Local Services. Cheswick Green Warming?? Sewing (Dressmaking and Curtains) BUILDING SERVICES STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST. Brenda Cooke (01564)

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1 Local Services CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST Member of Health Professional Council Julia Kilby Sewing (Dressmaking and Curtains) Brenda Cooke (01564) CGN Cheswick Green Residents Association Newsletter Cheswick Green Warming?? Winter BUILDING SERVICES M J Hewitt STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Jonathan Leese GREYSTONE DECORATORS The Guild of Master Craftsmen call John Or Peter or see our display advert PLUMBING AND HEATING Installation, Servicing & Repairs Corgi Registered Stephen Smith Copy: if you have anything you would like considered for publication, please send it to The Editors - either the box in the Post Office, or phone , or to editors@mcarr.demon.co.uk DATA PROTECTION ACT:Residents are advised that The Association holds all residents names and addresses on a computer database. The sole purpose is to permit the Officers to ascertain, at any point in time - but particularly at the AGM - the current paid up membership. If any resident has an objection to his/her name being held on this database, then it will be deleted upon application to any Committee member. Wandering around the Cheswick Green area at this time of the year, have you noticed the Holly Bushes? They are particularly lovely this year as most of them have berries, which particularly at Christmas adds to the natural decorations of Yuletide. With this thought in mind I to read an article in the it is possible that we will lose future if the dreaded Kew Gardens are lot of money in purchasing well in warmer winters, so it was very surprised and shocked Guardian stating that our Holly Bushes in the global warming happens. already investing a trees that will grow is serious all right. Personally I would hate to see the Holly go and maybe it won t in my lifetime, but I wonder about my children and grandchildren, what will they replace the red and dark green of the Holly with in the future; maybe the bright yellow of the mimosa that covers Portugal at this time of the year or even the poinsettia tree, yes tree not plant that seems to grow like a weed in that part of the world. Whatever it may be it makes me stop and think about doing my little bit to help - one member of our family gave everyone plugs for presents at Christmas, they enable us to measure how much electricity all our gadgets are using and try to decrease their use. Do you have any practical ideas, if so why not let us know through the editors box in the post office, or on our website. Inside this issue: People who 2 work for us Husbands vs 3 Horses Solihull 4 Council Magazine Let s Have 5 Fun Local Information 7 Cheswick Green 8-12 in the Seventies Part 4 Editors Page 14 Test your wits 15 Local Services 16

2 People who work on your behalf New for 2007 CHESWICK GREEN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE Officers George Burdett (Chairman) 17 Cheswick Way Brian Brown (Vice-Chairman) 42 Spinney Drive Lisa Parmar (Secretary) 3 Heron Close Margaret Daniels (Treasurer) 8 The Pines Committee Members Kelly & Barry Ashford WIllow Drive Jane Brown 43 Willow Drive Pat & Mike Carr (Editors) 65 Foxland Close Pete Davis 27 Glenwood Drive Dot Lambert 12 Spinney Drive Ian and Barbara Sill 36 Snowshill Drive Leslie Stevens 32 Snowshill Drive The CGRA Committee usually meets at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall on the first Wednesday of each month. Observers are always welcome. SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL Mayor Councillor John Graham Reeve Cheswick Green is in Blythe Ward of the council: Blythe Ward Councillors are: Cllr Mrs Maggie Allen Liberal Democrat Cllr Brian Burgess Conservative Cllr Len Cresswell Liberal Democrat Contact details are on HOCKLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL (Cheswick Green is in the area of Hockley Heath P.C. Which meets on 3rd Wednesday each month) Chairman Mr Richard Holt Councillors representing Cheswick Green: Cllr E B Brown 42 Spinney Drive B90 4HB, Cllr Mrs M Pettinger 46 Coppice Walk B90 4HY Cllr Vaseem Arfan, Cllr Mrs B Lintern 254 Creynolds Lane Councillors representing other villages: Cllrs Andy Vine, Peter Bulcock, Peter Kennard, Jeff Potts, Charles Robinson, David Skelding, Alyson Thompson: Clerk: Mrs Diane Weir tel PATCH Issues concerning the areas previously dealt with by the Patch Manager should now be addressed to Solihull Council on the general telephone number Department Estates Management MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Cheswick Green is in the Meriden constituency, and our MP is Caroline Spelman Further information from the website 2 Test your Wits More brain-teasers: do you know the right answers? Where is the headquarters of Interpol? (City) What is the official language of the United States? (trick question) In Greek mythology who solved the riddle of the Sphinx? Which country has the world s largest Muslim population? When did the Euro banknotes and coins officially become currency in