Councillor update on Planning Applications of importance in Moseley & Kings Heath Ward – Sunday 15th October 2006

S/07195/05/FUL, 9 Boundary Drive, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8NY - Proposal
Retention of single storey side extension with alterations to roof - Awaiting Report

S/01945/06/ FUL, 141 Sandford Road, Moseley - Erection of single storey forward extension, front porch, construction of new bay and bow windows to front with canopy over.- Awaiting Report

S/01332/06/FUL, 7 Park Hill, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DU - Retention of boundary walls to front and side. - Awaiting Report

S/01333/06/FUL, 7a Park Hill, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DU - Retention of boundary walls to front and side - Awaiting Report

S/01697/06/FUL, St Mary's Row, Moseley Village Green, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 - Erection of Tolkien landmark sculpture to include 6.5m high metal "Ent" sculpture, life size statues of children, laying of resin bonded crushed glass tiles, removal of three trees and planting of four new trees - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp

S/01723/06/FUL, 18 Belle Walk, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9DE - Erection of 1.8 metres high front boundary wall and 2 no. 2 metres high front gates - Report In Draft

S/02255/06/FUL - 582 Moseley Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B12 9AA - Use for assembly and leisure (D2) including skate boarding, BMX, climbing - internal alterations, external refurbishment, provision of parking spaces - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp

S/04017/06/FUL - 123 Moor Green Lane, Pitmaston, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8NG - Conversion of existing buildings and erection of new buildings to provide 64 one, two and three bedroom dwelling - Under consideration

S/04169/06/CAC - 08-118 Church Road, Land rear of, Moseley, B13 9AA - Demolition of garages and erection of two 3 bedroom houses with off street parking - Under consideration

S/04236/06/LDE - 7A Park Hill, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DU - Certificate of lawfulness for a lorry repair workshop and park (to rear of site) and ancillary store to coach house - Under consideration

S/04507/06/FUL - 108-118 Church Road, Land rear of, Moseley, Birmingham, - Demolition of garages to form secure off street car parking - Under consideration

S/04780/06/FUL - 22 Goodby Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8NJ - Erection of single storey rear extension - Under consideration

S/04933/06/FUL - 39 Forest Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9DH - Demolition of existing workshop and erection of one 1-bedroom flat - Under consideration

S/05510/06/FUL - 145-147 Alcester Road, The Cross, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JP - use of the 1st floor as bar in conjuntion with ground floo and continuation of opening to 00:30 - Under consideration

S/05627/06/FUL - 126 Springfield Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7DX - Demolition of existing bungalow and proposed development of two storey house and garage - Under consideration

S/05637/06/FUL - 41 Amesbury Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8LE -Proposed development of two storey detached dwelling house. - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp

S/05706/06/FUL - 26 Goodby Road, Birmingham, B13 8NJ - External ramps for wheelchair access - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp

S/06141/06/FUL - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp - 40 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8EJ - Change of use from retail (A1) to hot food takeaway (A5) - Awaiting PP/Cons Exp

Shared space presentation and Kings Heath High Street

I attended the ‘Share Space’ presentation in Acocks Green on Wednesday 27th September. Can I apologize for the delay in doing this write-up. I’ve been up to my eye-balls in other Councillor related work, hence the delay.

The event consisted of a series of presentations lasting from 10am till 4.30pm. I only attended the morning session, but this proved to be the most important session since it contained a presentation by the designer behind the Kensington High Street project.

Attending this event with me was Councillor Ernie Hendricks and the Highways Engineers working on the Kings Heath High Street project.

Since, being elected a Councillor in June 2004, I’ve been banging on about the need to apply ‘Kensington High Street’ principles to Kings Heath High Street and Moseley centre.

Ben Hamilton-Baille, the designer behind the Kensington High Street project, did a powerpoint presentation which lasted an hour. I can honestly say that it was the best powerpoint presentation I’ve ever seen – Al Gore’s climate change presentation came a close second.

The presentation used photographs and animation to convey his ideas. It was funny (I laughed out loud several times), intelligent and inspiring.

The point that Ben Hamilton-Baille was making was that since 1960, Britain’s High Street have become both ugly and unfriendly due to our obsession with keeping cars and pedestrian separate. He argued against this by using the idea of a car driving around a busy camp-site. All cars drive slowly around camp sites, because the car driver is aware that people are running around and they could be run over.

There are two aspects that Ben gets over:
1) the need to de-clutter our High Streets – our High Streets are covered in a rash of street signs and road markings that make the place look a mess. Reduce these to a minimum
2) design the High Street so that there is a blurring of the demarcation between the road and the pavement. Car drivers will automatically slow down. It will make the High Street more friendly and pleasing to use.

Ben said that prior to the Kensington High Street project, there was resistance from various safety organizations and the bus companies who claimed there would be chaos. Since it introduction, there has been no increase in road accidents and buses are getting from one end of the High Steet to the other end quicker.

Photos of Kensington High Street can be seen here: http://www.hamilton-baillie.co.uk/gallery.htm#kensington

If readers are keen, I am happy to get Ben Hamilton-Baillie to do his presentation again in either Moseley or Kings Heath.