IN PERRY COMMON EXCITING Currently Hidden Away
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PERRY COMMON MATTERS Switch On 2014 Winter 2014 Winter PERRY COMMON PERRY A message from Santa Ho, Ho, Ho, Hello to everyone in Perry Common. It was a pleasure to come to your Christmas Lights Switch On and meet you all. I will be busy this year getting all those presents organised and delivered – and there is certainly lots going on. This edition of your newsletter has lots of interesting stories and photos, including the new properties being built, jobs created and wonderful work going on locally - you must all have been good girls and boys! As this is Witton Lodge Community Association’s 20th anniversary, there’s lots about all the impressive community events and the healthy and happy activities enjoyed throughout Hundreds of people came to the Christmas Lights Switch 2014 – you have all been very busy! On, on Thursday 27th November. There were wonderful performances from the Story Wood School Choir and The new homes look very impressive and it’s good to see that the Ring Of Sound Choir; just before Santa arrived to there are many activities that bring the community together in greet the enormous crowd. Perry Common. In the New Year, I, like many of you, will be making fresh plans. The big Switch On took place at 6:00pm with 13 year old For all our New Year’s resolutions, I can see there is plenty of help Rehana Khanom of Wilson Stuart School winning this and support in Perry Common to help you make all of year’s prize for the best Christmas Card Design. Bike North your dreams come true. Birmingham were here with their electricity generating bike; there were lots of children’s activities, a very busy So to everyone reading, have a very Merry Christmas and a Craft Fayre at St Martin’s Church and lots more. Happy New Year. Thank you to everyone who helped out and to everyone who IN THIS ISSUE came along to make it a very special and festive evening. Santa New Year 2014: A year A giant boost New Homes in of celebration for young Perry Common people’s skills & employment Page 2 Pages 4 & 5 Page 7 Tel: 0121 382 1930 | Email: [email protected] | Produced by Witton Lodge Community Association Witton Lakes is set to become a pioneer in green technology, NEW YEAR, NEW HOMES with exciting plans for a new Environment Centre powered by hydro-electricity; the first scheme of its kind in Birmingham. This will incorporate the existing Community Orchard that has grown from strength to strength – with the help of an enthusiastic band of volunteers - and the former park-keepers cottage; that is IN PERRY COMMON EXCITING currently hidden away. To gain the support and hear the views of the local community In the Summer 2013 edition of Perry Common Matters we about these exciting plans, Witton Lodge Community Association announced the news that new homes would be built on two ENVIRONMENT together with the Friends Of Witton Lakes held a Community Fun sites in Dovedale Road – either side of the Dove Medical Centre. Day to discuss the proposals and for everyone locally to come out Since then, a lot of building work has taken place and many and enjoy the park. of the houses are nearly complete. The event on Saturday 27th September was a huge success with well CENTRE AND over 300 local people coming along to hear about the exciting plans This is the newest phase of redevelopment in Perry Common, with and discuss opinions and ideas, whilst enjoying the fun activities. a total of 59 houses being built – 20 for Witton Lodge Community The event had everything from a bouncy castle and mega-slide, face Association and 39 for Birmingham City Council. These have been painting, bike rides and an interesting military manoeuvres display HYDRO-ELECTRIC by the local Maritime Youth Group. built on land that had been left untouched for 15 years since the demolition of the original Boot houses in the late 1990s – so it’s There were also guided tours around the lake and the Velvet good to see the land being put to good use again. Community Orchard – a wonderful walled garden within the park PROJECT PLANNED that was opened in 2009 with funding from Velvet Toilet Tissue. There was lots to see and lots of healthy ‘orchard grown’ food to buy – with the large pumpkins being very popular. Every visitor to the orchard was also given a plant to take away with them. The orchard will form the outdoor part of the Environment & Enterprise Centre, while the former park-keepers cottage, a very attractive and often overlooked building, will gain a new lease of life as part of the proposals. Linda Hines MBE, Chair of Witton Lodge Community Association says “The Environment Centre is a really exciting project. There will