Europe? (1st Jan in which year?) Lake Volta is the largest reservoir in the world and is located in which country? What does 3G mean in the mobile phone advertisements? Which organisation has the motto: Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity? (Hint, think acronyms) And the answers for last time are: What colour light is displayed from the starboard side of a ship: Black, blue, white, or green? Answer: Green Which car company has manufactured models called Scorpio and Orion: Fiat, Ford, Jaguar or Mercedes? - Answer Ford What are corvettes, sloops and brigantines: sailing ships, seaplanes, motorbikes, or pirates? - Answer Sailing ships What car does James Bond prefer to drive: Fiat, Aston Martin, Ferrari or Triumph? - Answer: Aston Martin Which of these did the first bicycle not have: pedals, wheels, a saddle, or a cyclist? - Answer: Pedals CHESWICK GREEN VILLAGE HALL AVAILABLE FOR HIRE There is a choice of Two Halls with the use of Kitchen, Tables and Chairs included in the Hire Charges. Suitable for Dancing, Keep Fit, Parties, Meetings etc. Contact the booking clerk on It Pays to Advertise This Local Magazine is the ideal way to reach your local customers Full Page per ad 150 for 4 issues per year Half Page per ad 90 for 4 issues per year Quarter Page per ad 50 for 4 issues per year Local Services Paid up members of CGRA 2.00 x per year Non members of CGRA 3.00 x per year

3 Council Magazine The Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council website has a magazine, the current issue is called Your Solihull Winter 2006 Here are some excerpts. Why not tell us what your views are on our website? Recycling We know you are keen on recycling and you tell us you want more information on how to do your bit to help the environment. Here s some ideas. A to Z of Recycling We have produced an A to Z of Recycling booklet to help you recycle. This A-Z provides details of how you can dispose of unwanted items without just throwing them in the bin. Most items in a household bin can be recycled or reused. If you would like a copy of this booklet for reference please contact us on or wasteandrecycling@solihull.gov.uk or log on to One very easy way of recycling is an initiative called Freecycle. The idea is to pass on unwanted items to those who can make use of them, reducing landfill at the same time. There is one main rule, everything must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages. It s available via the internet, where members post their offers and requests for wanted items. The Solihull group was launched earlier this year and has already got around 300 members. Since then it has found grateful homes for various items, including a marble fire hearth, buggy/cot, curtains and a vacuum cleaner. To find out more about Freecycle, please look at the main home page - To join the Solihull group, follow the link on this site, or by going to Toilets a review Earlier this year, we closed some of the toilets we run. This was part of the savings of 7m we had to make. However, despite there being alternative toilets, some of you said you were unhappy with the decision. As a result we have temporarily re-opened the toilets in Chelmsley Wood town centre and Mell Square, Solihull. Re-opening Mell Square with no attendant for just six months has cost 16,500. To re-open it for a year with an attendant would cost 137,200. Without an attendant would cost just over 73,000. We have carried out a review of toilets across the borough, and this included surveys with some of you, which were fed back to an independent panel. The panel will come up with some conclusions about the provision of toilets, and our role in providing toilets for the public. The panel s findings will be publicly discussed by Councillors so a way forward can be found. We will let you know what decisions are made CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST Member of Health Professional Council Providing pain releif and help for spinal and postural problems, sports injusies, joint problems and repetitive strain injuries For an appointment Tel: Please leave a message, your call will be returned on the same day Julia Kilby At Tanworth in Arden Medical Centre Broad Lane, Tanworth in Arden B94 5DY 4 13 Please support our advertisers - they support us STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Surgery and Home Visits JONATHAN LEESE D.Pod.M., M.Ch.S., S.R.Ch. The Coach House 193 Creynolds Lane Shirley Solihull B90 4ES Telephone: Our Website (At home page, click on Residents Forum, and log in, or Register if you are a newbie) Did you know that you can use our website for several things: You can add comments to other peoples blogs and you can set up your own! You can set up a forum on any subject you like and you can contribute to other peoples forums There are some jokes and games, too (You need to be aged thirteen or over to be a full member) For all your decorating needs Greystone Decorators call John: or (mobile) Peter: or (mobile) Skill and Integrity The Guild of Master Craftsmen

