Do any local residents have unwanted duvet covers and pillow cases? We have a resident who is sewing scrubs and hats for the Alexandra Hospital. The only stipulation is they need to be 100% cotton.
Address for donations is:
Shirley Roberts, 17 Dovecote Close, Pointers Way, Redditch, B97 6HG
Thank you. Stay safe
Your Committee
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE – KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD!
DO NOT DISTURB.
Mother Swan in Brockhill Park/Wetlands, is nesting on 7 eggs, so can Dog Walkers please keep their Dogs on their leads when walking near to her please.
Thank you & keep safe
Your Committee
Julie Vincent
The Field behind Parklands Close/Dairy Lane has been sprayed today with Fertiliser by the Farmer.
This could be harmful to your Dog if the grass is licked which most Dogs do. It would give them a Stomach Ache and maybe sickness.
The fertiliser takes two- three days to wash in, so please keep away until Friday 3rdApril.
We have received information that the biweekly brown bin collection has now been suspended. Please follow the link below for the further info.
https://www.redditchbc.gov.uk/my-place/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste-service.aspx
Stay safe & keep well.
Your Committee
BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Committee Meeting Monday March 2nd 2020 held at the Foxlydiate Arms
Those Present:
Sylvia Collinson SC
David Dallaway DD
Lynn Dallaway LD
Gemma Moore GM2
Phil Moore PM
Stephen Siddle SS
Julie Vincent JV
Mark Whitworth MW
Redditch North Worcestershire County Councillors: Brandon Clayton (BC) & Robin Lunn (RL)
Brockhill & Batchley Redditch Borough Councillors: Pattie Hill (PH), Gemma Monaco (GM1)
& Nyear Nazir (NN)
The Agenda:
Apologies were received from Malcolm Gilks.
Gemma and Phil Moore were welcomed back to Brockhill; Gemma having previously served as a Committee Member before moving away from the area. They have both expressed their willingness to assist as Committee Members and were co-opted forthwith. This takes our numbers up to nine, being the maximum permitted by our Constitution.
Actions relating to Mainstay, the new notice board, standards of roads on Pointers Way, Association membership and the Appletree Lane/Brockhill Drive junction would all be discussed as part of this evening’s agenda.
The Quiz Night had been held successfully last October.
As reported at November’s AGM, DD had received an unsatisfactory response from Royal Mail about the installation of a post box on Pointers Way/Meadow View.
Regretfully no progress had been possible on the installation of speed bumps by the post box in Carthorse Lane. RL said that the Police Authority were against improving traffic calming measures and the new owners of the house, nearest to the area concerned, were also opposed. RL and BC said they would send out letters to nearby residents to seek their opinions.
GM1 had obtained Persimmon’s permission for the new notice board to be erected on the grassland opposite the junction of Burrington Close and Cookridge Close. RL was awaiting a quote from Matthew Meade, RBC’s Senior Engineering Technician, for supply and installation. RL agreed to chase him up on this. RL had generously agreed to meet any costs in excess of Fortis’ grant from his WCC discretionary fund.
RL asked if we wanted the design to be the same as the existing two. We had originally requested it bore a Fortis Housing Logo, in recognition of their 2k donation. However it was decided that this would probably delay the installation. It was suggested, therefore, that a notice in recognition of Fortis’ kind funding be displayed permanently inside the board.
The expected completion date for the school is still March 2021. The councillors said that there would be a hardcore parking area as well as a car park for the staff. BC commented that parking issues around schools in Redditch were commonplace. Afternoons, when cars awaited pick ups, tended to be more problematical than early morning drop offs.
RL informed us of a planning meeting to be held at Bromsgrove District Council’s Chamber Offices on Monday March 16th at 7 p.m. At this will be discussed Whitbread’s intention to sell the land, on which the Foxlydiate Arms stands, to developers for the building of 48 houses and an apartment block. RL and Committee Members will be attending to object to the bulldozing of a much needed Community Asset. We are hoping that as many members as possible will attend to support this and we will be contacting the Webheath Forum members and also the ‘Save the Foxlydiate’ Facebook Group. Our application to declare the building a Community Asset was turned down by Ruth Bamford, Head of Planning and Regeneration for Redditch and Bromsgrove, following the Foxlydiate Arms’ change of status from a pub to a hotel. However, the pub only has a couple of rooms and these are used only occasionally. Bromsgrove has recently had plans for 2.500 new houses to be built around Webheath and Bentley; more than that required by the Government’s Strategic Plan. The consensus of opinion is that we do not need any more houses to be built on the Foxlydiate site. The road infrastructure, as usual, appears to be the last consideration.
