APriL 2015 issue no.

41

Taylor Sheldon

The
Fashion
of
Coachella

Food Show

LoCAL
joBS

page 18

Page 4

Free Tickets to
BBC Good

Catherine Lavelle

and BBC

Garden Show

Castle Vale Concords United

Page 6

View from the

Classroom
Page 16

Page 18
Letters

ADVERTISEMENT

Two teams, shoulder to shoulder.

In the green shirts, Castle Vale Concords. In the blue, Concords Utd.
They played against each other in the final of the Jim Summerfield Cup
last Sunday. Castle Vale Concords won a well fought contest 1-0, in front
of a crowd of around 300 people who enjoyed the game and the afternoon sunshine at Sutton Coldfield Towns ground.

ADVERTISEMENT

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VoTe
For

Mike

SHArPe

Thursday 7th May

Turn to page 15

Ann Holtom
ADVERTISEMENT

Your local choice

on May 7

DUMPED
Local fury as Jag pulls plug
on Manpower contracts
CoMMenT

Manpower office staff

have emptied filing cabinets and packed away furniture from their Castle
Vale base.

Their training rooms in Spitfire House

have a deserted look about them.
The staff left the building last week,
carrying files, a portable air-conditioner and assorted office paraphernalia.
That looks like the end of Manpower
for 2015. No more recruitment for
JLR. One of the office staff spoke
about a return in 2016. Nothing definite.

Half a mile away, workers had been

given letters telling them that their
contracts would soon be ending.
We have been let down. Thats how
the Manpower workers at the Jaguar
factory in Castle Vale feel.
Hundreds of them have been handed
letters telling them that their contracts will end before they can be
given a full time job.
Manpower have declined to comment, saying that it is an issue for
Jaguar. JLR have not responded to
requests for a comment or clarification.
This decision in a car factory that
appeared to be doing well and has
enjoyed plenty of recent investment
is a sharp reminder of the lack of job
security for contract workers.

.....just finished a night shift and

received my letter after being promised at least 12 months work 5
months in told Ive got less than 5
weeks left. Absolute joke. Gave up
a full time job to come and work for
Jaguar on the promise that I would
have minimum 12 months and Im
not even one of the worst off.There
are people there who are going to
miss out on a contract by a couple
of weeks.
Manpower worker at JLR
....how on earth are these workers
able to plan for the future? How
convenient workers contracts to
end just before they are due a
permanent contract.
Shame on you JLR.
Manpower worker at JLR
.... its a ploy to get all Manpower
on the 5 year contract .None will
ever get taken on.
They want a very small full time
work force ,and to hire and fire the
rest at will ..
Manpower worker at JLR

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Council election

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Remember
the
1970s..
..when the Russians were
spying on Castle Vale?

remember those people

who used to claim they
had seen a UFo hovering
above Castle Vale?

on Farnborough Fields.
The architects team has also included
historical information from World War

And we all thought they were daft.

Or that the drunken story-tellers had
spent too long in the Artful Dodger or
the Trade Winds?
Well, it turns out after all that someone was spying on the Vale from
above.
While we were happily listening to
Abba, Leo Sayer and Rod Stewart.
And watching Aston Villa beat Everton
in the League Cup final. After TWO
replays.
Now, a map of Castle Vale has been
revealed that was produced by a
Russian surveillance team in 1977.
It details the water treatment works,
the local farms, roads and river - all in
the Russian alphabet.
The Centre Eight tower blocks are
clear. And the motorways, factory
and railway lines.
The Russian surveillance map of
Castle Vale has been included in a list
of documents put before the City
planning committee.
Its part of a set of detailed proposals
to build a new Greenwood Academy

On the
right road
Ofsted message to
Kingsbury School

Kingsbury Schools first

ofsted report since the
appointment
of
Mark
rhatigan as headteacher
has been published this
month.

Inspectors suggest that significant

improvements have been made in
recent weeks.
The news is a boost to the school as it
seeks to assure parents of primary
school children that they can offer a
good education.
Mr Rhatigan has held meetings with
parents, giving them the opportunity
to see the school in action.

Asbestos removal
gives Chivenor 11week summer hols

Chivenor School in Castle

Vale will be closed for
eleven weeks over the
summer to allow for major
refurbishment
and
asbestos removal from the
ceilings.
The school will close three weeks early
this term, on Friday 26th June, and will

Tyburn Mail

page 2

II, detailing Castle Vales vulnerability

as a bombing target for the German
Luftwaffe during the 1940s.
The historical analysis is just one of
58 documents put before the planning committee this month, designed
to show that the architect team has
done all its research, and that the site
is now safe from unexploded bombs
and a nuclear missile threat.
Apparently there is no evidence of
any unexploded bombs within a mile
of the proposed site for Greenwood.
That will come as a relief to teachers,
pupils and builders.
The plans are on the Birmingham
Council planning website.
Comments, and objections to the
plans should be made in writing

A Russian view of Castle Vale: 1977

Kingsbury headteacher Mark

Rhatigan: praised by Ofsted for the
changes he has brought to the school
since his appointment in February.
Ofsted will visit again later this term.

He says that an Ofsted team will visit

the school again in the summer term.
By that time, says Mark Rhatigan, I
am confident that the school will be
making the progress that it should
towards the removal of special measures.
The report follows a two-day visit by
inspectors in March, just four weeks
after Mr Rhatigan had taken up his
appointment.
..in the very short time since your
appointment, the actions taken by you
not re-open until Monday 14th
September.
Headteacher Darren Mann says that
asbestos will be removed from the
whole school area. New boilers, a new
fire alarm system and a new lighting
system will also be installed.
The school has been given 200k by
Birmingham Council and 500k by
government to pay for the work.
Darren Mann says: Although there are
short-term negative impacts caused by
the closure, in the longer term, this
means that improvements that we
have planned for the school buildings
can be done locally because we will
not have to worry about the dangers
of asbestos.

and your senior leaders are showing

early promise of the much more rapid
impact required, says the report.
All the teachers spoken to during the
inspection were very positive about
the changes you have made in recent
weeks.
They cited much higher expectations
of students behaviour, of planning for
lessons and of the level of challenge
presented to students, alongside much
greater clarity about how they would
be held to account for students
progress and the quality of teaching.
Teachers feel they are being supported
as well as challenged to improve
teaching.
But, says the report, at this early
point these new ways have not had a
substantial impact on the quality of
teaching overall.
It begs the question as to why an
Ofsted team decided to visit the school
so soon after the appointment of a
new headteacher, if they agree that
there had not, in the space of a
month, been enough time for his radical measures to take effect.
The school has sent a letter to parents
informing them of the arrangements.
Parents attended an information
evening about the refurbishment and
closure last Thursday, 23rd April at the
school.
According to UKATA, national experts
on the dangers of asbestos:
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it
is disturbed and dust particles become
airborne and subsequently inhaled.
It is prevalent in many buildings built
prior to the late nineties and many
people come into contact with it without realising what damage they might
be doing to their health until it is too
late.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Tyburn Mail

page 3

letters and emails to

Voices of
Tyburn Mail spring

WriTe To: tyburnmail@yahoo.co.uk or by post to: The editor, Tyburn

Mail, Lower Ground Floor, Topcliffe House, B35 6BT

Vale has become a

huge toilet for dogs
Tyburn Mail does not publish anonymous letters, but we
will withold your name and address if you request it.

Name, shame and fine the foulers

Dear editor and readers,

i would like to congratulate the dog owners of

Castle Vale.

They have managed to turn

the Vale into the biggest dog
toilet in Birmingham.

They come from their flats, drives, cul

de sacs. They walk along main roads
like
Yatesbury,
Park
Lane,
Farnborough,
Baginton,
Manby,
Turnhouse and Tangmere, let their
dogs foul the grass verges and walk off
with their bags of sand and dirt making

Wheelie bin
problem for
disabled

Dear Sir,
Having had my wheelie bins delivered
out the front of my property, I kindly
asked the gentleman if he could put
them round the back as Im disabled
and my collection is done round the
back.
He said he would go and ask someone
but did not come back, having got the
bins in to my back garden where I
have no room for them.
The next morning I phoned the coun-

Daffodils on
Spitfire Island

out they have cleaned up after the

dogs.
They dont give a damn as long as its
not outside their homes. Every verge
on the Vale has dog waste on it, even
Centre Park and outside shops.
Its about time Birmingham Council
took these people to task and enforced
the 1,000 fines they warn dog owners
about, and name and shame them in
this paper.
Its time to give the kids a clean and
healthy Vale to live on.