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5 Editors Page A visiting Scottish friend said at the New Year that he couldn t believe that there had still been no snow in Scotland it had never happened before. Even allowing for a little exaggeration, the weather really is a lot warmer. no Scottish ski resorts open for skiing until now (5th Jan) and much less than ideal in the French resorts. Down here in the Midlands we have only had a couple of frosty nights before the New Year, and none so far since. The new planning application to build a Service Station on our junction of the M42 seems to be coming to the boil. Personally I find the junction and its roundabout quite enough of a nightmare already it s the lane changing when coming from the north, or going to the south that has me worried. The thought of all the Service Station users having to join us on those entrances and exits is worrying. The new roundabout by the Honda garage, for the new business park and the planned huge hotel, is nearly ready. It will certainly slow the traffic coming to and from the motorway. Remember when it used to be a 40mph straight line? I see that Planning turned down an application to erect fourteen-foot moving advertisement signs along the verges of Monkspath Hall road; surprisingly it was not an objection from Highways, who I would have thought might object on the grounds that drivers would be distracted. The article (on page 8) about Cheswick Green 25 years ago casts new light for me, at any rate on the slightly haphazard planning that went on when the estate was developed.. But I think that overall we have gained rather than lost the different styles of house, the very not-square-grid layout of the roads, and the plentiful oddly shaped green spaces, give a very open and relaxed feel about the place, even if car parking spaces are not over generous. Talking of parking spaces, over in Haslucks Green a slightly older estate has roads so narrow that if two cars park opposite there is hardly room to walk between them, and parking has to be up on the pavements at all times. The planners assume that every house will have not more than two cars, and that one of them will be in the garage, the other in the drive. I have been carrying out a mini-survey, and I cannot find even a handful of houses where there is a car kept in the garage, but there are lots of homes with more than two cars. Perhaps the planners live in large detached houses with long drives, like those on Creynolds Lane.. On our website ( there is a bit of discussion about the proposal to split up the Hockley Heath Parish Council - the action is being led by Dickens Heath, who want their own Parish Council, as do Tidbury Green. There is a survey, too, on our website, and so far the voting is 100% for having our own PCC all four votes! Talk on the website, too, about vandalism (telephone kiosk wrecked again, damage to the Gazebo in the park, burglary at the school) Pity we don t have a rogue s gallery. HUSBANDS VS. HORSES GOOD THINGS ABOUT HUSBANDS: 1. Husbands are less expensive to shoe than horses. 2. Feeding a husband doesn t require anything that even mildly compares with the hassle of putting up hay. 3. A lame husband can still work. 4. A husband with a bellyache doesn t have to be walked. 5. Husbands don t try to scratch their heads on your back. 6. They are better able to understand puns. 7. If they are playing hard to catch, you **may** be able to run them down on foot. 8. They know their name. 9. They usually pay their own bills. 10. They apologize when they step on your toes. 11. No saddle fitting problems. 12. They seldom refuse to get into the vehicle. 13. They don t panic - running and yelling all through the house when you leave them alone (unless you ve left the kids with them too!). 14. For a nominal fee, you can hire someone else to clip them. 15. They don t like the lady next door just as well as you, just because she fed him for 3 days straight. THE HORSE S ADVANTAGE: 1. If they don t work out you can sell them. 2. They don t come complete with in-laws. 3. You don t have to worry about your children looking like them. 4. You never have to iron their saddle pads. 5. If you get too fat for one, you can shop for a bigger one. 6. They smell good when they sweat. 7. You can repair their clothes with duct tape. 8. It s possible to keep them from jumping the fence You can force them to stay in good physical condition... with a whip if necessary. 10. They don t want their turn at the computer. 11. They may turn white with age, but never go bald. 12. They have never heard of PMS. 13. They learn to accept restraint. 14. They don t care what you look like as long as you have a carrot or an apple. 14 3

