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My News

2/2/2012 -  Logged Out? 
Early November 2011, I was invited by the Warden of St.Paul's Court Blackheath to meet...

14/1/2012 -  Criminal Damage 
On Saturday, 7th January 2012, I was informed by a Member Business that they...

27/11/2011 -  The Tree of Life 2011 
I have pleasure in announcing that the 10th Annual Tree of Life Appeal has now been launched.
If...

13/11/2011 -  "Lest we forget" 
I attended the Remembrance Service at Powke Lane Cemetery today and for the first time...

3/11/2011 -  A sensible proposal 
Following 'real' consultation with Officers at Sandwell Council over a number of years, measures...

19/10/2011 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest BBCA Newsletter is available to view by clicking the link on the left hand of the screen.

On 1st July, a resident from Ross came to my monthly Surgery at Blackheath Library to report...

The story speaks for itself...

14/9/2011 -  Kitchen 'Stink' ? 
Residents contacted me on 4th August regarding the unsightly air vent ducting which was in the...

9/9/2011 -  ATM Scam Foiled! 
Last month, C.I.D. Officers from West Midlands Police contacted me regarding incidents of...

2/9/2011 -  Service at its best 
A local resident came to see me on the Market this morning to report that the pedestrian lights on...

On Thursday, 4th August, an elderly resident rang me at home to let me know the appalling condition...

22/7/2011 -  Road Matters 
Following complaints from residents concerning the unfinished re-surfacing of the Oldbury Road, I...

22/7/2011 -  Eye-sore a Fence..... 
The Old Furnace Pub on Waterfall Lane has had a high fence around it for several months. I...

29/6/2011 -  Cross-Purpose? 
Back in April I raised a Member's Enquiry with the Highways Dept. regarding the concerns of...

16/6/2011 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest newsletter is available to view by clicking on the Blackheath Business & Community...

6/6/2011 -  Parking? Fine for some.... 
Proposals to improve the daily gridlock on the High Street (see my post of 30/07/2010) are to be...

The Manager of Blackheath Library, Chris Ash, invited me to inspect the new Blackheath Library...

I was contacted by a worried resident in my Road when he received a letter telling him that he was...

A confusing and misleading article appeared in the Express and Star declaring: "ROAD WILL GO TO...

14/3/2011 -  Blackheath Matters 
The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on 7th March 2011 are now available to view by clicking on the link...

2/2/2011 -  The Tree of Life 2010 
Despite efforts by senior Labour Councillors to prevent me from continuing with this Annual Event...

28/1/2011 -  A Lidl Traffic Solution 
I was contacted earlier this month by a member of the management at Lidl in Blackheath with...

On Wednesday, my Road's Refuse collection was missed - apparantly because of access problems due to...

3/1/2011 -  COURT - Red-handed! 
In March last year, I contacted Trading Standards Officers to investigate reports and...

3/12/2010 -  Take Care? 
Respite care in Sandwell is under review due to the controversial plans to close 8 out of 9 Care...

17/11/2010 -  Eyesore Site up for Auction 
At long last, the derelict land on Halesowen Street (Formerly Cramar Flowers) is on the Market. For...

14/10/2010 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest newsletter is now available to view by clicking on the link to Blackheath Business &...

5/10/2010 -  Tree of Life uncertainty? 
At the Meeting I attended in September, I was informed by Lead Member for Rowley, Cllr.Barbara...

On the 14th September, I was summoned to a Meeting regarding the Christmas Lights Event in...

18/8/2010 -  Sign Up! A result! 
Some of you may have seen this article regarding the recently installed Welcome sign, re-naming the...

For as long as I can remember, parking on double yellow lines on the High St in Blackheath has...

Monday 21st June: Shoppers and Traders complained to me whilst I was at work that there was an...

7/6/2010 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest newsletter is available to view by following the link to the Blackheath Business &...

21/5/2010 -  Sainsbury's Extension Plan! 
Back in 2004, Sainsbury's applied for planning permission to extend their Blackheath Store,...

6/5/2010 -  Exchange and Smart? 
Further to my posting about my non-holiday, I forgot to mention the disaster regarding exchanging...

20/4/2010 -  DIY Holidays - A warning 
Like many others, my planned holiday has come to a grinding halt. I was due to fly out with my...

16/3/2010 -  Blackheath Matters 
The minutes of the AGM held on 10th March 2010 are available to view.
Just follow the BBCA link on...

