS CONTINUED...

months with four cleans ups and a willingness to work adam.noon@birmingham taking place in 2008 involv- hard, getting involved in is- .gov.uk. ing young people. sues that affect the whole community. The ‘Monument of Billesley’ Other Parks and sculpture is a fine example A map and details of the of the fantastic project and ‘Seven Wonders of Billesley Nature Conservation it can now be viewed at Walk’ are available on Selly Contacts: Local youth volunteers Chinnbrook Recreation Oak Constituency’s website Selly Oak Constitu- www.birmingham.gov.uk/selly and BCC staff beside the Ground (which forms part of ency Parks Manager, the 7 Wonders Walk). Monument of Billesley oak, under Billesley. Simon Cooper - Tel: This has been an innovative For further information on (0121) 464 0406 and exciting project and is guided walks and environ- an example of young peo- Selly Oak Tree Offi- mental activities in the cer, Nick Barton - ple taking real pride in the Billesley area please contact area in which they live. The Adam Noon on 0121 702 Tel: (0121) 464 8728 young people displayed a 2739 or via email - high level of enthusiasm

SPRING CLEANING...

On Saturday 14 March cess with a great turn out Common looking in great over 50 volunteers joined which included local peo- condition. together to help give ple of all ages. Billesley Common a ‘AN EXAMPLE OF Moseley Rugby Club spring clean. The event YOUNG PEOPLE kindly offered the added was organised as a joint TAKING REAL incentive of free entry to initiative by the Assistant that day’s match plus a PRIDE IN THE Chinn Brook Ranger, free barbecue for all par- AREA IN WHICH Adam Noon, the local ticipants afterwards. THEY LIVE’ friends group, the Valley Riverside Project and A large quantity of rub- Moseley Rugby Club. bish and litter was col- lected and removed from Council worker Jonathan Har- The day was a huge suc- the site leaving Billesley ris gets stuck in

NEIGHBOURHOOD ADVICE SERVICE—HERE FOR YOU

The Council’s Neighbour- advisor with community Cotteridge Neighbourhood hood Advice and Informa- language skills. Office - (0121) 303 4950 tion Service provides a link To help us achieve a high Yardley Wood Neighbourhood between people who live quality service we have set Office- (0121) 303 7534 and work in Birmingham ourselves aims and prom- Druids Heath Neighbourhood and the services available ises to you which are on Advice Service - (0121) 303 from the City Council. We display in our offices. 7111 can help you with Benefit A private interview can be claims; money worries; debt Selly Oak Neighbourhood arranged on request al- problems; housing issues; Advice Service - (0121) 303 though most take place council tax; waste recycling 4950 (and ask for an appt. at within the open plan office. Selly Oak) Neighbourhood Advice and much more. . . Manager, Mike Ken- To arrange an appointment We also offer smaller surger- Our staff provide high qual- neally, and Library staff with an advisor please con- ies throughout the Constitu- ity advice and information to at the joint facility at tact your local Neighbour- ency. One of the above of- help you to sort out your Druids Heath Library hood Office: fices will be able to give you problems. We can also ar- further details of these. range for you to speak to an ISSUE 1 SPORT AND LEISURE PAGE 3

PUMP UP THE VOLUME AT COCKS MOORS WOODS LEISURE CENTRE The Constituency and tivity that is exciting, edu- For further informa- Other Leisure South Birmingham Pri- cational and safe. tion on the new mary Care Trust (PCT) Facilities man- The new facility is the SHOKK equipment, have joined forces to offer aged by Selly result of further success- the Exercise on Pre- children and young peo- Oak Constitu- ful partnership work be- scription Programme ple access to a high qual- tween the Selly Oak Con- ency: ity dance activity facility at or for details on any stituency and the PCT. Cocks Moors Woods Lei- of the activities run Billesley Indoor Cocks Moors Woods al- sure Centre. at Cocks Moors Tennis Centre ready provides a popular Woods Leisure Cen- (see below) The facility, funded by the Exercise on Prescription tre please contact PCT, includes 3 interac- scheme as well as access Linden Road Pool (0121) 464 1996. tive activity walls de- to health groups and ad- (Bournville) - signed to provide a total vice. Furthermore, the (0121) 464 4500 body workout These help new equipment will com- users to develop flexibil- pliment the improved ser- Tiverton Pool and ity, speed and co- vices already offered at Fitness Centre ordination skills plus a the recently refurbished (Selly Oak) - sophisticated sixteen mat Centre (see below). (0121) 464 0779 interactive dance system. The new SHOKK interac- Stirchley Indoor tive gym offers a fantastic Young people try out the Bowls Centre - environment for young SHOKK Dance mats (0121) 464 0784 people to take part in ac-

