Proposed Improvements to Kings Heath High Street

I've reproduced this e-mail on my website with photos of the various locations at http://www.martinmullaney.co.uk/high-street.html You may find it helpful to look at these photos

A number of changes to Kings Heath High Street have just been given or just about to given financial approval. The changes are being done to improve the flow of traffic and parking along the High Street corridor and it is anticipated that they will be installed, subject to consulation approval, by April 2009.

Changes that have been approved as part of the Tackling Congestion Programme are as follows:

1) Resiting of the number 11 and number 50 bus stop in front of the Pear Tree pub, Alcester Road South
The intention is to shuffle these bus stops along about 20feet towards Addison Road. The problem we have is with the siting of the number 11 bus stop and its close proximity to a central reservation. During peak times, it is not uncommon to have two number 11 buses at this bus stop. This situation prevents overtaking the buses due to the location of the central reservation. This is turn leads to a build up of traffic down the High Street.

2) Resiting of the number 11 bus stop on Vicarage Road in front of the All Saints Church developement.
This bus stop will be moved a few feet to accomadate a new vehicle entrance to the All Sainst Church developement. Agreement has been reached with All Saints Church to donate a small slighter of land to accomadate the bus shelter, plus provide room for pedestrians to get past.

3) Remove loading bay in front of the former butchers, next to Boots Chemists.
This loading bay was installed about two years ago at the request of the local butchers. Unfortunately, the loading bay has been used by other neighbouring shops and is causing major problems on the High Street. Whenever a lorry occupies this space to unload, the whole High Street grinds to a halt.

4) Installation of left filer lane at Alcester Road/Queensbridge Road junction.
This will be installed in the into-city direction, so that traffic can continue to flow out of the High Street into Queensbridge Road, even when the lights are red in the into Moseley direction.

Changes that are expected to receive financial approval on 3rd September
5) Introduction of 1 hour waiting on York Road
6) Introduction on 1 hour waiting, plus double yellow lines on Heathfield Road, between its High Street junction and the Community Centre.

This changes are being introduced since shop and bank workers are clogging up the side roads imediately off the High Street. For example, the spaces in front of the shops on York Road are completely clogged up all day with local bank workers. There is a need to push this all day parking further out from the High Street and allow shoppers to park close to the shops.

Informal consultation has already taken place with the shops of York Road to accomadate there needs in this scheme.

Once we have the York Road and Heathfield Road one-hour parking up and running, informal consultation will begin on one hour parking in the following locations:

a) Kingsfield Road
b) Institute Road – southside only – from High Street to Sports Centre
c) Bank Street – from High Street junction to the start of the residential houses
d) Grange Road – from High Street junction to the start of the residential houses
e) Station Road -– from High Street junction to the start of the residential houses

Graffiti on Avenue Road/Dads Lane railway bridge, Kings Heath

I've been contacted by a number of residents to inform me that Avenue Road/Dads Lane railway bridge has been graffiti-ed again - see photos below.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n300/martin_mullaney/railway-bridge1.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n300/martin_mullaney/railway-bridge2.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n300/martin_mullaney/railway-bridge3.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n300/martin_mullaney/railway-bridge4.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n300/martin_mullaney/railway-bridge5.jpg


What is particularly frustrating was that this bridge was repainted by Network Rail in early July in preparation for Kings Heath Floral Trail - many thanks are due to the efforts of the volunteers of Kings Heath Floral Trail in pursuading Network Rail to repaint this bridge.

Prior to its repainting, the bridge had been similarly graffiti-ed by a local teenager using the tag 'ERORS'. The same teenager has now tagged the bridge again.

I've been down to the bridge this morning to work out how he is tagging the bridge at such a high point. As the attached photos show, he gets access at one corner of the bridge, where there is no fencing - next to 86 Avenue Road.

Looking at the size of the tag, it is clear the teenager is then clambering on the outside of the bridge along a narrow ledge - he uses one arm on the bridge rail to stop he falling onto the road below. He manages to get down and off this narow ledge by using a small step at each corner of the bridge.

