The Balsall Heathan - St. Paul's Community Trust

The Balsall
No. 290
December 2009
January 2010
Heathan
FREE
Your Community Newspaper
Local News & Features
Have a sparkling New Year!

Christmas Farm Open Day
Malvern Street
Saturday 12th December
11am - 2pm
Plenty of activities available including making
Christmas decorations, book sale, lucky
dip, face painting and refreshments to buy
including festive Mulled Wine and Mince Pies.
Come along and take part in some carol
singing and meet Father Christmas
Look To
The Future
Balsall Heath Children’s Centre and Balsall Heath
Extended Schools Cluster held a series of art based
activities recently as part of the national campaign
to promote creativity. Penny Dixon who ran the
nine art workshops throughout the area said of the
project, “I love this event. It just gets better each
year. The success of this project can be seen in the
way everyone took the recycling theme away with
them. As well as helping to save the environment
they were able to save money and use what they
have learnt in a creative way at home. Everyone saw
how drawing is just the beginning of being creative.”
The project which was open to both parents and
children allowed the participants to examine the
world around them in a creative way and acted as
a means of looking at the issues surrounding the
environment and recycling. It is hoped that the
discussions started through the initiative will be
carried through into other projects over the course
of the next twelve months at the different settings.

Do you want to live or
work in a pioneering
green community in
Digbeth?
- Would you like to live in an affordable,
pioneering eco-housing development close to
the city centre?
- Or are you interested in starting a green
business in supported workshops alongside
the housing?
- Would you like to become part of a co-operative
community that is dedicated to sustainable
living?
- And do you have the time, resources and
enthusiasm to commit to developing this
exciting project working in partnership with
Localise West Midlands, Birmingham Friends
of the Earth and Accord Housing Association?
We are working on a mixed-size housing and
workspace development with wildlife/food-growing
garden in Digbeth next to the Birmingham Friends
of the Earth Warehouse. It would involve a land
ownership model called a Community Land Trust (CLT)
that locks the land value into a Trust for community
and environmental benefit, so that the housing and
workspace on that land then becomes affordable.
Is this for you?
We’re seeking families and individuals who support
the idea and might want to live or work in the scheme.
It doesn’t commit you to anything as plans are still
at early stages - we still have to get hold of the land
and get through the planning process, so we’re some
way off actually having homes to offer. As well as
being committed to the idea of a co-operative and
sustainable community, residents will need to have
below average household incomes for Birmingham,
but be willing and able to invest in a minimum £1,000
stake in their home.
For more information see www.localisewestmidlands.
org.uk/clt and/or contact Karen at LWM - 0121 685
1155 or email karen@localisewestmidlands.org.uk.
Newsdesk 0121 464 4376
Editor
Peter Cole.
Reporters Peter Cole.
Contributors John Newson, Dick Atkinson & Tom Lees.
Director Anita Halliday.
Photography Tom Fenn, Tom Lees & Peter Cole.
Distributors St. Paul’s Community Development Trust staff, The
West Midlands Probation Service, The Balsall Heath
Forum & Ann Molloy.
Graphic Design
Design/Layout
Printed
Peter Cole & Jamie Ridsdill.
Peter Cole.
by Clarkeprint Ltd.
St. Paul’s Community
Development Trust
The Balsall
Heathan
Your Community Newspaper
The Balsall Heathan is published by St. Paul’s Community Development Trust.
St. Paul’s Community Development Trust is a charity (number 508943)
and company limited by guarantee. The Heathan is not run for profit and is
financed by sponsorship, advertising and the assistance of charitable trusts.
The Balsall Heathan is distributed free to 6000 homes in the area.
The Editorial Board welcomes contributions from all who live in, work in or
are concerned for the welfare of the area. They are delighted to have
the help of volunteers with any aspect of running the paper. Please call us
on 0121-464 4376
Please send your news and views to The Editor, St. Paul’s Centre, Hertford
Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 8NJ. Tel: 0121-464 4376. Fax:
0121-464 2555
Email balsall.heathan@stpaulstrust.org.uk
Read the
Balsall Heathan
online at
www.stpaulstrust.org.uk

Charity Fashion
Fundraiser Great
Success
St Paul’s Youth service organised a fashion event on the 5th
November to cater for all the women in Balsall Heath who did not
decide to brave the weather to celebrate Bonfire night and to also
raise awareness of the group’s services.
