Ongoing research; last updated 1 February 2012
13 February 2009 - Birmingham Mail (Mohini Howard)
Building work a sight to behold
If you like spectacular views, head towards the £700 million University Hospitals Birmingham construction site.
Like the Bullring, it will add another modern architectural string to our bow and there’s a wonderful panoramic view of it from the unfinished roundabout on Harborne Lane.Finding a path between two houses that eventually lead to Selly Oak Park brought on a proper ‘Rambling’ moment and I felt like an intrepid explorer.
This is a gutsy walk for all urbanites who don’t allow traffic, roadworks and gales to get in the way of a good old rummage around city streets.
The hospital will take its first patients from June 15, 2010 and be fully open by October 2011.
Details from: http://www.uhb.nhs.uk/NewHospital/index.html
Start: Corner of Gibbins Road and Harborne Lane, Selly Oak
Duration: 1 Hour
1. At the corner of Gibbins Road and Harborne Lane turn right and walk past the old bus station (now a storage place).
2. Cross at the island and turn left past B&Q on your right.
3. Continue up to the roundabout and follow the temporary path around. Stop and take a look at the spectacular views of the hospital, university clock tower and hall and the old battery factory.
4. Continue around and go along Harborne Lane and cross over.
5. Turn right and then after a short distance, left into Reservoir Road.
6. Continue up and then left along a path between number 189 and 191 Reservoir Road.
7. At the end of the path, turn left and walk along between the backs of the houses until you emerge into Selly Oak Park.
8. Walk across the grass diagonally until you reach a path.
9. Turn left and continue past a crossroads.
10. Return to Gibbins Road and turn left back to the start.
Routes developed with the help of The Ramblers’ volunteers.
* Mohini Howard is the Birmingham co-ordinator for the Ramblers’ Association’s Get Walking Keep Walking project. See www.getwalking.org.uk
Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/what-is-on-in-birmingham/birmingham-days-out/2009/02/13/building-work-a-sight-to-behold-97319-22923009/#ixzz1lAlWP9MR
6 April 2009 - Birmingham Mail (Vicky Farncombe)
Conservation group bids to save Selly Oak landmark
Conservationists have taken action to stop an historic building owned by store giant Sainsbury’s falling down.
Selly Oak Local History Group member Wendy Pearson said The Birmingham Battery Office, built in 1871, had deteriorated since being bought by the supermarket chain.The group has now put in a formal request for Birmingham City Council to force the company to carry out urgent work on the landmark before it deteriorates beyond repair.
“It’s so sad. It’s a very attractive building and we’ve got so few of them in Selly Oak,” said Wendy.
“It’s a record of the industrial side of Selly Oak. We don’t want to lose a connection to that period – especially when it’s so unnecessary.“It’s commercial vandalism.”
The Birmingham Battery and Metal Company was owned by the Gibbins family, philanthropists who donated Selly Oak Park and Selly Oak Library to the community.
Birmingham Mail historian, Prof Carl Chinn, said it was vital to preserve such a landmark.
He said: “Important historical buildings are continuing to be lost in Birmingham despite assertions that we have learned the lessons of the 1960s and 1970s. If the Birmingham Battery offices are allowed to deteriorate further then they will become unsafe and be demolished.
“Other nearby historical buildings are also at risk of disappearing.
“If they all go then the transformation of Selly Oak will have wiped out the past and left us facing the future with no knowledge of who we are and from where we have come.”
Sainsbury’s was granted permission to develop the surrounding land into a £350 million complex which will include a new superstore, shopping centre, hotels and accommodation.
In return the supermarket promised to conserve the landmark and contribute funds towards building the Selly Oak Relief Road, which will take traffic to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
But work on the development has been halted by the credit crunch.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman agreed the building was in very poor condition and as “a responsible owner” it was considering what action to take.
“Sainsbury’s remains committed to the Selly Oak site, and in the current economic climate is assessing how and when it is best to start the development,” she said.
