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May 19th 2024
A Review of the year 2012
The Review of 2012 is really only a partial review for this year.”
I won the Wolverhampton City Council seat of Wednesfield North on the 3rd May 2012. So this year the review of the year starts in May 2012. I was of course delighted to win the seat and after an absence of 4 years I now again represent the ward for the Labour Party.
I won the Wolverhampton City Council seat of Wednesfield North on the 3rd May 2012. So this year the review of the year starts in May 2012. I was of course delighted to win the seat and after an absence of 4 years I now again represent the ward for the Labour Party.
I have represented Wednesfield North from 1981-1985 first on the now defunct West Midlands County Council, then on-
Wolverhampton MBC 1984- 1990
Wolverhampton MBC 1992-2008
Wolverhampton City Council 2012- Current.
The Year in Review - May
Saturday 5th May 2012 -Its morning and my office at home needs a good clear out! Elections have taken their toll and there is paper everywhere.
• The Local Elections 2012 were good for Labour, and the results for the local election held in the Wednesfield North Ward on Thursday May 3, 2012 are published on my new Face Book Page which has been created to keep constituents up to date with all that will take place during the course of a year. The decision was taken to run this new Face Book page with the www.PhilBateman.com website to ensure everyone in Wednesfield has a chance of seeing what goes on in the Ward. The election results get published on FB.
Result - Labour gain Wednesfield North
BATEMAN Philip Thomas Alexander The Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate 1,678 and 68% of all the electorate that voted. Voted for the Labour Party!
The result in Wolverhampton was just brilliant Labour took control and with 44 seats is the biggest Party in the Council! Here in Wednesfield we also had a clean sweep of seats. Wednesfield North, Wednesfield South and Fallings Park all went Labor.
That wouldn't have happened without the hard work of individuals that arranged the Labour literature that delivered the Labour literature and helped in the campaign. I thanked all me helpers and all those constituents that voted for me. Then onto the job in hand!
• I made enquiries about a pool of oil and water that has been lying on a grass verge on Griffith Drive Ashmore Park during the whole of the election campaign. It is not only unsightly it is dangerous to the environment, children, and will create problems for anyone else who comes into contact with this evil smelling mixture.
• I wrote an angry letter to Wolverhampton Homes due to a sloppy response they gave me in answer to a request regarding fox invasion.
During the course of the month former Wednesfield South Labour Councillor Sue Hall died after an illness. Sue was a Labour Party member for decades-She represented Wednesfield South on Wolverhampton City Council losing her seat in the year 2000; she became the Mayoress of Wolverhampton in 1995-96 when her long standing friend Councillor Margaret Benton was Mayor of the City.
Wolverhampton MBC 1984- 1990
Wolverhampton MBC 1992-2008
Wolverhampton City Council 2012- Current.
The Year in Review - May
Saturday 5th May 2012 -Its morning and my office at home needs a good clear out! Elections have taken their toll and there is paper everywhere.
• The Local Elections 2012 were good for Labour, and the results for the local election held in the Wednesfield North Ward on Thursday May 3, 2012 are published on my new Face Book Page which has been created to keep constituents up to date with all that will take place during the course of a year. The decision was taken to run this new Face Book page with the www.PhilBateman.com website to ensure everyone in Wednesfield has a chance of seeing what goes on in the Ward. The election results get published on FB.
Result - Labour gain Wednesfield North
BATEMAN Philip Thomas Alexander The Labour and Co-operative Party Candidate 1,678 and 68% of all the electorate that voted. Voted for the Labour Party!
The result in Wolverhampton was just brilliant Labour took control and with 44 seats is the biggest Party in the Council! Here in Wednesfield we also had a clean sweep of seats. Wednesfield North, Wednesfield South and Fallings Park all went Labor.
That wouldn't have happened without the hard work of individuals that arranged the Labour literature that delivered the Labour literature and helped in the campaign. I thanked all me helpers and all those constituents that voted for me. Then onto the job in hand!
• I made enquiries about a pool of oil and water that has been lying on a grass verge on Griffith Drive Ashmore Park during the whole of the election campaign. It is not only unsightly it is dangerous to the environment, children, and will create problems for anyone else who comes into contact with this evil smelling mixture.
• I wrote an angry letter to Wolverhampton Homes due to a sloppy response they gave me in answer to a request regarding fox invasion.
During the course of the month former Wednesfield South Labour Councillor Sue Hall died after an illness. Sue was a Labour Party member for decades-She represented Wednesfield South on Wolverhampton City Council losing her seat in the year 2000; she became the Mayoress of Wolverhampton in 1995-96 when her long standing friend Councillor Margaret Benton was Mayor of the City.