The night turned
out to be a great
success with more
than 30 people
turning out in their
best style to enjoy
the occasion.
The event which
was organised
by St Paul’s Girls
Group, UNEEK
and Girls In Action
gave local residents
the chance to buy cut-price bargains from Nextone Promotions.
Abigail Delaney, Youth Worker at St Paul’s Trust, provided her
Pool of Memories
The past and future of Moseley Road Baths were under lively
discussion on Saturday 31 October. Over 100 people filled the
Methodist Church to hear a presentation by Simon Inglis, the
author of Great Lengths for English Heritage. He put the Baths
into context, as a unique survival, being the only complete and
working municipal baths built pre-1914 still open to the public,
skills as the compere at the event while surprising the audience
with her modelling skills at the same time.
“The Bargains were a great buzz,” said Ahlam Janna, from Balsall
Heath “there were Monsoon tops and Ted Baker dresses for only
£6.”
“It was something different,” said Patsy Stewart, a volunteer for
the evening.
The night raised an impressive £85.69, which will be used to
engage young women in Balsall Heath by providing activities and
fun trips out.
As well as raising funds for the groups, the night also helped
to increase their profile. Girls in Action have as a consequence
increased their membership. Principle organiser for the event and
Youth Worker for the girls groups Abigail Delaney said, “This has
been a great outcome.”
“There will definitely be another one in March 2010, we all had
fun and saved money at the same time. We hope to have more
people next time as after the event everyone has asked me if I can
get hold of any more items now they know how good it was, you
will have to watch this space”.
Overall everyone agreed it was a major success for all involved. The
events organisers would like thank everyone who helped, especially
the staff and volunteers who gave up their time to support it.
which is also listed as Grade II* for architectural merit. It is very
unusual also in having attached, a working public library from the
same period.
Tours of the building with Steve Beauchampe showed the visitors
the glories of its tiles, iron-work and stained glass - but also the dirt
and neglect everywhere, and the scaffolding holding up ceilings.
Exhibitions included the Balsall Heath Local History Society,
the Victorian Society and the Friends of Moseley Road Baths’
own collection of photos. There was even on view a nationallyimportant
collection of historic bathing costumes!. Memories are
being recorded and items collected that relate to people’s past use
of the baths. If you have something to share please contact Russ
0780 655 7509 email; Fof MRB@googlemail.com – website;
www. moseleyroadbaths.com
This is not just about nostalgia it is also business. The potential
for the Baths to live again as a major visitor attraction was
outlined by Simon Inglis, who pointed to 15 other buildings of
architectural importance along the Moseley Road, with the Baths
as the centrepiece for regeneration of the whole corridor. A new
railway station, it was argued would also help to boost any future
projects as well as the local economy. The Friends of Moseley
Road Baths were on hand to explain their plans to re-open both
swimming pools, with a healthy eating cafe, history exhibition and
also meeting room and offices for community groups. A further
suggestion was to jump 100 years into the future with the heating
system, by incorporating a modern version with the potential for
greater efficiency and space saving. Cllr Mullaney, the Chair of the
City’s Leisure Committee was present, and he is expecting to have
a report in January on the feasibility of regenerating and running
the City’s older baths. A comment by one onlooker captured the
positive mood of the event, “Looking at the Town Hall and Moor
Street station, it does seem possible to resurrect impressive old
buildings for successful future use, if the will and the investment
can be found”.

Make an
appointment to see
Birmingham’s
Green Doctor
Moseley Community Development Trust is launching
a new service to help residents in Moseley and Balsall
Heath.
The Green Doctor service will help you to:
· keep warm
· save money on gas & electricity bills
· save the environment
Green Doctors are trained to help you and the
service is FREE of charge to householders who are
disadvantaged and have trouble with paying their gas
or electricity bills. Appointments take place in your
home in the mornings.
Free Garden
Makeovers
Is your front or back garden overgrown or in need of some care
and attention? Are you for any reason unable to tidy the garden
and maintain it yourself? Is there nobody else that can do it for
you? Can you not afford to pay a gardener to do it for you? If the
answer to the first question is ‘yes’ and to the others ‘no’, then
we may be able to help you. Balsall Heath Forum, Moseley and
District Housing and Jericho have acquired some funding to help
residents with their gardens.
The intention is to turn overgrown and unkempt gardens into low
maintenance areas with shrubs that do not attract rats and other
What
Can I Do?