Name and address supplied

cil about this matter and was amazed

to hear them tell me to make room as
my old bins will not be collected until
September.
If I put my old bins out in the street for
collection now I would have to pay to
have them removed.
Also if I send the wheelie bins back
then all my collections will stop and I
will have to take them to the local tip
myself.
Why am I paying council tax? Will they
reduce my payments? I dont think so.
Does any one else have this problem
with their bins?

From a concerned tax payer.

details supplied

Dear editor,
It is lovely to look outside my bedroom
and living room windows to see daffodils, jonquils and many more assorted types of daffodils nodding their
heads in the breeze, first thing of a
morning.
It brings a smile to my face just looking at them. I hope it brightens up
other people living in the Croft and
those that cross the island.

I bought these bulbs last year from B

& Q who let me have a large bag for
2.00 as it was split. I had C.V.C.H.A.
get their gardeners to plant them
Hope that you can come and have a
look at the traffic island that now looks
a live with flowers....
Hazel Carroll,
Filton Croft, Castle Vale

Dear Editor,
i wanted to thank the Tyburn Mail
for the work the paper has done
over the last few weeks to both
cover and promote the hustings in
erdington.
I think the effort the Tyburn Mail has
gone to has made a huge difference in
ensuring that the hustings have been
well attended and successful debates

Yours sincerely
Cllr robert Alden
Erdington Ward

Hustings thanks

giving residents a chance to engage

with all the candidates.
Thanks must also go to the three
hosts; Switch Radio, YMCA and the
Baptist Church as well as the Tyburn
Mail for ensuring residents had theirchance to quiz us all, as well as the
other candidates for agreeing to participate.

opinions expressed on the letters pages are published in the interests of free
speech. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Tyburn Mail.

If you have a garden

Theres always work to do,
Beds to hoe, grass to mow
Things to plant anew;
Shrubs and bushes to be pruned,
Dead wood to cut away,
Fresh young shoots to tie and train
And apple trees to spray

Plots to dig and leaves to sweep

And compost heap to make,
Tubs and benches to be painted,
Leaning trees to be staked
Edges of lawns to be trimmed
A broken fence to mend,
The shed to be put in order
And the rockery to tend;
Ragged hedges to be clipped,
The kitchen patch to weed,
Pots and boxes to be sorted
Ready for the seed,
Borders to be planted out
With next years show in view,
In a garden you can always
Find a job to do.
by Tom walker
Castle Vale gardner

Thanks from
the Royal
Artillery
Association

Dear editor,
The Birmingham royal Artillery
Association would like to thank
Sainsburys in Castle Vale for
allowing them to make a collection
on Saturday 21st March 2015.
The amount raised was 474.52
Thank you once again
Gerry Brien
Chairman

Write by email to:

tyburnmail
@yahoo.co.uk

Comments from
Tyburn Mails
online news site
Tyburn Mail

Two faast food outlets, Dixy

Chicken and Chicks restaurant will soon open in Castle
Vale...

People moaning about another

takeaway Nobody is forcing you
to use this outlet!! I for 1 am looking forward to this opening!
Chippy is shut for most the day
and the other 2 are also only open
early evening!!! anonymous

Should never have been allowed

to open, that makes 4 takeaways
on the high street out of 7 shops
all next to a primary school.
JDavies

Chivenor School is closing for

11 weeks over the summer to
allow asbestos to be removed

..for years Chivenor has been

badly patched up really needs
pulling down and rebuilt but government stopped that happening.
I really feel for parents that work
and will have child care issues but
this work really needs to be done
Anonymous
Although I appreciate that the
works are essential, however, how
are working parents going to
manage to cover 11 weeks holiday? I can only hope that the
school has worked with the other
3 primary schools on the estate to
support parents with alternative
provision.
Concerned parent

An inconvenience yes, but not

exactly the heads fault that the
building never had all the

KAYS HiSTorY

page 4

asbestos removed, nor that BCC

wouldnt replace the boilers (pretty sure theyre the originals from
when it was first built). I only
hope they provide plenty of work
books to see the children through
the 11 weeks so the school work
doesnt suffer come September.
Why don't they put temporary
class rooms up? Pegasus and the
comp did it in the past.
Louise read (facebook)

Working parents, paying out more

money for clubs and that's if kick
start will start early... 6 weeks is
bad enough now it's 11 that's just
a JOKE. And more to the point
what about our kids education!!
Natasha Delaney (facebook)

I knew we were having an

extended summer holiday but didn't realise it was almost twice as
long! Leanne Millar (facebook)
I did ask the school about 2
weeks ago and they said 8 weeks
max. Will they be paying our
wages or for child care for 11
weeks!!!!!
Natalie wood (facebook)

JLr terminates Manpower

contracts

That's always been the way with

agency work, poor bxxxers
Steve whale

Manpower staff will have to work

5 years before being offered permanent contract. Never going to
happen. How can anyone plan for
the future? Shame on you JLR.
DupedbyJLr

A monthly series of ancient facts by local history

enthusiast Kay Hunter who lectures on his
subject in Birmingham and West Bromwich.
Kay also broadcasts on 107.5 Switch radio.

Trafalgar
Surgeon

Sir william Beatty M. D.

F. r. S. (1773 1842)
senior
surgeon
on
board H. M. S. Victory
who famously nursed
the mortally wounded
Lord Nelson ( 1758
1805) through his final
agony.
Beatty, with his two assistants treated the continu-

ous flow of wounded, in the cramped,

dimly lit, cockpit of H. M. S. Victory,
performing amputations, on limbs
shattered by grapeshot, men impaled
on oak splinters, broken bones and
stemming the blood flow of severed
arteries.
He performed eleven amputations,
without anaesthetic from
which only two men subsequently died.
William Beatty eventually
became surgeon, physician
and apothecary, to the
channel fleet and the
Greenwich Hospital.
Beatty was knighted for
his services to the nation
in 1838.

Kay is now running a monthly local history group at

Castle Vale Library in Spitfire House.
The group meets each month, starting on 24th March
from 2-4pm.entry is free. All welcome.

Top: William Beattys surgical and

amputation instruments
Above: Nelsons statue, next to
Selfridges and St Martins Church

Tyburn
TyburnMail
Mail page
page5 5

Summer opening
hours for Recycling
Centres

Birminghams three main Household

Recycling Centres (HRCs) are open
from 8am to 8pm every day of the week
during the summer season.
They are at: Lifford Lane, Kings
Norton, B30 3JJ, Holford Drive, Perry
Barr, B42 2TU and James Road, Tyseley,
B11 2BA
For the same summer season (April to
October) the other two HRCs will be
open 8am until 8pm on weekdays and
at weekends from 8am until 4.30pm.
They are: Tameside Drive, Castle
Bromwich, B35 7AG and Norris Way,
Sutton Coldfield, B75 7BB
Residents taking their unwanted items
and waste to any of the five HRCs are
advised to do so during the normally
quieter times, from Tuesday to
Thursday before 10am and after 3pm
weekdays

Pensioner admits
seven-year pension
credit fraud

A Castle Vale pensioner has been

given a 12-month conditional discharge
after admitting earning some money
while receiving pension credit.
The 71 year-old pleaded guilty at
Birmingham magistrates court to a
charge under the Social Security
Administration Act.
The court heard that she dishonestly
failed to notify the Department of Work
and Pensions of a change in circumstances over a seven year period
between 2007 and 2014 that would
affect her entitlement to pension credit,
namely that she was in receipt of earnings. She also admitted making a false
statement to the DWP.
The court imposed a 100 fine.

Coachella

Desert festival
sets scene for
summer trends
by

Taylor
Sheldon

Tyburn Mails
fashion
reporter

TYBURN MAILSG
AWARD WINNINRTER
FASHION REPO

Tyburn Mail

page 6

to Summer.
High-waisted denim shorts, classic
crotchet, kimonos... However, this
year I managed to spot some celebrities sporting original Spring styles,
meaning that for at least one year we
can escape from the clich florals.
Adding a Western feel to your bag or
jackets with a flow of black and brown
fringe is a huge SS15 trend.
Open shoulder is a huge hit this season too, particularly when styled on
gypsy crop tops, as worn by Kendall
Jenner recently, which would be great
to pair with the comeback of the A-line
denim skirt.
Also, get away from jelly shoes this
year and go for a pair of gladiator sandals which are slowly creeping their
way into the high-street (just keep in
mind the risk of a striped tan).
Then, one trend which managed to
transition from Winter to Spring is
white jeans.
Because, living in England, it's rare
that we get a real Summers day, so
pairing these with some sandals, a
crop top and thin kimono would be
ideal for days when there's a bit of a
breeze but you still want that Summer
vibe.

