WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MILL LANE?

MILL LANE- WHAT IS TO HAPPEN?

   The future of the derelict site in   Mill Lane, Langley has become a little clearer this week, when, f  following enquiries by Langley Councillor Martin Prestidge it was revealed that Agents for  the private owners have had initial discussions with Sandwell Planners, over the possibility of developing the site for new housing.

 Councillor Prestidge said:

“I had received a large number of enquiries from local people about the work currently taking place on the site to clear rubble etc., so I asked the Planning Department whether any approaches had been made over developing the site.

It transpired that agents were to talk to the Council over the future of the site. I have since learned that discussions were taking place prior to a possible planning application being submitted, over options for the use of the land..

There were quite a few issues to be resolved prior to an application being put forward.”

“It is good to know that things seem to be moving after all these years., although it may be some time before an application is  put forward.”

He added:

“There is overwhelming support in Langley for a good use to made of the site, which at present is simply an eyesore.

A recent poll on my Council website revealed 100% support for some development on the site. I am glad that the owners have taken a first step  by  cleaning up the land!”

OLDBURY LEISURE CENTRE DRAWS CLOSER

OLDBURY LEISURE CENTRE DRAWS CLOSER

 Plans for the proposed new Health and Leisure Centre in Newbury Lane , Oldbury  took another  great  step towards  completion . when financial provision for the scheme  was given the go-ahead by the Department of Health. £13 million worth of Private Finance Initiative credits were approved for the new Health and Leisure Centre which will serve Lion  Farm  , as well as the rest of Oldbury. The Centre , to be built on the site at the existing Oldbury Leisure Centre in Newbury Lane will include:¨              A large Sports Hall with showers and changing facilities.¨              A Hydrotherapy Pool¨              A dance studio¨              A large fitness area and gym¨              An activity room¨              An Outdoor Football pitch with changing rooms and showers.¨              A loose weights room.¨              Office Space and meeting rooms. The next step is for a detailed Business case to go the Department of Health, in order to allow contracts to be placed.  Councillor Martin Prestidge said:“This is just the sort of facility that Lion Farm needs. Oldbury is woefully short of Leisure facilities and this will help fill that gap”.

SURGERY AT LION FARM LIBRARY

SURGERY AT LION FARM LIBRARY 

The next surgery at Lion Farm Library will take place on Saturday 10 March 2007 between10.00 am and 11.30 am.

Councillor Martin Prestidge will be there, together with his colleagues, Councillor Pauline Hinton and Councillor  Mick Davies.

                          Free confidential advice on Council Problems is available

LOW COUNCIL TAX INCREASE FOR SANDWELL

The full Council meeting next Tuesday (7th March) is being recommended to approve a low Council Tax increase of 2.8% for Sandwell Borough services. The overall increase is to be 3.1 % taking account of a Police Authority increase of 4.62% and Fire Authority increase of 4.78%.

The Borough budget includes priority spending for Education, Childern’s Services, the environement, Community Safety and services for the elderly.

Significant efficiencies have helped to direct money into priority service areas without inflicting service cuts elsewhere, whilst achieving a Council Tax rise that will be well bellow the national average.

The key to the process has been careful budget planning for the medium term and being sensitive to the impact of costs on residents pockets.

Councillor Martin Prestidge said:
“I welcome this low increase which is one of the lowest in the country”.

“FIND IT IN SANDWELL” WEBSITE LAUNCHED

A new website showcasing what businesses in Sandwell have to offer is all set to be launched.

And it has already scored a hit with more than 1,000 firms across the borough, including West Bromwich Albion football club.

The website — www.finditinsandwell.co.uk — will be formally launched by council chiefs and their partners, including the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, at the end of March.

Free to Sandwell organisations, it aims to give the borough’s estimated 10,000 businesses a boost by highlighting just what they can do.

Cllr Bob Badham, Sandwell’s Cabinet member for regeneration, said, “This is an exciting online initiative which we believe to be the first local business trading website of its kind in the UK.

“It is being developed in recognition of the fact that major investment already in the pipeline in Sandwell — through a variety of regeneration projects worth many millions of pounds — will generate business opportunities that should make a positive impact on the local economy.

