Fortnightly or weekly bin collections?

This one has caused a bit of a stir recently in the press and media. I did receive a voicemail from one gentleman asking my view on this – but he didn’t leave a name or number so I’ll post my thoughts on here.

I don’t believe we are currently in a position in Walsall to move to fortnightly collections – it wouldn’t work. As my election adress states I want to see the extension of the recycling scheme to plastics and cardboard and then people fully engaging with recycling. That will reduce the amount put into wheelie bins. Until that happens its just not practical – many families would fill their bins within a few days. I know the government sets a lot of targets to force councils to do things, but we have to decide what works best for people in Aldridge and in Walsall Wood. As it stands I can’t see a problem with keeping a weekly collection and increasing the recycling scheme.

And perhaps government could do us all a favour and start getting the supermarkets and manufacturers to cut down on some of the packaging they use. That is main cause of the problems. Just think of the packaging we throw away every week. We need to deal with the cause as well as the symptom.

Lazy Hill shops

I’ve seen quite a few people over the last few weeks – out and about in the patch. Whilst canvassing at the weekend myself and Keith chatted to a lady about the state of the car park outside the Co-Op in Lazy Hill Road. Although it is actually outside our ward we have done some work on this before and it is private property. Therefore the Council cannot just go in and tarmac it – its just like a household drive in that respect. What we will try to do is team up with the Aldridge Central & South councillors after the local elections to petition the owner to try and encourage some sort of resurfacing. It’s worth a try! If you can help with a petition please do email me: flowermd@walsall.gov.uk

Road accident in Aldridge

I was sorry to read in the Express and Star of a fatal accident on Walsall Wood Road, on the edge of the Aldridge side of my patch. I will have a chat to the police to ensure that we are all doing as much as we can to ensure that Walsall Wood Road is as safe as possible for residents, pedestrians and motorists.

Brown bins!

I was really pleased to see new brown bins at the ends of many people’s drives as I drove around the ward this evening. Their first collection is tomorrow.

There is a second phase coming out at the end of May. I have argued the case for other streets and roads, including Beechtree Road, and I hope other roads will be included in the next phase. I have argued the case for those streets whose residents have contacted me previously from my leaflets or have come to see me in my surgeries. I hope to post some further good news later.

I am really pleased to have been able to deliver on this pledge and it is thanks to my other Conservative colleagues on the Council. It is not often I mention other political parties on this blog but I was a little irriated when the Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors criticised the Conservatives at Monday’s Council meeting for not rolling out more brown bins. They voted against the proposals which were included the budget – and if they had won the vote no one would have had any extra brown bins introduced. They also could have tabled an amendment and didn’t.

Anyway I will continue to push for whatever I can which is positive for Aldridge North & Walsall Wood.

Chester Road quarry

I attended a meeting at the Tarmac quarry on the Chester Road, Shire Oak this evening with some local residents and councillors from Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council. I was pleased to be invited and I raised the issue of bricks being left on the Chester Road from the tyres. I also pledged to ask Street Pride if they could try and clean around the bollards. We had a tout around the site and it seems to be well managed and the people who run it are cooperative and responsive. If you have any issues with the site please do let me know and i’ll be happy to talk to them.

LNP Community Cash Scheme

This afternoon different representatives, including myself, met to decide on applications for the Local Neighbourhood Partnership’s Community Cash Scheme. I am pleased to say that three applications out of three for our ward were successful but I won’t dilvulge what they are yet – that is for the LNP team to do first through the proper channels. I hope the money will be able to support those worthy causes and they will be able to feed back to us later in the year on how it has made a positive difference.

A review of Council

This evening we held the last Council meeting of the Municipal Year. A municipal year runs from election to election – so May to May in Walsall. We heard from Cllr Tom Ansell, Leader of the Council, on the ‘State of Walsall’. We also debated and voted on searching for external funding for community wardens, scrutiny focusing on the youth service to encourage more positive projects and the corporate parent plan. We also reaffirmed the pledge to ban political posters on public council property.

Happy St George’s Day

Wishing everyone a very happy St George’s Day!

My election platform

Click on the images below to read my election address:

Walsall Football Club promoted

A big congratulations to Walsall Football Club on being promoted – an excellent achievement. It’ll probably lose me a couple of votes but…. I’m a West Brom fan! Still it delights me to see Walsall promoted and I hope they can keep the momentum up and return to the Championship. I am sure the Council will organise a fitting civic tribute to the club and I will post further details when I get them.

Good luck also to the Wolves, Blues and Baggies as the end of season approaches. I would love to see as many Midlands teams in the Premiership as possible.

Oak Park

Members of the public reported a caravan being “dumped” in Oak Park’s car park. Well it appears that someone or some people decided to torch it on Wednesday night. Here myself and Cllr Keith Sears are pictured with the remains. We have asked Street Pride at the Council to have this cleared up immediately.

This highlights the problems we are having at Oak Park. The status quo cannot continue and is not acceptable.

On the plus side the library was open again on Friday and I was able to hold my surgery. Good news.

Election 2007: Campaigning

Well I’ve had a busy weekend in Aldridge North & Walsall Wood campaigning. I hope you have received my election address and i’ll post it online shortly. Many thanks to friends, family and colleagues who have helped me this weekend. We’ve all got a cracking suntan from the great weather we’ve had!

Old cafe on Chester Road, Shire Oak

I’ve been talking to council officers about the old cafe on the Chester Road at Shire Oak. Its the old building on the left as you drive up the Chester Road towards the junction and before the row of houses start. It is surrounded by green belt and is in a right state. Well I’ve started the ball rolling and I very much hope that it will be demolished and the site cleared in the next two months. I am determined to try and tidy up our area and install a bit of pride back whilst reducing the amount of derelict buildings which can attract vandals. Its a start…..

Another strange day in Walsall Wood

Well we had another strange day in Walsall Wood. Yesterday it was the toxic chemicals on the car park at the end of Beechtree Road. Today, just up the Lichfield Road, a couple were woken up by the noise of a Renault car smashing into their garage. I know the media have taken a lot of interest in this story because it is a bizarre incident. However there is a serious undertone and it could have very easily have been 3 fatalities. I went around to visit the householders this evening to give them my support if they require it. I very much hope that they will be able to get over the shock and have their house repaired as soon as possible. I am glad the driver is also safe and the police are dealing with the incident.

Fingers crossed that this never happens again in Aldridge North & Walsall Wood.

Walsall Wood Library to re-open on Friday

Walsall Wood Library was broken into last night. If you have any information on this please do let the police know on 0845 113 5000 or ring Crimestoppers. As a result it was closed today and will hopefully re-open on Friday.