June
I reported that in the whole of the West Midlands, there were only 8,250 new homes built last year (2011). Affordability is not achievable for either people wishing to buy or rent from a private landlord for the average person. Hence the huge waiting list to get into Wolverhampton own social housing stock. I reported that “We need new homes that people can afford to rent!”
• On the 6th June I wrote requesting urgent repairs to a footway that links Griffith Drive to Sandy Crescent on Ashmore Park. It is so well worn that it has lost its tarmac and is a health & safety hazard.
I attended the Armed Forces Day event in Wolverhampton at 12 noon, and the Olympic Torch event later that very same day. The Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club hosted the 'top of the table' crunch battle at their Ashmore Park Home in front of the Sky Sports TV audience- for the first time.
• Sympathy and condolences were offered to City Councillor Minhas family as he died in office. I attended the funeral where there was a massive turn out. The man was well liked and very respected.
Later in June I report that it was sad that the local newspaper did not send a reporter or a photographer to the ‘Ashmore Park Together’ event put together by voluntary Groups on the estate, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Sadly the newspaper did not send staff to cover the Ashmore Park Nursery School event of their Jubilee event either. There was much muttering about the Express and Star from their customers!
• I took matters into my own hands and I wrote direct to the Queen, informing her of all the hard work that had gone into the day. A description of the events held on Ashmore Park to celebrate her historic 60 year Diamond Jubilee, was dispatched.
• On the 29th June in a News up Date – I reported that a “Sewage Leak Closes Library.” The Ashmore Park Library remained closed for a few days. The Library had been hit by sewage leaks most probably linked with the flooding that took place the day before closure. I promised that the City Council would work hard to open the Library as soon as it could, but there has been a lot of damage to public buildings in the City.
Flooding and Water problems continued to plague the Ward as Britain suffered a drenching -
• Broad Lane North - where a Severn Trent water leak submerged the pavement, and undermined a garden wall that collapsed, it was now scheduled for attention on the 21st June. I report that I have been “applying pressure on the Council” for them to impress on Severn Trent that this leak is a major concern for residents and pedestrians a like. I am pleased that there is now a scheduled dates for the repair to take place. I inform residents “that I will monitor the situation.” A new wall and attention to the pavement resulted.
July
• During this month the Red Lion PH applied for a licence extension, which was subsequently granted.
• I arranged for a footpath leading to the Ashmore Park in Russell Close to be attended to, as it was worn and pitted and a danger to walkers especially in the dark.
• On the 9th July I warned of a rogue builder that was leafleting Wolverhampton.
• A Residential Parking Scheme in Lower Prestwood Avenue was out for consultation, and was causing controversy.
• On the 13th July large amounts of water again gathered, following a rainstorm at the Junction of Broad Lane North/Lichfield Road. I requested action to clear the pools.
• On the 16th of July, I also met with Mrs Morris Head Teacher Oak Meadow to speak about issues of concern - including parking in streets surrounding the school. It was a good meeting, and I got a chance to see this newly rebuilt school at first hand.
In this month I again wrote of my concern about the huge housing crisis I had found on being re- elected. Some 13,000 people were waiting on Wolverhampton Housing waiting list. There was a growing local list. With many Wednesfield inhabitants pressing me for help with their requests. Also this month Wednesfield Aces announced an International Match to take place at their track. This was a big event for them and a great opportunity to put Wednesfield back on the map for something good. The Aces provide great facilities and sporting objectives for youngsters in Wednesfield. They take many kids into sport and I wish to help them.
• The parking around the Oak Meadow School was a problem, and following my interventions, and on the 19th July, City Council announces traffic restriction around Oak Meadow School.
The Olympics are now were well underway and the whole Country is enthralled by the spectacle. Wednesfield people are pleased and delighted to see our own Kristian Thomas, win a bronze medal in the gymnastics!
• I informed the community on the 23rd July, that contrary to the rumour and a campaign being waged by some that suggest that Ashmore Park would be losing a Library, that this was not a the case at all! The new Hubs policy if implemented will give much needed investment into Ashmore Park and Wednesfield North.
Councillor Rita Potter and I meet with AXA about toilet provision at Bentley Bridge Shopping City, and I received a letter from Buckingham Palace about the Ashmore Park Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, thanking the people and organisers for making the Jubilee celebrations so successful on Ashmore Park.
August-
Height of summer and still it is raining, everywhere is damp.
• There are some complaints about the lack grass cutting by the Authority which I took up.