By John Newson, Balsall Heath is
Our Planet development officer
Looking at the pictures of recent floods in North West England
and at photos of our tornado in 2005, I hear people say “you
cannot attribute any single weather event to global warming”.
My answer is that the climate of England has warmed 2 degrees
since the industrial revolution according to the Met Office,
most of it in my lifetime, so all the weather we see is now part of
global warming. There isn’t an alternative, more stable climate
available.
We shall soon see what agreement the world’s governments can,
or cannot, make in the Copenhagen climate talks. They may
do enough to avoid the ‘runaway climate change’ that scientists
Draft proofing, money saving lightbulbs and water
saving devices can be installed by the Green Doctor if
required, at no charge.
Green Doctors can advise you in lots of ways about
how to save money on fuel bills – they can work out
how you’re losing heat from your home, if you need loft
insulation, if you need a new boiler and where to get
help from to make changes.
To find out more, check your eligibility and book an
appointment with your Green Doctor call now on
0121 766 1100.
Birmingham’s Green Doctor service is funded by Be
Birmingham’s Working Neighbourhood Fund and
delivered by
Family Housing
Association in
partnership with
Groundwork UK
and Moseley
C o m m u n i t y
D e v e l o p m e n t
Trust (charity no
1087949).
vermin. We will cut the garden back (this does not include cutting
trees down!) to ground level, put a membrane down to stop all the
weeds growing, then cover it with stones and plant in some shrubs
that will need little or no pruning. The result will be that you have
a clean and tidy low maintenance garden, rather than a jungle!
It does not matter who owns the house, so whether it is rented,
you are an owner-occupier or it belongs to a housing association,
you may be able to get your garden sorted out free of charge. It
is not our intention to clear gardens for people who are fit and
healthy!
So if you are genuinely unable to look after your garden, then
do please get in touch with either Pat or Hamid at Balsall Heath
Forum, by calling in at the Tree Nursery in St Paul’s Road or
telephoning on 0121 446 6183. We look forward to hearing from
you.
warn about. However, thousands of people and organisations
in this country are taking responsibility themselves, by signing
up to commit themselves to cut their own carbon emissions by
10% in 2010. That is practicable and enough to be useful. The
ever-growing list is at the 10:10 website with useful advice for
putting your pledge into effect www.1010uk.org
Any household or organisation that wants help with making
their 10:10 plans is welcome to contact Balsall Heath Is Our
Planet (email;BHIOP @jericho.org.uk or phone 440 7919
Mon-Weds). For general energy advice, please ring the Energy
Saving Trust Advice helpline 0800 512 012.
In Balsall Heath, the Green Doctor scheme described in this
Heathan is now available to help those of us on any kind of
state benefit. To get a ‘home visit’ phone 766 1100. If you
know anyone who is likely to suffer from the cold this winter,
please let them know. It is scandalous that so many elderly and
disabled people suffer in every cold spell.

OFFICERS ON A DRIVE
TO REDUCE MOTORING
OFFENCES
A police crackdown on drivers breaking the law in Balsall
Heath, Sparkhill and Sparkbrook has been hailed a success by
both officers and members of the local community.
traders complained of the growing chaos in Sparkbrook and
Sparkhill.
Acting Police Sergeant Jason Elliman, of the Sparkbrook
Neighbourhood Team, said: “The days were very successful, but
drivers should be aware that we will continue to respond to
the concerns raised by our local communities.”
Officers held four enforcement days targeting motorists flouting
the law leading to 27 cars being seized and their drivers facing
prosecution for driving without insurance. One man driving
without a seatbelt whose registration plate was recognised by
eagle-eyed police was pulled over and a substantial amount of
cash found in the boot.
A total of 79 drivers were fined for failing to wear a seatbelt
while a further 8 were hit in the pocket for talking on their
mobile phones at the wheel.
Four were caught heading along bus lanes and 24 were pulled
over for parking offences. Thirteen drivers were stopped for
having blacked out ‘tints’ on their windows and ordered to
remove them on the spot while 5 were pulled over for having
illegal plates. The crackdown also led to 3 private hire vehicles
being suspended due to their dangerous vehicles.
The police
blitz was
a direct
result of
community
m e e t i n g s
w h e r e
r e s i d e n t s ,
schools and
SHORT STAY FOR PUBLIC’S
PARKING CONCERNS
Police officers and police community support officers from the
Balsall Heath and Sparkhill neighbourhood team are continuing
to address concerns raised by the local community about
parking in the area.
