Look at other Updates

Hillfields wishes you a Happy Diwali

Coventry City Council’s Cabinet comes to Hillfields … see below 

Hillfields News

Coventry City Council “Question Time”

The City Council’s Cabinet is holding a public meeting at the City Football Club this month. The session will be in the form of a “Question Time”. The debate will cover a range of topical issues including the extent to which people get involved in local decision-making. Anyone – young and old – can attend. Please contact us if you wish to come along or put a question to one of the Council’s Cabinet Members during the debate. Please ring 024 7683 1075 with details of your question and to confirm your attendance. The meeting will be held between 1.30 p.m. – 3 p.m. on Tuesday 19 November 2002 at Coventry City FC, Premier Suite, East Stand. There will be refreshments at half time. Take this opportunity to meet the Council’s leaders, face to face, on your own patch!

WATCH

WATCH will be celebrating the anniversary of the refurbishment and re-opening of the WATCH Centre with a Jobs Camp which will be held between Wednesday 20^th - Friday 22^nd November.  There will be different employers invited to the centre each day with vacancies including warehouse, retail, clerical, NHS, care work and security. To conclude the celebrations a first birthday party will be held on Friday afternoon between 2 – 4 p.m. For more information about these events contact Bill Hall at WATCH on 7655 0565.

WATCH has a vacancy for an employment / administrative officer. The main duties are reception with some basic administrative duties. The closing date for applications is 18^th November and interviews will be held on 25^th November. Full details and an information pack can be obtained from Beth Gaunt at WATCH on 7655 0564.

WATCH are now collecting articles for the next edition of their newsletter The New Hillfields Times. Please send any contributions to Vicki Urch by 15^th November, preferably on disk in Word format. E mail your contributions to v.urch @watch-hillfields.org

PACT

A number of project outlines have been submitted to Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Partnerships for consideration in the preparation of the Zone Implementation Plan for the Coventry Nuneaton Regeneration Zone.

Government Office for the West Midlands is currently appraising the Objective 2 Action Plan for Hillfields. It is hoped that a decision will be made on the plan later in November or in early December. It is likely that there will be less money available for the plan than has been bid for. The City Council has now appointed its representatives to the Board; they are Cllr Batten on behalf of the Cabinet and Cllr Windsor as Ward Councillor for St. Michael’s Ward. The Partnership Board is planning an induction session for new members and is developing plans for the prioritisation of projects. The Board has also adopted a new logo for the Action Plan and European programme - this is how it looks.

Jobs and Training

WATCH are putting on training in Basic Food Hygiene. The course takes a total of nine hours over three sessions and started on 5^th November. If it is successful more sessions may be put on. For more information contact Colin Smart at WATCH on 7655 0564.

WATCH has begun preliminary discussions with a local Care Agency to train local residents as care workers to meet the many vacancies in this sector. WATCH has now completed the first two modules of a training programme for forklift drivers and so far 14 people have obtained licenses. Over fifty participants have now participated in a driving theory course run at WATCH in partnership with Henley Collage. The course runs for 14 weeks and the second session started on Tuesday 4^th November. Further sessions will be run in the New Year and anyone interested in enrolling should contact Kam Rai on 7655 0564.

WATCH is working in partnership with the Women’s Business Agency to pilot a course for women on running your own business. The course runs over four days in December and the Induction day is on Tuesday 10^th December at 1.30 p.m. For more information contact Kam Rai on 7655 0564.

Intermediate Labour Market company CovWise has been selected to run one of five pilot schemes called “Ambition: Construction”. This programme is funded by Job Centre Plus and is a customised programme aimed at people wanting to go into the construction industry. The first participants joined the programme in September and for the first two weeks took part in a gateway process that covered general health and safety in the construction industry, first aid and training days on various aspects of the building trade. The participants will work towards NVQ Level 2 in Maintenance Operations, which is a multi-skilled qualification. The programme lasts 18 months including six months with CovWise and 12 months in subsidised employment. CovWise has recently published its newsletter CovWise Calling which includes more information about this initiative and other aspects of the work of CovWise. For more information contact CovWise on 7622 9687 or visit their website at www.covwise.co.uk

CovWise is also offering help to lone parents through an informal supportive open access environment. They can offer help with IT training, CV workshops, Basic Skills, Money Management, help with finding employment and confidence building. They provide advice, guidance and support and can help with childcare costs and travel expenses. For more information contact Matt on 7622 9687.

