Tag: Birmingham City Council

Full lineup of community groups for networking day 7 October 2017

techforevents2 Comments

Kings Heath Residents’ Forum is organising a networking day on Saturday 7 October 2017. The purpose is to give residents a chance to meet local organisations and individuals who can provide advice, help and support in the area. The full list of participating groups is:

For more information about each group or individual, click on the name.

There is no charge for the networking day – all you need to do is to walk in, join in and benefit from all the information that will be available.

Event information:

Date: 7 October 2017

Opening hours: 10am to 2pm

Location: Kings Heath Community Centre, 8 Heathfield Road, Kings Heath, B14 7DB

Travellers banned from Swanshurst Park

techforeventsLeave a comment

Birmingham City Council has been granted an injunction banning travellers from pitching camp in Swanshurst Park. Travellers who park their caravans on the park in future could be found guilty of contempt of court. This could lead to them having assets seized or even to them being sent to prison.

The action follows a number of occasions on which travellers set up camp in the park. Local residents found their presence intimidating and the travellers usually left large quantities of fly-tipped rubbish behind when they were moved on. The cost of cleaning up after these camps had to be met by the city council.

Councillor Karen McCarthy was quoted in the Birmingham Mail, saying “The court order was only made possible because residents were prepared to make statements, provide the evidence so the council officers could make the case.”

Free bike application process open

techforevents1 Comment

Residents can now apply for a free bike as part of the Big Birmingham Bikes programme. Birmingham City Council has announced that 2,000 adult bikes will be given away. The announcement says that priority will be given to families who plan to cycle together. A child’s bike bank will be launched later in the year.

In order to qualify for a free bike, people must live within an eligible postcode. You can check whether your postcode is eligible here. (There is a postcode checker at the bottom of the page.) The page also explains the other requirements that must be fulfilled before you can qualify for a free bike.

The application form can be accessed from here.

New bus lane enforcement cameras in Birmingham

techforeventsLeave a comment

Motorists driving in bus lanes on the Lichfield Road, Tyburn Road and Pershore Road after Monday 4 September 2017 will run an increased risk of a fine. That’s the date when new bus lane enforcement cameras go live.

Anybody caught driving in those bus lanes during September will receive a warning letter. If they are caught after 2 October 2017, they will receive a £60 fixed penalty notice.

Councillor Stewart Stacey, Cabinet Member for Transport and Roads at Birmingham City Council, said, ‘This isn’t about trying to catch people out. I want everyone to know exactly where these cameras are so that they keep out of the bus lanes, rather than having to pay a fine.’

Flytipper jailed

techforeventsLeave a comment

Jail sentences have been handed down to two men found guilty of flytipping in Kings Heath and other areas across Birmingham. The two operated as A and B Removals. They claimed that it was a registered waste company and that all the material they collected was recycled. In reality, waste that couldn’t be sold was flytipped.

The case was brought by the Waste Enforcement Unit at Birmingham City Council. One of the two men was jailed for 30 months and banned from driving for 51 months. The other was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and also handed a rehabilitation order.

The full story can be read here .

When hiring contractors to remove waste or bulky items, residents are responsible for making sure that they are using a Registered Waste Carrier.

If residents hire a contractor who subsequently flytips the material, the resident could be prosecuted.

It is no longer a defence to say the resident did not know the company wasn’t licensed. So residents must check to make sure the business they’re using is properly registered.

You check whether a business is registered here.

Alternatively you can call the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506

If you see flytipped material, you can report it here   or you can send an email to http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Public space protection order (PSPO) consultation opens

techforevents1 Comment

There has been a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place for Kings Heath High Street and Moseley for several months. The original news item about the consultation prior to the introduction of the PSPO can be seen here.  Birmingham City Council is looking to extend this PSPO.

The original Order expires on 25 September 2017. The draft of the revised Order can be read in full here.

The text explains that the purpose is to restrict activities ‘that have had or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality’. The Locality is defined as Kings Heath High Street. The activities being targeted include:

  • Anti-social behaviour caused by groups of people or individuals in public spaces;
  • Verbal abuse;
  • Threats of or use of violence;
  • Unlicensed drinking;
  • Obstructing Pathways;
  • Begging;
  • Possession of goods, items or materials used for unauthorised graffiti;

If you want to make a comment as part of the consultation process, you can find details here.