(Post meeting note update: The above meeting has now been cancelled. The next scheduled planning meeting is due to take place on Monday 6th April but it is not anticipated that the application for the Foxlydiate Public House will be on that agenda. We will post details on our website and Facebook page as soon as we are aware of any future meetings to discuss the Foxlydiate’s demolition. In this event we would encourage as many Association members as possible to attend to voice their disapproval. RL will register to speak at any such meeting as the issue will have a major impact on his electoral division.)
JV had asked her friends living on Pointers Way whether the charges had been raised again following receipt of their invoice in January. They confirmed that the charges had remained the same this year. However they still consider that insufficient maintenance is carried out during the year to warrant every household on Pointers Way, and now also Meadow View, having to pay £120 annually. What they were not told when they bought their property, which their solicitor should have made them aware of, was that they also pay the share for the residents in the Affordable Houses, who are exempt from paying.
Members had reported damage to the grass verges in Gretton Close which like several roads on the estate has no pavements. The verges are currently waterlogged from the constant heavy rain experienced throughout February. Heavy vehicles driving over them when so sodden has created a boggy sunken area. The situation is exacerbated by some residents choosing to park on the verges rather than in the designated off road parking areas. GM1 has asked Persimmon to lay down ground base grids before any proposed re-seeding.
RBC has met with Persimmon Homes South executives, to discuss payment of the Section 106 monies and prior to this, the maintenance work required to the Public Open Spaces around Brockhill, to bring them up to a good standard of repair for RBC to agree adoption. BC and GM1 walked around the Public Open Spaces with Persimmon’s representatives, pointing out the work required. Committee Members had identified many areas where work was needed to be carried out. BC informed us that contractors, employed by Persimmon, are firstly undertaking work to pathways. This will be followed by work on fencing and construction of a wooden bridge over boggy grassland between Edenfield Close and Brockhill Drive. The bund, which was removed when the new crossing was made near to the traffic island at the Appletree Lane/Brockhill Lane junction, will also be replaced. Full size barriers will be erected on the staircase to the Nature Reserve. Trees have been cut down by the Carthorse Lane pond as they were infected with algae. In addition three trees near to the subway leading into Brockhill Park have been cut down due to ash dieback disease. The 106 payments will be made when all work has been completed.
GM1 asked DD if he would provide her with details of repair work that he had identified as being required in the Nature Reserve and adjoining Orchard. She would then bring this to Persimmon’s attention.
A resident on Meadow View had emailed us to ask whether the council were going to adopt the site and thus stop the so called ‘fleecehold’ payments. DD had forwarded a response by BC to the inquirer stating that the council were in the process of coming to an agreement with Persimmon regarding section 106 and the money they have to pay over.
The plans for Phase 3 had been on display at the Abbey Stadium last year and were passed at a planning meeting a few months later. There will be built up to a further 960 houses and also a few shops with a centralised parking area. We have been told by BC that a Community Centre will also be built close by. Members can arrange to view the plans for phase 3 at the Town Hall.
DD now receives from Ben Moseley monthly notifications of new members registering online via the website. He is thus able to update the Membership List detailing everybody’s email and postal address. We are pleased to report that membership has been increasing as new residents move into their houses on Meadow View. SC has been delivering Membership Forms to newly occupied houses on a regular basis..
DD had become aware of our being contacted by several individuals who were not on his Members List. MW had subsequently confirmed that a number of our followers on Facebook were not registered members of the Association. MW was therefore asked if he could post a message on Facebook encouraging all followers to register as members via the website. MW also pointed out that quite a few people who access and post comments on our Facebook page live outside the Brockhill area. This is fine and their comments are welcome but clearly they cannot be classed as proper Association members.
Several members have sent us emails and Facebook messages regarding suspicious night time behaviour. We have received reports of individual(s) trying door handles of parked cars in the early hours (2am – 4.30am) of the morning. Incidents have been reported in Cookridge Close, Clarendon Close and Wheelers Lane. A video shot by one resident of two hooded persons operating in Wheelers Lane was sent to the police. PH stressed that all incidents should be reported to the police by ‘phoning 101. Residents are strongly advised to ensure they always lock their parked cars and under no circumstances whatsoever leave any valuables in them.
