Stourbridge Township Council - The Neighbourhood Council of Stourbridge established 1979

MINUTES OF THE 389th MEETING OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 8th May 2014

PRESENT: Mrs EMD Scott (Chairman), Mr BS Craddock (Vice-Chairman), Mrs KC Shepherd (Clerk), Mr A Dawes,
Miss A Green, Mr IJ Hackett, Mrs JD Hackett, Mr PJ Miles, Mr RS Owen and Mr D Pope.
Visitors: Ms R Adams, Ms E Belcher, Sgt R Gardener (Stourbridge Police), Mrs M Miles, Cllr C Perks, Cllr H Rogers and
Mr J Smith.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Members: Mrs EE Fellows, Mrs W Packer, Mr D Price, Ms S Turner and Mrs M Wakelam.
Also: Mr N Barlow, Mrs K Dyas, Cllr C Hale, Cllr B Sykes and Ms M James MP.

POLICE MATTERS Attached details of forthcoming PACT meetings .
Item A: Sgt Gardener (Stourbridge Police) updated members with the crime statistics for the town and local neighbourhoods. Current local issues and priorities include:
Theft of high power motor vehicles – owners are being alerted to danger of potential theft – by the use of a gadget, similar to a key fob, which can unlock/activate the vehicle electrical system, enabling the car to be taken away. Stourbridge police are raising awareness by contacting residents via a letter drop and also speaking to motorists at garages.
A speed awareness day was carried out in Amblecote in partnership with the West Midlands Fire Service. Drivers exceeding the speed limit were given a one to one talk with a local fire officer – who explained and showed drivers the dangers of travelling at speed and what happens in a crash situation. A vehicle previously involved in a traffic accident was provided by the Fire Service. Hopefully by educating drivers will result in improved driving awareness and fewer accidents on the roads. Stourbridge Police are looking to carry out further speed awareness days in the area and members were invited to put forward any roads/areas where they felt drivers were regularly exceeding the speed limit, members could inform either the Clerk or their local neighbourhood officers. Norton Road was suggested and noted by Sgt Gardener.
Changes are being made, by West Midlands Police, to the ‘Stop and Search’ procedures used by police officers- a new electronic system is being introduced, which will improve the recording and monitoring of information for both the public and the police.

Item B: Mr I Hackett asked if there was a spate of purse theft in the town, as there had been 2 incidents in Tesco yesterday.
Sgt Gardener responded that there was no evidence that Stourbridge is being targeted and suggested it was a one off occurrence by an opportunist thief. However, he reminded members to be vigilant of what is going on around them and keep purses, wallets out of sight and ‘safe’ in pockets, handbags, etc.
An incident on the pedestrian crossing in Bell Street outside the Crystal Leisure Centre had occurred, when a car had stopped to allow persons to cross and was overtaken by another vehicle, fortunately no one was injured. The view of the crossing is somewhat obscured as it is on the brow of the hill. Comment was made that due to the redevelopment of the Crown Centre and new car park, the direction, flow and control of traffic has changed considerably and drivers, especially the occasional visitors/shoppers in Stourbridge will take time to get use to the changes – no excuse for committing a traffic offence but regular drivers to be aware of other drivers suddenly signalling to turn or change lanes.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman has received further comments regarding the traffic lights which control the flow of traffic on the Bath Road (Ring Road) and Crown Lane. Cars on Bath Road are following the instruction given by the Control lights for Crown Lane, due to the confusion created by there being 4 lighting poles in a line – 2 for each road. The Crown Lane lights are slightly offset and the green light is shuttered but this has not reduced the problem – several members commented that they have witnessed this on a daily basis. Clerk to contact Dudley Council Traffic Management team, Sgt Gardener to make enquires with local officers.
Exit from Crown Centre car park, lack of signage informing vehicles exiting the car park of oncoming traffic from the right. The Vice Chairman suggested this could be solved by adding some concrete channelling, instead of the painted lines on the road. Clerk is informed by Dudley Council this is the responsibility of Tesco, who own the car park.
The Longlands Centre, Stourbridge has again been targeted by vandals. The building and playing fields have fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect for some time. Following a press article re the latest outbreaks of vandalism local residents are demanding that action be taken to firstly secure the area but also for the owners to make decisions as to the future of the site.
Unfortunately there is more than one party who own Longlands. The building is owned by Stourbridge College, now BMet, and the Children’s Services Directorate own the playing fields. Thought has been given to turning the playing fields into allotments or reusing it as playing fields for Greenfield School.
Unfortunately there are cellars, old foundations from former buildings beneath the ground - which would require substantial remedial work be carried out to make the ground safe to use and this in turn would require public funding. Perhaps the unsafe area could be determined by viewing old plans of the area, metal detection or probing the ground and cordoned off, allowing some of the playing field to be used. BMet want to sell their land and building for property development -no buyer or plans have been submitted to date. Priority needs to be given to making the area secure to prevent further vandalism and damage.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 388th meeting of the Stourbridge Township Council held on 10th April 2014 were received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Signage on the Bridge over the River Stour – Ms R Adams had met with Steve Field, who created and designed a sign for the bridge as part of the former ‘Northern Gateway and pocket park project in 2008. The design incorporates the Stourbridge Coat of Arms and Ms Adams had a copy for all to view. Members thought that the design was excellent and hoped that it may be adopted as part of SAAP for the regeneration of the River Stour and Canal Basin. There is also a public display of the River Stour project in Stourbridge library foyer, which shows the natural habitat of the river and also the excellent work being carried out by volunteers to clean it up. The next ‘work’ day is Sunday 18 May at the Bonded Warehouse -details circulated to members.

MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES
Following the Chairman’s complaint to Dudley CCG regarding the length of time for her to receive medical attention following a 111 call (11.5 hours for a GP visit) she has received an apology and informed further enquires are being made. This only highlights the need to improve the Urgent Care, especially the Out of Hours service, being the main reason that persons seeking medical advice go to A&E or the Walk in Centre due to the lack of medical facilities and availability locally.
Members, who have been to the new Lion Medical Centre (relocated Worcester Street Surgery), are impressed with the premises and facilities. Mixed views on the customer service – long queue to get an appointment to one member actually being seen early! Currently there is no bus service into the Centre, although discussions and a survey of patients needs/views is being carried out. There are regular bus services on Enville Street, which is a short walk away.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES
Item A: Members were informed about flooding in Lea Vale Road and Sheraton Grange, Norton between 27 December 13 and mid March which affected approx 40 houses. Dudley Council quickly installed a pump in Lea Vale Road to enable water to be pumped from the gardens; at times additional generators had to be used to prevent the water flowing into houses. The pump has only been removed this week. Without Dudley Council’s support and action the situation could have been much worse. The problem arises from the flow of water from Outy John Lane, across Stourbridge Golf Course into Lea Vale Road. The only way to prevent it happening again is to build a culvert across the gardens of Lea Vale Road and Sheraton Grange to carry the water away. Residents have been consulted and a funding application has been made by Dudley Council on their behalf to the Environmental Agency. This will be a major project as an approx 12” culvert will need to be dug through gardens, patios, walls, fences, as well as creating balancing pools/bunds to hold any excess water. This highlights the fact that although we live in the ‘Midlands’ any location/area can fall victim to environmental or flood damage.

Item B: Three new shops have opened in Market Street, Stourbridge: Fair and Square – selling fair trade products: Scary Canary and Wardrobe One – selling clothing and accessories.
A planning application has been submitted for a new retailer in the Ryemarket, taking over 2 units, next to WH Smiths, believed to be Peacocks.
www.stourbridge.com has a new web page about car parking in and around Stourbridge- map showing the location/route, and detailed information re spaces, costs, times, etc.

Item C: The litter problem in Greenfield Gardens has lessened – a litter pick is being arranged between the local PCSO’s and Greenfield Primary School in June.
It is noted that there is still a problem with the two bins at the end of Talbot passage which are overflowing and have litter shrewd over the passageway. Clerk has informed Street Cleansing who have spoken to the premises concerned, but it does not appear the retailers have taken action.

CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman thanked members and visitors for attending and closed the meeting at 8.45pm.

Chairman, 12th June 2014

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