Community Hub proposals were in full discussion and there is a lot of heat being generated at this time, in some of the debates. Still a lot of misinformation about the proposals being bandied about. We keep repeating that the Ashmore Park Library is not going to close. At best it will be relocated with the new hub, and at worse staying where it is in a substandard building.
• I reported on the huge debt left by the former Danesmore Park School when it closed in 2008 on my Face Book page
• I received a complaint about a former Garage site at Woodside/Parry Road and the way it has been managed, by the private owner.
• The footway between Sandy Cres & Griffith Drive has now been resurfaced, following my intervention.
• Wednesfield North & South Labour Party had more contact with AXA at Bentley Bridge with regard to Toilet Provision.
• In this month I support residents in Ridge Lane who want police action to deal with a problem Garage Site.
Wednesfield North resident Ken Rock has a great article in the Express and Star about his work as a scriptwriter for some of the UK’s greatest stars. Mary and I as a former Mayor & Mayoress of Wolverhampton, on a very wet day, joined the current Mayor at a memorial service in Wolverhampton for the Victory in Japan service. We were surrounded by proud veterans at this service. We were very proud to be remembering these fallen heroes of Wolverhampton.
• This month I also made a case for the footway defects in Birch Road following a resident’s request.
Bad news this month, when a boat crew on the Essington & Wyrley Canal was pelted by yobs with Dog Pooh. Not the sort of image we want for Wednesfield, and I make an urgent appeal for the public to identify the trouble makers. Further to Councillors pressure the redundant garages behind the shops in Griffith drive is announced to be demolished later in the year. There is much support for this action from residents living nearby.
• During the month I again received complaints about the new speed bumps that had been inserted into Griffith Drive.
• Also Walsall moved closer to siting a football pitch on their part of Coppice Farm, with a consultation taking place about their proposal...
• The Wednesfield Community is rallying around following the attack earlier this month on the Club House of Wednesfield Aces when it was set fire too, and gutted. Following that initial shock the public and the community came together with help and donations. I predicted that Wednesfield Aces would be stronger following this disgraceful attack on a volunteer run organisation. All sorts of activity took place in that month and more than £1,000 was raised in days for repairs
• I donated £40 towards the Ashmore Park YC and an event they were running for young people on the 17th August.
September-
Our Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds held a coffee morning in Wood End Road at the Methodist Chapel. It was very well attended. Councillors Rita Potter and Wednesfield North Labour Party delivered the invitations.
• I received reports of complaints about the number of HGV movements in Peach Road on Wyvern Park. I took action and found that the HGV’s were servicing a Wolverhampton Homes transfer Site. The consultation for this was only partial - hence the complaints.
• National Grid was also causing issues with residents in Wyvern Park with their work on replacing gas pipes. I dealt with a number of cases of complaint.
A stark warning given by the Chief Executive of City Council, when he warned that up to 100,000 people in the City of Wolverhampton would be affected by the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat Government reforms of the Welfare arrangements in 2013! This is a dire warning and one that raised great fears for the areas economic development as well as individual’s welfare. It also stoked a political row as the Conservatives attacked him for making the statement!
• Again following further periods of heavy rain, I requested drains in Lichfield Road to be cleansed.
• I reported that I was dealing with 23 Housing cases and 33 cases relating to Highways, transport and footpaths!
October
Earlier in the year I set up an All Party Wolverhampton - Canada- Friendship Group on the City Council. In October I started to flesh out the ideas and information. The ideals of the Group are surrounded by the need to create links, around increasing trade, and of course jobs and prosperity here in the City.
• On the 1st October on Coppice Farm Estate Wednesfield- the Walsall officials inform me that they have identified the football pitch site, and that they will have it marked out and determined within the month.
• Cllr Rita Potter and I also met with the highways officials on the same day, with regard to the speed cushions on Griffith Drive. It was a useful meeting and the highway officials were very helpful.
• A request made to me to ask for the lighting in the basketball/football court to be re connected on Ashmore Park.
• Community Hubs- A total of 1316 people had participated in meetings with regard to Community Hubs proposals right across the City. This number included 288 who attended LNP meetings, just 501 took part in drop in centers sessions at all the Libraries. 341 attended meetings of the community’s centers and 144 at youth centers. Thirty six people have taken part in meetings with special interest groups. In addition 617 people completed a questionnaire and 510 Unison postcards were submitted.
• On the 26th October the first cold snap of the year forecast this weekend, Wolverhampton City Council’s gritters are on stand-by and ready to go out.
• "Wednesfield Aces announce in October that they have a Community Day and it will take place at the track on Saturday the 10th of November, this is less than 100 days from the fire which gutted their Clubhouse.