We discussed the best time to hold our annual Litter Pick and it was decided to wait until the better weather, possibly during or just after the School Summer holidays, when there is always more litter around. JV will make the arrangements and details will be posted on the website and notice boards.
SC asked the councillors if they knew of any changes to the opening times at the Gun Club. She had heard noise from the shooting more often and at different times than usual. The councillors said that they would make enquiries and let us know.
MW asked the councillors about Persimmon selling land at the rear of 157 Carthorse Lane as this is a Public Open Space with a footpath leading to it, maintained by the Council. BC said that the path is being resurfaced as tree roots had lifted it considerably. The land is still being sold, but the public footpath with lamp post will remain and a space will be left for members of the public to access the Public Open Space. It is a very popular route for dog walkers.
SC asked RL & BC if they knew about the deep pot holes in Hewell Lane near to Petersen Springs. She told us that she and her husband had driven over one which resulted in their having to purchase a new suspension spring for their car. The councillors said that they would contact the road maintenance department to get the pot holes filled in.
MW asked if the councillors knew why the lights down Brockhill Drive were not working. They have been off for a couple of weeks, from the junction of Blackwell Lane to Lily Green Lane. They said that they will see that they are turned back on.
The sewage pumping station, situated at the end of the path running parallel to Mettis Aerospace and Burrington Close, had recently experienced problems. DD had spoken to workmen who said that raw sewage was spilling out on to the surrounding ground. One workman had been to see the Meadow View site manager but Persimmon were denying that their ongoing building work had caused the problem.
Actions from this meeting:
The meeting ended at 9.10 p.m.
Whitbread have once again retreated from putting their demolition plan of the Foxlydiate Arms to the Bromsgrove Planning Committee (BPC). The next BPC meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday 6th April but it is not anticipated that the Foxlydiate application will be on the agenda. Association members will be duly informed if and when this important issue is placed on any future BPC agenda as attendance by as many people as possible would be much appreciated. Worcestershire County Councillor Robin Lunn will be registering to speak against the proposed demolition as it will have a major impact on his electoral division
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at Batchley Community Centre on Tuesday November 5th 2019
IN ATTENDANCE:
Committee: Sylvia Collinson, David Dallaway, Lynn Dallaway, Malcolm Gilks, Stephen Siddle and
Julie Vincent.
Members: Cherry Gilks, Tisha Greenway, Graham Haynes, Marion Haynes, Anil Jha, Shirley Jobson, Robert Merry, Susan Merry, Margaret Mole, Mike Vincent and Mark Whitworth.
Councillors: RBC Pattie Hill, RBC Gemma Monaco (also a Committee member), RBC Nyear Nazir, WCC Brandon Clayton and WCC Robin Lunn.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Matt Collinson, John Dallaway, Claire Ivins, Peter Merricks, Lorayne Kimberley and Paul Kimberley.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS AGM HELD ON 15.10.18:
The minutes of last year’s AGM had been available on the Association’s website for the past twelve months. David Dallaway asked if anybody wished them to be read out before their proposed adoption. No request was made and they were duly approved nem. con.
TO RECEIVE AND, IF APPROVED, ADOPT THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING 28TH FEBRUARY 2019:
David Dallaway provided the members with a copy of the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the 12 months ended 28th February 2019. The profit for the year of £364 had increased the bank balance to £1,342. The profit arose from three sources of income:-
The only costs incurred in the 12 months’ period were the renewal of the website hosting at £58 and the hire of the hall for last year’s AGM at £18.
Since the last financial year end our bank balance had increased by a further £2,090. £2,000 of this was a grant from the Fortis Living Smile Fund obtained following the hard work of Claire Ivins. The grant, together with a pledged donation from Robin Lunn out of his discretionary fund, will be used to purchase and erect a notice board on Pointers Way.
The only other source of income since last February was a net profit of £253 from October’s Quiz Night. Expenditure incurred in this same period was £143 on the website hosting renewal and £20 for the hire of the room for this evening’s AGM. Despite considerable effort we had been unable to negotiate a better deal on the website hosting cost that had increased by £85 from the previous year.
The accounts were approved by all members present.
DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING ONGOING ISSUES:
The school in Britten Street, which is still waiting to relocate to a new building at the top of Cookridge Close on Pointers Way, has now been told to expect this to happen in March 2021. The delay in commencement of building has been due to land ownership issues. A new contractor had to be found and J. Tomlinson Building Contractors started work a few weeks ago.
