Oh yay, AG gets another blog :) August 26, 2009

This time it is Acocks Green Traders with a lovely site with lots of info on it already including the new plans for AG centre.  The blog itself is formed by:

Co-editor is Acocks Green trader Tim Brown, of Costa Coffee.  Tim was, until recently, Chair of Acocks Green Traders’ Association.  He has now resigned from that role because it was taking up too much of his time,  but he continues to be keen to promote improvements for Acocks Green village.  During his time as Chair he built up considerable knowledge of Acocks Green’s commercial area and of local traders’ concerns.    He is also the owner of a franchise and has thirty years trading experience himself.

With editorial support from our friends over at Acocks Green Focus Group.  So if you are an AG trader why not have your voice heard via the blog.

Skip over – Power of a micro-blog? August 13, 2009

A skip collecting lorry arrived about 4pm this afternoon, and huzzah the offending skip has now gone.  But what made this happen?  It is difficult to tell really but the former blog post got a lot of traffic this afternoon.  I doubt Weir understood my threats of “move it or I’m writing a blog post.”  And does my blog have much weight anyway?  My comments on Twitter can’t have helped their company appearance but have they even noticed?

The AG Ward Support Officer was on his hols but the lady holding the reigns was very helpful  She phoned them too so I’m sure that escalated Weir’s awareness of my unhappiness.

I suppose the bigger question is why the skip companies have so much power over a load of rubbish right outside your home.  I see full, stinking, rotting skips all over the place and bad mouth the people who ordered them all the time.  Perhaps they have been as powerless as me.  Is there any legislation in this area?   How long can a skip sit there for?  Any horror stories out there?

Not Skipping For Joy :( August 13, 2009

Having work done on your house is stressful right?  Especially an unplanned concrete floor!  So a skip was needed to take away all the sand and soil, the old concrete tiles etc.  The chap doing the work ordered a skip.  He paid cash on delivery and now I am a slave to them!

It is full.  They know it’s full, I phone and tell them nearly everyday.  And I’ve been waiting a month, four whole weeks for it to be collected!  Weir Waste Services, don’t bother using them!

This isn’t a very good blog post I’m just desperate for it to be gone.

Chill @ Costa June 26, 2009

Driving passed the Costa Coffee in AG on a Friday evening I’d normally expect it to be all closed up, lights off.  However, I saw a few young people coming out and I remembered something I’d heard at the neighbourhood forum.  There were music events at the Costa for 13-19 year olds but the funding had been pulled!  Yes, the funding was pulled from Community Chest, but fortunately they got Youth Opportunity Funding.  Yay!

I really hope that isn’t true

I found a few details about Chill on facebook.  Does anyone have any other info?

I’m hoping to be invited to the next one to do an interview or two.

 

What’s in a name? June 23, 2009

I haven’t come across this site before but William Dargue’s – A History of Birmingham Places & Placenames has some fantastic information and pictures of Acocks Green on it.

It seems the Acock’s family gave us our name but actually they lived a bit further down the road!  As Dargue explains:  “The change of location of Acocks Green took place as a result of the surveys which were undertaken in preparation for the cutting of the Birmingham & Warwick Canal in 1792. The mapmaker mistakenly applied the name Acocks Green to the hamlet of Westley Brook.”

We’ll probably stick with it for now though eh?  Although I’ve had some funny looks/ comments when giving someone my address who lives outside of Brum.  “A … cocks … green?!”

Shared Space May 14, 2009

This week Moseley Neighbourhood Forum held a public meeting about their proposed Shared Space scheme.  This was picked up by the Birmingham Mail and featured architects’ impressions.  The images are heralded as what Moseley ”could look like if it was turned into what would be city’s first “shared space”.”  This is all wonderful news for Moseley, something that could also benefit visitors to the area, which I am regularly

However, AG’s Shared Space bid/consultation/request has been on the table for a very long time.  Why are the priorities of other areas of Birmingham coming before Acocks Green?  Why is our voice not being heard?

Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum public meeting and AGM, Thursday 14th May May 10, 2009

Baptist Church Hall, Yardley Road, 7.30pm

Guest Speakers from Acocks Green Focus Group will be discussing proposals for a Conservation Area of Acocks Green.

Everyone welcome and there will be refreshments!  See you there? http://acocksgreenneighbourhoodforum.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/next-meeting-for-acocks-green-neighbourhood-forum/

Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum starts blog, yay! April 30, 2009

“I am AG too!. Yes long overdue, Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum has a web presence!! Thanks to the support of Birmingham Bloggers Social Media Surgery last week.  Check it out : http://www.acocks-green-neighbourhood-forum.org“ 

This wonderful information comes from Ged Hughes!  Good on you Ged

Neighbourhood Forums March 16, 2009

I’ve been trying quite hard to find out more information about Acocks Green’s Neighbourhood Forum.  I kinda knew there was one but don’t try the tinterweb for details, there aren’t any!

Iain Bowen (iain.bowen@birmingham.gov.uk), one of AG’s councillors,  informs me that actually there are 3 neighbourhood forums in this Council Ward; one covering the Yarnfield Estate, one for the Gospel Estate and Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum which covers the areas off Yardley Road.   I found some info for the latter, a website but the info is so old.

I also kinda got that they are community organisations which recieve a small amount of funding and represent people’s views at other forums.  Iain tells me they hold 4 public meetings a year.  It would be great if these dates were on the web somewhere.   And a contact e-mail address.  I’m chasing these things up so watch this space. 

My arguement here really is that they can’t be working that well if we know nothing about them.  Does anyone have any information regarding the 3 Neighbourhood Forums in AG?  Or any advice/guidance on NFs in general?  Would you like to get involved but don’t know how?

Welcome to I am AG. February 16, 2009

Well, here it is.  My attempt at a blog and my first post.  Trouble is I’m not sure what this is going to be.  It will be concerned with Acocks Green of course.  This is not a place to advocate that just I am AG but that, perhaps, Acocks Green is missing an identity.  I feel AG is definately missing a voice, especially on the web.  Go on pop it into Google.  Not much there right?

So, let’s start shouting “I am AG” and see what happens.  Who’s listening?  What do we want to say?  Perhaps we can begin to take ownership of the place we live, work and play in.

Do you have an opinion on Acocks Green?