Coachella: one of the

worlds most prestigious,
music and art festivals.

Across the Californian ground, you

will find huge art sculptures, stages
with live performances from top
name celebrities (this year was privileged with appearances from Drake,
Florence and the Machine, ACDC and
more) and then anyone and everyone with an amazing sense of style.
Everyone goes crazy for Coachella
fashion, because it gives us something to get excited about building up

THE DROME CAFE AND FISH BAR

1230 Kingsbury Road, B35 6AE 0121 351 2543

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Tyburn Mail

page 7

Tyburn Mail

page 8

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Tyburn Mail

page 9

Jobs joy for

most of city

Tyburn Mail

page 10

The dark blue areas show high unemployment. This map has lightened up
considerably in recent months

More people are finding jobs

across the whole country, according to latest figures.
But its been another disappointing month for Tyburn.
In contrast to most other areas of
Birmingham, there has been a
slight increase in unemployment
in Tyburn.

It is one of five of Birminghams 40 wards to suffer a rise in the number of people without a job.
A total of 844 people are out of work in the
Tyburn thats four more than last month.
320 people in Tyburn have been jobless for a
year or more (no change)
210 young people are out of work (five more
than last month)
The UK has 2.4% of its population on the
jobless list
West Midlands has 3.0%
Birmingham has 6.1%
All ten districts in Birmingham saw the jobless

numbers fall last month.

The district with the highest unemployment is
Ladywood: 14.6%
The lowest is Sutton Coldfield: 1.3%
Erdington is 5.5%, with 3,332 of its population out of work.

Back in business: The chart shows a rise in the number of people getting jobs.
Birmingham (dark blue) trails behind the country, but has seen a big rise in recent
months,almost back up to the levels reached before the recession started in 2008

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Tyburn Mail page 11

Castle Vale
Community
Housing
Association

General Enquiries: 0121 748 8100

Repairs: 748 8101 (24 hours)
email: info@cvcha.org.uk
website: www.cvcha.org.uk
Opening hours:

Mon-Wed 9-5pm Thurs 9-7pm Fri 9-4pm.

Customer
Satisfaction
Surveys

CASTLE VALE COMMUNITY HOUSING ASSOCIATION, 11 HIGH STREET, CASTLE VALE, BIRMINGHAM B35 7PR

Most of our customers will

know that CVCHA send out regular surveys about our work. We
use the information you give us
to report to our Board and to our
staff.

Survey information is used to help us to

manage our contracts and improve performance. It is also a key way for CVCHA
to compare our performance against
other Housing Associations.

So what have we
changed?

Questions: We have reduced the

number of questions across all our surveys and made them shorter.
Ratings: Instead of just asking you if
you are satisfied or dissatisfied, we have
added a neither option to our ratings systems for each question.
Comments: We have added space on
all our survey forms for your comments
and suggestions on how we can improve
our services.
Consent: We will ask you for your
consent to contact you about your survey
answers so if you are unhappy and
want us to contact you, you need to let us
know by ticking a box on the survey form.
Contact Methods: We will continue
to use postal surveys, but we will also use
email, telephone and text surveys. We
have made the surveys shorter and simpler to enable us to use more ways to
contact you.
Prize Draws: We have always run
prize draws for some surveys. We have
changed these to a monthly draw. Each
month, we will draw 3 completed surveys
and those customers will win a 25
voucher. We will publish the draw details
each month in the Tyburn Mail.
Information: We have added information to every survey letter to tell you
about how we use the data collected, and
to confirm that CVCHA remove all personal data before use.
If you have any questions about
Customer Satisfaction Data, please
contact Zoe Hopkins, Customer
Service Manager on 0121 748 8100.
You can see a selection of our
Performance Information each
month in the Tyburn Mail.

Tyburn Mail page 12

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

NEWS FROM CASTLE VALE COMMUNITY HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Financial Year
2014 -2015
ASSET MANAGEMENT UPDATE

The Asset Management team at CVCHA have had

a busy and productive year with involvement in
ongoing contract management as well as procurement and forward planning.

During this financial year

we have completed:

7,287 Day to Day repairs

113 Voids
68 Aids and Adaption projects including
20 Bathroom conversions to Wet Rooms.

Carried out repairs and improvements related to Fire

Risk Assessments for all communal areas on the
estate plus non residential buildings.
Completed 100% of Gas Servicing/Landlords Gas
Safety Records.
Through our Major Works programme:

204 Kitchens have been renewed

353 Boilers have been replaced and upgraded to
the more efficient Vaillant Boilers.
Carried out a pilot of LED lighting improvement to
a block communal area.
Installed LED lighting upgrades to communal areas
of Phoenix Court.

Procurement

Procured a new Repairs and Voids Contract with G. Purchase

for the next 5 years via a competitive tender process evaluating
both cost and quality of service.
We will be appointing contractors during May 2015 following formal tenders being invited to carry out External
Decoration/Cleaning and Internal Decoration to Communal Areas
in blocks and non domestic premises owned and managed by
CVCHA. This contract will deliver the decorations cycle over the
next five years.
We will be appointing contractors during May 2015 following formal tenders being invited to carry out carpet replacement to communal areas over the next 3 years.

Projects to be Procured
during 2015-2016

Appoint a contractor via competitive tender to carry out electrical inspections on communal areas and domestic properties.
Appoint a contractor via competitive tender for the installation of
LED lighting to communal areas of all CVCHA managed High
and Low rise blocks
Assessment of contract requirements with regard to the upgrading of Door entry systems.

DIGITAL

An Introduction to
Are you confused about computers? Interested in
the internet? Passionate about Photography? Or
just want to learn?
To Find out more come along to our brand new
group and learn new skills, brush up on old ones,
share thoughts and ideas, improve your wellbeing,
meet new friendly people and most importantly have
fun!
We will meet every Monday from 2pm-4pm @ The
Sanctuary
No Tablet or Camera, no problem we have some
available for free loan!
For more information contact Becki on
0121 748 8134

Tyburn Mail page 13

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

NEWS FROM CASTLE VALE COMMUNITY HOUSING ASSOCIATION

ARE YOU A CVCHA TENANT?

Its nearly time to nominate yourself to get on Board...

The CVCHA Tenant election process for 2015 has started! If you are a CVCHA tenant, you can
nominate yourself to become a Board Member on our Operational Board.
We have 6 places reserved just for tenants and 2 of these places are up for grabs this year.
Full information on the nomination process will be in the next edition of Tyburn Mail.
Judith Izenstain

Judith has been a resident of Castle Vale

since 2004 and is secretary to the Cadbury
Drive Area Resident Group. Judith is also
involved with the local community and is a volunteer in her spare time at the John Taylor
Hospice. During her working career Judith
served as a PA to the Housing Manager at
Birmingham City Council and has also worked
in administration for the Fire Service.
Judith has been a Board Member since 2009.

Edina Gurnhill

Edina has been a tenant on the Castle Vale

estate for over 30 years and witnessed its
deterioration and subsequent rise, through
major regeneration, in the nineties and early
part of this decade.

Edina has been a Board member since 2010.

Sue Spicer

Sue has been a resident of Castle Vale for over 47

years. Sue was previously a member of the
Community Action Team serving as Vice Chair for a
period and served as Chair of CVCHA. Previously
employed as a Customer Services Manager, her
spare time is involved in a number of voluntary
organisations, most notably Radio Lollipop at
Birmingham Childrens Hospital where she has been
a volunteer for 26 years. Sue is also a resident
member of the Neighbourhood Partnership Board.
Sue also sits on the Vale Education Partnership.

Wendy Walsh

Wendy is a lifelong resident of Castle Vale

who played a key role throughout the regeneration. Wendy volunteers her spare time
at East Birmingham PHAB and is part of
other local groups in Castle Vale including
being a member of the Neighbourhood
Partnership Board.
Wendy rejoined the Operational Board in
2013.