I've contacted the maintenance department of Network Rail with the attached photos, which in turn they will forward onto the British Transport Police for intelligence.

The objective will be first to stop any future graffiti on the bridge, by making it secure. Next will be to get it re-painted. Getting it repainted will not be quick, since the road has to be closed to repaint the bridge.

Feedback required on dog mess dispensers in Highbury Park

I wonder if readers could provide feedback on the success or failure or inbetween of the two dog bag mess bag dispensers in Highbury Park.

There are two dispensers - one at the High Street entrance and the other at the car park in the centre of the park. Both were installed in the first week of July.

What we know so far is:
1) there has been no vandalism on the dispensers - this was on of our biggest fears, namely that someone would pull all the bags out and scatter them around the park. This hasn't happened and the boards haven't been graffiti-ed either
2) the bags ARE being used, but more than we anticipated. The original estimate for use was 100bags per week per dispenser. We have ended up dispensing 500bags per week per dispenser - or 1000bags for both dispensers per week. This equates to about 70dogs per day. This high usage of bags has resulted in the dog dispenser at the car park regularly running out of bags.
3) the Highbury Park Assistant Ranger informs me that he has seen a significant reduction in dog mess in the park since the dog dispensers were installed.

What I like to know from residents, especially dog walkers and users of Highbury Park, is the following:
a) are you happy with the way the dog dispensers are working? Are there opportunities to improve their effectiveness?
b) do you think that 70 dogs a day are walked through Highbury Park each day?
c) have you seen a reduction in dog mess in Highbury Park?
d) have you seen a reduction in dog mess in the roads around Highbury Park? I'm particularly interested in roads around Grange Road, Heathfield Road and School Road.

Councillor update on Planning Applications of importance in Moseley & Kings Heath Ward – Sunday 10th August 2008

Below is my own personal list of planning applications that I am keeping an eye on, due to residents raising concerns with me or the applications clearly being contentious.

Drawings and further details on each of these planning application is available on-line at http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=67548&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12189


The planning applications

S/07766/07/FUL - 169 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JR - Conversion & alterations to existing building & erection of single & two storey rear ext to create 4 apartments - Under consideration

S/01222/08/LDE - 25 Mayfield Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9HJ - certificate of lawfulness for the subdivision of 25 Mayfield Road into 6 self contained flats - Under consideration

S/02289/08/FUL - 9 Goodby Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8RH - Erection of two storey side and rear extension, conservatory and alteration to porch - Under consideration

S/02363/08/FUL - 148 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8HS - Alterations to existing shop front - Under consideration

S/02517/08/FUL - 46 Billesley Lane, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9QS - Erection of 1 No. 4 bedroom detached dwelling house - Under consideration

S/02356/08/FUL - 582 Moseley Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B12 9AA - Construction of 3 storey rear steel structures providing additional office floor space. Removal of internal walls. - Under consideration

S/02466/08/FUL - 148 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8HS - Erection of single storey rear extension to shop, with external staircase to rear - Under consideration

S/03742/08/FUL - 2a Church Road, Moseley Care Ltd t/a Fakir Chemist & PO, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9AG - Erection of ground-floor front extension and first-floor side extension - Under consideration

S/03643/08/FUL - 36 Mayfield Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9HH - Demolish external store, erect single storey rear extension & convert existing 2-bed flat to 2x1-bed flats at ground floor - Under consideration

S/03093/08/ADV - 120-126 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8EE - Display of 2 no. non- illuminated freestanding hoarding boards - Under consideration

S/02989/08/FUL - 48 Dads Lane, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B13 8PQ - Change of use from retail (A1) to a hot food take-away (A5). - Under consideration

S/02357/08/LBC - 582 Moseley Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B12 9AA - Construction of 3 storey rear steel structures providing office floor space. Removal of internall walls,raise floor - Under consideration

S/03924/08/FUL - 25 Belle Walk, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9DE - Erection of single storey rear extension and store room to rear garden - Under consideration
S/03017/08/FUL - Alcester Road, Moseley Hall Hospital, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 - Erection of 54-bed older adult mental health facility including therapy, outpatients & community base accommodation - Under consideration