6 Points to Ponder : The most Unsucessful Prison Escape After weeks of extremely careful planning, seventy-five convicts completely failed to escape from Saltillo Prison in Northern Mexicao. In November 1975 they had started digging a secret tunnel designed to bring them up at the other side of the prison wall. On 18 April 1976, guided by pure genius, their tunnel came up in the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced. The surprised judges returned all 75 of them to jail. Conversation during a chess match Tell me, Mr MacMahon, how long did it take you to learn to play chess so badly? Sir, it s been nights of study and self-denial. (From the Book of Heroic Failures) Specialising in: Soft Furnishings and Interior Design Floral Displays and Special Occasion Flowers Wedding outfits and Bridal Wear Made to Order Alterations and Repairs 35 CHESWICK WAY, CHESWICK GREEN, SOLIHULL B90 4HF TELEPHONE: MOBILE: Did you know that there are over 550,000 items in stock in all the Solihull libraries end to end they would stretch as far as Manchester and in one big pile they would tower over Everest by another 10,000 feet! 1983 began with the problem of minor but expensive and irritating vandalism to the Village Hall; the Residents Association threatened legal action against anyone found causing damage. Having not been able to obtain planning permission on their land around the village, Solihull School transferred a number of parcels of land to the Parish Council, these were: The Playing Field and the Village Hall area Approximately half of the large plot on Saxonwood Road The smaller plot on Saxonwood Road The plot on Saxonwood Road/Boscobel Road junction, opposite the letterbox The remains of The Mount April of that year saw the start of work on the Umberslade section of the M42 Motorway; there were plans for the work to last some 104 weeks. The residents of the Village were told that building would be taking place on the following sites: Three house on the remaining portion of the large plot on Saxonwood Road On house at the bottom of Snowshill Drive One house between 10 Longleat Drive and The Mount There was some comment in the local press early in the year about Cheswick Green becoming a dying village. But this was countered by the Association, who believed that the Village had emerged from the Seventies and re-developed with credit as an active Village of the Eighties. It pointed to the full round of social activities throughout the year, plans for clearing up the village and various landscaping projects that were in hand. The Honourable Iain Mills MP for Packwood visited the Association s Committee Meeting to become more acquainted with local affairs. A new Headmaster for Cheswick Green School, Mr M.B. Birch arrived from Marston Green and by way of introduction wrote a letter to the Magazine. He said that he was pleased to note the community spirit in the Village, and that the school was an integral part of the community. He was delighted that so many organisations already used the school facilities in the evenings. The most notable event of the next year, 1984, appears to have been the repairing of the footbridge over Mount Brook at the end of Saxonwood Road. This work in effect reopened the public footpath from the Village to Tanworth Lane beside Bannisters Cottage. The path those visitors, who came by coach from Birmingham in the early part of the last century, would have walked to get to The Mount Pleasure Grounds. Beside this the two by then regular Village functions, the Fete and the Bonfire were reported to have been a great success. The interior of the Village Hall was given another face-lift. 6 11

7 a single bungalow at the end of Appian Way was rejected. The gates of paradise were being kept firmly shut! Shut that is except for sheep! An invasion of sheep took place; they established a bridgehead in Saxonwood Road and fanned out into The Dingle. Sheep from the adjacent fields were discovered having the feed of their lives on rose bushes and anything else they could find in the gardens very early one morning. It was proposed that the Village Hall be extended, adding a single room of some 15 by 20, interconnecting with the main Hall, but able to be shut off and used independently if required. The Hall was repainted and a number of maintenance jobs were carried out throughout the year. The Cheswick Green Hall was being even better used by the various organisations that had come to exist on the Village. In June of 1982 a list of these organisations appeared in the Magazine. Allotments Association Terry Light Babysitting Circle Sandra Reynolds Ballet Classes The Jane Fisher School of Ballet Boys Brigade Peter Tonks 1 st Cheswick Green Brownies Beverley Prater 2 nd Cheswick Green Brownies Anne Cresswell 1 st Earlswood Brownies Diane Simpkin Cubs R.W. Wright Family Church Peter Tonks Keep Fit Kate Matthews Mother and Baby Group Ann Taylor National Housewives Register Gill Barrington Over 50s Club Sue Wilkes Playgroup Mary Hanson Roundabout Club Jenny Cockcroft St John s Ambulance Cadets Div. Supt. Cleveley School Association Terry Wootton Scouts 1 st Salter Street R. Maxted Tote Organiser Piers Cockcroft Wine Club Mike Benton Womens Institute Iris Rulewski Youth Club Len Cresswell Many of these organisations used the Residents Association Magazine as a means of reporting and advertising their activities. The year drew to a close with very little by way of pressing issues, but it should be noted that the local branch of The Men of the Trees donated a further 20 trees of various types, to be planted at selected locations in the Village. Also, Sue Wilkes and Ron Harris planted over 400 daffodil bulbs in and around the Village, which so enhance our Village today. Local Information The Mobile Library is outside the shops on Saturdays from 9.15 to