Through the neighbourhood tasking process local residents
have raised concerns about driver’s inconsiderate or sometimes
illegal parking, which is causing safety concerns for pedestrians
and motorists alike. In response to this officers are now
working with the council to address this community concern.
Birmingham City Council Parking Wardens and the
neighbourhood police team are working in your neighbourhood
to ensure that any offending vehicle is moved on, issued with a
fine, or in some cases even towed away.
Commenting on the response to this neighbourhood
priority Sergeant Nick Giess said, “After members of our
“The message we keep getting is that people who live and work
here have had enough of it, so we are acting and will continue
to do so until the message hits home.”
Sparkhill, Sparkbrook and the Stratford Road were identified
by the DVLA as being among the worst areas in the city for
vehicles failing to display tax discs and not having insurance.
Officers have since noticed an increase in the number of drivers
abiding by the law. “That’s fine as far as we are concerned. We’d
much rather people used seat belts and parked sensibly than
have to stop them,” said APS Elliman.
local community told us that parking standards were causing
concern for them we set about tackling this issue. Working in
partnership with the council we are prosecuting around five
motorists who are illegally or inconsiderately parked each day.”
“Members of our local community should be reassured that we
are working to tackle the issues that they tell us are affecting
them, whilst drivers who park illegally should be aware of the
impact this is having, and the possible consequences.”
The neighbourhood team will continue to work with
Birmingham City Council to conduct enforcement days until
April 2010. Additional measures to resolve parking issues in this
area are also being planned and the neighbourhood team is
confident that local residents will continue to see improvements
in parking standards within their community.
Sgt Giess continued: “If there is an issue which is affecting you
then please contact us and we will work to resolve it. Our
message is simple: if it matters to you then it matters to us.”

Plastic Bottle
Bracelet
or Material
covered bangle
1. Take any plastic bottle... but a big
size. Water bottle size. Cut it out....
2. Put some nail polish on it.... you can
try different colours or
3. Cut a strip of fabric that’s roughly
1m long and 1.5 cm wide. It doesn’t
really matter if the edges aren’t
neat as they are not too important!
4. Paint a piece of your bangle (outside
and inside) with the glue.
5. Stick on the end of the fabric and
start wrapping.
6. Overlap the fabric at the edges
when your wind it round, adding
extra glue to the bangle and fabric
your gluing on top and continue
wrapping and gluing until the whole
bangle is covered
7. Trim any frayed edges of fabric and
coat the whole thing with a layer of
PVA and leave to dry.
8. If you want you can sew on some
pretty beads or sequins when the
glue is dry, be careful that you don’t
bend your needle though!
Now your bangle is ready to wear!
Neighbourhood
Tasking
Your next neighbourhood Tasking meeting will be held on
Tuesday 26 January, 7 pm at Clifton Junior School, St. Paul’s
Road, Balsall Heath.
Please come along to the meeting and help us identify what is
important to you!
If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact your
team of PCs and PCSOs (police community support officers)
in the following ways:
Telephone: 0845 113 5000 ext 7835 6226
Email: e3_nhp_sparkhill@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
St. Paul’s Youth Events
Youth Consultation
Thursday 10 December @ 4.30pm-6pm
Old Clifton building, - Balsall Heath Initiative Centre
Girls only all ages welcome
Clubs
Tuesdays at 6pm - football fitness for 15yrs+ meets at St. Paul’s
Youth Base.
Learn football skills, circuit training and play matches with other
clubs.
Thursdays at 3.15 - 4.15pm Pool tournament at St. Paul’s Youth
Base. 11yrs+ all levels of skill welcome.
Tuesdays at 6.30pm – 8.30pm UNEEK Girls group for ages 16+.
Be part of something bigger- do something positive and be the
change you want to see in the world.
Thursdays at 4.30-6pm Girls in action for ages 11-15yrs.
If you would like to find out more about the range of services on
offer from St. Paul’s Youth Services then visit www.stpaulstrust.
org.uk.
Health Fix
Chamberlain Health and Fitness Centre is running two new
‘ladies only’ sessions. The sessions will offer a keep fit class with
a chance to be weighed measured and recorded, general health
advice will also be offered. These sessions are called ‘Health Fix’
and are meant to compliment the two ladies only gym sessions
that run on a Tuesday and Thursday between 11am – 1pm. All of
these sessions are free on the ‘Be Active’ scheme that is currently
running at all City Council run centres until March 2011. To
qualify for the ‘Be Active’ initiative, participants should be able
to prove they reside in Birmingham using two official letters or
utility bills plus photo id e.g. passport.