• I again post my support for a Community Hub here in Wednesfield North based on Ashmore Park.
• City Council announce exciting proposals for a £5million revamp of Wolverhampton City Centre Planned transportation and public realm improvements are aimed at creating a vibrant, welcoming and accessible city Centre featuring increased pedestrian facilities
• On the 20th Oct Trade unionists march against government cuts in London, Glasgow and Belfast
• Wednesfield gets named as a place where 'fighting dogs' are being trained in our Parks.
The revised parliamentary boundary proposals for the 2015 elections are published. This is bad news for both Wednesfield North & Wednesfield South as we look now to be heading into a Walsall Constituency for Parliamentary representation! The proposals give a reduction of one MP for Wolverhampton and give the City just two constituencies of Wolverhampton East & West.
• Announced that Housing benefit will be reduced from April 13 for some tenants of Wolverhampton Homes and Housing Associations. Pensioners are not affected. This is because new rules means that a size criteria restriction will be applied based upon the number of bedrooms a family needs. Benefit customers could see a weekly reduction of 14% of their current housing benefit, if they are considered to have 1 empty bedroom or 25% if they have two or more empty bedrooms.
• Designated Public Places Order- A statutory consultation is to take place around street drinking. November 1st will be the start date for the consultation.
• Anti-Social Behavior Incidents with street drinking lists Wednesfield North having 79 incidents over a 4 year period. It also lists Wednesfield South as having 180 incidents over the period. Ashmore Park Shopping Parade is one area where the PACT has identified ASB and the Garden of Remembrance is another in the Village.
Housing issues are the biggest problem that I have faced since returning to the Council. I have a number of particularly heart rendering cases I am hoping to progress. But there is not an easy solution to the problem. There is 14,000 waiting on the housing list. That is the size of the population of the town of Bridgnorth. I am pleased that since we took over as a Labour Party in May- The Group has agreed to find scarce financial resources to build new homes. But even with a magic wand, they will not fully deal with the size of the housing expectation that is here in Wolverhampton. Government needs a fully blown programme to invest in new social housing. In the meantime I will continue to do my best.
• 10th Oct the Conservatives are to announce a further £10 billion in cuts to the welfare budget. This will hit the poorest and the old and infirm. What an uncaring bunch we have in Government. I wonder what all those working class people feel like here in Wednesfield who voted for them and their slick leader.
November
I reported on my Face Book page that Most of the money the council gets to provide services comes from Government grants – not from Council Tax.
Since 2011-2012, the Government had cut grants to all councils. Wolverhampton’s income has fallen by over £47 million in that time. To put it another way, the council now has £47 million less to spend on services than it did before. Now the Government is entangled with a bitter feud with the UK’s Police force. It seems to be getting more & more bitter and the Daily Telegraph report that “Ninety-five per cent of serving officers do not feel the Government supports the police,” says Lord Stevens. The statistic comes from a survey of 14,000 serving officers, from constables to chief superintendents.
• Wednesday 7th November is Full Council day with Council due to start at 17.45. There is two items on the agenda relating to Libraries and Community Hubs. I speak on the Ashmore Park Library and the need for the development and investment that Hubs can and will bring to Wednesfield North.
The Public Gallery is packed and I am conscious of the comments being made whilst I am on my feet. Council support the development of a Hub for Wednesfield North which leaves me delighted. I am looking now for a very sizeable investment for Ashmore Park. Plus the Library service is to remain as I said throughout the summer long debate on this issue.
We also turned out once again for the Rememberance Day memorial service at Wednesfield. The Church and the Service after in the Garden of Remembrance was packed yet again! Well done Wednesfield.
• The National Grid and its working arrangements to renew gas infrastructure, is not covering itself in glory on Wyvern Park. I have had reason to complain yet again about the slowness of the work, and the way that they have left access arrangements for their customers. I have contacted the City Council again today to have them pressure the company to fill a hole that has been in place for more than seven days, this hole is impeding pedestrian access to a home, and it’s been like this for far too long!
• News for Broad Lane North residents- The provisional start date for the footway reconstruction works is posted as - being on the 12th December 2012.
What a great response from the people of Wednesfield this morning and the 'Keep Wednesfield Together ' campaign that was launched in Wednesfield High Street. By the conversations that I had and the strong views that people held. Wednesfield just does not want to be pushed into the Walsall West Parliamentary seat that the Government Boundary Commission wants. Our people in Wednesfield were more than interested, and they were very enthusiastic in signing the petition. Thank you Wednesfield you were great today.
• It was reported at the field North PACT that there had been 14 burglaries in Wednesfield North since the last meeting of the Wednesfield PACT. There were 86 overall offences which are down on the number of offences by 16, at the same time last year. Police urged residents to ensure that they secured their property in the run up to Christmas.
