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Archive for February, 2012

You are cordially invited to attend the second annual Lozells & East Handsworth Ward People’s Conference 2012. The Conference will be held at 10.00 am – 1.00 pm on Saturday March 3 2012  at City College Birmingham (Soho Road Handsworth Campus B21 9DP).

The Conference continues the theme ‘communities coming together’ - how, with fewer resources, residents, third sector and public sector organisations can work together to make Lozells, Handsworth and Birchfield better places in which to live and work.

Cllr Zafar explains: “People’s Conference 2011 succeeded in raising key themes and putting forward recommendations for addressing them.  We have been acting on those recommendations and are organising this Conference as a way of sharing with you what we have been doing as well as illustrating some of the exciting initiatives occurring across the ward.

On behalf of the Conference planning group, I would like to express our genuine enthusiasm for this Conference. As a community we have so much to celebrate and yet so much more to achieve. I hope you will be able to join us for the Conference and help us continue the momentum that has developed.”

3D visual design of building, source: Jarvis.

In 2007, Birmingham City Council submitted a number of bids to the Government’s Youth Matters initiative to build high quality dedicated buildings for young people aged 13 – 19 years. Two of the council’s bids were successful. The new buildings are located in the Lozells end of the six ways round-about near us and another in Longbridge. Costing around £5 million each, and estimated to be finished sometime in the Spring of this year with young people able to use them by the Summer.

A number of local youth and community organisations have been working with the council to develop the plans for the building near us and are most likely to be some of the voluntary sector agencies delivering services from there. They include the Bangladeshi Youth Forum, St Georges Community Hub, Young Disciples amongst others. A more precise list of who will do what in the building has not been published, although it is envisaged – as it always is hoped with new builds – a range of statutory and voluntary sector organisations would offer services. When we hear more, we will let you know.

There have been ongoing engagement with potential service users of the building – i.e. local young people associated with these groups, but the Forum is disappointed Council leaders in charge have not shared news and information widely to local residents and other community leaders who are naturally pleased for the investment locally. However, they have offered to attend future Forum Community meetings to share more news.

After the closure of Holte Community Leisure Centre back in Christmas 2010 by the Ladywood Constituency, the news of a bespoke facility in our area is very welcomed although this new building will not be open to all. Children younger than 13 years and anyone over 19 years will not be catered for. In early 2011, the new mega school building was opened replacing the old Holte, Lozells and Mayfield school sites. The Forum agree our school children deserve high-tech education facilities, but previous promises the new school building will open for at least some community leisure use have not materialised over a year on.

The Forum would like to hear your views and comments regarding this story, so please do get in touch.

Cllr Zaffar has organised a chance for local residents and community leaders to meet the Coroner for Birmingham & Solihull, Mr Aidan Cottor.

He stresses: “Since my election last May, constituents have raised many issues with me relating to a number of public services. One of these services is the work of the Birmingham & Solihull Coroner, Mr Aidan Cotter. I am pleased to inform you that Mr Cotter has kindly accepted my invitation to come to Lozells & East Handsworth Ward to meet members of the local community and discuss the work of his office as well as answer questions relating to the service provided by his office.”

At 6.30am on Thursday 16th February, officers from the Lozells and East Handsworth neighbourhood policing team executed a warrant at a house on Alfred Road following a tip-off from the community.

Following a fingertip search of the property, officers recovered approximately 200 wraps of suspected heroin, a large bag of suspected powdered heroin, approximately £3000 cash, and a firearm.

A 40-year-old man who was in the property at the time was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply and firearms offences.

On Wednesday 15th February, the team also raided properties on Robert Road and Westminster Road recovering cash, drugs and associated drug dealing paraphernalia. Two men were arrested and were later released on police bail pending further enquires.

Sergeant Lucy Bird who led the action, said: “As a result of our action, and with the communities support, we’re seeing a domino effect on suspected drug dealing across the city. One raid is leading to another and another.  Local people who recognise the harm drug dealing is having on their neighbourhood have been incredibly supportive. Having seen our tough stance, they are coming forward to offer additional information which we hope will lead to further raids in the very near future.”

Anyone with information on those responsible for drug crime in our neighbourhood should call police on 101. Alternatively, people who do not want to speak to officers directly should contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.  For those using drugs, information on support services in Birmingham is available by calling 0800 073 0817.

One of the important updates at the Forum’s Community Meeting last Thursday was the urgent news that as result of re-organising how refuse collection teams are set up to a new Ward based system, weekly rubbish collections across the Ward may change from Monday. The time of day collections are made may also be changed, but will be between 6.00am and 3.30pm.

Cllr Zaffar circulated the news to local residents groups via e-mail early last week and attended the Community meeting personally to spread the news. Local residents expressed their concern and outrage as to how swiftly this was happening with little time to let people know, especially as any leaflet put through doors informing of the changes may get lost within the junk mail we receive. More so, the Forum’s concerns include different bin days in a neighbourhood surely does not improve the cleanliness of  where we live as well as the road safety of particularly school children as collection times are widened.

If you have missed the flyer from the Council telling you when your collection day is or just didn’t get it, a hotline has been established by the Council for enquiries from residents. Please call 0121 675 7454 to find out more or report any issues with the new service or visit the website www.birmingham.gov.uk/collections.

If you’d like to share your concerns with Cllr Zaffar himself, he can be contacted

Waseem Zaffar
Councillor for Lozells & East Handsworth Ward

Telephone/Fax: 01215513300
Mobile: 07790 161889
Email: waseem@waseemzaffar.co.uk
Mail: 16 Heathfield Road, Birmingham B19 1HB
Website: www.waseemzaffar.com
Twitter: @WaseemZaffar