At the Hall Green Ward Committee (see page on Hall Green Ward for description of functions etc) on 6^th June, resources were approved for double kerbing at the corner of Cole Valley Road and Highfield Road, tree pits (holes in the ground!) for planting missing trees in Pembroke Croft, support for the burglary reduction initiative, a community gardening initiative, a BCOP scheme for minor repairs for elderly people, lighting improvements in Scribers Lane, Clifton Green and Halewood Grove.

We passed a resolution in support of making local decisions on local spending for good purposes free of targets, criteria and second-guessing by officers at the council centre. We had updates on the Red Route, Railway Stations (both Hall Green and Yardley Wood are 100 years old this year) and continued our efforts to secure a full recycling service for roads such as Woodvale Road and residential establishments.

These and many other matters were discussed and decisions taken. We placed on the agenda for the next meeting the still derelict flats in Creswell Road and the future of the Four Seasons gardening project. Local residents are encouraged to attend and take part in Ward Committee meetings. They are held on Fridays at 7-00 at Hall Green School. The next meeting is on 11^th July and subsequent meetings are on 12^th September, 14^th November, 16^th January and 20^th March.

The Cabinet Member for Transportation and Street Services has decided that the Stratford Road Red Route will be made permanent. While by no means without its problems (that have affected both traders and local residents here in Hall Green as well as the much-publicised problems in Springfield) the Red Route has brought some benefits to traffic. For example, there have beennoticeable improvements in journey times and fewer accidents.

While the Red Route aesthetics are not ideal (with far too many poles cluttering things up) there has also been an improvement in air quality and an increase in bus use.

There are to be further discussion with councillors, traders and local residents to hear suggestions that could help to make the Red Route work better. We have already raised several issues on the Hall Green section and will continue to keep a very close eye on things.

If you have Red Route concern, now is the time to let us know. You can ring Councillor Paula Smith (who leads for the Hall Green Focus team on this issue) on 778-6679. However, please note that this is not for suggesting dramatic changes regarding the route, but for smaller matters that could make life a little easier for those along the way.