am In the Village Hall : Cheswick Green Under-Fives Playgroups: Pre-School Monday-Thursday am Crafty Kids : these groups are for accompanied children : Under-5s for under-5s on Mondays pm Under-2s for under-2s on Fridays am both are on a Drop-In basis contact Lesley or Rochelle Youth Club: Meets each Friday evening from 7.30pm-9.30pm Age range years Simone School of Dance : Tuesdays and Saturdays in the Village Hall Ages from 3 to adults, most types of dancing taught :ballet, tap, free-style, modern jazz, rock-and-roll, gymnastic dance times to suit the students Ring Simone Walker Dog training Wagging Tails on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Puppy classes, Beginners up to Gold classes for all ages of dog. Positive training used at all levels julia@waggingtails.co.uk, website Spanish Classes, for children - Mondays pm, contact (Interested adults may also contact the above) Brownies Mondays 6.00 pm Rainbows Wednesdays 6.00 pm Ballroom Dancing Mondays pm Other phone numbers: Anti-Graffiti Hotline / Community Drugs Line Police non-emergency Allotment Association David Millichamp 175 Wood Lane, Earlswood

8 The Village of the Seventies moves into the Eighties As Cheswick Green moved out of the Seventies and into the Eighties the 1978 Village Fete was particularly successful and was well attended. All the various Village clubs and societies were present with their stalls. An exciting feature of this Fete was the Helicopter. Flights were available over the Village, taking off from the field on the far side of Watery Lane. Many people took their cameras to take aerial views of their house and the village as a whole. That year a vacancy arose on the Parish Council, and it co-opted Margaret Pettinger (then Secretary of the Cheswick Green Residents Association since 1975) to serve as Councillor until the next election. The Parish Council election took place on 24 th May 1979, and seven candidates were returned unopposed. Cheswick Green then had three representatives on that body, Peter Davidson, Peter Simpkin and Margaret Pettinger (who has served as a Councillor since that time 28 years!). The immediate work of the new Council, concerning the village included: The hand over of the Playing Field to Parish Council control. Improvements to the car park at the rear of the shops Pressure for the completion of the M42 Monitoring of proposed bus service changes A start was made on the Children s Playground in May Towards the end of 1979 there was another pollution incident to the Mount Brook, again garden rubbish found its way into the brook and oil slicks were on occasions observed. It was pointed out that such pollution, besides being unsightly caused considerable damage to the wild life. A report on the use of the Village Hall indicated that many groups and organisations were using it, amongst which were: Ballet Classes Ballroom Dancing Brownies Cubs Family Church Mother and Baby Group Over 50s Club Playgroup St John s Ambulance Cadets Sunday School Women s Institute Youth Club Holiday Play Schemes The new decade, 1980, saw the Residents Association reflecting upon its past and future. It had been formed partly as a channel of communication with the developers, and it had great success in protecting the residents from some of the Greaves Organisations excesses. Other successes had been in relation to the building of the Village Hall and generally working to obtain services for the Village. The Village was still very much a Village and had kept further development to a minimum; the major part of the proposed housing for the area had been located in the Cranmore/Widney area. Hockley Heath Parish was still Interim Green Belt which meant that its future with regards to development was not concluded. Much of the Eighties were to be taken up with planning matters. In April 1980 the Residents Association Treasurer, Richard Stewardson, reported that the Village Hall was holding its own after a shaky start. The costs of the Hall were running at 1,400 per year, and that 386 was spent on Gas and Electricity, 600 on caretaking, cleaning materials and general maintenance, 161 Rates, and 319 on repairs due to vandalism! The Children s Playground cost 1,533. That year saw a change at the Vineyard, Alan and Shirley Bishop left and were replaced by Mr and Mrs Hall. Early in 1980, the developers Wimpey put in a Planning Application to build at Cheswick Green. Solihull rejected this, but the final decision was to be taken by the then West Midlands County Council, who also rejected the application; but Wimpey took the application to Appeal. April 1981 saw the Parish Council providing 20 trees to be planted alongside of the Playing Field to provide an effective screen for those houses that backed onto the Field. The Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana took place on 29 th July 1981 and the event was celebrated by the Village in style with Street Parties. The Mayor of Solihull to commemorate the occasion planted a Silver Birch Tree in Appian Way. Many individual houses and streets were decorated with bunting varying from a single flag to some very spectacular displays. It was reported that?the whole day breathed the fresh