We are planning to re-launch the Jobs and Training Action Group. If you would like to participate contact Bill Hall at WATCH on 7655 0564.

Car Parking

Wellington Street car park is now free to use. Motorists parking in nearby streets are being encouraged to use the car park instead of parking on side streets. This allows for better street cleaning and makes crossing the road safer for pedestrians.

The Village Square car park will soon be made into a short-stay car park (as was originally intended). As an interim measure the Square will be completely closed to all vehicles from 20^th November until the New Year – watch out for more publicity in the Village Square notice board. Motorists should use the nearby Wellington Street car park. Community events will still be held on the Square. Anybody wishing to express a view about the Village Square, get involved in its future or discuss ideas for using the Square for events should contact Graham Gillions on 7683 1341 

Getting your message across

Did you know that there are 7 community notice boards in Hillfields? Any community group or organisation offering community services can use them to promote services, events or anything else of local interest. If you want a list of where all of the notice boards are and how to access them please contact Graham Gillions on 7683 1341 

Community Safety

The initial training of the new Neighbourhood Warden, Bill Beveridge, is now complete and Bill and Vince Johnson are now patrolling the streets of Hillfields during daylight hours. It is hoped to extend this to late evening patrols after Christmas when the team is fully staffed. There are still some vacancies for neighbourhood wardens and city centre street wardens; contact the Area Co-ordination Office for details. For more information contact Amy Foster on 7622 5052.

There was an 18.7% reduction in street crime offences in Coventry during the first half of the year.

Arts, Sports and Leisure

The sixth Hillfields Community Bonfire was brought forward to Friday 1^st November because of the risk of the Fire Service strike. As it turned out the change wasn’t necessary but the benefit was that the event was held on a fantastic clear evening free of rain and wind. The event started with displays of fire juggling and stilt walking and this was followed by a parade led by the Hillfields Fire dragon and lots of ghosts and ghouls displayed by local children. The bonfire was as good as ever and the firework display was the best yet with over half an hour of continuous fiery splendour. Nearly 1100 people came to the event and our thanks go to all of the volunteers who helped before and during the event. A special thanks to Jessica Pinson and the admin staff at PACT who pulled everything together and Mike Parker’s team of volunteer firework lighters who have become truly expert at creating a firework spectacle.

WATCH and the King Edward Road Residents Association organised a very successful coach trip to the Walsall Illuminations on 26^th October. Despite the heavy rain, two coaches of local residents enjoyed the spectacle at Walsall with people describing the light display as “fantastic” and “magical”. Every child on the trip also received a “goody bag” to enjoy as they walked round the display. This is the second year that WATCH has been able to fund this extremely popular trip, and they hope to attract funding to do the same again next year. Thanks to the WATCH Committee members who took responsibility for ensuring everyone had a good time and to KERA for making funds available to run this trip.

October was another record month for the Hillfields website with 4328 visitor sessions, each lasting an average of 17 minutes. There were 1993 unique visitors of whom 527 visited more than once. 

Coventry Library and Information Service has started the first phase of the NRF funded mobile library service in Hillfields. The mobile library will be available at St. Peter’s Community Centre on Mondays (between 1 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.), Wednesdays (between 1 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.) and Fridays (between 9.00 a.m. and 1 p.m.). These times have been chosen to link to events and activities taking place at the centre and to give a spread of times but they are flexible and can be adjusted later to meet local community needs. The Library Service and its partners are also planning reader development, literacy and learning activities to complement these library sessions in the centre and these will follow shortly. For more information contact Bob Parsons on 7683 3649.