Mike Vincent asked the Councillors what was going to be done about the nearby dilapidated barns which could create safety issues. Brandon Clayton replied that something would be done before the school opens to make the area safe.
A meeting was held on Friday October 25th by our local MP Rachel Maclean, with the Regional Managing Director of Persimmon Homes, Liam Scott, Leader of RBC Matt Dormer and the Head of Planning at the Council, Ruth Bamford. An agreement was made between Persimmon and RBC on the section 106 monies the housebuilder owes. An apology was secured also from Persimmon and an undertaking of immediate action to begin maintaining the open spaces and assets they still own until they have all been handed over to RBC. This now means that the Council will be working with Persimmon to pass on complaints from residents regarding maintenance of land and street lights. Persimmon will then be acting on these complaints and carrying out the maintenance required [see also iv) below].
We would like to thank Councillors Gemma Monaco and Nyear Nazir for all the work they have done to support residents and Rachel Maclean for resolving this long running saga. Thanks also to former Association Chairman Peter Merricks for his persistence in ensuring that the issue remained to the fore over the last few years.
The building of 250 houses by Persimmon on the next phase of Brockhill East has already been accepted by the Council. There will be a further meeting with both RBC and BDC to pass planning permission for a further 700 houses. We will let members know the date of the meeting as soon as it becomes available.
Although the roads on the parts of Brockhill which were built 17-20 years ago have been adopted, some of the public open spaces are only now being adopted by the Council. Our members have been extremely frustrated when reporting incidences like fallen debris from trees. They have been told by the Council that they are not responsible for the maintenance of these areas, as they are still owned by Persimmon Homes. Graham and Marion Haynes told us that they had a problem with the trees behind their property on public land that had not been maintained in the last twenty years. They had reported it to RBC and had a visit from the Environmental Department who told them that it was not Council responsibility but that of Persimmon.
Robert and Susan Merry told us that they have a similar problem with overgrown trees behind their property in Pennyford Close. In high wind, the branches are dangerous as they have fallen in the past and could cause serious damage.
Pattie Hill said that the Council do not have any tree surgeons and have to employ contractors.
By not handing over ownership of this land to the local authority, Persimmon has not had to pay the section 106 monies it owes to the Council. This money is to provide and enhance community and social infrastructure. As previously discussed in item ii) above, hopefully this issue will now be resolved in the very near future with complete adoption of all areas together with settlement of all monies owing..
Gemma Monaco spoke about the upkeep of public open spaces on the Pointers Way estate. She said that the overgrowth around the balancing ponds has now been cut right back and re-seeded and that the footpaths have been tarmacked. She told us that the ditch between Pointers Way and the Oaklands estate will be staying, but six to eight feet will be taken off on the Cookridge Lane side. This will be done next year when the weather improves.
Robin Lunn informed us that he is still awaiting information from the County Highways Department regarding the approval of the new speed bump installation in Carthorse Lane. There have been objections from residents and from the Police Authority about having new traffic calming measures installed. The costs were being met by Robin and Brandon Clayton out of their budgets and they are hoping that the matter will finally be resolved at the next Highways meeting.
As most of our members are aware, we were offered a bungalow by Persimmon for use as a community building. However their offer was declined as the building was totally inappropriate with regards to size and available parking facilities. Another building was offered, a two storey house, but again its structure proved totally unsuitable for our needs. In addition the costs of running and maintaining the building would fall on the Association and we do not possess anywhere near the funds that would be required. We are hoping that we will be given access to the new school hall for meetings, but it is likely there will be a hire charge as the school will not be run by the Council. We do not have enough Committee Members to take on the upkeep and responsibility of a separate community hall, even if Persimmon were to offer to build one. As all existing community halls around Redditch have been taken over by Rubicon Leisure Ltd., unfortunately we do not have the option of one being run by RBC.
The Committee submitted a Community Asset form to BDC in support of the non-closure of the Foxlydiate Arms, situated just over the border in Bromsgrove. In July two of our Committee Members, David Dallaway and Stephen Siddle, attended a meeting together with Robin Lunn at the BDC Chambers, to discuss making the building a Community Asset. Also present was a lady representing the Facebook Group which had formed called ‘Save the Foxlydiate Arms’. But just before the meeting was due to commence, one of the Bromsgrove Councillors informed Robin that the Foxlydiate agenda item would not now be discussed. This was because the pub’s owners, Whitbread, had changed the status of the Foxlydiate Arms to that of a hotel. This meant that it could not be made a Community Asset.