Towards the end of the month yet more heavy rain-25th November URGENT PLEASE APPROACH WITH CAUTION-Linthouse Lane is flooded and the Lane needs to be used with great caution. I reported the flooding to Wolverhampton City Council just after 8.00am this morning. Please be careful when using the Lane as rushing through the water is sending ‘bow waves' towards the front doors of the property the flood is affecting. I want to help residents of Wednesfield North form extra Neighbourhood Watch teams. Please take the advice as offered by WV11 at the head of this thread.
• I again make an appeal, following a surge in burglaries. - If you are interested in starting a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for your cul de sac, street, Road or Lane please contact me. I also meet with senior police officers, about crime in Wednesfield.
December.
The City Council announce a new Director of Public Health in the City. The new Director is
Ros Jervis.
• Ofsted published its inspection of Wolverhampton City Council’s Adoption Service, which it found to be a “good and effective adoption agency”.
• I appealed this month following complaints by local people directly to the City Council to investigate the water run off around the bus stop at Peacock Avenue, as a constituent has asked me too. C
Councillor John Edwards Chairman of the West Midlands Fire Authority informs me “So you know WM Fire Service is losing 43% of its Government Grant (£35million) in this six year period. Potential disaster waits". This level of grant loss and the information that Fallings Park Fire Station is being threatened with the loss of a fire pump is very worrying.
We have approached the end of the Boundary Commission Consultation, on moving Wednesfield North & South into the new Parliamentary Constituency of Walsall West. Petitions and individual objections have been lodged. Petitions carrying more than 1,000 objections are recorded. Wednesfield residents do not want to be physically moved by the Boundary Commission into their new constituency and I am proud that they have told the Commission so with force.
• As the year comes to an end, 6.1% of residents in Wednesfield North are on Job Seekers Allowance.
I am pleased that at the end of the year Housing in Wolverhampton for those that rely on public housing has been improved so dramatically with more than £6m spent on refurbishing Council Homes in the Ward by Wolverhampton Homes, and over a thousand homes have received this investment and refurbishment.
• This month I again continued to press AXA owners of Bentley Bridge for toilets.
• Burglaries are continuing to happen as we approach Christmas Day.
I reported that in the whole of the West Midlands, there were only 8,250 new homes built last year (2011). Affordability is not achievable for either people wishing to buy or rent from a private landlord for the average person. Hence the huge waiting list to get into Wolverhampton own social housing stock. I reported that “We need new homes that people can afford to rent!”
• On the 6th June I wrote requesting urgent repairs to a footway that links Griffith Drive to Sandy Crescent on Ashmore Park. It is so well worn that it has lost its tarmac and is a health & safety hazard.
I attended the Armed Forces Day event in Wolverhampton at 12 noon, and the Olympic Torch event later that very same day. The Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club hosted the 'top of the table' crunch battle at their Ashmore Park Home in front of the Sky Sports TV audience- for the first time.
• Sympathy and condolences were offered to City Councillor Minhas family as he died in office. I attended the funeral where there was a massive turn out. The man was well liked and very respected.
Later in June I report that it was sad that the local newspaper did not send a reporter or a photographer to the ‘Ashmore Park Together’ event put together by voluntary Groups on the estate, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Sadly the newspaper did not send staff to cover the Ashmore Park Nursery School event of their Jubilee event either. There was much muttering about the Express and Star from their customers!
• I took matters into my own hands and I wrote direct to the Queen, informing her of all the hard work that had gone into the day. A description of the events held on Ashmore Park to celebrate her historic 60 year Diamond Jubilee, was dispatched.
• On the 29th June in a News up Date – I reported that a “Sewage Leak Closes Library.” The Ashmore Park Library remained closed for a few days. The Library had been hit by sewage leaks most probably linked with the flooding that took place the day before closure. I promised that the City Council would work hard to open the Library as soon as it could, but there has been a lot of damage to public buildings in the City.
Flooding and Water problems continued to plague the Ward as Britain suffered a drenching -
• Broad Lane North - where a Severn Trent water leak submerged the pavement, and undermined a garden wall that collapsed, it was now scheduled for attention on the 21st June. I report that I have been “applying pressure on the Council” for them to impress on Severn Trent that this leak is a major concern for residents and pedestrians a like. I am pleased that there is now a scheduled dates for the repair to take place. I inform residents “that I will monitor the situation.” A new wall and attention to the pavement resulted.
July
• During this month the Red Lion PH applied for a licence extension, which was subsequently granted.