Claudette Griffiths

Claudette moved onto the estate as a young child,

with her family, in 1978. Even when she lived off the
estate she was a frequent visitor, she then moved back
on Castle Vale in 1995. Recently, she has become
involved with: Unvale The Happy Snappers, a local
photography group through which she held her first
exhibition, she had positive feedback. She is a member
of: Knits and Pieces, she knits theme displays some
of which they sell, all profits going to charity very near
to the estate, geographically.
Claudette has been a Board Member since
September 2014.

Mariama Diallo

Mariama has been a resident of Castle

Vale since 2012. She is a midwifery student
and volunteers at a Housing Association in
Perry Common as a Receptionist and
Administrative Assistant.
Mariama has been a Board Member since
September 2014.

Keep an eye out in next edition of Tyburn Mail for

more information.
If you have any questions, you can email Hannah
Pryce at hannahp@cvcha.org.uk or call 748 8121

Tyburn Mail

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

page 14

@ The Sanctuary 0121 748 8111

AINT NO
SUNSHINE?
Do you currently feel
like life is really hard
work?
Has something happened that you are really
struggling to cope with?
Are you finding it difficult to keep your finances
in order or to pay your
rent or mortgage?
Are you worried about
your health?
Would you value some
support or advice?

Our
Independent
Living Support Workers
will work with you to
understand the issues
and create a plan of
action which will enable
you to feel in control
and be able to move forward in a positive way.

If you would like

more information or
would like to make a
self-referral
then
please
contact
Adrian Warburton,
our
Independent
Living
Support
Officer on 0121 748
8124 or drop into
the Sanctuary or the
Hub @ Phoenix
Court for a referral
form.

Then look no further

than
the
Independent Living
Support Service.
We offer a confidential support service for individuals
and couples on Castle Vale
who are finding life challenging and need some advice and
support to get back on track.

Pype Hayes Park

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Tyburn Mail

page 15

Kendricks
slick music
does the trick
by
Tyburn Mail
student
journalist

Brookly
Taylor

I have always appreciated good music, and now I

have discovered more.

In this two weeks that I have been

free from sixth form, I discovered the
new album To Pimp a Butterfly by
Kendrick Lamar.
Depending on your music taste,
youve probably heard of Kendrick. Im
one to listen to every genre, I never
stick to one because I always find
something different.
We all love a good catchy pop song!
After listening to this album, I was so
taken back. I had originally only heard

Swimming Pools by Kendrick, and as

much as I loved that song I never
remembered to keep up with his
music. I was reintroduced to Kendrick
whilst spending time with a friend, and
they played the album for me. The
album is so much more than just
songs, theyre actually taking to you.
Theres articles floating around about
Kendrick and what his songs mean,
and many believe this album is
rushedeven Kendrick himself.
If this is rushed, then jeez. I will be
surprised to see what he does that
isnt. In a lot of the songs he says I
remember you were conflicted and
continues it.
He adds more and more as the
album goes on and I think that is
beautiful.
It connects all the songs, and makes
this wonderful story. All you have to do
is really pay attention to words he is
saying, and the way he is portraying
and you get beauty and passion.
I have always been very passionate
about music, although I dont have a

The most valuable

lesson of all...

VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM

Tyburn Mail

Kendrick Lamar [Photo:Kim Metso]

musically talented bone in my body, I

appreciate the music we are presented
with.
If you havent heard of Kendrick, or
have but not his new albumI suggest you give it a chance. I know you
may have not liked things youve
heard before but this so different and
its so creative.
All musical talent should be celebrated, famous or not! Never be afraid to
show appreciation for the music you
love.
Thank you for reading!

page 16

Bromford man jailed for

prolonged harassment

A Bromford man has been

jailed for 24 weeks for
using threatening behaviour towards his female
victim over a prolonged
period.

between 1st and 16th February this

year, he caused a female victim in
Sutton Coldfield to fear that violence
would be used against her.
Magistrates were told that he had
caused systemic harassment over a
long period of time in front of a child.
He has convictions for previous similar
offences.
ONeill changed his original plea to
guilty, and was ordered to pay fines
and costs.
He is now subject to a restraining
order.

shared glance of achievement with a

friend- those moments are priceless!
And these are the moments that our
children will remember and use as
they get older and face the many challenges that everyday life will throw
their way.

As someone once said to me: If at

first you dont succeed, then try and
try again!
This is surely the most valuable lesson of all!

Calvin James ONeill aged 35 of

Dreghorn Road, Bromford, also admitted being in possession of a quantity of
cocaine, a Class A drug, in
Farnborough Road in Castle Vale on
16th February.
Birmingham magistrates heard that,

with a challenge dont give up but find

another way to get to the answer.

by

Catherine Lavelle

Principal, Pegasus School

As children of all ages

prepare for their forthcoming tests I would like to
celebrate their resilience,
determination and sheer
grit.
Many of our children when faced

*Scuffs
*Scratches*Dents
*Full Resprays

We dont charge
extra on parts.
All you pay is cost.

..From the 4 year old who

after a week of trying has
finally built a tower of ten
bricks without it falling down
at the 7th, 8th or 9th brick,
to the 11 year old that continues to strive in every lesson to ensure they achieve
the very best in their SATs
next month.....

This is perhaps the most valuable

lesson of all- that giving up is not an
option!
From the 4 year old who after a
week of trying has finally built a tower
of ten bricks without it falling down at

Happy birthday!
Reigan Boyle, aged 6, and
Paris Phillips, aged 10, both
photographed at Pegasus
School on their birthday
the 7th, 8th or 9th brick, to the 11
year old that continues to strive in
every lesson to ensure they achieve
the very best in their SATs next month.
The look on their faces at that light
bulb moment, the tone of voice when
they whisper I get it now! or the

D.P.F. Body
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TYBURN MAIL
0121 749 1343
to advertise, call
Frank Kennedy

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Tyburn Mail

31/05/15

page 17

JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS-JOBS

Paget School

page 18

HR Advisor

Pype Hayes

Lunchtime
Supervisors

Salary - 24,956 - 28,041 (Depending on experience)

It is an exciting time to join our HR team. We have restructured the

team and have an opportunity for an experienced HR Advisor to deliver a
proactive and efficient HR advisory service to the group ensuring compliance with employment legislation and HR best practice.
This is a generalist role as such the successful candidate will take the
operational lead on HR activities within a specified business unit to
include Recruitment and Selection Absence Management, Learning and
Development, Employee Relations and Health, Safety and Wellbeing and
the delivery and co-ordination of planned and ad hoc projects.

7.85 - 9.66 per hour

Paget Primary School, Paget Road,

Pype Hayes, Birmingham, B24 0JP,
Tel: 0121 464 3902
Email: enquiry@paget.bham.sch.uk
Website: www.paget.bham.sch.uk
We wish to appoint a lunchtime
supervisor as soon as possible to
work 8.75 hours per week term time
only.
The successful applicants will join our
experienced and hard-working team in
supervising and creating play opportunities for our happy and friendly children
between the ages of 4 11.
The hours of work are 11.45 a.m.
until 1.30 pm - an hour and 45 minutes, five days per week, term time
only, where you will be responsible for
supervising children in the dining hall
and playground areas.
Previous experience of working with
children is desirable but not necessary
as full in-house training will be given.
We welcome enthusiastic, flexible and
creative individuals to join our friendly
school.
Closing Date: 8 May 2015 at 9.00 a.m.
Interviews Date: 21 May 2015
For further details, or an application
pack, please telephone or email the
school at the above email address.
Further information about our school
is available on our website:
www.paget.bham.sch.uk

Tyburn Mail

Part-Time Office Cleaner

Mon - Fri (16 hours)
References Required
Apply:
M Kisiel
Hastingwood Securities Limited
Hastingwood Industrial Park
Wood Lane, Erdington
Birmingham B24 9QR

Tel 0121 386 6600

Tyburn Mail has FIVE pairs of tickets available for

the BBC Good Food Show Summer 2015, at the NEC from
11-14th June. Tickets are valid for general admission on any
day excluding the Saturday (13th).
They also allow admission into BBC Gardeners World Live.
Promising to be one of the summers tastiest days out, BBC Good Food Show will
host many of the nations favourite chefs and celebs, a wide range of local and
regional artisan producers and everyones favourite big name brands.
There is something for all food lovers.