2ND CONSTITUENCY GYM RECEIVES A REVAMP

Billesley Indoor Tennis tomers the very best in New for 2009 at Cocks Centre’s gym has re- equipment and service. Moors Woods – early ceived a makeover cour- bird studio cycling This follows the major tesy of the City Council’s classes on Wednesdays refurbishment programme Feeling the Pinch? Strategic Sport section. and body combat classes at Cocks Moors Woods The gym now boasts on Thursdays – 7.30 am Why not join the City Leisure Centre which in- state-of-the-art equipment start. Council Fitness cluded a new bar; café; to rival that of private Choice Membership changing facilities and For further information gyms with new televisions gym equipment, plus an please contact: scheme from as little and an ipod station. The in house Library facility as 73p per day! layout of the gym has Billesley Indoor Tennis including internet access. also been altered to take Centre - (0121) 464 You can get unlim- The new gym at Cocks advantage of the location 4222 ited access to fit- Moors Woods also boasts with the treadmills now spectacular views of the ness classes and positioned to overlook the Cocks Moors Woods golf course following its gyms at all City neighbouring Billesley Leisure Centre - (see relocation and the dance Council Leisure sites Common. above) studio has been extended from just £22.50 per The Indoor Tennis Centre to accommodate larger month (PTL). is the only one of its kind numbers. in Birmingham offering 6 For further informa- All this plus an extensive indoor and several out- tion call (0121) 464 schedule of classes to door courts. The Centre 0290 or visit suit most tastes and abili- also houses the gym and www.feelingthepinch. ties including pilates; an internet café. me body combat; badminton; Fitness Instructor, Keith The recent refurb now aerobics; studio cycling; Hill, offers advice on how means that the Centre circuit training plus much to get the best out of the staff are able to offer cus- more. new equipment at Billesley Contact us:

SELLY OAK CONSTITUENCY, Sites managed by selly oak constituency: BIRMINGHAM CITY Community and play sites COUNCIL Stirchley community centre - Tel: (0121) 464 0886 1459 Pershore Road Strichley Masefield community centre - Tel: (0121) 476 9063 Birmingham B30 2JL Coronation road play centre - (0121) 472 3968 Chinnbrook play centre - (0121) 464 4772 Phone: (0121) 464 9072 Community libraries Fax: (0121) 303 9985 Druids heath - (0121) 303 7171 Email: sellyoak@birmingham. gov.uk Selly oak - (0121) 464 0403 Stirchley - (0121) 464 1534 Yardley wood - (0121) 464 2110 Cocks moors woods neighbourhood library

W E’ RE ON THE Sport and leisure sites (see page 3) WEB: Neighbourhood advice and information (see page 2) WWW. BIRMINGHAM. GOV. UK/ SELLYOAK

MESSAGE FROM THE CONSTITUENCY DIRECTOR, CHRIS JORDAN

Welcome to Selly Oak the Constituency. You mixture of traditional li- If you would like to re- Constituency’s can also learn more brary services combined ceive future newslet- (comprising Billesley, about how to get in- with modern IT facilities ters and the Arts and Bournville, Brandwood volved in the decision and areas aimed specifi- Events Calendar via and Selly Oak Wards) making process and, if cally for our young peo- email then please let us first newsletter. Selly you have the time and ple. In fact, local young know by one of the Oak Constituents live in the inclination, we have people were involved in methods given above. a fantastically diverse several theme groups the new design. We would also love to area that is brimming that feed into our Con- We have also held a hear your comments with culture, history and stituency Strategic Part- number of successful about this newsletter. beauty. The Constitu- nership which you can community events in the Let us know what you ency provides a plethora join. last year which have in- think and what you of services to residents Constituency staff are cluded activities from would like to know and one of our aims in working hard to make fair-trade chocolate tast- more about by emailing the forthcoming year is to positive changes based ing and aromatherapy us at make our Constituents on our residents’ feed- sessions to talent con- sellyoak more aware of these ser- back. The recent major tests and bouncy castles. vices that are on your @birmingham.gov.uk refurbishment at Cocks We have worked closely doorstep. One way of Moors Woods Leisure with our partner agen- doing this is via this Thank you and I hope Centre is one example of cies, including West Mid- newsletter and another you have enjoyed our this. lands Police, University way is through our web- first newsletter. of Birmingham, South page which now includes We also relaunched Dru- Birmingham Primary a monthly Arts and ids Heath Library, Idmis- Care Trust and West Events Calendar. This ton Croft last year which Midlands Fire Service to will keep you informed of included a new entrance Chris Jordan provide residents with some of the excellent and young persons’ area these fun and informative activities and events that - with access to ICT. days and long may they are taking place within The Library now offers a continue.