Acocks Green Focus Group

Autumn comes to Acocks Green

Nights are drawing in, leaves are turning red and gold, snow has fallen on Acocks Green  … and we said we would begin to publish, and publicise, the results of our summer survey this autumn.   Well, firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to sit down and fill in the survey.  It is heartening to know that there are a lot of fellow Acocks Green people out there who are sufficiently concerned about their suburb to write detailed, thoughtful, replies to a lot of questions.  We have started to work our way through our “harvest”.   Here are some quotations from the surveys:

We asked you to Name Three Things to Make Acocks Green Better

Less traffic through the centre, wider pavements, more trees & shrubs (more Acocks Green rather than Acocks Grey). More nice cafes / coffee shops. (22,4.08)

Take down the railings, get better street cleaning and more prominent policing. (3.5.08)

I wish The green was more like Moseley with interesting shops, lovely old bars and maybe a farmers market. If Kings Norton has one why not us?  There is no park in the area so plant as many trees as possible that will help improve the appearance of the Green. Stop demolishing old houses and preserve old trees (28.5.07)

Better utilisation of the open spaces, eg on the Warwick Road we  have a dual carriageway arrangement, with a wide central reservation, then a wide pavement then a two lane road and another wide pavement. if the overall width of the lanes required for the arterial route could be reduced (as well as reduced in speed) more space could be given over to landscaped pedestrian areas with improved views to shop fronts, cafe area etc. 2.take railings away, replace with bollards to prevent people parking where they shouldn’t. 3.more varied evening offers, I’m all for cheap beer and a curry, however there could be more which could re-vitalise the centre.(28.5.08)

Some green spaces would be nice,removal of the bizarre bus lane on the warwick road.Better street cleaning that at present and the removal of guard rails in the village.(17.6.08)

1. Traffic calming if possible. To include better signposting of public car parks, replace central parking with attractive feature. 2. Clean Greenery - More planting, baskets, cleaning of streets, shop competitions etc. 3. More diverse shopping experiences. Could farmers or craft fairs be a possibility/  26.8.08

The pavements are a mess. As for the layout of the area by Argos, one either needs to take several anti-depressants or have a strong blind-fold to hand before walking across it. Yes, yes, yes, I know it would be costly, but you need to press on with these things. These things take time. They have taken long enough. How can you expect an area to develop if such improvements aren’t made in time? Acocks Green has little to offer to anyone my age (17) (of course, apart from the bowling alley. Wonderful). Please lose the dreadful Birmingham City Council notice board (the massive eyesore that nobody looks at)  (21.9.08)

Not everyone agreed with us, of course …

A 20mph speed limit would be ok. Guard rails are vital safety features, it would be madness to even consider removing them unless the area was pedestrianised, which would be impossible to do  (5.5.08)

Some of these questions are phrased to invite negative answers. RE: Guard rails - these are MEANT to ’cause problems’ ie. to discourage (prevent) pedestrians from crossing at random rather than at recognised or controlled crossings.(13.7.08)

There was also some warm praise for Acocks Green.  Most of you seemed to think that, whatever was wrong with our centre it was worth making the effort to put it right!

When I see the library it reminds me of the “old village” I hope they never change it. I also like the War monument commemorating the people who fought. I also like St Mary’s Church it can look quite majestic at times.(10.5.08)

Friendly atmosphere 2 A good heritage combined with an awareness of modern day needs. 3. An excellent mix of all races and religions with harmony between them.(5.5.08)

1. transport links are good 2. Sense of place is still intact - the first time I came across it I thought here is a complete little town in miniature swallowed up by Birmingham 3. There are local groups working on behalf of the community (26.8.08)

The full results, including the actual grades people awarded different facilities and aspects of The Green, will appear in due course.  Because we think these results are interesting, and people are still filling in the survey, we see now reason to stop it yet, though.   The results will be used in our campaign to get a Feasibility Study to look at the possibilities for improving the centre of Acocks Green, and will be passed to the Council, including to The Regeneration Department, and to The Acocks Village Partnership, and to the media.   If you would still like to take the survey click here to take part in our survey.

One eyesore in Acocks Green down.  How many more to go?   This was on our newly extended list of things we would rather not see in Acocks Green Centre.  It disappeared a few hours after listing.  We wish the power of our website could be so amazing on a more regular basis!  Joking apart we realise we are not so powerful … but we did help campaign for the removal of this item.   Anyone want it back?  Check out the rest of our list of eyesores in “How Acocks Green Looks Now”.

The Placard on The Green - gone!!

Rachel Kingsley of Birmingham City Council Transportation Strategy has recently circulated a new plan for part of the centre of Acocks Green.  The Plan, which involves alterations to the junction area of Warwick Road and Dudley ParkRoad,  is on display in Acocks Green Library until 22 September 08.  We include a link to it here:  Transportation Strategy Plan for Acocks Green 08 This Plan involves the removal of the bus lanes on Dudley Park Road and Warwick Road in the centre of Acocks Green.   This is something the Focus Group has been calling for for years and it has been a regular topic of discussion on this blog.  However, sadly, we do not think that this particular plan, as it stands, is the best way forward for Acocks Green and we are calling for serious revisions to it.

Crossing from Wilkinson's to Barclays

Part of the plan involves the replacement of this current pedestrian crossing between Wilkinson’s and Barclay’s by two separate pelican crossings.  We believe this would cause yet more severance problems in the centre, requiring pedestrians to take a much longer route than at present, and ignoring the desire line.   It will also require pedestrians to wait twice, sometimes in pouring rain, whilst lights go through the cycle and car drivers, meantime, pass dryly without having to stop.  Furthermore, at certain times of day this crossing carries large numbers of people, incuding school children.  There will be far more people than will be able to fit onto the central reservation, which could result in a spilling off in front of traffic.