“The website aims to support local businesses by raising the profile of the borough’s supply chain through an on-line directory showcasing the business capabilities available in Sandwell.”

Mr Pete Rana (correct) MBE, President of Sandwell Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are delighted to see that the website is already being enthusiastically welcomed by firms.

“Over 1,000 Sandwell-based organisations, across a wide range of business sectors have registered their interest in taking part.

“They include businesses from the legal profession, the voluntary sector, manufacturing, construction, retail and logistics industries.”

West Bromwich Albion’s sales and marketing director Tim Gardiner said, “As a business, WBA fully appreciate that a thriving and vibrant economy generates disposable income that will benefit the sports and leisure industry within Sandwell.

“With this in mind, we can see that the functionality of the website fully supports the use of local business.

“We see the website as a means of procuring and promoting a wide range of products, services and facilities. Furthermore, WBA can make their own contribution in supporting the Sandwell economy.”

The online initiative will be formally launched at the end of March, but will be trialled in a pilot scheme before then.

The council is being joined by partners at the Black Country Chamber and Cradley Heath-based Ice Blue Marketing and Design in setting up the website.

Development costs of £15,000 have been met by the Government-backed Meighbourhood Renewal Fund, but private sector sponsors and advertising will be sought to meet running costs.

LANGLEY COUNCILLORS SURGERY

Langley Councillors Surgery Langley Councillors will be meeting constituents at one of their regular surgeries at Langley Park Lodge Community Centre on Friday 9 March.

Councillors Martin Prestidge, Mick Davies and Pauline Hinton will be available for a confidential advice session at the Community Centre, in Langley High Street between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm.

 

TACKLE ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Are you experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour?

To seek advice on anti-social behaviour related problems, Sandwell has a Home Office-funded line in operation from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am-1.30pm on Saturdays – Contact 0845 359 7500 or email contact@sandwell.gov.uk

ASB Specialist Team
Sandwell Council House
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DQ

Tel: 0845 359 7500
Fax: 0121 569 5226
Email: housing@sandwell.gov.uk
Text: ‘Sandwell ASB’ then your message to 60003. Text messages are charged at your normal network rate.
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 9.00am – 5.30pm, Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm

Sandwell’s Anti-Social Behaviour Specialist Team was created in 1998, using the Housing Act 1996 and any other powers available to local authorities to deal with serious cases of anti-social behaviour.

The team also offer advice and assistance to those experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour. They deal with some referrals from the new Home Office funded line as well as from a number of other agencies.

If you are a council or Housing Association tenant, your Housing Officer who can be contacted at your Local Neighbourhood Office, will investigate your complaint, and they will involve the specialist anti-social behaviour team when necessary. If we are unable to take action on your behalf, we may be able to refer you to another agency or advise you what action you can take.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Team can be contacted directly if the perpetrator is not a council tenant. Owner occupiers and private tenants should contact the Anti-Social Behaviour Team by calling the Anti-Social Behaviour Call Line on 0845 359 7500. The report will be passed to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team and an Anti-Social Behaviour Officer will then call back to discuss the problem as soon as possible.

The Council will not normally become involved in neighbour disputes or family feuds unless they directly affect the wider community.

N.B. Noisy neighbours are dealt with by Environmental Health. If you require advice about Noisy Neighbours you can use our on-line form.

MILL LANE CLEAN UP IN PROGRESS

MILL LANE CLEAN UP IN PROGRESS

Councillor Martin Prestidge has welcomed the clean up of the Mill Lane , Langley site which is currently in progress.

Councillor Prestidge said:
” I understand that the owners of the site have started to clear up the site.

I am trying to find out what is to happen to the site , which is in private ownership, in future  and I understand that Agents for the owners are to have a dialogue with Sandwell Planners  about possible development of the site. I have asked to be kept informed about what sort of development is envisaged.

“At the moment no-one has applied for Planning permission to develop the site and obviously any plans to build on the site will be the subject of public consultation. It is too early yet to know what may happen there but the mere fact that the owners are clearing up the site, which has been nothing but an eyesore , is to be welcomed.”