Once registered on the ‘Be Active’ scheme all fitness classes and
fitness suite sessions will be free of charge between 9am-4pm
Monday to Friday and 1pm-6pm Saturday and Sunday.
Induction is
required to use
the fitness suite,
however no
inductions are
required for the
fitness classes.
C h a m b e r l a i n
offers a wide
range of activities
from table tennis
to children’s
parties to name
but a few.
For further
information ring
464 6060.
C h a m b e r l a i n
Health and
Fitness Centre
1 Belgrave
Middleway
Highgate

Balsall Heath Forum Focus
Fireworks night in Balsall Heath
The annual display of fireworks in Malvern Street attracted a large
crowd of onlookers. Everyone was there from children in prams to
grandparents, largely in family groups. Indeed, the whole crowd
was, in the words of Pam, “like one big family. It’s as if our whole
village was there”.
To cries of ‘wow’ and ‘ooo’ and ‘aahhh’ rocket after rocket soared
into and lit up the night sky.
Pam wanted the last word as she left, “When can we do this again?”
she asked. “This time next year” has to be the real answer. But, it
would be good if we could repeat it 2 or 3 times a year. Either way,
many thanks are due to the St. Paul’s Community Development
Trust who paid for the fireworks and their helpers who let off the
fireworks so expertly.
A Lidl means a lot
Lidl Supermarket on Moseley Road has just contributed £180
towards the hanging baskets which the Forum put up on its walls.
It has also given £50 towards the festive food hampers which liven
the festive season for elderly folk.
Its good to note that businesses which benefit by trading in
Balsall Heath also put part of the profit they make back into the
community. Well done Lidl. You set a fine example.
Good News x 3
The Forum normally pays for (1) the Balsall Heath Fireworks
Spectacular (cost £500), (2) The Calendar (cost £3,000) and the
Festive Lights (cost £5,000). However, this year the Forum’s finances
are stretched and it is having to save every penny it can. All 3 events
were at risk until new sponsors stepped forward and saved the day.
1. The Fireworks
Not again?!
Every month residents from Mary Street and Hallam St warn the
Council of the dangers of the crossing – so far to no avail.
Will this
latest smash
make the
Council see
sense and
make the road
safe?
The Firework Spectacular went ahead before the delighted – and
delightful crowd – thanks to St Paul’s Community Development
Trust. By way
of saying thank
you, the Forum
asked children
from the
Balsall Heath
C h i l d r e n ’ s
Centre to
signal the
lighting of the
first rocket
which lit up
the night sky.
by Dick Atkinson
Phillip Blond
Phillip Blond is referred to in the popular press as David
Cameron’s ‘red under his bed’. He is a Conservative but a radical
and imaginative one who is helping David Cameron to reinvent
modern conservatism. He is helping it to care for people who are
poor. He is showing the Conservatives how they can help to repair
‘broken Britain’.
On November 18th Phillip spent the afternoon in Balsall
Heath talking with a dozen local people who have repaired the
neighbourhood. He asked them whether what they had done
could be replicated in other neighbourhoods. He said that David
Cameron was already very impressed with what Balsall Heath had
achieved and was certain to use the secret of its success to help him
to renew life in many neighbourhoods throughout the country.
Warwickshire Cricket Club latest
development
The club has continued to avoid meeting with concerned residents
or to listen to their views. So, residents asked the Council Leader
and Cabinet to withhold its loan of £20m towards the £32m
development until it did talk. The Council proved unequal to the
task. This was probably because the Club insisted that even modest
amendments to its plans would jeopardise Test Cricket. Residents
insist that this is not the case. They argue that the club is putting
financial interests above all others.
This has left residents with little choice but to ask for legal help.
They believe that in granting the club planing approval the
Council breached some elementary rules of procedure. So, they
have raised the £3k needed to get a legal opinion before, if needs
be, going forward to a full Judicial Review.
Residents insist that their requests can be met without jeopardising
Test Cricket. So, they hope that their action will be sufficient to
persuade the Council and the Club to talk sensibly with them and
find a mutually acceptable way forward. If so, this could avoid the
need for a full legal review and extensive delays.
To date, the club has put its financial interests ahead of the
residents and refused to compromise. Let’s hope that, this time,
it will open its mind and accept that it must become a friendlier,
more considerate, neighbour.
