Carols in the Park: 5pm, Sat 17th December

Petition

Please sign our petition calling on Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police to use the powers available to them to swiftly remove illegal camps from city parks and open spaces.

Emergency Committee meeting

There will be an emergency meeting of the Friends of Selly Oak Park at 1pm on Sun 6th Nov. In the Scout Hut on Gibbins Rd. All are welcome.

Local green flag park damaged by travellers for second time in six months.

31^st October 2016

Local green flag park damaged by travellers for second time in six months.

The Friends of Selly Oak Park have tonight called for a review of the police response to travellers on the city’s park following damage to the park caused by travellers in June and October. The latest group of travellers arrived at the weekend but were not moved on by police despite having gained access to the park by forced entry. This delay resulted in the travellers being able to cut braches off trees I the park in order to light bonfires. There we also reports of fireworks being thrown at cars on Gibbins Rd. While the Friends of Selly Oak Park believe that all communities are entitled to the lifestyle of their choice no one should be allowed defecate, fly tip, light fires in a public park or use a park as a site for an unofficial firework display. While West Midlands Police and Fire service did attend they did not extinguish the fires or prevent fireworks from being thrown at cars. We demand an explanation as to why the fires were allowed to continue and ask that the travellers, who have now clearly committed offences have not been moved on with immediate effect. We also call on Birmingham City Council to install new gates at the park.

Notes to editors

Friends of Selly Oak Park is a not for profit community group dedicated to supporting the park and the needs of its users.

Selly Oak Park has been a Green Flag park since 2013 and had recently had this status renewed for 2016/17.

Travellers - again!

Very disapointed at the police response to the current batch of travellers on the park. Bonfires and fireworks tonight. Possibly the worst week in the year in which to 'host' a traveller group.

Do come along and support us or join us.

A warm welcome awaits you at:

A Public Meeting
3pm, Sunday 18th September 2016
Ariel Scout Hut, Gibbins Road

Agenda

1. Apologies...
2. Minute of the 2015 meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Chairman's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Lapal Canal update
7. Selly Oak Festival
8. Carols in the park
9. Fake Festival
10. Travellers
11. Elections for 2015/16
12. Any Other Business

We are always looking for interested people to join us on the Committee to represent the needs of the Park, and of its users, and to liaise with the Parks Department staff who look after the Park.

GREEN FLAG 2016

The announcement of the Green Flag winners for 2016 was made recently.  And yes, we are in the list again.

http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/news/2016/07/green-flag-award-winners-announced/

As always, a big THANK YOU to Birmingham City Council and all their involved staff, to the maintenance teams from Quadron, and to the people of Selly Oak for valuing the Park and showing concern for its wellbeing.

Temporary Security

Birmingham City Council have now installed some temporary security measures on the Gibbins Rd frontage near the Scout Hut.

Pokemon in the Park!

There seem to be a lot of Pokemon around in Selly Oak Park many cluster near our fantastic nature trail features.

Please be watchful

The travellers who were in Selly Oak Park moved over to Selly Park Rec. They will be evicted from there on Friday and we are expecting them to start that move on Thursday night. We are worried they may retun to our park as new security measure are not yet in place. If any once see this please report to police imediately on 101 and e-mail chair @ friendsofsellyoakpark.org.uk.

Public Meeting / AGM

Friends of Selly Oak Park AGM 3pm Sunday 18th September. Scout hut, Gibbis Rd. All welcome. New committee member welcome. Help support and protect your local park.

Post Traveller Clear Up

Many thanks to staff at Birmingham City Council and park management staff from Quadron Services for the speedy clear up job in Selly Oak Park. They guys have endured 2 days of sweltering heat to return the park to something approaching normality. Please note that there is still a quantity of horse manure in the park this being a low priority item. Much of the bulky waste was fly tipping after garden clearances. More pictures can be found here: if you spot anything you recognise let the police know on 101!

Thanks also to Marian, Dave, Bob, Tom, Richard, Peter and Andrew who volunteered for our litter pick today. We recovered several bags of litter much of it left over from the main clear up operation.

Thanks to West Midlands Police for their attention during the occupation. Any incidents of anti-social behaviour should be reported to them on 101.

Concerned residents may like to know that the park gate is now securely locked again and that additional security is planned on the Gibbins Rd flank.

Litter Picking

The Friends of Selly Oak Park are going to have a litter picking session in the park at 10am on Wed 20th. If you'd like to help please gather at the park keepers lodge on Gibbins Rd. This will be to pick up small items of litter only. Clinical and bulk waste should be left for the experts.

Traveller update

All but one of the caravans had gone from the park by 1:30pm today and police were monitoring the remaining one. BCC and Quadron have started the clean up process. Please be aware that some of the waste represents a clinical health hazard. BCC are aware and are prioritising its removal. They think it will take 3 days to put the park back to something like its normal condition. The play area and outdoor gym have both been attended to.

BCC are proposing to increase the security of the park near the scout hut and at the main gate over the next few days.

The travellers have moved to Selly Park Recreation Ground near to St Mary's hospice. BCC and Police are aware of that and are taking steps to move them on again.

Traveller Group in Selly Oak Park

Please be aware that their is currently a group of travellers in Selly Oak Park. Local councillors and the police have been made aware. Please report any illegal or threatenig behaviour to the police on 101 or if (as is unlikely) life is in danger call 999.

Selly Oak Junior (U11) Football tournament

Want to enter a team in our football tournament on the 18th June? Contact festival at friendsofsellyoakpark.org.uk

Selly Oak Festival 18th June 2016

Lapal Canal Survey

Lapal Canal Trust are running a survey about the park and canal to support a fund raising bid. Please complete the questionnaire here to contribute.