be something for everyone here, from cutting-edge renewable energy to traditional gardening methods. We’re really pleased with the harvest of tasty fruit & veg and beautiful flowers that have been grown. Thank you to all our enthusiastic volunteers who have made this possible.” GRAND OPENING OF BIRMINGHAM’S NEWEST PARK ENERGY SAVING BREAKTHROUGH Despite the wet weather, the event was enjoyed by local Alongside the popular outdoor gym equipment, that is Saturday 20th September people who came to see the park’s formal opening, enjoy free for everyone to use 24 hours a day; the new park the refreshments, have a go on the bouncy castle and also hosts seating areas and pathways linking to different marked an exciting day enjoy the atmosphere. parts of Perry Common. COMING SOON with the Grand Opening For even more excitement, there were activities to help Teresa Compton, Chair of Friends of Perry Common, Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) is working with everyone stay fit and healthy, with demonstrations on said “I would like to thank everyone who has helped British Gas to help make all of our homes in Perry Common more of Birmingham’s newest how to use the park’s outdoor gym equipment. Healthy support the park. It is really good for the local area and energy efficient and save tenants money on their fuel bills. and tasty food was provided by the Kingstanding Food we hope that lots of people, of all ages, come out and park, Enderby Park, right Community, while The Net Church gave out free gifts. make the most of the equipment and open space.” While all of the new WLCA properties being built as part of the Exercise classes were provided by the Extend Exercise newest phase of redevelopment have solar panels, we will be assessing here in Perry Common. Group with stalls by St Martin’s Church and Witton The Friends of Perry Common meet every 2nd Tuesday the feasibility of installing energy saving solar panels on the roofs of Lodge Community Association. of the month, 1:00pm at St Martin’s Church in Perry our existing properties, which could lead to £300 savings on annual At 11am the 1 hectare (2.44 acre) park was formerly Common. For more information about the group, or household electricity bills. opened by Councillor Tahir Ali, Birmingham City “I really like the park and the gym equipment helps to join, please call Teresa Compton on 07913 323 645. Council Member for Development, Transport and us all to stay healthy” said Sam McPake, age 8. These This is an excellent opportunity to save money on energy and help the Economy, with a community event organised by thoughts were also echoed by Jayden Hayton, age 6, the environment at the same time. the Friends of Perry Common and supported by who commented “It’s really cool here. I’ve been on all Witton Lodge Community Association. the outdoor gym equipment”. Perry Common Witton Lodge Community bake Off Association’s 20th Anniversary Cake, cake and more cake was the order of To start off the year of celebration; Wednesday 19th March saw us the day on Saturday 6th September. The tasty celebrate with a very enjoyable event held at Perry Common Community event included a cake sale, and for those feeling Hall. This was a wonderful opportunity to look back at the last 20 years confident, there was the opportunity to enter their and all the exciting developments that have taken place – whilst also cake to be judged and be crowned ‘the best baker looking ahead to the future. in Perry Common’. To help us celebrate, the very talented Fitzbert and Hadassah of North Over 10 contestants entered their cakes into the Birmingham Academy gave an excellent vocal performance while the Tin very competitive ‘Bake Off’ to be judged by a panel Whistle Band from St Margaret Mary Primary School, were a joy to listen to. of five local judges; Surrinder Bains from John Taylor Hospice, Anita Jesic from Betty’s Café, Del The Story Wood School Choir serenaded us with a medley of excellent Kaur from Ringside Fish Bar, Andy Watson from tunes, while Stephen Hughes, Head Teacher of Wilson Stuart School, told Lakeside Childrens Centre and Chris Williams his inspirational story of growing up in the area. Last but certainly not – head chef at Kingstanding Food Community. least, Professor Anne Power from the London School of Economics gave 2014 Deciding the winner was a difficult task, but the To provide a focus on healthy eating, the a very enlightening speech. A YYEAREAR Of winning cake was a delicious jam sponge covered Birmingham Eat 4 Life group –part of the UpRising in bright pink icing, made by 16 year old Suzie programme- were also on hand to provide healthy It was a very special day, with a wonderful atmosphere, great food and a Catchpowle.