2. The Festive Lights
Some of the Festive Lights are being paid for jointly by the Ward
of Sparkbrook, Be Birmingham and Saheli Women’s Group. So, a
vote of thanks are due to them for lighting up these roads – Stoney
Lane, Ladypool Road. We have still to find donors for Moseley and
Edward Roads.
3. The Calendar
The 2010 Calendar has taken as its theme Balsall Heath in Bloom.
This has only been made possible through sponsorship from the
Police and the Balsall Heath Children’s Centre. Design layout and
photographs were supplied through the support of Jane Atkinson
Photography, Peter Cole at the Balsall Heathan and Tom Fenn
a local photographer. Finally a big thank you has to be made to
the volunteers and the Community Payback Workers from the
Probation Service who have given their time and energy to deliver
this much sought after publication.
A vote of thanks
The Balsall Heath Forum would like to give a special vote of thanks
to St Paul’s Community Development Trust, the Sparkbrook Ward,
Be Birmingham, Saheli Women’s, Group, Kamran’s Tigers and the
local Police. For, without them, these 3 seasonal items would not
have been possible.

y Dick Atkinson
Public v Private Property
Is there an alternative?
Look at any house in Balsall
Heath which is privately
owned. It’s paint is not
flaking. It’s garden is well
maintained. It is cared for.
But, in sharp contrast, look
at many public spaces.
The photograph below
is of the Council owned
and managed Baths. So, it
should be cared for. But,
look at its windows. It is
uncared for.
Look also at the photo
of Council owned elders
centre in Clifton Road. It
once housed many lone
and elderly people. It is now
closed, boarded up and for
sale.
The next photo depicts the
Sports Centre and Mount
Pleasant Community
Centre. Once, they were
the pride and joy of
Heathans. They used to
host national events and
boosted the area’s reputation. Today they are a heap of rubble. Built,
like the elders centre, just 20 years ago, today they are lost to the
community.
The sad story continues. The photo below is of Athelstone House.
What a waste of space!
How can this be?
Balsall Heath is losing too many public
facilities. It’s not just the Sports Centre
and Clifton House which have closed.
So too have Athelston House and The
Cottage of Content. Worse still! As well
as losing these public facilities, others are
simply deteriorating – the Baths, the rear
of Edward Road, etc, etc.
It seems that the Council is too far
removed from neighbourhoods like
Balsall Heath and that its officers and the
Council’s Cabinet which are responsible
is unable to care for these priceless public
buildings in anything like the way a private owner would.
So, is the answer to their upkeep to be found in private ownership?
Probably not. The Sports Centre was bought by a private owner
from the Council. It will replace it with a bulk goods warehouse.
No doubt it will look after
it well. But, it won’t suit the
needs of local people.
There is an Alternative
Just look at this photograph
of Edward Road station. It
is cared for by the Forum.
Also, just look at the
Church Centre in Mary Street, and Balsall Heath Children’s Centre.
They are looked after and cared for ‘as if’ they were privately owned.
So, there is an alternative. There is a very strong case for transferring
the remotely and poorly managed assets of the Council to local
communal enterprises which would care for, use, and maintain
them. The photographs make the case. Isn’t it time that both
residents and Council accepted that case and transferred the remote
ownership of much of Balsall Heath to close-at-home-ownership in
the community, not so much privatisation as mutualisation.
A House That Needs Little Fuel
By John Newson
Five hundred people flowed
through a house in Balsall Heath
that will need little fuel, for an
open day on 14th November.
Local resident John Christophers
had his home damaged by the
tornado of 2004, but decided
to use his skills as an architect to
show what big cuts are possible in
those greenhouse gases that have
been linked to increases in extreme
weather events. He has set out to
demonstrate what the latest energy
efficient techniques could do to an
old house, in an ordinary street, in the inner city.
The Zero Carbon House has taken shape over the last year. John
gave talks at the Open Day, to inspire the visitors, before he moves
in, with his partner Jo and Theo (4), to spend the winter testing the
house. Visitors to the house also got further information about how
to make any home more energy efficient, provided by Balsall Heath
Is Our Planet and staff from the Energy Saving Trust.
John says his new home is unique, in being of the highest energy efficiency,
while retaining an existing Victorian house on an ordinary
street. The result is that the gas supply has been removed, and the
family will be able to rely on the sun and background heat sources.