• I arranged for a footpath leading to the Ashmore Park in Russell Close to be attended to, as it was worn and pitted and a danger to walkers especially in the dark.
• On the 9th July I warned of a rogue builder that was leafleting Wolverhampton.
• A Residential Parking Scheme in Lower Prestwood Avenue was out for consultation, and was causing controversy.
• On the 13th July large amounts of water again gathered, following a rainstorm at the Junction of Broad Lane North/Lichfield Road. I requested action to clear the pools.
• On the 16th of July, I also met with Mrs Morris Head Teacher Oak Meadow to speak about issues of concern - including parking in streets surrounding the school. It was a good meeting, and I got a chance to see this newly rebuilt school at first hand.
In this month I again wrote of my concern about the huge housing crisis I had found on being re- elected. Some 13,000 people were waiting on Wolverhampton Housing waiting list. There was a growing local list. With many Wednesfield inhabitants pressing me for help with their requests. Also this month Wednesfield Aces announced an International Match to take place at their track. This was a big event for them and a great opportunity to put Wednesfield back on the map for something good. The Aces provide great facilities and sporting objectives for youngsters in Wednesfield. They take many kids into sport and I wish to help them.
• The parking around the Oak Meadow School was a problem, and following my interventions, and on the 19th July, City Council announces traffic restriction around Oak Meadow School.
The Olympics are now were well underway and the whole Country is enthralled by the spectacle. Wednesfield people are pleased and delighted to see our own Kristian Thomas, win a bronze medal in the gymnastics!
• I informed the community on the 23rd July, that contrary to the rumour and a campaign being waged by some that suggest that Ashmore Park would be losing a Library, that this was not a the case at all! The new Hubs policy if implemented will give much needed investment into Ashmore Park and Wednesfield North.
Councillor Rita Potter and I meet with AXA about toilet provision at Bentley Bridge Shopping City, and I received a letter from Buckingham Palace about the Ashmore Park Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, thanking the people and organisers for making the Jubilee celebrations so successful on Ashmore Park.
August-
Height of summer and still it is raining, everywhere is damp.
• There are some complaints about the lack grass cutting by the Authority which I took up.
Community Hub proposals were in full discussion and there is a lot of heat being generated at this time, in some of the debates. Still a lot of misinformation about the proposals being bandied about. We keep repeating that the Ashmore Park Library is not going to close. At best it will be relocated with the new hub, and at worse staying where it is in a substandard building.
• I reported on the huge debt left by the former Danesmore Park School when it closed in 2008 on my Face Book page
• I received a complaint about a former Garage site at Woodside/Parry Road and the way it has been managed, by the private owner.
• The footway between Sandy Cres & Griffith Drive has now been resurfaced, following my intervention.
• Wednesfield North & South Labour Party had more contact with AXA at Bentley Bridge with regard to Toilet Provision.
• In this month I support residents in Ridge Lane who want police action to deal with a problem Garage Site.
Wednesfield North resident Ken Rock has a great article in the Express and Star about his work as a scriptwriter for some of the UK’s greatest stars. Mary and I as a former Mayor & Mayoress of Wolverhampton, on a very wet day, joined the current Mayor at a memorial service in Wolverhampton for the Victory in Japan service. We were surrounded by proud veterans at this service. We were very proud to be remembering these fallen heroes of Wolverhampton.
• This month I also made a case for the footway defects in Birch Road following a resident’s request.
Bad news this month, when a boat crew on the Essington & Wyrley Canal was pelted by yobs with Dog Pooh. Not the sort of image we want for Wednesfield, and I make an urgent appeal for the public to identify the trouble makers. Further to Councillors pressure the redundant garages behind the shops in Griffith drive is announced to be demolished later in the year. There is much support for this action from residents living nearby.
• During the month I again received complaints about the new speed bumps that had been inserted into Griffith Drive.
• Also Walsall moved closer to siting a football pitch on their part of Coppice Farm, with a consultation taking place about their proposal...
• The Wednesfield Community is rallying around following the attack earlier this month on the Club House of Wednesfield Aces when it was set fire too, and gutted. Following that initial shock the public and the community came together with help and donations. I predicted that Wednesfield Aces would be stronger following this disgraceful attack on a volunteer run organisation. All sorts of activity took place in that month and more than £1,000 was raised in days for repairs
• I donated £40 towards the Ashmore Park YC and an event they were running for young people on the 17th August.
September-
Our Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds held a coffee morning in Wood End Road at the Methodist Chapel. It was very well attended. Councillors Rita Potter and Wednesfield North Labour Party delivered the invitations.