“We are continuing to work closely with Birmingham City Council regarding our development and the Selly Oak New Road.”
Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/04/06/conservation-group-bids-to-save-selly-oak-landmark-97319-23318243/#ixzz1lAfB4nDS
17th September 2009 - Selly Oak Liberal Democrats Website
Good News for Selly Oak Park
Selly Oak councillors have welcomed extra investment planned for Selly Oak Park. Councillor Dave Radcliffe said: "I am delighted to report that money has been found to improve the path network. I know this has been a big concern for residents and other park users."
Around £23,000 has been found to improve some of the existing footpaths and creating a better circuit around the park. In addition, local councillors agreed a grant of £3,000 earlier this year to help fund an educational nature trail. Sculptures, signposts and information boards are planned to encourage new park users and schoolchildren.
Following concerns from local residents, some of the trees along the main paths have now been pruned. Repairs have also been organised to some of the lampposts on the main path from Corisande Road to the Harborne Lane end of Gibbins Road.
Since earlier this year, Selly Oak Park has had its own Park Keeper, who works over the weekend and Monday to Wednesday. This is both providing continuity of care and greater reassurance for park users.
28 October 2009 - Birmingham Mail (Rebekah Oruye)
28 October 2009 - Birmingham Mail (Rebekah Oruye)
Painting of famous Birmingham tree up for sale
A rare painting of a Birmingham tree steeped in history will go on sale at an antiques fair tomorrow.The Old Selly Oak Tree painting depicts the original oak tree at the corner of Oak Tree Lane and Bristol Road in Selly Oak.
The name Selly Oak was derived from Sarah’s oak, later Sally’s oak, after a witch who was said to have either hanged from it or was buried there with an oak stake through her heart. It was later claimed the stake grew into the oak tree.
Birmingham artist William Stone, created the artwork in 1897, just a few years before the tree was damaged by the construction of nearby houses in the early 20th century – only the stump survived and was moved to Selly Oak Park.
The painting is being sold by Richard Midwinter Antiques at the Antiques for Everyone Fair at the NEC which will also feature the UK’s largest private collection of time pieces and more than 50,000 pieces of fine art and antiques.
It will take place at the NEC which runs until Sunday. Tickets cost £10 in advance or £12 on the day with free parking and a visitor guide.
To book, call 0844 58 0827 or visit www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk
Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/painting-of-famous-birmingham-tree-up-for-sale-97319-25026455/#ixzz1lAiT1xQG
22nd November 2009 - Friends of Selly Oak Park
FRIENDS OF SELLY OAK PARK
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 22 November 2009
Present
Andrew Schofield (Chair), Anne-Marie McCarthy (Vice Chair), Allan Green (Secretary) ,Jeff Bartlett
Tracey Hewitt (Neighborhood Manager), Nicola Little (Quadron Service Ltd.), Robert Wright, Alistair Dow (Birmingham City Council)
(11 people attended.)
Apologies:
Dave Barker (Treasurer)
AS welcomed all present to the meeting, and introduced committee members to the meeting
Correction to previous minutes
Alistair Dow’s surname missing from Attendance List.
Matters arising
None
Business
AS presented Chair’s Report - see below
AG has resigned post of Secretary but will continue in caretaker role pending his replacement or forthcoming house move.
New member Michael Chu accepted onto committee
Comments from floor:
NL asked whether last year's AGM was better attended? AS confirmed that it was. RW suggested that we might move the AGM to September (benefiting from the lighter evenings.) The Scout Hut was proposed as a more accessible venue.
Festival:
AD wondered whether TH could liaise with other community groups in the Ward, and that maybe duplicate their activities in Selly Oak Park (e.g. involvement of police, fire brigade local schools.) AS agreed.
It was suggested that we may be able to get the Boys Brigade involved.
NL asked whether scouts could get involved. AS replied that this year’s festival clashed with other events. AD suggested that neighborhood forum might focus minds. AS described funding coming into the park via funfair, could be spent on events.