By contrast, when we visited Kensington on Monday 8 September 2008 we saw sights like the one below here.  People cross this busy road on simple, straight across crossings, on a road which has a traffic flow of around 2,000 vehicles per hour - far in excess of Acocks Green -  and a remarkably good safety rate.   In this plan The 37 bus stop near Wilkinson’s will be re-located to accomodate the new and complex crossing.  We do not believe that the relocation of the bus stop is desirable or necessary.  We believe that the bus stop should remain where it is.  This is the most convenient location available.  It is easy to walk to and from and does not require the disruption of other facilities in The Green.

The complex new crossing proposed for Acocks Green may be compared with crossings like this one, which we saw for ourselves in action in Kensington on Monday 8 September.

Kensington High Street Simple Straight Across Crossing in Action 8/9/08

These, simple, crossings are pelican operated but require almost no street furniture and are quick and easy to get across.  This is on a street far wider than than any in Acocks Green and with a famously excellent safety rate over the past six years - deaths and serious injuries amongst pedestrians have been reduced by around two thirds since this system was introduced.

For a complete version of our response to the present Transportation Strategy Department Plan see here:

Focus Group Letter to Transporation re Acocks Green Plan 08

We recomend that unless you are happy with this plan in its entirety you should make your views known on the very short and simple questionnaire which is being supplied by Birmingham City Council.  This is also available now in Acocks Green Library, or you may download it here:

acocks-green-questionnaire-bcc-transportation-plan-08

Note: Notices put out by Birmingham City Council say that the “Consultation Period” is concluded on 22 September, but the questionnaire gives a final return date of 8.12.08.

Stop Press: We understand that the Plan will be discussed at the next Acocks Green Ward meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday 12 November and that with members of BCC Transportation Strategy will be available to answer questions.  The meeting will be at 7 pm at Severne Road Junior and Infants School, Acocks Green.

Kensington High Street - New, Uncluttered, Straight Across Crossing

One of the models we have always looked to in our suggestions for Acocks Green centre has been the famous Kensington High Street redesign. This is not a total Shared Space design, but it has features related to Shared Space Most famously Kensington removed many metres of guard rail … the result? Massively improved safety rates.

To find out more why not come with us on 8 September 2008 to see for yourself and to take part in a guided tour that The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are laying on especially for Acocks Green. We will meet their Chief Highways Engineer, and Deputy Council Leader Daniel Moylan, who was the councillor most involved in the redesign.

See Kensington and meet Daniel Moylan and Shared Space expert Ben Hamilton-Baillie on this video clip here: Daniel Moylan on Kensington High Street

This may be the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea but the trip will not cost you a king’s ransom. We will be leaving at 10.05 am on Monday the 8th September from Solihull Station and travelling, on The Chiltern Line, in parties of 3 or 4 on special group off-peakGroup Travel tickets to Marylebone and, from there, taking the tube to Kensington. Total cost: £16.00 per person for a party of four on one ticket or £21.00 per person for a party of three on one ticket.  That includes underground travel. The main rail journey is about two hours. We then take one tube train to Kensington High Street. If you would like to check that out with Chiltern call 08456 005 165 or look online at http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/buy-online/

If you think you would like to come with us why not drop us a line by responding to this post, below. Enquiries about Kensington, with your details, will not go live on the site, but we will get back to you - generally same day.

Update: See some of what we saw in our “Better Street Design” link on the left here.

Brendon Daly, landlord of The Inn on the Green Pub has put a lot of work into the appearance of both the pub, which is an important feature on The Green, and into the new garden outside. This has included adding trees to the front … except that they kept on being pulled out. A frustrated Brendon said:

It is a real shame that there are a few mindless idiots in Acocks Green who do not want The Green to change. Altogether we have had six trees pulled out and, of those, lost three. But we will persist in doing our part to help Acocks Green change for the better.

Acocks Green Focus Group decided to buy Brendon a new tree, a flowering hawthorn. This, so far, has been vandal proof. Julia Larden, Chair of Acocks Green Focus Group said:

Brendon has worked so hard with the pub, and the attached new restaurant La Verde, and has given a lot of support to campaigners like us. We need people like Brendon to stay in Acocks Green, and we desperately need more permanent planting like this to improve the look of the centre of Acocks Green, as well.

See below photo of some of the Focus Group with Brendon (with spade) and tree.

Focus Group with Brendon and Tree

Also see “Tree of Hope” at the Solihull Observer - however, note it is The Green we want to improve, not The Inn on the Green - Brendon’s leading the way and the pub’s been improved!!

There is another piece at  Anger at Vandels Pulling up Tree at the Solihull Times.

Someone asked a question in a comment that we felt deserved a proper answer.

Since I moved to Oxford Road in 2006 there has been a great increase in through traffic using this road rather than wait in queues on Warwick Road. I see the bus lane is still in place causing single lane traffic 2 years after the meeting about this, so what (if anything) is being done about it?

We do agree that there are serious problems with bus lanes in Acocks Green, especially on Dudley Park Road. We did our own survey on this.  One of the problems is, indeed, traffic peeling off into other roads.  As you note from information on our blog here, we have discussed this problem with The Council.  In principle they have agree with us that the bus lane should go.  However, it was also agreed that, instead of rushing through an expensive scheme, just to replace the bus lane, things should be properly thought through and coordinated with a bigger plan for a more comprehensive re-design for Acocks Green centre.  For this a feasibility study is needed.

Money for a feasibility study was promised last year.  This money (£20,000) is still there to be spent. The funding of the feasibility study was placed on hold last year awaiting the Local Services team to put in place a Town Centre Manager who could best represent them in further discussions about what the study should cover.  The Town Centre Manager post has now been filled.

At time of writing we are awaiting developments.  Watch this space!