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Report of Wednesday’s Abbey Neighbourhood Forum 

Councillor Steve Eling reports back on the Bearwood Neighbourhood Forum meeting held last night (Wednesday 5 th March) at St Mary’s Church Hall.

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Bearwood – a damned good place to live! 

It's very easy as a local councillor to get bogged down in some of the negativity about Bearwood that appears in the social media.

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Bearwood – a damned good place to live! 

It's very easy as a local councillor to get bogged down in some of the negativity about Bearwood that appears in the social media.

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Simon’s sunset 

I am running out of superlatives to describe Simon Lea’s photograph’s.

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Police plea to elderly – don’t be conned by phone scammers 

Police are urging West Midlands’ communities to rally against phone scammers who are conning the region’s elderly out of thousands of pounds with banking scare stories.

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First hurdle cleared 

The proposed planning application to convert the former HSBC bank on Bearwood Road to a public house went to Sandwell Council's planning committee this evening.

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Prince’s Trust opportunity 

I f you know of any young adult (16 to 25 years ) who would benefit from attending a 12-week Prince's Trust programme right here in Smethwick at the police station.

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May Day parking 

Last year due to the number of people who attended the Lightwoods May Day festival there was chaos in the surrounding roads.

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Licence application update 

Local CAMRA member John Kelly has been in touch with Black Country Ales about their licence application and has sent us this update: I've recently been speaking to a senior manager from Black Country Ales.

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Planting big trees… 

There's been a lot of comment about a number of trees being taken down in Warley Woods…well, today was Big Tree Plant day in Warley Woods.

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Barclay Road latest 

As many of you will no there was a shocking accident on the building site at 103-109 Barclay Road earlier this week, which fortunately didn't result in a fatality.

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Some more living walls 

These are some examples of the flexibility around the concept of 'living walls' that we would like to adopt in some form in Bearwood.

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Making plans for May Day 

Plans are underway for yet another bumper Bank Holiday festival in Lightwoods Park.

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Update on Barclay Road 

I’m told by the building inspectors that the workman should be ok, obviously barring any unforeseen problems.

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Major incident in Barclay Road 

There has been a major incident in Barclay Road on the vacant land between 103-109 Barclay Road.

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Stunning! 

Simon Lea's incredible picture of stars over a Warley Woods.

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The Brook in full flow 

Thimblemill Brook is one of our three green spaces here in Bearwood, a positive haven of urban wildlife and fauna… but it is also playing another key environmental role.

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Jazz at the Silvershine 

The full line-up for the next few months at Bearwood's own jazz venue, the Silvershine Jazz Cub has now been announced.

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License application now in for new Bearwood bar 

I have received the Licensing application for the new pub on the site of the HSBC bank.

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Maybe it’s the weather… 

…or something like that…but it's a shame that our community artist hasn't done his annual refresh of his art work for today! For romantics everywhere……

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‘Allo, ‘ allo, ‘allo, what’s all this then? 

We here and read a variety of reports about crime and anti-social behaviour here in Abbey Ward.

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Spread the word… 

Volunteers also welcome…

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Know your history 

The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry will be holding courses both introductory and advanced in Family History.

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An early ‘heads up’ 

Many of you will remember the wanton vandalism that destroyed the memorial benches in Warley Woods last year.

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More stew…. 

A couple of weeks ago we told you about the new volunteer project , Smethwick in a Stew aimed at providing warm food and good company for people, in conjunction with Smethwick library and the Dorothy Parkes Centre.

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Tonight…. 

Get your brains working…

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You wait years for one lot of roadworks… 

…and then two come together.

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Declaring war on dog fouling 

Sandwell Council is launching a hard-hitting poster campaign as part of its 'zero to lerance' approach to dog mess .

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Could ‘living walls’ work for Bearwood? 

Sandwell Council is investigating the potential for using the concept of 'living walls' to help relieve the pollution issues around Bearwood Road.

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More on the ‘Mill 

I have had a number of enquiries about the proposed Nursing Home on the site currently occupied by the Thimblemill public house.

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News on the ‘Mill 

The Council has received a planning application to demolish the Thimblemill Pub and propose a change of use… More details here ……

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Not before time… 

At last, something is finally about to happen!! http://birminghamupdates.

