Village News New path danger fears


NETWORK RAIL’S closure of two rail- way footpath crossings is still on the agenda for village parish councils. Lickey & Blackwell councillors


heard that a number of residents were still unhappy about the closure of the “yellow brick” road crossing from Fairways Drive to the public footpath across Blackwell golf course, which Network Rail says is too dan- gerous as the new electrification masts obscure the sighting of trains. Since May, walkers have been


diverted via Linthurst Newtown and Blackwell Road, and Network Rail says there are no viable alternatives. However, councillors expressed con- cerns over the safety of the route, which involves crossing Blackwell Road. Coun Janet King said: “Cars come very fast round that corner


Voters


in Alvechurch Vil- lage Ward roundly


rejected party politics in local gov- ernment by electing independent candidate Kate Van Der Plank to be their representative at Bromsgrove District Council. She polled 893 votes, beating Conservative candidate Luisa Nixon by 310 in the by-election held after the previous Tory councillor quit. Meanwhile, Conservative Sajid Javid was re-elected to Parliament for the Bromsgrove constituency with 33,493 votes, almost twice the figure polled by Labour’s Michael Thomp- son in second place.


Barnt


Green traders have been coming up with


ideas to boost the village in a scheme instigated by Bromsgrove’s Town Centres manager Cheryl Welsh. These included the removal of the bus stop on Hewell Road and two-hour parking outside the shops – but some parish councillors said they did not necessarily agree with the ideas and thought residents should also be consulted.


Traffic


chaos at the Bovis Homes temporary


lights at Bordesley should be easing,


and there was a bad accident there recently. We need to contact the county council with a view to lower- ing the speed limit.” She added: “There is no room to


create a footpath along the verge, and Network Rail proposes creating a safe path on the field side of the hedge, but walkers will still have to negotiate the busy road first.” Meanwhile, Barnt Green parish


News round-up


site manager Richard Flanigan told Alvechurch parish councillors. Mr Flanigan, who works for contractor Fitzgerald, said he would have control of the site from June 27 and he would do his best to limit what he called “a nightmare for everyone”.


Lickey


& Blackwell Parish Council has formally


agreed to adopt the war memorial outside the Trinity Centre, as neither Lickey church nor Bromsgrove Dis- trict Council were interested in doing so. Heritage England suggested the adoption as it is currently listing or re- listing monuments as part of its WWI commemorations.


A proposed


scheme which


could see volunteers looking after Barnt Green railway station has not proved as popular as the parish council hoped. Only two people expressed interest in the “Adopt-a- Station” scheme: Coun Philip Perry and his wife! Barnt Green may instead join Bromsgrove Rail Users Group in the hope of having more of a voice in matters regarding the station.


councillors questioned Richard Dugdale, sponsor for Network Rail’s electrification project, about the simi- lar railway crossing at Cofton Hackett. Closed since summer 2015 for safety reasons (left), this is due to be re- placed by a £1 million footbridge as a diversion would be too long. “We are investigating the most sustainable material for the bridge, which will probably be painted steel,” Mr Dugdale said. “It is funded and on schedule, and we’re looking at September or October this year.” Mr Dugdale also confirmed that


the lifts at Barnt Green station would be in place by the end of the year: “The original design was challenged, so had to be re-done and go through planning again, but it will still be done by December.”


Blackwell After a


resident Lisa Win-


terbourn has been announced as the new Executive Officer for Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council. She will take up her position when Helen Doherty leaves in August.


successful Alve- church Picnic in the


Park held on the second Spring Bank Holiday weekend, organisers have fixed a similar date for next year’s event – Sunday May 27, 2018. Eight Pages of Picnic Pictures: 26-33


Alvechurch Post Office The Village July 2017


parish council-


lors have decided to continue locking the gates to The Meadows playing fields when alerts of travellers looking for a new site in the area are received. Residents had asked for the policy to be reviewed as it made turning vehicles in Meadow Lane difficult.


bosses are con-


sulting with villagers over a proposed move of the Alvechurch branch into the planned Simply Fresh store in the village centre. Consultation forms are available at the current Bear Hill premises.


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