In association with the library project mentioned above, Arts workshops are starting at the end of November. Arts Exchange will be working alongside Footsteps Stay and Play sessions which are for babies / pre-school children and their parents / carers. All are welcome. These free sessions are on Fridays from 9.30 – 11.30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Community Centre and the sessions will run on 29^th November, 6^th December, 13^th December and 20^th December. For more information contact Sheryl Jordan of the Children and Family Education Service on 7663 4647 or Kate Turner of Arts Exchange on 7655 3533.

Internationally famous artist, Jochen Gerz, visited Hillfields on 7^th November to meet local people and encourage community involvement in the new artwork at Millennium Place. The artwork will include a public bench with plaques commemorating friendships and relationships. There will also be a Future Monument that builds on the concept that “History’s enemies are modern friends”. Residents and visitors are asked to answer the question “Who were the enemies of the past?” i.e. the names of nations that were our enemies in the past that are nowadays our friends. You can obtain a leaflet about the project from the Area Co-ordination Office or download it from www.gerz.fr/coventry.  In addition any group is invited to collect 40 signatures and send them to The Public Bench and Future Monument Mailbox, Priory Visitors Centre, Coventry Arts and Heritage, Priory Row, Coventry, CV1 5EX. The name of the group will be inscribed on an individual plaque which will be set into the ground around the Futures Monument. For more information contact Jenny Burns on 01788 570034.

Housing

The City Council has recently declared a new Home Improvement Area in Hillfields – the Nicholls Street Home Improvement Area. This will be similar to the scheme introduced in King Edward Road a few years ago. Streets covered by the new scheme are Nicholls Street, Highfield Road, Ranby Road, Swan Lane (odd nos. 187 - 265), Harnall Lane (even nos. 260 - 302), Leopold Road, Alfred Road and Augustus Road. Residents have already received letters about the scheme and these will be followed up by visits by housing staff. Grants are available for improvements to properties and these can include such work as replacement roofs, windows, damp-proofing, re-wiring, gas safety, insulation of walls and lofts, central heating and general repairs. The requirements of each property will be individually assessed when the house is surveyed. The grants are means tested so that those in most need have little or nothing to contribute to the cost, whereas those in a better financial position will pay a greater amount. The Improvement Area will be operative for two years until 31^st October 2004. For more information contact Roger Waterhouse on 7683 1817.

Ralph Butcher, retired Head of the City Council’s General Improvement Area Team, has donated a model of the Colchester Street / Winchester Street GIA to the Area Co-ordination Team. The GIA was the first in the country and the model was used to consult residents about the new rear entries that were built under the scheme. Anyone who would like to borrow the model or has ideas for its future should talk to the Area Co-ordinator.

The Hillfields Tenants Resource Centre at Paul Stacey House has now re-opened during weekday afternoons. Why not drop in - there will always be a warm welcome! Anyone wanting to volunteer to help at the centre or with suggestions about what they would like to see there should contact the Volunteer Development Officer, Teresa Allwood, on 7622 0600 or 0793 1733 705.

Whitefriars Housing has written a letter to residents of Douglas House in respect of the redevelopment of the flats. Douglas House is not being demolished but will be retained and refurbished to a high standard, but the tenants are being given the same right to move out as those in the blocks being demolished. For more information about the clearance scheme contact the Hillfields Housing Office on 7622 6471. Any tenants needing advice or support in this matter can drop in at the Tenants Resource Centre – see above.

Health

The refurbishment of Harry Salt House is progressing well and it is anticipated that it will open in December or January. The building will be used as a half way house for recovering mentally ill patients and is a joint venture between the Primary Care Trust, MIND and Touchstone Housing. WATCH and PACT hosted a visit by the staff from the project on 25^th October. They toured the area and met local residents. The Primary Care Trust has offered to assist with a gating scheme to cover the properties adjoining the site.