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Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch… 

J ust before Christmas we told you about the Smethwick in a Stew project, running out of the Dorothy Parkes Centre and that it would be expanded in the New Year.

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Holocaust Memorial Day in Sandwell 

A special public event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day will be held at the Memorial Gardens in West Bromwich on Sunday 26 January.

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A date for your diary… National Libraries Day 

February 8th is National Libraries Day, and our own superb community library is hosting a couple of great events to mark the day.

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It was cold and wet and worth it… 

We received a warm welcome this morning on our latest street surgery.

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Battle lines drawn over new bar 

The prospect of a new real ale bar in Bearwood has had a mixed response, varying from the wildly enthusiastic to the downright hostile.

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Planning Application 

One planning application for Abbey Ward on this week’s list that may be of general interest….

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Hagley Road roadworks update 

We've had a number of inquiries about the intersection across to Galton Road near The Dog, as well as the lack of visible activity at the Kings Head junction.

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Making Mayday even better 

Plans are currently underway for this year’s Bank Holiday Mayday Festival in Lightwoods Park.

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At last… 

After over 8 years of waiting, the road works to remove the subway and create a surface crossing for pedestrians at the Hagley Road Kings head junction… is underway…

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Jazz at Corks for the New Year 

Bearwood's Silvershine Jazz promoter Paul Foad says “We are kicking off the New Year tomorrow night at Corks with a Bluenotes line-up, plus some special guests.

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The Bearwood Blog in 2013 

The WordPress.

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Smethwick in a Stew 

(Via Enjoy Bearwood on Facebook) We all know that Christmas i s about getting together with family and friends and eating to excess…..

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Amazing – Stop Press 

The legend that is Soweto Kinch will be appearing at the Silvershine Jazz Club at Corks tonight with Kansas Smitty’s.

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Christmas and New Year refuse collection changes 

Bearwood refuse collections will be changed over the Christmas holidays because we have a Wednesday collection day.

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The real big society 

A couple of weeks ago an elderly woman was mugged in Park Road and hospitalised by the thug who stole her handbag.

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One not to miss… Seriously good 

Earlier this year Birmingham's very own Reuben James brought the roof down at Corks with his fantastic band, Kansas Smitty's.

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Hundreds welcome Santa 

Bigger crowds than ever flocked toWarley Woods this evening to escorts Santa on his trail through the park.

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U’V got to be barmy to burgle in Bearwood 

A crime prevention initiative between the police and Abbey Ward councillors is to be extended across the whole of Bearwood.

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Santa Claus is coming to town… 

This Sunday, near the water fountain in the meadow, Farther Christmas will be coming to Warley Woods in his specially designed Santamobile.

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People’s stories about the People’s Park 

Warley Woods has played an important part in the lives of many people in Bearwood, and beyond, and lots of people have fond memories of the park going back decades.

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Welcome to Senior Section Girl Guides 

“The Senior Section is about friends and fun, where you’ll be challenged to try new things and to change the world through the Look Wider programme.

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Xmas lights switched on 

A small but hardy bunch toasted the switch on of the festive lights in Bearwood in the teeth of a howling gale and lashing sleet (ok, I exaggerate, but it was cold and windy).

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Well done Philippa 

You may remember that Philippa Carr was offering hypnotherapy sessions in return for a donation to Sandwell Women's Aid to mark White Ribbon Day.

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Can anyone help? 

I have received the following message from an honest citizen.

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Changes to Thimblemill Brook 

We're very fortunate in Bearwood to have a couple of superb public green spaces in Warley Woods and Lightwoods Park.

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Police Appeal after Beakes Road hit-and-run 

POLICE are appealing for information after an elderly man was found lying in Beakes Road, Smethwick on Saturday evening , 23 November at around 9.30pm .

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Monday 25th November – White Ribbon Day 

You may be aware that Monday 25th November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

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Give a bit of Bearwood this Xmas 

When you've sent your Warley Woods Xmas cards, and bought some gifts from Bearwood Handmade , why not send a stocking filler to a friend showing some glorious images of old Bearwood and Smethwick.