Norton Aerodrome Update

Further update from the Birley Ward Councillors on Norton Aerodrome. A security guard with a dog will be on site from today until the end of December. This will ensure it remains secure and there are no further incidents of fly tipping. The current fly tipping removal will be completed by the end of the week.

Supporting Cotleigh Residential Care Home

Whilst people were taking part in clapping for carers early in the Covid19 crisis, someone took advantage and stole the garden furniture used by staff and residents at Cotleigh Residential Care Home in Hackenthorpe. When this came to the attention of Councillor Bryan Lodge he raised the issue with the Birley Ward Labour Party. Members were keen to support this by providing funds to replace the garden furniture and a letter of thanks has been received showing the positive impact this has had.

New Hope Food Bank Thank You

Birley Ward Labour Party made a donation to New Hope Food Bank. This food bank has been one of the organisations that has supported S12 residents throughout the Covid19 crisis. The letter of thanks below has been received. Councillor Bryan Lodge said “we are pleased to be able to support them in the work they do inlight of the Covid crisis where more people than ever have required their help”.

Thanks to Emma for bringing to the attention of the Birley Ward Councillors the need for a bin at the Hayfield Crescent entrance of Birley Primary school. Emma who is a Frecheville resident and regularly litter picks in the area contacted Councillors to see if there was a possibility of a bin, due to the amount of litter dropped in the area and especially on the route by the side of the school fence through to Hollinsend Cricket grounds. Whilst we can’t guarantee success on every request or suggestion, we are committed to supporting all our residents. Councillors looked into this and are now pleased to see it in place. Please help us keep our community clearer of litter.

Update on Norton Aerodrome Issues of Fly Tipping

Local residents have been reporting issues of fly tipping on the Norton Aerodrome site as the locks on the gates have been broken. The Birley Ward Councillor have contact officers and can report that over the coming weeks access will be denied by placing large boulders in front of the main gates. That way even if the locks are removed by the fly tippers they won’t get vehicles onto the site to fly tip.

Requests have been made for CCTV on the site, but due to the size of the area involved the citing and cost of installing CCTV would not be practicable. However, the council are instructing mobile security to monitor the site and do site inspections on a regular basis. The council will review the impact of this over the coming weeks.

The council are also looking to speed up the demolition process for the buildings on the site, and they are currently doing the service checks to make sure utility supplies are fully isolated before the buildings get removed.

Hopefully the above action will stop the issues residents have been reporting.

Councillor attends Birley Spa Bath House Heritage Day

Councillor Karen McGowan joined members of the public on a Heritage Day visit around Birley Spa Bath House. The visit started with Fiona outlining the history of the bath house. We then went inside the building which was amazing.

Finally we took a walk around the pond and through the woodland area. Councillor Karen McGowan said “I’ve lived in the area all my life and walked through the grounds but I’ve never been inside. It was fascinating to hear the history and I know how passionate the Friends of Birley Spa Bath House are. Thank you to Fiona and Victoria for today I really enjoyed it”.

Discovering the location of the Plaque

Florence Staniforth a pupil at Gleadless Primary school discovered a plaque in Jaunty Park whilst out walking. The plaque was marking the planting of a tree by The Lady Mayoress 1975-1976. Elsie and Albert Richardson were the Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress in 1976. Albert was a councillor and they lived on Basegreen. Birley Ward Councillors Karen McGowan and Bryan Lodge met with Florence, her mum and SCC Parks & Countryside Officer to show them the plaque. It has now been agreed that the plaque will be re-sited to a more suitable location within the park. Councillors are grateful to Florence and her family for finding this and bringing it to their attention.