The successful candidate will have significant experience at HR

Advisor/Officer level have sound knowledge of current employment legislation and the ability to provide HR advice and guidance to staff and
managers on complex employment and employee relations matters. You
will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to
relate to staff at all levels and be sensitive to confidential and personal
issues. Line management experience is desirable to support the groups
Apprentices and work experience placements.
You will also have strong IT skills with Word and Excel experience to
intermediate level and experience of HR management systems. A working knowledge of Cascade HR would be an advantage.
You will hold a recognised HR qualification and be CIPD qualified (or
nearing completion). An organised approach, attention to detail and the
ability to manage your own workload is essential.

In return we offer an attractive benefits package including Flexible

Working Hours, Pension Scheme, Annual Performance Related Bonus,
Annual Leave up to 25 days and Casual Car User Allowance.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 18th May 2015 at
12.00 noon Interviews will be held on Wednesday 27th May 2015.
Further information and application packs are available to download from
our website at www.cvcha.org.uk or by calling the HR Team on 0121 748
8154
Alternatively contact HR, CVCHA, 11 High Street, Castle Vale,
Birmingham B35 7PR

For an informal discussion about the role please contact

Jeanette Wyatt, HR Manager on 0121 748 8151.
CVs or Agencies will not be accepted

Castle Vale Community Regeneration Services is a well established charitable social enterprise with a primary focus on Castle Vale. CVCRS is a subsidiary of Castle Vale Community
Housing Association (CVCHA) and all applications will be processed via CVCHA.

Employment Support Assistant

20 hours per week
12 Month Fixed Term Contract
Grade 3 - 17,593-19,767 per annum

To assist the employment support workers to provide initial assessments of client needs and identify support to remove barriers to enable
vulnerable residents to access employment/training opportunities.
The successful candidate: you will have:
Experience of working within a support work role
Experience of working with a range of clients in a community setting
You will also have excellent communication and inter-personal skills
being able to deal with issues of a sensitive nature
Knowledge and understanding of information advice and guidance
services
Working knowledge of Microsoft applications
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends

Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday May 7th at

12.00 noon and interviews will be held on Monday 18th May 2015.

to be entered into the free draw for tickets,

call 0121 749 1343 or email: meverill@tyburnmail.com

Further information and application packs are available to download

from our website at www.cvcha.org.uk or by calling the HR Team on
0121 748 8154.
CVs or Agencies will not be accepted

Bag-packing
Under 10s hoping
for B&Msupport

Castle Vale Town Under 10s will

be doing a bag pack at the B&M
store in Castle Vale Retail Park on
Saturday 2nd May.

The youngsters are trying to raise money for

new kit and training gear. This is the second

Spring clean
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT TRUST

by Sarah Oulaghan
Community Environment Trust

The Community Environmental

Trust have run a SPRING clean-up of
the Castle Vale Conservation Area!
Over the past few weeks I have noticed the
Conservation Area being misused more and
more (irresponsible dog owners, fly tippers and
litter bugs being the main offenders).

e
vic
r
e
s
d
pt ntee
m
a
Proguar

Castle Vale and Tyburn

Tyburn Mail

page 19

fund-raising event undertaken by the enterprising young footballers.

They raised 300 with a raffle during the
Christmas period to buy some tracksuits.
Now they are hoping that money from the bag
pack can take them a bit closer to their target for
kit
The Under 10s team have just finished their
first season together.
According to Laura, one of the Mums whose
husband is the manager and coach, they are
making plenty of progress.
Some of the players have shown lots of
improvement and we are just getting better with
every game we play, says Laura.

But CETs youth members and staff wanted to

make an immediate positive impact upon our
local environment, both for our benefit, and its
flora and fauna.
We needed a little help from our friends. Peter
Richmond, Chief Executive of Castle Vale
Community Housing Association (CVCHA) generously provided the CET with safety equipment
and resources, whilst on the day we were supported by the leaders, volunteers and members
of the Youth Team from Castle Vale Community
Regeneration Services (CVCRS), CVCHA
Community Wardens, Sarah and Asha and
CVCHAs Estate Services Team. A BIG thank you
to everyone who was involved.

OPEN LETTER
Spring Fayre TO JAGUAR
Saturday 16th May
LAND ROVER

ST CUTHBERTS CHURCH CAR PARKING PROBLEMS

High Street, Castle Vale

11am - 1pm
50p
Tombola Nea
rly new
c
ra
e
b
ntry
bric a
Refreshments
Raffle with 50 first prize

Police want
cruiser ban to
spread wider
Police are asking the city
council to get an injunction
banning car-cruisers in the
Birmingham north area.

They want the injunction that has

been granted to the Dudley, Sandwell
and Wolverhampton areas to be
extended to help them tackle the problem.
Police in north Birmingham and
Tyburn are currently using section 59
notices to fight the car-cruiser problem. These are warning notices which
can result in the confiscation of the
vehicle for a second offence.
Local police have issued 74 section
59 notices to car cruisers on Fort
Parkway and the A38 between Asda
Minworth and Bassetts Pole in the past
14 months.
Four motorists have been issued with
second notices, which meant that
those vehicle were also seized.
One vehicle was seized in the
Wolverhampton area after his first sec-

Competition winners
Free tickets to

Who Do You Think You Are?

Ladan Varnous of Woodlands
Farm Road, Pype Hayes.
Lorraine Lycett of Montague
Road, Erdington.
Donna Cluley of Lancaster Drive,
Castle Vale

Old and young

get together

Castle Vale older people and youngsters

from Greenwood Academy are getting
together on Thursday April 30th for a day
of discussion, activities and some fun, says
project manager Bob Brueton.
The event is organised by Castle Vale
Inter Generation Group.
This is a great opportunity for young and
old to come together to discuss a range of
topics which will hopefully give a greater
understanding of each others lifestyle,
issues and ambitions, says Bob.
The discussions will be translated into
artwork and a short piece of drama.
Altogether around 40 people are expected
to take part with a wide age range.
Students from the sixth form are helping
facilitate the day which will take place at
the Astral Centre.

tion 59 notice had been issued in

Birmingham North.
Seventeen of the s59 notices have
now expired, leaving 57 still in force.
The fact that we havent seized
more vehicles suggests that once
issued with a Section 59 notice, those
offenders are taking note of the warning and are staying away from the
area, says a spokesperson for West
Midlands Police.
We continue to try and tackle this
problem and weekly discussion takes
place in the Birmingham north section
to give an overview of the current
activity. Local CAPT (Community Action
Priority Team) officers are dedicated to
patrols on a Sunday night and at other
times resources are used when a more
spontaneous response is required. We
have also asked for Birmingham City
Council to consider the Black Country
injunction and ascertain if they are
prepared to take this forward for
Birmingham, as they are the lead for
this legislation.

by

Mike Sharpe

Tyburn Councillor
(Labour)

Louise Rowland
Government Affairs
Jaguar Land Rover Limited
Banbury Road
Gaydon
Warwick
CV35 0RR

Dear Louise,
Parking Problems around Jaguar
Land Rovers Castle Bromwich Plant
As you are aware the problems for
the local community as a result of
inconsiderate parking by people working at Jaguar Land Rovers (JLR) Castle
Bromwich plant (whether direct
employees, DHL employees or contractors) has been raised on a number
of occasions at the JLR Community
Forum.
It is therefore disappointing that I
have to contact you once again on this
subject as the actions of a minority
continue to both disturb and disrupt
the everyday lives of residents in the
areas surrounding the plant.
As you have set out at the
Community Forum meetings JLR do

Eachelhurst Road is
no place for a school
by Ann Holtom
Parliamentary
spokesperson
Erdington
Liberal Democrats

As a local campaigner, and

currently
council
and
Parliamentary candidate, I
am strongly re-stating my
opposition to the proposal to
build a school on the abandoned Saab Garage site on
Eachelhurst Road.
I have already sent in an objection
to the plans to Birmingham Council
in which I have raised the issue of air
pollution levels in the light of the
findings of the Environmental Audit
Committee of the House of
Commons which call for a ban on siting schools and other public services
near busy main roads.
I am renewing my call because
councillors on the planning commit-

tee have postponed coming to a

judgment on the school until they
have done a site visit.
I welcome this decision as the
councillors certainly need to see for
themselves just how close the site is
to the busy dual carriageway of
Eachelhurst Road, what the safety
implications are for residents and
potential staff and students at the
school and to get a better idea of the
traffic implications for residents if the
school is built.
Whatever the schools consultants
say, this site is just not the right
place for a school.
I support the objections of the residents who have petitioned the
council with concerns about highway
safety, noise and disturbance from
the playground, insufficient parking
facilities and the design.
If the officers are minded to
approve the application I will expect
to see a detailed rebuttal of the
objections I have submitted based
on
the
Environmental
Audit
Committees pollution findings.

provide adequate parking for employees within a reasonable walking distance of the plant and I am sure that
you share my disappointment that a
minority of employees continue to
park inconsiderately in nearby residential streets.
Unfortunately despite the steps that
representatives of JLR have outlined to
address this it continues to be an ongoing problem.
There is also a growing feeling within the local community that JLR are
only paying lip service to the problem
and these feelings are given credence
when the problem seems to be so per-

Man charged
with arson attack
on police car
A 31 year-old Castle Vale man has
been charged with arson following
criminal damage to a police vehicle
parked by the police station.