Energy training sessions for health visitors are being arranged in December and January. The sessions will provide an understanding of fuel poverty for home visitors, to help them identify people in need and refer them to appropriate agencies for help. The sessions are being held in the new Energy House at 22 Harnall Lane on Thursday 12^th December and Thursday 23^rd January at 2.00 p.m. To book a free place contact Bill Johnson on 7683 2711.

Milan Carers Support Group is holding a Diwali Party at St. Peter’s Community Centre on Friday 8^th November between 11.00 a.m. and 1 p.m. It will include music and refreshments.

Early Years

Area Co-ordination and Hillfields Early Years Centre are convening a meeting to develop the Early Years aspects of the Hillfields Neighbourhood Plan. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 3^rd December at 10.00 a.m. at the Early Years Centre. We hope that anyone with an interest in early years work in Hillfields will attend this meeting and help to develop collaborative working in relation to Early Years issues. If you would like to attend or to discuss these matters contact John Payne at the Area Co-ordination Office or Anne Clay at the Early Years Centre on 7622 8174.

Children and Young People

Hillfields Play Centre held a very successful Open Day for parents and community members to look at the work of the children on Tuesday 22^nd October. The event included a performance by children and displays of the work of the centre.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau has introduced a new scheme to provide advice to young people through GP’s surgeries. The target group is young people between the ages of 14 – 25 and their families and carers. The service is funded by the New Opportunities Fund and is part of a consortium providing a range of services to young people. The service will operate from Park House Surgery in St. George’s Road and Harnall Lane Medical Centre. For more information contact Karen Jones or Bally Gill, the CAB Caseworkers, on 0845 120 2920.

A final report has been written about Coventry University Student Union’s Millennium Volunteer Scheme. Area Co-ordination were partners in the project which was operational between 1999 and 2002. The project helped to build strong and lasting relationships between the University and community organisations in the city. A number of local organisations in Hillfields benefited from the project, including City Farm, Gosford Asian Centre and St. Benedict’s School. Volunteering work at the University will continue with funding from the Higher Education Funding Council through the Active Community Fund and Area Co-ordination will continue to support this work. For a copy of the report or more information contact the Student Union on 7657 1200 or e mail C.Gordon@coventry.ac.uk

A new project aimed at supporting young people excluded from school will start on 13^th November. The project is a partnership between WATCH and the Education Service’s Behavioural Support Team. The project will initially be working with young people on one day a week and will aim help those people gain basic qualifications and eventually meaningful work placements.

Hillfields Young People’s Centre is currently closed following a break in. The break in damaged the centre doors and it cannot re-open until the doors have been replaced. It is hoped that the centre will re-open shortly.

A Children’s Fund Longer Term Street Crime Plan has been approved in full by the Children and Young People’s Unit. The plan provides £250,000 additional funding to the Children’s Fund Partnership in Coventry between July 2002 – March 2004 for Street Crime initiatives. The main aim of the Children’s Fund is to create a web of preventative services and support for 5 – 13 years olds by providing additional resources over and above those provided through existing mainstream statutory, specific programmes and through earmarked funding. The main focus for funding is Foleshill, Radford East and Radford Diamond and a city-wide theme of Children’s Rights/Children’s Voices. However two projects will benefit Hillfields, as follows:

 For more information contact Sue Sampson on 7666 3677.

Older People

The Combined Senior Citizen’s Association has set up two new activities for members (anyone over 55 can join). On Mondays bingo is held in the Jeffereson  Community Building in Coronation Road at 7.00 p.m. and on Thursdays they are doing afternoon tea between 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. at the Community Room at 19 Vernon Court. For more information contact Pat Tedds on 7622 9570.

Visits to Hillfields

In addition to the PCT visit mentioned above, we hosted two other visits to Hillfields during the month. On 10^th October a group of seven participants from Coventry’s Common Purpose programme went on a minibus tour of the neighbourhood and then visited a number of our projects before having tea at WATCH and meeting local residents for a discussion. On 28^th October a group from Sheffield came to see the work being undertaken in the district. The visit was organised at the request of South Yorkshire Police and included two Police officers, a teacher and a housing officer who were very interested in our approach to partnership work in the district.