3/3/2010 -  Missed the Bus? 
I have recently learnt that radical, yet unpublicised changes are being made to Bus Services...

18/2/2010 -  Light Relief? 
Over the past few days, I had been aware that the traffic in Long Lane outside the Market had been...

13/1/2010 -  Good News for Pudsey! 
I am delighted to announce that the Grand Total raised for Children in Need by the Annual Tree of...

1/12/2009 -  Update on Traffic Issues 
Following my posting on the BBCA link 29/04/2009, regarding traffic issues in Blackheath, I am...

3/11/2009 -  A Grave Matter 
On 2nd October at my monthly Advice Surgery, a lady came to see me regarding her Grandmother's...

3/11/2009 -  The Tree of Life 2009 
For the past month, I have been contacted by numerous residents asking for news of when this year's...

9/10/2009 -  Yes..Butt...... 
An article appeared in the Express and Star yesterday regarding the lack of St Cleaning in...

Over the past few weeks I have been receiving a steady stream of daily complaints regarding the...

17/9/2009 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest newsletter is available to view by clicking onto the BBCA Link on the left of the screen

10/9/2009 -  Home Office Update 
Further to my posting regarding the Neighbourhood Forum issue, I have now received an email...

At the last Full Council Meeting, 28th July 2009, I questioned the decision to dismiss ...

6/8/2009 -  A 'Lidl' Sign of advice? 
I received an email in the last few days from a Highways Officer which related to my request for...

22/7/2009 -  Hair Today..... 
I was delighted to be invited by Neville Gee to open his new salon in Old Hill yesterday, 21st July...

18/6/2009 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter is available to view by clicking on to the BBCA link on the left of the screen

Following my posting regarding a number of trafffic concerns in Blackheath, actions are being taken...

14/6/2009 -  SOS Clothes - Beware! 
I was contacted by a resident on Wednesday by email, regarding a Company who are currently...

Only a handful attended - 6 Blackheath Businesses were represented, 5 of which are already Members...

6/4/2009 -  A 'Fine' State of Affairs 
Traders in Blackheath have been invited to a Meeting organised by Blackheath Business...

6/4/2009 -  A Site for sore eyes 
A resident recently reported to me that the proposed site of ,yet another, Tesco Express at the...

26/3/2009 -  Blackheath Matters 
The Minutes of the AGM held on 4th March 2009 are available to view.
 
Click on to the BBCA...

5/2/2009 -  Water, water, everywhere 
Following complaints from residents with regard to Road Drains which appear to be permanently...

29/1/2009 -  Public Inquiry Cancelled 
At the very last minute, the affected property owners have finally been offered financial settlement.

There is to be a local public inquiry

I am delighted to announce the launch of this year's Tree of Life

13/11/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter is available to view

29/10/2008 -  All in a day's work 
On Monday I referred 4 matters to Officers to investigate and the response was immediate.

19/10/2008 -  Queue Up! 
Major traffic gridlock and tailbacks on Archer Way are now being investigated by Highways Officers

28/9/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter is available to view

7/9/2008 -  "Christmas is Coming....." 
I am delighted to annouce that the BBCA will be organising the Switch On of Blackheath Christmas Lights this year!

Car Parking charges will be in force on the 2 public carparks in Blackheath with effect from 1st October 2008

The fight goes on? I haven't even started yet...........

17/7/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest newsletter is available to view

17/7/2008 -  Two out of Three..? 
Over the weekend whilst I was at work, three residents raised three different matters of concern regarding traffic in Blackheath

It is intended to introduce Parking charges and a Permit Scheme, possibly with effect from 1st October 2008. This decision was taken at a recent Neighbourhood Cabinet Advisory Team Meeting held on 13th June 2008.

12/6/2008 -  Park and Hide? Update 
Park St Carpark at the rear of Blackheath Market has been invaded by Taxis

5/6/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter is available to view

4/6/2008 -  Summer Event Update 
Come and Meet Captain Jack Sparrow; Indiana Jones; Hercules; Zena, the Warrior Princess and many more colourful characters

In the early hours of Saturday, 20th October 2007, my home was targetted by a metal thief who stripped my roof of lead.

12/5/2008 -  Summer Solstice 
An Event to celebrate the beginning of Summer is being held in Blackheath on Saturday 21st June 2008

9/5/2008 -  Traffic Matters 
At the AGM of the BBCA in February, concerns were raised about traffic turnng right into Park Street from the Bypass and the proposed barrier work.