Shoplifter breaks
curfew order

A Castle Vale shoplifter has

been ordered to pay an extra
130 in fines and costs after
she broke the terms of her
community order.

Helen McAlinden, aged 21, of Mere

Avenue, admitted failing to keep to the
conditions of her curfew imposed by
the courts following shoplifting and
assault offences.
She had previously admitted stealing
an iron, a CD player, cleaning products,
two clothes horses and a scarf, worth

Tyburn Mail page 20

sistent.
I am sure that JLR shares my concern to tackle the problem in a significant way to both resolve the problems
being faced by local residents in their
everyday lives and to prevent this negative impression gaining any further
ground.
I therefore request that local members meet with the relevant representatives from JLR and City Council officers to review the steps taken to
address the problem by JLR to date; to
consider their success or otherwise;
and most importantly to agree a strategy going forward to address the issue
once and for all.
The success and growth of JLR is
something that the whole region can
be justly proud of and is celebrated by
everyone. That is why it is important
that positive steps are taken to
address the problems and issues that
can arise from this growth. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely

Mike Sharpe
Birmingham Councillor,
Tyburn Ward

The car was damaged on Sunday

22nd March when the window was
smashed and the front seats were set
alight.
The man was arrested and charged
on 20th April and will appear at
Birmingham Magistrates Court early
next month.
The arrested man was identified following examination of CCTV footage.
65 in total, on 8th February. All of the
goods were recovered.
Birmingham magistrates had put her
on a 12-week curfew and ordered her
to pay 110 in fines and costs.
Last October she was fined 50 by
Birmingham magistrates for using
threatening behaviour.
Last January she was ordered to pay
100 each to two police officers as
compensation for assaulting them, following
shoplifting
offences
in
Gracechurch Shopping Centre at H&M
Stores and at Poundland.
On that occasion, magistrates also
ordered her to attend a 60-day anger
management course and a 19-day
thinking skills course.

TYBURN MAIL ONLINE

tyburnmail.com

Planting Trees
for Life in Pype
Hayes Park
by Robert Alden

Clifton and I, as we are always happy to

do, got stuck in and got our hands dirty
helping plant the trees across and generally help out.
Hopefully this will form a wonderful
mixed woodland coppice in years to
come. It was great to see local school
children being given the chance to plant

trees locally which they will now get to

see grow as they do in the years to come.
A special thank you to everyone at
Birmingham Trees for Life for organising
the event, getting all the trees and equipment together.
The work they do across the City is
excellent and we as always were delighted to support them here in Tyburn Ward.
Of course this will also increase the
number of leaves, in autumn time, in
Eachelhurst Road in the future and we
have raised with the Council the need to
ensure leaves from new trees and ones
from the existing trees need to be properly cleaned up so they are not a hazard
to people on Eachelhurst Road.
If we can help you with anything
please contact myself and local campaigner Clifton Welch by calling
07505745808,
emailing
CWELCH2@sky.com, or writing to 96
Orchard Road, Erdington, B24 9JD

by

Mick Brown

Tyburn Councillor
Labour

Regular readers of my
column will know that
I have a special interest in developments
aimed at raising the
standard of care given
to children in the
care of their local
council.

As a result I was really interested last month when on a seminar

in Newcastle part of our work
involved looking at some
research done by the University
of Bath.
This looked at the benefits for
children who have experienced a
traumatic event in their lives, of
being placed in a foster home
which had a pet.
I was particularly interested in
the idea, due to the experience I
had a number of years ago when
I had regular contact with a
small elderly persons home and
saw the improved levels of emotional wellbeing when the home
owners dog came in and sat
with the residents.
The research showed that the
presence of animals in a foster
home helped to reduce anxiety

Erdington Councillor
and Parliamentary
Campaigner
(Conservative)

Last month popular local

campaigner Clifton Welch
and I joined Birmingham
Trees for Life and children
from Holy Cross Catholic
Primary School and Gunter
Primary School.
We planted 1,000 whips (small
trees) and a few larger trees in
Pype Hayes Park, along the
Eachelhurst Road side of the
park.

Providing care for

looked-after children
Tyburn Mail

LOVING
READING

page 21

levels in two ways.

Firstly by softening
which is where the presence of a pet helps the
child to see the foster
home in a positive light
and
secondly
by
switching where having developed a relationship with
the pet the child seeing that the
pet trusts the carer begins to
trust them too.
Of course the reported 6%
increase in dog attacks last year
in England is a genuine cause for
concern; however, the example
of Hertfordshire Council shows
what can be achieved if councils
are willing to approach the issue
creatively.
Their Fostering Recruitment
team, have not only produced a
guide to inform foster parents
and social workers about the
benefits of having pets in the
household, but have started
hosting sessions with a local dog
training school focusing on both
having fun with your dog as well
as dog safety.
Statistics show that in cities like
Birmingham one in four families
has a pet dog, and that with the
right policies, local councils can
help children in care not only
enjoy the positive experience
that having a pet brings, but
improve their emotional, educational and physical outcomes
while they remain looked after
children.

Castle Vale Literacy Project

The
Castle
Vale
Literacy Champions programme has been blossoming over the last few
months, says organiser
Carla Belle.

Families have been taking

part in six weekly sessions at
the Castle Vale Nursery and
Childrens Centre with Family
Support Volunteers to encourage their children to love reading.

Building on the
butterfly effect
by Claire
Active Arts

Marshall

Just as the Spring sun

helps to bring out the
butterflies

The
Butterfly Effect project
comes out of its early
planning
stages
to
begin delivery in Castle
Vale.

It may have appeared quiet

after all the action of the ITV
Peoples Millions Lottery campaign back last November, but
behind the scenes Active Arts
has been busy working on how
to make sure the 50,000 can
be best used in line with its Big
Lottery Fund application.

As part of the sessions they

have been taking part in story
time, singing and rhymes, arts
and crafts, visited Tyburn
Library and have received three
free books.

There have been a couple of

small events already this year,
inviting people to come along
and celebrate the winning of
the funds and to be part of
planning ideas.
Which has
seen new people and regular
community participants get
together to dream and help
realise what comes next.
There will now be a flurry of
activity as residents of Castle
Vale are invited to be part of
The Butterfly Effect by becoming a local leader, a volunteer
at events or behind the scenes
or to get involved in one of the
four events to take place
between now and the end of
November.
50,000 sounds like a lot of
money but theres lots of big
ideas and we want to get as
many people involved as possible. We want to hear from
anyone whod like to get

If you live in Castle Vale, have

a child aged between 2 and 5
years old and would like to take
part in the programme, please
contact Carla Belle on 0121
748 8189.

involved Active Arts are looking

for people interested in getting
involved in the music, dance,
drama, film and production
workshops building towards
performances this September
as well as people whod like to
set up a new sowing group on
the estate which has been
asked for.
Some of the funds are being
used to help set-up new community activities with mentoring support, if youve got an
idea and youd like some startup support, Active Arts want to
hear from you.
If youd like to get involved
arrange to meet up with
Project Manager Claire Marshal
via:
activeartscv@gmail.com or
visit the website for all the
details
and
terms
www.activearts.wordpress.com

COCKFIGHT

Its hotting up in the High Street and the battle between

fast fooders Dixy Chicken and Chicks could get a bit tasty

Feathers could soon be

flying as fast food outlets
get into a flap in Castle
Vale. Two chicken food
outlets are in hot competition with each other.
One of them is next to

betting shop William Hill

on the High Street, but not
many punters would lay
odds on which of the
cluckers will come out on
top when the chips are
down.