Voluntary Organisations

Coventry Refugee Centre has now appointed a co-ordinator for the Car Sense Project – Avtar Singh Sagoo. The innovative project aims to make the roads safer by educating refugees about the need for appropriate driving licenses, insurance, MOT and road tax. It is also open to other Hillfields residents. The project, funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, received some bad publicity, when the Sun, Mail and Express, not known for their understanding of refugee issues, picked up on an Evening Telegraph article which mentioned free driving lessons. Locally it has received good support. If anyone would like to get involved in the project, contact Avtar at the end of the month on 7622 7254.

Funding Announcements

As announced in the last Update, the Weavers Green Residents Group has been allocated £50,000 under the Green Spaces & Sustainable Communities – Doorstep Green Scheme.  The award will enable the creation of a ‘ doorstep green’ facility serving the residents of Freehold Street and adjoining streets.

The Barbadian Community and Choir Association has been awarded a grant of £5000 from the National Lottery Awards for All. The grant will pay for the performance costs associated with a one day arts and music event to commemorate the independence of Barbados.

The Gosford Asian Group has been also been awarded a grant of £5000 from Awards for All. The grant will pay for a feasibility study to inform the extension of the existing centre to accommodate an IT training suite

Freddies Parent Power Association has been awarded a grant of £5000. The grant will pay for the purchase of equipment and part fund site works to enable the provision of an educational and environmental resource for the community of Frederick Bird School.

News from the Wider Area Co-ordination Area

Charterhouse

A number of appointments have now been made to the new “Street Crime Wardens Project” that will include a focus on Far Gosford Street. Street Crime Wardens are similar to Neighbourhood Wardens but there is more focus on addressing street crime. The project is a partnership between Area Co-ordination and CV1, the City Centre Company. Wardens will patrol the City Centre and Far Gosford Street on Mondays to Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. It is hoped that the scheme will start before Christmas. For more information contact Karen Buttle at the Area Co-ordination Office.

The first of many physical projects in the Charterhouse area will take place at an Action Day on Tuesday 19^th November. A team of 35 volunteers from Barclays will undertake a challenge to improve the river between Acacia Avenue and Charterhouse Drive. The challenge will take on two focuses, the first is to clear out the river of rubbish and the second is to recover some of the ancient stones that have been dislodged from the Charterhouse Wall and fallen into the river. The stones will be stored at a Council depot in preparation for the repair of the wall at a later date. Everyone is welcome to join in this fun and useful event between 9.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 19^th November.

Following consultation with various users of St. Anne and All Saints Church, Groundwork Coventry and Warwickshire has now drawn up detailed designs for the new garden at the Church in Acacia Avenue. The tender documents are currently being drawn up with the intention of starting work on site in January.

Plans for the Charterhouse Fields Access Project have been drawn up and are currently being discussed with the planners and landowners. The project involves the improvement of footpaths through the fields in order to improve safety and access. Work will start after planning permission is granted and hopefully before the end of the financial year.

A small number of Charterhouse residents got involved in “Snapshot of Britain” a project that involved taking photographs of the local area focusing on “what you like about the area”. A selection of these photos can now be seen on a national website www.snapshotuk.com

Stay and Play Sessions, are being held at St. Anne and All Saints Church Hall, on Acacia Avenue on Thursday 1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. Come and join in fun activities with your babies and pre-school children. Borrow books and toys to share at home with your children. Free book bag and poster for participants. For more information contact Sheryl Jordan at the Children and Family Service on 7663 4647.

Cheylesmore

City Development is planning a Local Safety Scheme at London Road/Carnegie Close in Cheylesmore Ward. This scheme was identified as there have been 8 personal injury accidents in the last 3 years. Many vehicles from Chace Avenue carry out a U-turn in Carnegie Close and then re-enter London Road.  The measures have been designed to prevent drivers from doing this and to improve safety.  This proposed measures consist of the realignment of the kerb at the entrance to Carnegie Close in order to reduce available space for U turning traffic, construction of a raised island and the relocation of the existing bus shelter to improve visibility for drivers. The benefits of the scheme include slower speeds, safer crossing places for pedestrians, improved environment and increased road safety for all. A Street News has been distributed to local residents and Ward Councillors. For more information or to make comment contact Jackie Wagstaff on 7683 2030.