27/3/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The Minutes of a recent Committee Meeting held on 18th March 2008 are available to view

10/3/2008 -  Light Relief! 
On Saturday, 8th March, a resident from Buckingham Road alterted me to an 'accident waiting to happen'

28/2/2008 -  Blackheath Matters 
The Minutes of the AGM held on 18th February 2008 are available to view

24/2/2008 -  Inconvenience - Update 
The Mens' Public Toilets on Henderson Way have been repaired and re-opened

1/2/2008 -  How about that for Service! 
Block paving outside the entrance to the Market had dislodged leaving a serious trip-hazard

Just over 2 months ago, Centro removed the bus shelter from outside the front of Blackheath Market and nobody knew why......

4/1/2008 -  Tree of Life in darkness 
Sandwell Council instructs Contractors to remove Christmas Tree Lights throughout the Borough before 12th Night

12/12/2007 -  Shameful Event 
The Switch On on the Blackheath Christmas Lights has been described as "terrible" in the local press

30/10/2007 -  Promises, promises 
The premises formerly occupied by Cramar Flowers and Jack's Shoe Repairs in Halesowen St, Blackheath are an eyesore.

30/9/2007 -  Necessary Cut-Back 
The pavement on Horner Way opposite Sainsbury's was impassable due to overgrown foliage

Despite countless verbal and written warnings, this thoughtless trader continues to obstruct the pavement.

16/8/2007 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter of the BBCA is available to view

Many of you will be aware that Contractors have been working on premises next to Greggs. Rumours are rife that they have abandoned the work because of financial reasons.

Blackheath Christmas Lights Switch-On Event planned for Saturday 24th November 2007!

Oh no it isn't............

10/7/2007 -  Anti Social Behaviour Line  
I was contacted by residents who complained that the recording facility was not available.

The former Quidsworth premises on the High St is to become a Bookmakers

21/6/2007 -  Blackheath Library Saga 
The following appeared in the Express and Star as Letter of the Day recently.

28/5/2007 -  Smoking Ban 
Blackheath Market introduced a ban on Smoking to take effect from May 2007

28/5/2007 -  Blackheath Matters 
The latest Newsletter is available to view on my Website.

I posted a report back in February 2006 concerning a Trader who was creating access problems outside his premises by displaying his goods on the pavement

8/3/2007 -  Rogue Traders 
A resident contacted me recently having paid a local Trader £2000 cash for a disastrous garden job

7/3/2007 -  Blackheath Matters 
The Minutes of the AGM of the BBCA have now been posted on my Website

21/2/2007 -  Here today - Gone tomorrow! 
Travellers took up residency on land off Cardale St in Blackheath last Thursday.

Residents have praised my efforts to support their views against the 'Sandwell Stonehenge' being erected on the Brickhouse Estate in Rowley.

23/1/2007 -  A 'Lidl' traffic matter 
A lady reported to me on Saturday morning that there was a problem with vehicles using the new Lidl Store.

7/1/2007 -  Parking Control Attendants 
I have submitted a formal complaint regarding the inefficiency of Wardens in Blackheath

4/1/2007 -  Assault captured on CCTV 
An officer based at Old Hill contacted me and asked me to check CCTV footage in the Town Centre

12/12/2006 -  Blackheath Christmas Lights  
The Switch-On Event on 2nd December 2006 was a lovely family day.

24/11/2006 -  Blackheath Library - An Update 
I attended a Meeting today with The Chief Executive , Dr.Allison Fraser to discuss my concerns regarding this controversial Project.

The controversial plans to extend and build a decked, cladded carpark have been halted.

Despite reports by a Labour Councillor in the local Press that the Library relocation is going ahead as planned - I beg to differ.

4/10/2006 -  Traffic Flow Improvement 
Last Week, I emailed one of the Highways Officers with a detailed report of the total gridlock in Blackheath and called for urgent action.

The condition of these toilets has been allowed to degenerate by Sandwell Council and no-one seems to care

Earlier in July, I submitted a report to Officers regarding the boundary wall of Park Street Carpark at the rear of Blackheath Market.

Car dealership Asgard went into administration 20/01/2006 and new owners, Motorworld, rightly insisted they were not liable for the loss

29/11/2005 -  Councillors and Quangos 
Some months ago I enquired as to which Sandwell Councillors have been appointed during their term of election to private boards and committees.

The 4ft square glass encased model based on Blackheath  circa 1880, is  now on show in...