Van Must Go!

After further concerns regarding the van parked in Elsma Road a petition was presented to the Meeting of the Oldbury Town Committee on 16/01/07, by local residents. Though I had voiced my conceren over this matter and have spent a lot of time as have the Police, trying to resolve this matter, as I explained to the Committee, I was not involved with this petition but it does indicate to me the strength of feeling that folks have about this van being parked by their houses.

The matter will now be referred on by Officers of the Town Team and a progress report given at the next Oldbury Town Committee Meeting in March,

There have been numerous complaints regarding a coach (or is it a van?) which parks up in Elsma Road because of the nature of the material that is displayed, which a lot of people in the locality find offensive. I have made enquiries with various agencies and the Police have also been on the case but according to them apparently, displaying these images is not breaking the Law! 

I personally find it hard to believe that such material is allowed to be exhibited in such a fashion in a qiet residential area and really it can’t be right for local children to be exposed to it. According to the Police they have spoken to the person who drives and parks up this vehicle and he did say that he would get these images changed. I hope as the local Councillor this does happen since this issue is causing a great deal of concern and anxiety amongst local residents.

Stopping the “Rat Run” Foley Drive

At the Oldbury Town Committee held on 14^th November 2006, George Watkiss Chair of the Brandhall Tenants and Residents Association spoke on the continuing issue at the Meeting of the Oldbury Town Committee 16/01/07.

I reaffirmed that a raised pedestrian crossing and other traffic calming sped bumps need to be installed along Foley Drive before there is an accident caused by the speeding cars. The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods who was unable to attend the last Meeting,  was in agreement – certainly with the idea of the raised crossing! 

I also pointed out that when surveys were done by officers wearing bright flourescent jackets, it’s hardly any wonder that not many vehicle drivers choose to drive dangerously fast!

At the Oldbury Town Committee held on 14^th November 2006, George Watkiss Chair of the Brandhall Tenants and Residents Association spoke on the continuing issue about vehicles using Foley Drive as a ‘rat run’. This roadway runs between the doctors’ surgery and the new Coop store and offers a shortcut for vehicles to avoid one set of lights. In doing so it has become dangerous for people crossing this road.

Sandwell Highways Department have monitored the speed of vehicles using this short cut and their report indicates that most cars are not exceeding 30mph but as I pointed out, it only takes one speeding car to cause a serious accident! In my opinion cars should be restricted to 20mph along this short piece of roadway and some traffic calming such as a raised pedestrian crossing and speed humps would not only slow the traffic down but also provide a deterrent to vehicles using this short cut!

The Oldbury Town Chair responded to our comments and after a short discussion with Council Officers agreed that some funding should be made available to install some traffic calming along Foley Drive.

Grot Spot Targetted – Aldridge Road

Some months ago I was approached by residents in Bodenham and Aldridge Road who were complaining about a piece of land on the corner of their roads that was extremely unsightly and in need of attention. I made immediate enquiries at the time and with the help of the Manager of the Local Neighbourhood Office who attended a site visit with me, funding was secured to rectify the problem. I have to say that it has taken quite some time to get things started but it’s already looking much better and hopefully when the work is finished it will be managed so that it doesn’t become a ‘grot spot’ again!