It could be hennybodys guess.

Dixy Chicken in Castle Vale High
Street will have a menu similar to KFC.
All Dixy chicken is Halal meat.
A few hundred yards away, another
fast food restaurant, Chicks, will soon

Chip shop...? NO
Chicken ...? YES

Why the Council granted planning permission

The owners of Dixy Chicken have

been a bit bemused... and a little
angry... that they have had to go
through the lengthy legal process of
applying for planning permission
before they could get started.

Theyve stuck by the rules, filled in all the forms

and paid the bills.
All the evidence is available for the public to
inspect, on the Councils planning website.
The High Street site used to be Flowerworx,
until manager Tracy Teale closed down the flower
shop in 2013 because of rising rent costs.
A five minute walk away, on the site of Castle
Vales last pub, the Skylark, the story is more
complex.
Thats where Costcutters has now established
itself, along with a hairdressers and a tattoo parlour.
Theres one vacant spot. The owner wanted it to

be a chip shop, but that plan was refused by the

Council.
So now its going to be Chicks - a chicken and
pizza place.
So how did Chicks manage to get permission?
Theres no evidence of a new application on the
council website.
Only an application that was refused, when the
owner tried to open up a chip shop in 2013.
But Abdul Rashid, the man who bought the
Skylark site, says everything he is doing is above
board and legal.
Shops require A1 planning permission. Cafes
and restaurants (with seating) require A3 planning permission.
Pubs that sell hot food and alcohol require A4.
Takeaways require A5.
When Abdul Rashid first applied for chip shop
permission, the A5 status was refused. He lodged
an appeal, but withdrew it 8 days later.
Then his agents, ZSP Ltd from Small Heath,

advised him that the Skylark pub was already

licensed for A4 status. So, he could open a
restaurant on the site with that status. And thats
what he plans to do.
He is adamant that there will be no takeaway
facility, just tables and seating for 16-20 people.

The council agrees that he has permission for

Chicks. But their version of events is slightly different.
It goes like this.
Planning rules were relaxed in March 2013
across the country, to encourage small businesses to set up. It was part of the government strategy to rebalance the economy. Jobs in the public
sector were being slashed. So the private sector
needed to expand. Helping the private sector
became a priority... and planning rules were
eased to help new small businesses.
So, A1 shops could become A3 cafes for a period of up to two years, so long as they were no
bigger than 150 sq meters in floor space.
Abdul Rashid has permission to open a retail
shop, with A1 status. He can extend that to open
a cafe, with A3 status, on a temporary two-year
basis. He has to inform them when he starts trading as a restaurant, and the two years start from
there.
It could mean that Dixy Chickens owners have
gone through a lengthy legal process, when there
was no need for it because of the recent relaxation of planning rules to help small businesses.

Wood Lane lorry parking:

Council needs to sort this mess out

by Clifton Welch
Conservative
candidate for
Tyburn ward

Over the last year working

with
local
Parliamentary campaigner
Robert Alden we have
been working with residents to tackle unsuitable
planning applications, like
the proposal for a School
on Eachelhurst Road or for
a HMO on Oval Road.

be opening to the public, next door to

Costcutters.
The menu will be similar to Pizza
Hut, according to owner Abdul
Rashid.It may be a couple of motnhs
before Chicks opens to the public.

In addition we have carried out

dozens of litter picks, like one in
Birches Green or in Pype Hayes, as
well as working to re-open our Police
Station Front Desk in Castle Vale.

blocked by empty lorries waiting,

sometimes for days parked along both
sides.
If you go down and see the mess left
you can see clearly people are cooking

This month I wanted to update residents on our campaign to get Wood

Lane sorted.
As residents will be aware over the
last year increasingly the road is

and preparing food from the back of

lorries and are using the bushes as toilets.
On top of this the road and pavements are being blocked and rubbish

If you go down and see the mess left you

can see clearly people are cooking and
preparing food from the back of lorries and
are using the bushes as toilets.

fly tipped.
This is totally unacceptable. This is why we have
been campaigning for the
City Council to sort parking
restrictions, to clear up the
mess and to take preventative action to stop it happening again.
This sort of thing cannot
be allowed to continue to
blight our neighbourhood.

If we can help you

with anything please
contact myself and parliamentary campaigner
Robert Alden by calling
07505745808, emailing
CWELCH2@sky.com,
or writing to 96 Orchard
Road, Erdington, B24
9JDCWELCH2@sky.com,
or writing to 96 Orchard
Road, Erdington, B24
9JD

Local
support
Tyburn Mail

page 22

by Sheila Hyland
Sainsburys,
Castle Vale

At Sainsburys, we are
committed to making a positive difference in the communities we serve, and we
support a number of charities, both on a national and
local level.

We have a number of corporate charity partners, including The Royal British

Legion, Comic Relief, and Carers UK.
Each of our stores also selects a Local
Charity of the Year to support, which is
voted for by our customers. Our stores
current Local Charity of the Year is
Rotary Club of Erdington
In addition to this, there are a number
of other ways that we can support good
causes in our local community
In store activities: fundraising, bag
packing, awareness stands
We have a number of days available
over the year for charities or community groups to come into store to
fundraise or raise awareness. Some of
these days are reserved for our corporate charity partners, or our Local
Charity of the Year, and some are available for other local groups. In order to
request a slot, you need to visit the
store to pick up an application form.
These are available at our Customer
Service Desk. Please note, due to high
demand, we are not able to support all
requests.
Food Donation Partnerships
We have set up a Food Donation
Partnership with registered charity in
our area looking for short life food
items.
Community Budget
Our store has its own Community
Budget to make small donations to support local projects or groups.
Local Charity of the Year
Each year, our stores select a local
charity to partner with and support with
fundraising and awareness raising.
Winning charities are selected by our
customers each June. If you would like
to introduce your charity to the store to
be considered, please write to the Store
Manager.
Please contact Ryan Allan Store
Manager or Sheila Hyland PR
Ambassador at our store if you would
like to discuss this further.

What makes a
child special?
EACHELHURST ROAD FREE
SCHOOL PLANNING UPDATE

Lynda
Clinton

by

Tyburn
Councillor
(Labour)

The Lib Dem Candidate criticised me

for saying what site is suitable for a
school? I make no apology for that
comment because it is a question to
be asked of any potential site.
I presented a resident-led petition to
Full Council and was the only person

to turn up to speak at the Full Planning

Committee.
I spoke only about the dangers of
speeding cars, parking and congestion
together with the close proximity of
three spans of water.
The issue of the poor quality of

design was raised by other elected

members.
At my request a site visit was
arranged and interestingly only the Lib
Dem member of the committee did
not vote in favour.
The site visit was attended by
around thirty local residents, officers
and the Planning Committee, minus
the Lib Dem member.
Every resident was given the opportunity to air their views and careful
notes were taken back to be considered.
It was agreed the final decision
would be made on Thursday 30th April
at Full Planning Committee and I
promised to attend to hear the outcome.
We have to stand up for children and
their safety whether it be on the road,
in school, at home or at play.
As Lead Member for Road Safety for
West Midlands Fire and Rescue
Authority I will continue to champion
safer roads for all, but most importantly all of our special children.

BRUM
BLITZ
Tyburn Mail

page 23

In memory
of thousands
who died

Being born, makes every

child special and worthy of
a safe place to grow and
develop.

That is why on November 5th 2014 I

attended a meeting to discuss whether
or not a school should be built on the
old Saab site on Eachelhurst Road.

The memorial to victims of the

Birmingham Blitz, near St Martins
in the Bull Ring

....The site visit was attended by around thirty local residents, officers and the
Planning Committee, minus
the Lib Dem member....
I also called and funded a second
public meeting to allow freedom of
speech from you, the local people.
For some, the issue seemed to be
not on our doorstep but for most, it
was the safety of the children travelling to and from the site.