• I received reports of complaints about the number of HGV movements in Peach Road on Wyvern Park. I took action and found that the HGV’s were servicing a Wolverhampton Homes transfer Site. The consultation for this was only partial - hence the complaints.
• National Grid was also causing issues with residents in Wyvern Park with their work on replacing gas pipes. I dealt with a number of cases of complaint.
A stark warning given by the Chief Executive of City Council, when he warned that up to 100,000 people in the City of Wolverhampton would be affected by the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat Government reforms of the Welfare arrangements in 2013! This is a dire warning and one that raised great fears for the areas economic development as well as individual’s welfare. It also stoked a political row as the Conservatives attacked him for making the statement!
• Again following further periods of heavy rain, I requested drains in Lichfield Road to be cleansed.
• I reported that I was dealing with 23 Housing cases and 33 cases relating to Highways, transport and footpaths!
October
Earlier in the year I set up an All Party Wolverhampton - Canada- Friendship Group on the City Council. In October I started to flesh out the ideas and information. The ideals of the Group are surrounded by the need to create links, around increasing trade, and of course jobs and prosperity here in the City.
• On the 1st October on Coppice Farm Estate Wednesfield- the Walsall officials inform me that they have identified the football pitch site, and that they will have it marked out and determined within the month.
• Cllr Rita Potter and I also met with the highways officials on the same day, with regard to the speed cushions on Griffith Drive. It was a useful meeting and the highway officials were very helpful.
• A request made to me to ask for the lighting in the basketball/football court to be re connected on Ashmore Park.
• Community Hubs- A total of 1316 people had participated in meetings with regard to Community Hubs proposals right across the City. This number included 288 who attended LNP meetings, just 501 took part in drop in centers sessions at all the Libraries. 341 attended meetings of the community’s centers and 144 at youth centers. Thirty six people have taken part in meetings with special interest groups. In addition 617 people completed a questionnaire and 510 Unison postcards were submitted.
• On the 26th October the first cold snap of the year forecast this weekend, Wolverhampton City Council’s gritters are on stand-by and ready to go out.
• "Wednesfield Aces announce in October that they have a Community Day and it will take place at the track on Saturday the 10th of November, this is less than 100 days from the fire which gutted their Clubhouse.
• I again post my support for a Community Hub here in Wednesfield North based on Ashmore Park.
• City Council announce exciting proposals for a £5million revamp of Wolverhampton City Centre Planned transportation and public realm improvements are aimed at creating a vibrant, welcoming and accessible city Centre featuring increased pedestrian facilities
• On the 20th Oct Trade unionists march against government cuts in London, Glasgow and Belfast
• Wednesfield gets named as a place where 'fighting dogs' are being trained in our Parks.
The revised parliamentary boundary proposals for the 2015 elections are published. This is bad news for both Wednesfield North & Wednesfield South as we look now to be heading into a Walsall Constituency for Parliamentary representation! The proposals give a reduction of one MP for Wolverhampton and give the City just two constituencies of Wolverhampton East & West.
• Announced that Housing benefit will be reduced from April 13 for some tenants of Wolverhampton Homes and Housing Associations. Pensioners are not affected. This is because new rules means that a size criteria restriction will be applied based upon the number of bedrooms a family needs. Benefit customers could see a weekly reduction of 14% of their current housing benefit, if they are considered to have 1 empty bedroom or 25% if they have two or more empty bedrooms.
• Designated Public Places Order- A statutory consultation is to take place around street drinking. November 1st will be the start date for the consultation.
• Anti-Social Behavior Incidents with street drinking lists Wednesfield North having 79 incidents over a 4 year period. It also lists Wednesfield South as having 180 incidents over the period. Ashmore Park Shopping Parade is one area where the PACT has identified ASB and the Garden of Remembrance is another in the Village.
Housing issues are the biggest problem that I have faced since returning to the Council. I have a number of particularly heart rendering cases I am hoping to progress. But there is not an easy solution to the problem. There is 14,000 waiting on the housing list. That is the size of the population of the town of Bridgnorth. I am pleased that since we took over as a Labour Party in May- The Group has agreed to find scarce financial resources to build new homes. But even with a magic wand, they will not fully deal with the size of the housing expectation that is here in Wolverhampton. Government needs a fully blown programme to invest in new social housing. In the meantime I will continue to do my best.
• 10th Oct the Conservatives are to announce a further £10 billion in cuts to the welfare budget. This will hit the poorest and the old and infirm. What an uncaring bunch we have in Government. I wonder what all those working class people feel like here in Wednesfield who voted for them and their slick leader.
November
I reported on my Face Book page that Most of the money the council gets to provide services comes from Government grants – not from Council Tax.