· Heat storage is in the compressed clay blocks that comprise the
new walls, also a large tank of hot water heated by the sun.
· Insulation is thickly applied to walls, roof and floor to slow heat
loss (14 times less than the old house).
· No draughts – the house is very air-tight.
· Heat recovery will warm incoming air from outgoing air, in a
controlled ventilation system.
· Windows are triple-glazed, and sited so as to flood the house
with natural light.
· Power generation from photovoltaic panels on the roof will feed
electricity back, to offset what is drawn from the grid supply.
· The garden is a heat source - from a large tree whose logs will be
burned in the coldest winter periods.
http://zerocarbonhousebirmingham.org.uk
John’s next project is designing 500 energy-efficient homes, to be
built in the Newtown area of Birmingham.
The Zero Carbon House is now being lived in as a private home (so
please do not knock on the door), but the family expect to be open
to visitors again, sometime in 2010.

Please send your letters to: The Editor, The Balsall Heathan, c/o
St. Paul’s Community Development Trust, Hertford Street, Balsall Heath, B12 8NJ
Dear Editor,
I read the article in the last Heathan about the Forum’s difficulties. So, I’m
sending you £20 towards the funds it needs.
It’s helped me over the years. I go to my residents’ group. It’s always there to
shift rubbish and this year’s Balsall Heath in Bloom was very good.
If, say 100 readers all gave £20 this would create £2,000. I’ll urge all my
friends and neighbours to ‘fork out for the Forum’. Can Heathan readers
also do this?
Yours sincerely,
Nasir Ahmed
Ladypool Road
Dear Editor,
What is the matter with Mr Neale (address not supplied) His letter in the
last Heathan complained that the Street Watch Cabin on Balsall Heath Road
was a ‘rat infested’ eyesore.
Yet, it is clean and graffiti free. It is surrounded by two beautiful beds of
flowers. It is used from time to time as a base for Street-safe activities. It
stands for safety and security in a part of Balsall Heath which used to be full
of fear,
Long may it last.
Yours sincerely,
S. James
Kinver Croft
Dear Editor,
Me and my family left Balsall Heath in 1991 for Perth Australia and we’ve
been very happy. This August we returned to visit old friends and family.
We had a great time with them. So, we want to say this. We could not
recognise the place we left. Then it was horrible, dirty and so full of fear that
we lived in the back of our house. That’s why we left.
Now, its clean. There are flowers everywhere. And, it feels so safe we could
hardly believe it is the same place we left all these years ago.
Can we just say this: Brilliant. Well done all those who stayed behind.
In particular, well done to the Forum for getting people together and for
making it happen. You have achieved what we thought was not possible.
Sam Curtis
Perth
The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of
the editor or the publishers. Letters may be edited for publication.
Letters will only be considered for publication if accompanied by a name and
address. These can be withheld if requested. The Balsall Heathan will not
publish anything it deems to be unlawful, libellous, defamatory or obscene.
Council Services
Housing Department
Repairs 24 hours 0800 0733 333
Applications/Transfers 303 4005
Council House Purchases 303 7926
Private Tenancy Officers 303 5070
Rent Arrears 303 3324
Empty Properties 303 5070
Unkempt Gardens 303 5070
Environmental Services
Environmental Health 303 6007
Pest Control (Rats) 303 9900
Antisocial behaviour 303 1111
Noise & Nuisance Team 303 6007
Refuse Collection & Street Cleaning 303 1112
Pothole Reports 303 6644
Street Lighting 303 6000
Social Services
Social Services Department 303 7070
Social Security (Poplar Rd. & Coventry Rd.) 722 7000
Social Security (Moseley Rd. & Northfield) 766 4300
Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit 464 7000
Council Tax (Billing & Account enquiries) 303 1113
Education and Employment
Education Department (General enquiries) 303 2590 / 2872
Student Grants 303 3648 / 3647
Sparkhill Job Centre (Stoney Lane) 480 3500
T.U.C. Centre for the Unemployed 771 0871
Gas, Water, Electricity
British Gas (Transco) 0845 609 1122