The Cheylesmore Older People’s Forum organised a coach trip to Blackpool on Saturday 2^nd November. The purpose of the trip was to encourage community involvement by older people. They also invited older people from Hillfields and Charterhouse to join the group in order to fill up the coach.

Unemployment in the PACT area

Between July and August, seasonally unadjusted unemployment rose in all but three Wards in the city. St. Michael’s Ward unemployment at 12.0% continues to be above the Community Plan target but unemployment has been falling in recent months.

Area Forum

The date of the next meeting of the South Central Area Forum has been put back to Thursday 12^th December at 1.30 p.m. at Sidney Stringer Community Technology College. The meeting will focus on youth issues in St. Michael’s and Cheylesmore wards and will include the involvement of young people.

Plans are being developed to hold a Community Conference for St. Michael’s Ward. The event is being organised by a team including Ward Councillors and the Community Advocate for the Coventry Partnership. The event will be an opportunity for local residents groups in the Ward to exchange information and discuss how they would like to feed into the developing Coventry Community Network. The conference will take place early in the New Year and more information will be given as plans develop.

Traffic Calming

Do you know of places that need traffic calming in Hillfields, Charterhouse or Cheylesmore? The City Council keeps a list of sites that have been identified by local residents and other people as dangerous. The ‘Perceived Safety Scheme’ budget is used to carry out traffic calming and safety measures on the highest priority sites. If there are places that you think should be on the Perceived Safety Scheme list please contact Graham Gillions on 7683 1341 

City Wide News

Area Co-ordination held a city-wide meeting on 8^th October to brief and consult voluntary sector organisations about the PPR. The meeting was attended by over 50 people and notes of the meeting are available from the Area Co-ordination Policy and Support Team on 7683 1074.

The Education Service has reorganised its “School Improvement Service” into 3 districts, which in general relate to the six area co-ordination areas. The individual services which have been organised in this way are Advisers, Education Psychology, Education Welfare, Governor support, Learning and Behaviour Support, Literacy Team, MGSS, Numeracy Team and SEN. Our key contact for the PACT area is Cath Haslam, telephone 7683 3637.

The City Council’s Land and Property Team is now called the “Property Assets Team” and the new head of service is Nigel Clews.

Over 50 people met on Friday 18^th October at the Coventry Community Fire Station to agree a draft Fire Safety Action Plan for Coventry. Fire Station Commanders from across the city reported a significant reduction in deliberate and accidental fires resulting from partnership work progressed since April. The action plan will be launched in March 2003. Contact Phil James on 7622 9566 for details.

Whitefriars have launched a new Tenants Support Scheme. A team of “helpers” is available to support new tenants with the problems they face moving into a new home. This includes establishing fuel supplies, filling in benefit forms, operating heating systems, help with furniture, dealing with domestic essentials such as television licenses etc. The cost of this support will be met via a charge (which will be eligible for housing benefit in line with normal qualifications). For more information contact Tenants Support Officers Kay McCabe on 7676 7170 or Regan Thacker on 76767169 or e mail Kay.McCabe@whitefriarshousing.co.uk

Coventry Youth Offending Service is looking to appoint volunteer mentors for literacy and numeracy. They are looking for people aged 18+ from all walks of life with good communication skills for 1–2 hours per week to help young people improve their literacy and numeracy skills.  Volunteers are offered training and support and a chance to develop mentoring skills. To find out more contact Julie Mills on 7683 2079 or e mail j.mills@coventry-yos.org.uk

In January 2003 Coventry City Council will take on new responsibilities to scrutinise local health services and a Health Scrutiny Board has been established. The Board is undertaking a consultation in the city to look at what health services should be located in the city centre following the relocation of Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital. The Area Co-ordination Office has copies of the consultation documents. Contact us if you would like to receive a copy or contact Tina.Watson @ coventry.gov.uk

The AGM of African Caribbean Steering Group will take place on Thursday 28^th November 2002 from 6.30 – 8.30 p.m. at the West Indian Community Centre in Spon Street.