CHARITY
CHALLENGE
neck and neck on
Eachelhurst Road

Target: 1,000... Total raised: 2,580

Kingsbury pupils boost for local causes
by

Kate Rose

Partnership and Communications

Manager, Kingsbury School

Students
at
Kingsbury
School and Sports College
have demonstrated their
commitment to the local community and good causes.
Last term, through an interform
competition, each form group was set
a challenge to raise as much money as
possible for their chosen charity within six weeks.
Each group submitted a fundraising
plan, further developing enterprise, lit-

Over 2,000 people were

killed in Birmingham as the
Luftwaffe bombed the city
in World War II.
Veterans of the Blitz in
Birmingham have written a
book about their memories
of the bombings.

eracy and numeracy skills by writing to

charities, organising events, designing
posters, making invitations, calculating money raised, re-investing money
to make higher profits, and calculating
their percentage of the target figure.
Students were extremely creative in
the different ways they could fundraise with activities such as: a sponsored scuba dive, homemade cake
sales, a fun run, Caribbean food,
movie nights, secret auctions of local
artists work, raffles, a balloon race and
many more activities.
Kingsbury teacher and Head of
House Natalie Pearson was very
impressed with the students, and
thrilled with the result: We initially set
a fundraising target of 1,000 as a
school and, to date, I am pleased to
announce that the students have
raised over 2,580 which will be split
between several local charities.
Plans are in place to arrange student
visits to the charities to hand over the
money.
In another example of Kingsbury

students making a positive mark on

the community, several recently spent
their spare time picking up litter in
Wylde Green.
Organised in conjunction with Wylde
Green Neighbourhood Forum and
Erdington Polices Youth4em initiative, the youngsters spent a Saturday
cleaning up the area.
Youth4em involves young people
from across Erdington giving their
spare time to improve their community. As well as litter picking, young people from Kingsbury and other local
schools have been involved in graffiti
surveys, speeding operations, community meetings and fund raising for
John Taylor Hospice, as well as many
other activities.

PCSO Hayley Tiernan said Local officers are ever impressed with the dedication shown by the young people,
who willingly and enthusiastically commit their spare time to improving their
local community, and assisting with
local policing initiatives. Members of
the public also regularly express their
thanks and appreciation for all that
they do.

A balloon race and a sponsored diver were just 2 of the many fundraising initiatives at Kingsbury which helped raise over 2,500 for good causes.
bottom left: Kingsbury students team up to litter pick with PCSO Hayley Tiernan
and members of Wylde Green Neighbourhood Forum.

They will be selling copies of:

Birmingham Blitz, Our Stories in
Sainsburys in Castle Vale on Saturday
9th May.
Barbara Johnson, 79 year-old
Chairman of BARRA (Birmingham Air
Raids Remembrance Association) says:
We are a group of people who lived
through the Second World War and we
have just published a new book. We will
be selling on that day. We also go into
schools and talk to children.
We also have a Service every year
at St Martins in the Bullring.
This year it is at 11am on Saturday
19th September. We have the Lord
Major and Lady Mayoress, the The Lord
Lieutenant of the West Midlands,
Castle Bromwich Air Cadets and also
The Birmingham Brass Band coming
along.
We lay wreaths at our Memorial in
Edgbaston Street for the 2,241 people
killed in Birmingham during the
Birmingham Blitz.
The day will be special this year
because it is close to VE(Victory in
Europe) Day.

Dulux deluxe Mitchell looks

look for stadium the part in the
from CLC team pro-circuit world
SHEFFIELD SNOOKER SUCCESS

Snooker
professional
Mitchell Mann will be sure
to move up the world rankings after his brilliant performances in the World
Qualifiers in Sheffield earlier this month.

Castle Vale Stadium is

glistening, thanks to a
major spring clean and
paint job.

A team of volunteers from CLC Group

have spent several days at the stadium, using paint donated by Dulux, to
smarten up the inside and outside of
the building.
CLC have a major contract with

CVCHA over the next five years to

maintain and refurbish their properties
in Castle Vale. The work they have
done on the stadium is a gesture of
their goodwill to the community.
Stuart Lilley of CLC (pictured 2nd
from left) says that his professional
team will be looking to recruit apprentices for the local work during the
course of their contract with the housing association.

The 23 year old Castle Vale star beat

two players ranked a total of 103
places above him in the world rankings.
In the round one qualifier he beat
Alfie Burden, and then went on to
secure a second round victory over
Northern Ireland international Gerard
Greene in round two. Burden is rated
as 56th best player in the world,
Greene is even higher, in 41st place.
Mitchell was eventually knocked out
in the third round by Alan McManus, a
player who had ranked at number 6 in
the world for four years.
McManus had previously won major
tournaments in Dubai and Thailand,
and had already pocketed prize money
of over 130k this season. McManus
beat Mitchell by 10 frames to 6.

Three members of the CLC team who have painted Castle Vale Stadium, along
with CVCRS board members John Sharpe and Sue Spicer, and CVCRS boss
Lisa Martinali with Laura Horniblow

BANK HOLIDAY PUBLIC SWIMMING SESSIONS

Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th May

10am till 12 noon

Adults 4
Children over 5 2 Under 5s FREE
Family Ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children)10 Spectators 50p
THIS WILL NOT BE A BeActive session

Boldmere St Michaels
earned themselves 1,500
in prize money when they
beat Desborough 4-3 last
August in the FACup extrapreliminary round.

This was Mitchells best performance

since he became a professional in June
last year. His technical skill and his ability to hold his nerve under pressure
have demonstrated that he has now
come of age in the highly competitive
professional circuit.

Concords Cup contest

in the April sunshine

Castle Vales two Concord

teams have scored over
160 goals this season.

But they could only manage one goal

between them in the Summerfield Cup
final at Sutton Coldfield Towns ground
in the final last weekend.
Ex-Villa boss Paul Lambert would
have been proud of the goal drought in
the baking April sunshine.
Two solid defences, two decent goalkeepers, and two very hard working

sides ensured that this was a close

contest. Castle Vale Concords won 1-0.
The high-quality artificial pitch gives
a good, consistent playing surface, but
the pace and the bounce takes a bit of
getting used to, especially for strikers.
Perhaps that contributed to the low
scoreline, too.
Over 300 people watched the two
Vale sides finish off a fine season.
Castle Vale Concords won their division, and the cup. Concord Utd finished their first ever season strongly.

CASTLE VALE POOL USER GROUP TO RUN LIFEGUARD

COURSE AT THE POOL OVER 3 WEEKENDS
FROM 6th June to 21st June.

This course will be run with help from the Endowment Trust Fund and Birmingham City Youth Service

Admin: Mary Everill

Tyburn Mail is printed by Trinity Mirror
Printing Ltd Erdington

Ten months and 15 rounds later in the

same competition, Aston Villa will earn
their club 1.8 million if they beat
Arsenal at Wembley.
Over 700 clubs entered the FACup
this year. Two are left.
Villa pocketed 450k prize money for
beating Liverpool in the semi-final. Its
big money.
But its nowhere near as much as the
Premier League offers.
Villa picked up over 73 million in
Premier Legaue prize and television
money last season - thats 5 million
more than the club who finished one
place below them. Just finishing a single place higher in the league is worth
more than winning the FACup. And
next year, the money is even bigger.
25,000 tickets have been allocated to
Villa fans for the FACup final on 30th
May. When the game kicks off at
5.30pm, thousands more Villa fans will
be watching the game live on BBC, hoping for some Sherwood silverware.
By that time, Villas Premier League
status should be secure and we can all
relax to watch Villa beat the Gunners,
as the mighty Blues did four years ago.
But as Blues discovered to their cost,
the real key to success is to avoid relegation.

Walmley taste
spring success

Walmley face Knowle and

Dorridge next Sunday (3rd
May) in the semi-final of
the Williamson Trophy.

Its been a great start to the new

cricket season for Walmley. They won
their opening league fixture last
weekend, beatingDorridge by 6 wickets in the Premier Division of the
Birmingham League. And they earned
their semi-final place with two convincing wins over Walsall and Dorridge earlier this month.

A SWIM TEST WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE POOL ON SATURDAY

23RD MAY FROM 10.15 am till 11.15 am. Anyone interested in being
considered for the course should turn up for the test.
Costing will be available upon request to Lynda Clinton 07727 923 071.

Tyburn Mail is published by Topcliffe

Media Ltd.
Address: Lower Ground Floor, Topcliffe
House, B35 6BT
Tel: 0121 749 1343
Managing Director and Advertising
Executive: Frank Kennedy
Editor: Clive Edwards

Cup cash
and glory
awaits Villa

A small cloud of black rubber dust particles rises from the artificial grass each
time the ball bounces at SuttonColdfireld Towns ground. Its a good surface,
but the pace of the pitch can take some getting used to. Castle Vale Concords
striker mis-times his shot and the chance to put his team 2-0 up has gone.

Tyburn Mail will be

published on

Wednesday
20th May