The plans to build 48 houses and a block of two storey flats, have not yet been passed. We are hoping that now that the housing needs in Bromsgrove have been met, the plans to build on the site of the Foxlydiate Arms may not be passed. We will let members know when the planning meeting is being held. Meanwhile, you can object to the plans by going on to the BDC website planning section. There is already concern regarding the road infrastructure, with 2,500 new homes being built in Webheath and Bentley, and also the lack of social facilities. Robin Lunn will let us know when the planning meeting is taking place and we will be attending.
MAIN EVENTS SINCE LAST AGM:
We held a Litter Pick in May which a few members attended and 18 bags of litter were collected. We were disappointed at the turnout, particularly as the date had been carefully chosen as a Saturday morning in May, away from the Bank Holidays.
As mentioned in the Treasurer’s Report above, Claire Ivins had obtained a grant from Fortis Living of £2,000 towards the purchase of a new Community Notice Board for Pointers Way, similar to the two existing boards in Brockhill Park and Carthorse Lane. Robin Lunn has contacted Matthew Mead, Senior Engineering Technician at RBC, regarding its installation.
We held our annual Quiz Night fundraiser in October which was a very enjoyable evening. As already mentioned we raised £253 which will help with our running costs and enable us to continue the offer of free Association membership.
Membership continues to increase thanks in particular to Sylvia Collinson who has delivered many joining leaflets to households on Pointers Way and Meadow View. Total membership now stands at in excess of 400. However it should be noted that support for the Association in terms of attendance at litter picks, quiz nights and AGMs remains disappointingly low.
We identified a need for ‘Give Way’ markings at the junction of Lowfield Lane and Appletree Lane. Robin Lunn and Brandon Clayton have since organised this with the consequent improvement of residents’ safety.
David Dallaway had made a further attempt to get Royal Mail to install a post-box on Pointers Way or Meadow View. Their subsequent response as to why it was not necessary was somewhat puzzling. They quoted that regulatory requirements deem that they must ensure there is a post-box within half a mile of at least 98% of all customer’s letter boxes. They claim that current posting facilities in the area already meet this requirement. Clearly they are aware of the existence of post-boxes that are unbeknown to the rest of us!!
ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
In compliance with our Constitution three Committee Members must stand down at this AGM but may offer themselves for re-election. Tisha Greenway and Claire Ivins had offered their resignations and did not wish to apply for re-election. David Dallaway, the third person to stand down said, if re-elected, he would serve for just one more year. His re-election was unopposed. We asked if anybody in the room would like to offer their services to serve on the committee but there were no volunteers. However Mark Whitworth contacted us after the meeting to volunteer his services as Facebook Administrator which had been Claire Ivins’ role.
Ben Moseley was thanked for his work over the last year regarding administration of the website and it was hoped he would be able to continue in this role.
A.O.B./ MEMBERS’ OPEN FORUM:
Shirley Jobson asked the Councillors if a tree which had been brought down by the wind on public open space in Appletree Lane could be replaced. Brandon Clayton said that as the land had not yet been passed over from Persimmon, it could not be done at present.
Mike Vincent asked Brandon if the grass bank in Appletree Lane could be replaced to stop access by travellers. The original grass bank had been flattened when the crossing was installed near to the traffic Island at the Brockhill Drive/Appletree Lane junction.
Mike also asked why the stile on public open space, leading into a right of way across the field, was allowed to have barbed wire on the top. His son had ripped his coat trying to get over it. He suggested it would be better to have a kissing gate in its place. Councillors said that, as it was land belonging to Bentley Parish Council which comes under Bromsgrove, he would need to contact them.
Margaret Mole said that there is a litter bin on Pointers Way which is in a position that cannot be reached as it was behind temporary fencing erected in preparation of the building work on the new school. The Councillors said that they will look into this when the land is handed over to them from Persimmon.
Gemma Monaco told us that there is a P.A.C.T. meeting arranged on Saturday 7th December at 10 a.m. outside the Shopping Parade on Batchley Road.
The meeting ended at 9.30 p.m.
Hello Members,
The Brockhill Residents’ Association is holding the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday November 5th starting at 8 p.m at The Batchley Community Centre, Cherry Tree Walk, Batchley.
Please come along to meet the Committee and local Councillors, to voice any Community concerns you may have and learn about the new School and amenities in Brockhill East.
Refreshments will be provided.
We look forward to meeting you.
Best Regards
Julie Vincent, Secretary