Gas Escapes 0800 111 999
Gas Repairs (Council Tenants only) 333 7433
npower Electricity Emergency 0800 328 1111
Severn Trent Water 0800 783 4444
Police
Main Switchboard 0845 113 5000
Edward Road 626 4467
Health
Balsall Heath Health Centre, Edward Road 446 2300
Mobarak Health Centre, Cannon Hill Road 440 4666
Community and Advice Services
Access for All Disability Resource Centre, Bierton Rd, Yardley 789 7365
Apna Ghar Asian Elders Centre, 21 Clevedon Rd. 440 2266
Assemblies of the First Born Heritage Community Project 753 0068
C.A.S.A Project 440 5022
Cats, 110 Edward Road 440 1007
Balsall Heath Church Centre Elderly Care 440 1138
Balsall Heath Forum, St Pauls Road 446 6183
Balsall Heath Children’s Centre 464 6349
Balsall Heath Library 464 1962
Birmingham Asian Business Association, 249 Ladypool Rd. 693 3101
Birmingham Drugline 632 6363
Birmingham Enterprise, 249 Ladypool Road 446 4444
Birmingham Ethnic Education and Advisory Service 359 3339
Birmingham Independent Living Project, 249 Ladypool Rd. 693 9050
British Yemeni Forum, 102 Edward Road 446 5330
Calthorpe Park Playcentre, Edward Rd./Cheddar Rd. 446 4047
Friends Institute, 220 Moseley Rd. 440 4873
Empty Homes Project (to report empty houses) 303 5341
Good Neighbour Centre, George St. 440 7548
Highgate Family Support Centre, Conybere St. 440 6788
Islamic Resource Centre 440 3500
Jericho Community Project, Edward Road 446 4258
Jericho Foundation, Edward Road 440 7919
Kings Christian Centre 440 4447
Pathways For People 446 5122
Pride of Jephthah, Unity House St Pauls Road 440 3000
Run A Muck 449 1991
South East Birmingham Credit Union 444 4114
Sparkhill Centre, 447 Stratford Road 772 2427
St. Paul’s Venture & Malvern Street City Farm 464 1888
Wayahead 464 8739
Yemeni Centre, 244 Edward Road 249 3945
Yemeni Welfare & Training Centre, 147 Kyrwicks Lane, Sparkbrook 773 7664
Neighbourhood Offices
Sparkbrook, Greencoat House, 261 Stratford Road, 303 9110
Sparkhill ,641 Stratford Road, 303 0722
Sports & Leisure
Moseley Road Baths, Moseley Road 464 0150

Balsall Heath Children Centre Toy Library provides good
quality toys and equipment, which can be borrowed and
enjoyed at home for a small charge, just like lending books
from a Library. For further information call 464 6349.
Mondays
Tuesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Clifton School Nursery
11.00 am-12.00 pm
2.45 pm - 3.15 pm
Ladypool Road Stay and Play
10.00 am – 11.00 am
St. Barnabas
2.00 pm –3.00 pm
St Mary and Ambrose
Stay and Play
11.45 am – 12.30 pm
Jakeman Early Years
2.45 pm — 3.15 pm
Balsall Heath Children’s Centre
3.00 pm—4.15 pm
Sparklers
10.30 am - 11.30 am
Surestart Stay and Play
10.00 am - 11.00a m
Heathmount Primary School
3.30 pm - 4.00 pm
Balsall Heath Library
3.15 - 4.15 pm
Baby Matters at Edward Road
Health Centre
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Clifton Playgroup
11.15 am– 11.45 am
All toy libraries are run on a fortnightly
basis, please ring the toy library 0121
464 6349 for exact dates.
M a l v e r n S t r e e t, B a l s a l l H e a t h ,
0 1 2 1 4 6 4 1 8 8 6
We provide a safe and nurturing environment and believe
in the importance of your child’s happiness, learning and
development.
A professional and friendly staff team, who are dedicated and
experienced in childcare and development, provide full and
sessional care and learning for children aged 3 months to 5
years.
Planning within the birth to Early Years Foundation stage
curriculum, we provide free play opportunities and
focused activities to encourage each child’s learning and
development.
We are extremely fortunate to have weekly visits from a music
teacher and gardener, who support the learning opportunities
already provided.
Ofsted registered and eligible for the Nursery Education Fund,
we have achieved the silver quality framework award and are
currently working towards the ‘Quality Together’ scheme.
Our chef provides a balanced diet which meets the needs of
all dietary requirements, with all meals and snacks prepared
on site using fresh ingredients.
Open from 8 am - 6 pm,
you are welcome
to visit us at any time

St Paul’s Community
Development Trust would like
to wish all of the residents of
Balsall Heath
a Happy Christmas
and a Prosperous New Year