air of optimism for the future through the country. We must all seize upon this theme and look positively forward to the years ahead in our own lives. The year saw an upsurge in interest in the early history of Cheswick Green, due mainly to the interest shown by the Magazine Editor, Chris Kenyon. He contributed a number of very interesting articles throughout the year, of historical interest concerning Old Cheswick Green. Solihull School, owners of most of the freehold land in the Village, made no less than seven planning applications for houses on almost every piece of open space in the Village. The Public Enquiry on Wimpey s Planning Application was heard in January 1982, and by March it was known that the Inspector of the Inquiry had recommended rejection: there were three grounds for refusal: Green Belt Encroachment into open space Extension of size of Village A Proposal to build three houses between the School and Creynolds Lane was made. As usual the Committee objected. Also an appeal against rejection of planning permission for 8 9

9 With development of the Cranmore/Widney estate well underway in 1985, residents were asked to be vigilant and maintain a sharp awareness of Cheswick Green s heritage, and ensure that it was in no way impaired by outside influences. The Residents Association pointed out that it was in existence to act on the behalf of the Village in all matters, particularly those that related to environment, conservation and community facilities. A piece appeared in the Magazine headed: Building Development: Planning Applications and Sites for Sale. Most residents will be only too aware of the number of recent building projects on sites throughout the Village. Many of the developments seem unnecessary and the buildings become totally out of character with the original concepts of the neighbourhood. Much frustration and distress has been put upon existing residents when they have tried to resist planning applications especially for the backland and back-garden infill projects. Our local Councillors and the Residents Association are firmly against infill development in the Village or its environs. It seems that almost any piece of spare land could come up for development anywhere in the area. If you hear of plans to develop land near to you and you are not pleased with the ideas PLEASE CONTACT MEMBERS OF YOUR ASSOCIATION S COMMITTEE. Neighbours to such schemes would have to notify the local Planning Authority of their objections. The Residents Association will give its support so please avail yourself of their experience in this matter. Residents close to open fields and long back gardens seem to be particularly vulnerable from people wanting to sell land for profitable development purposes. Again the guards were being put on the gates of paradise! John Pettinger To Rent: Florida Kissimmee: 4 Bed, 3 Bath House in Village with all amenities for families, 15 mins Disney. 320 a week (Xmas 400) Tel Or mail@annandterry.co.uk SouthWest France near Angouleme, Large House to let sleeps six comfortably, easy access from Birmingham to Bergerac, or drive through France. Contact Carr for details, or mike@mcarr.demon.co.uk Let s Have Some Fun Responses to our flyer were a wee bit disappointing. From those who bothered to return their answers we calculate as follows : Cheswick Green Goes to the Dogs 38% Pantomine visit to Birmingham 100% Curry and Karaoke 50% Drayton Manor visit 38% And other suggestions included a theatre trip or trips to London; a Village Treasure Hunt; OAPs Day Out; more local events such as Fetes during the summer; and definitely one, or better still two, Parties in the Park. More extreme was the idea of Horse Racing (the game, with wind-up horses!). To start with, the following are planned: Forthcoming Attractions Party in the Park this Summer : does anyone know of any suitable Acts or Bands - please get in touch. Date to be determined. Christmas Party for children, 16th December 2007 (Suggested date) Red routes This is what the Solihull Council Your Solihull magazine says about red routes: None of us like to be stuck in a traffic jam. And across the West Midlands, traffic congestion is getting worse. We ve decided to do something about it, and have adopted Red Routes in some of the busiest roads in the borough. Look at the Blossomfield Road/Lode Lane route. It links the A34, A41 and A45. It serves the town centre, Land Rover, Solihull Hospital, Solihull College and much more. We need to keep it moving. The funding for the scheme comes from the Government, as an investment for a network of routes throughout the West Midlands. We ve asked local people about how the Red Route may work in their local area. For example, we have asked people who may have particular needs, such as childminders, and this has meant that we haven t put Red Routes in their area. Other people were adamant that they wanted no parking at all outside their homes. These views have been taken into account for the final scheme. Whether you agree with Red Routes or not, the results have shown they are working. On the Stratford Road there are now less accidents, far less illegal parking - and fewer delays. Which is what we all want. 12 5