He added:

“A poll which I conducted on my Council website revealed that there was virtual unanimous support in Langley for the ste to be cleaned up and developed,

The poll revealed that  the majority would like to see the site used either for housing or for community purposes, such as a new Health Centre.”

“What  ever is to happen the very fact that a clean up is taking place is more than welcome”. 

POLL SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MILL LANE

Poll Support for Development in Mill Lane

An Internet Poll has revealed  overwhelming support for Mill Lane Development among Langley Residents.

Councillor Martin Prestidge has released the findings from a poll on his Council website seeking public views concerning the derelict site in Mill Lane. Oldbury.

Councillor Prestidge said:

“91% of participants favoured some development of the site. The most popular choice was for some kind of community facility e.g. a Health Centre on the site, with 10% favouring the use of the site for High quality Housing. 21% were in favour of a mixture of these uses.”

“Interestingly enough 11% of people believe that if the site is not to be developed for some years, then it should be tidied up  and grassed over. Only 9% of  respondents believed that nothing should happen  with the site.”

Councillor Prestidge added:

“I intend to write to Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Development with the findings from the poll in the hope that it will be of use in persuading the owners to bring forward development plans”.

“THe details of the poll are to be found on the Home Page of my Council website.

Posted: 18/02/2007

CYCLE POWER FOR WARDENS

Pedal power is now helping Sandwell Wardens in their efforts to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental problems.

 A fleet of six cycles has been funded from the Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocation for Sandwell, to assist the council’s wardens in their high visibility patrols across the borough.Cycles will particularly help wardens patrol alleyways and estates.

Meanwhile, the wardens scheme is set to increase from 18 to 24 wardens as part of a funding agreement between the council and Sandwell Homes, which will help Sandwell Homes – the borough’s major housing landlord – tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on its estates.

Peter John, Sandwell Homes’ operations director, said: “Our tenants have identified the need to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour faster and more effectively.

“After looking at the options available to do this we decided that the Sandwell Warden service offered the best all-round package and we’re very pleased to be working in partnership with them.

“They will be seen around our estates a lot more from May and will help bring about a renewed confidence in how we tackle complaints of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.”

The latest developments for the council’s new wardens scheme follows follows wardens receiving powers last summer from the council’s cabinet to issue £75 fixed penalty notices for offences including littering and graffiti.

They also become the first wardens scheme in the West Midlands to receive police accreditation to issue penalty notices for disorder and fireworks offences.

Wardens have so far issued over 120 penalty notices for offences including:

• littering & flyposting
• offering vehicles for sale on the highway.

They have also used their powers to confiscate alcohol and obtain the name and address of people committing specified offences.

The new service – Sandwell Wardens – works seven days a week.

Councillor Derek Rowley, the council’s cabinet member for community safety & partnerships, said: “The new wardens scheme is proving to be a great success, providing a reassuring and high visibility presence on our streets, and with the necessary enforcement powers to give the service real teeth.

“I welcome the latest developments in the service – the cycle patrols and extra wardens funded by Sandwell Homes will really help the Safer Sandwell Partnership in its efforts to get to the root of problems that arise in our local neighbourhoods and estates.”
*Overall crime in Sandwell was down 30.1% in 2005/06 compared to 2002/03 – and, building on this, the police, council, town teams, fire service, Sandwell Homes and other partners are stepping up the drive to tackle problems that arise with locally-tailored team responses.

31 neighbourhood teams have been set up across the borough to co-ordinate the tackling of crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental problems at a local level.

Neighbourhood teams include representatives from key local organisations, such as those highlighted above, so that information, expertise and resources can be shared in order to prioritise action and root out problems as swiftly and effectively as possible.

People are urged to report problems to the Safer Sandwell Partnership’s non-emergency anti-social behaviour hotline 0845 359 7500, which is operated 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am-1.30pm Saturday. An answerphone records out-of-hours calls so that an adviser can return the call the next working day.

People can also report problems by emailing contact@sandwell.gov.uk or texting SANDWELL ASB to 60003.

People should still dial 999 in emergencies.