AS presented treasurers report. £1700 to be spent on park furniture.
TH suggests need to build relationships with local schools. NL suggested that we write to schools as soon as dates for activities are known, even if we don’t yet know exactly what activities will be organized.
AD suggested that retail park could provide competition prizes.
TH is setting up nature trail, currently got £3k funding from Community Chest, looking for matching funding from Grass Roots. This would include nature/arts trail, (school involvement) sculptures along front of the park, (which would stop cars driving onto park.) Should incorporate park history. Millennium Wood strong nature asset.
NL suggested that we organize a “bat walk.” AS would be interested to know whether bat boxes have been occupied. Large crowd turned out to a similar walk at another park.
JB wondered whether local artists should produce sculptures at reduced costs. TH agreed, and wondered whether local schools could be involved. Sculptures would need to be vandal proof.
Meeting closed at 15:48.
Chairman's Report November 2009
It has been another good year for Selly Oak Park and for us as a Friends group.
We were pleased at the selection of the new contract holders Quadron especially as the new contract includes a dedicated Park Keeper for the park. Early signs are that the general park upkeep is better than it has been in previous years. We understand however that the post of Park Keeper is currently vacant and we look forward to a new appointment being made soon.
We were very pleased that the Council were able to provide a set of goal posts for the park. These posts have been a great success and area great resource for local young people. Provision of the post has also moved the focus of kick-about ball games away from the play area, which we think is better for all concerned. We were dismayed to note that the posts were recently vandalised and had to be removed although we understand that it may be possible to reinstate them at some point in the future.
The park was once again host to Robert Wilkinson's Fun Fair in June. As a result the Friends received £1300.00 in rent on behalf of the park. Some of this money was put towards the community events that ran alongside the fair. The remainder has been pooled with last year's fair income and will be used to purchase new park furniture. A new seat for the play area, a new picnic table and an additional litter bin are now on order. Our event this year comprised a highly successful junior football tournament followed in the afternoon by displays from local groups. Four teams competed in the football: St Mary's Boy's Brigade, CLC Youth, and two teams from Northfield Manor School. The boys certainly seemed to enjoy themselves. They each received two free rides at the fair courtesy of Robert Wilkinson and the winning team (Northfield Manor Year 6) received £50 from us to put towards school funds. We thank St Mary's School and St Mary's Boys Brigade for providing the equipment and staff/volunteers from all the groups for acting as referees. At the afternoon community event we were happy to welcome displays from the Northfield Eco Centre and Northfield Manor School PTA.
Other good news for the park includes a £3000 award from the Ward Committee / Community Chest fund for a nature trail. We are currently seeking additional funds to support this project which should be completed by March 2010. The Council have also set aside some money for improvements to the path network in the park.
One area of regret this year is that we were unable to organise the planned mini dog-show. Initial plans to run this along side the fair were dropped with the show postponed until September. However, it was not possible to submit an event request in good time and with worries about the availability of insurance for the event we took the difficult decision to cancel it outright.
The committee met 5 times during the year and gathered together at the Fair event. We were well supported by the ex-officio members: Cllrs Dow and Wright, Tracey Hewitt (Neighbourhood Manager), Simon Cooper (Parks Manager), and Nicola Little (Quadron). Tracey's input in particular has been a great help. We are a small committee and really need to increase the membership of the executive committee towards the full 10 allowed in our constitution.
For 2010 we should once again concentrate our efforts on the Fun Fair event. We hope to stage another football tournament with more teams and to involve more local groups. One suggestion is that the whole event should start on the Saturday morning prior to the fair opening so that we are not in such direct competition with the attractions. Evidence from last year suggests that the football will attract family groups who may also be interested in fete like stalls. We hope to forge closer links with local groups and schools in the hope that they will support the event more fully.
Andrew Schofield, 22 November 2009