Since 2011-2012, the Government had cut grants to all councils. Wolverhampton’s income has fallen by over £47 million in that time. To put it another way, the council now has £47 million less to spend on services than it did before. Now the Government is entangled with a bitter feud with the UK’s Police force. It seems to be getting more & more bitter and the Daily Telegraph report that “Ninety-five per cent of serving officers do not feel the Government supports the police,” says Lord Stevens. The statistic comes from a survey of 14,000 serving officers, from constables to chief superintendents.
• Wednesday 7th November is Full Council day with Council due to start at 17.45. There is two items on the agenda relating to Libraries and Community Hubs. I speak on the Ashmore Park Library and the need for the development and investment that Hubs can and will bring to Wednesfield North.
The Public Gallery is packed and I am conscious of the comments being made whilst I am on my feet. Council support the development of a Hub for Wednesfield North which leaves me delighted. I am looking now for a very sizeable investment for Ashmore Park. Plus the Library service is to remain as I said throughout the summer long debate on this issue.
We also turned out once again for the Rememberance Day memorial service at Wednesfield. The Church and the Service after in the Garden of Remembrance was packed yet again! Well done Wednesfield.
• The National Grid and its working arrangements to renew gas infrastructure, is not covering itself in glory on Wyvern Park. I have had reason to complain yet again about the slowness of the work, and the way that they have left access arrangements for their customers. I have contacted the City Council again today to have them pressure the company to fill a hole that has been in place for more than seven days, this hole is impeding pedestrian access to a home, and it’s been like this for far too long!
• News for Broad Lane North residents- The provisional start date for the footway reconstruction works is posted as - being on the 12th December 2012.
What a great response from the people of Wednesfield this morning and the 'Keep Wednesfield Together ' campaign that was launched in Wednesfield High Street. By the conversations that I had and the strong views that people held. Wednesfield just does not want to be pushed into the Walsall West Parliamentary seat that the Government Boundary Commission wants. Our people in Wednesfield were more than interested, and they were very enthusiastic in signing the petition. Thank you Wednesfield you were great today.
• It was reported at the field North PACT that there had been 14 burglaries in Wednesfield North since the last meeting of the Wednesfield PACT. There were 86 overall offences which are down on the number of offences by 16, at the same time last year. Police urged residents to ensure that they secured their property in the run up to Christmas.
Towards the end of the month yet more heavy rain-25th November URGENT PLEASE APPROACH WITH CAUTION-Linthouse Lane is flooded and the Lane needs to be used with great caution. I reported the flooding to Wolverhampton City Council just after 8.00am this morning. Please be careful when using the Lane as rushing through the water is sending ‘bow waves' towards the front doors of the property the flood is affecting. I want to help residents of Wednesfield North form extra Neighbourhood Watch teams. Please take the advice as offered by WV11 at the head of this thread.
• I again make an appeal, following a surge in burglaries. - If you are interested in starting a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for your cul de sac, street, Road or Lane please contact me. I also meet with senior police officers, about crime in Wednesfield.
December.
The City Council announce a new Director of Public Health in the City. The new Director is
Ros Jervis.
• Ofsted published its inspection of Wolverhampton City Council’s Adoption Service, which it found to be a “good and effective adoption agency”.
• I appealed this month following complaints by local people directly to the City Council to investigate the water run off around the bus stop at Peacock Avenue, as a constituent has asked me too. C
Councillor John Edwards Chairman of the West Midlands Fire Authority informs me “So you know WM Fire Service is losing 43% of its Government Grant (£35million) in this six year period. Potential disaster waits". This level of grant loss and the information that Fallings Park Fire Station is being threatened with the loss of a fire pump is very worrying.
We have approached the end of the Boundary Commission Consultation, on moving Wednesfield North & South into the new Parliamentary Constituency of Walsall West. Petitions and individual objections have been lodged. Petitions carrying more than 1,000 objections are recorded. Wednesfield residents do not want to be physically moved by the Boundary Commission into their new constituency and I am proud that they have told the Commission so with force.
• As the year comes to an end, 6.1% of residents in Wednesfield North are on Job Seekers Allowance.
I am pleased that at the end of the year Housing in Wolverhampton for those that rely on public housing has been improved so dramatically with more than £6m spent on refurbishing Council Homes in the Ward by Wolverhampton Homes, and over a thousand homes have received this investment and refurbishment.
• This month I again continued to press AXA owners of Bentley Bridge for toilets.
• Burglaries are continuing to happen as we approach Christmas Day.
Author: Phil Bateman
Article Date: 1st January 2013