Neighbourhood Initiatives

The Government has undertaken a Review of Neighbourhood Initiatives with a view to simplifying and rationalising the current plethora of initiatives. The Area Co-ordinator recently attended a seminar at Government Office and has written a note about the initiative. Contact the Area Co-ordination Office if you would like a copy of the seminar note or visit the ABI website at www.rcu.gov.uk/abi/

Government Office for the West Midlands is setting up a Regional Network for Neighbourhood Management. The first meeting was held in Wolverhampton on 9^th October. John Payne is attending these meetings on behalf of the Area Co-ordination Management Team and would be happy to provide feedback to anyone interested.

Welcomes and Goodbyes

We are not saying goodbye to Elle Whiston who is leaving the post of receptionist at WATCH at the end of November. This is because she is taking over the post of Assistant CBED worker based at WATCH. Welcome back Elle.

Welcome to Avtar Singh Sagoo who has been appointed by Coventry Refugee Centre to manage the Car Sense project and to Marcia Jarrett who has been appointed to the post of Health Promotion and Advocacy officer at Osaba Women’s Centre. Marcia is a Hillfields resident and previously worked at Southfields School. She would be interested in talking to people about how Osaba can get involved in health issues – contact her on 7622 1816.

Planning Applications

The following are some of the key planning applications in Hillfields, Charterhouse and Cheylesmore Ward received over the past month. It is not a comprehensive list. Anyone wanting to be put on the mailing list to receive weekly details of all planning applications should contact Ian Prowse, in City Development on 7683 1227. All planning applications can be inspected in the reception of the Tower Block, Much Park Street, during normal office hours.

o       42611/A  23 Nicholls Street: Change of use from shop (Use Class A1) to dwelling house and external alterations.

o       23154/B 83 Far Gosford Street: Change of use of ground floor of pawnbrokers (Use Class A2) to cafe bar with associated Internet use. Erection of security shutter to ground floor front elevation.

o       50331 Land Adjacent to Armstrong Siddeley & Frederick Lanchester Buildings, Gosford Street: Erection of bandstands

The following decisions have been made recently on key planning applications:

o       TELO 50177 Land East of Humber Avenue: Erection of 15 metre monopole mast, three dual polar antenna, one microwave dish antenna and associated equipment cabins and compound fencing. Approved with conditions.

o       19503/H Covpak Ltd. Rowley Drive: Use of land for parking, storage and maintenance of HGV car transporters including conversion of part of existing building to provide vehicle workshop (Class B2) and use of remainder of building for business use (Class B1), general industrial use (Class B1), general industrial use (Class B8) and refurbishment and re-cladding of existing building. New gates, fences, revised parking arrangements and revised landscaping. Approved with conditions.

o       50222 2 Carmelite Road: Change of use of shop to living accommodation. Approved with conditions.

o       24906/F Hillfields Nursery Centre, Clifton Street: Erection of canopy to form covered play area, extension to provide store and freestanding store building. Approved with conditions.

o       11407/C 3 – 5 Coronation Road: Erection of two terraced dwellings (re-submission) Approved with conditions.

o       23404/Q Institute Night Club, Ford Street: Installation of two roof mounted antennas, one wall mounted antenna and ancillary equipment. Approved with conditions.

Resources

The Heart of England Community Foundation is promoting eight different grant programmes, six of which groups in the PACT area may be eligible to apply for. The Area Co-ordination Office has a copy of the leaflet promoting these funding schemes or phone Tim Healey at the Trust on 7688 4386 or visit the website on www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk

There is more information about grants and resources on this website.