Significant Bus changes to Pheasey – New Connection to Brownhills

Today National Express have issued significant changes to the buses that serve Pheasey.

The full details can be seen HERE and HERE

There will be an exhibition at the Collingwood Centre on the 3rd June.

In summary

The 76 to Walsall has been withdrawn and the 934 extended to take in this route and will run every 30 minutes.

The 997 has been extended to cover Aldridge Road in Streetly and thus cover Doe Bank and Frampton Way which the 934A used to cover

A NEW service 936 has been introduced that will go to Brownhills and Aldridge. The changes will result in 4 buses an hour that serve Birmingham during the day time and more at peak time.

Looking at the changes I can not see anything that worsens the bus connection on Pheasey. In fact looking at the changes combined we seem to have an improved bus service and remain a key thoroughfare for buses serving Birmingham, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and West Bromwich.

A Shame to see a community organisation encourage metal theft

As I was walking up Collingwood today I saw two what looked like dishwashers outside the Community Centre. I was hoping they had been left there to be picked up by someone reputable, alas not.

A few minutes later we saw what we call the ‘rag and bone’ man and it appears the Community Centre had heard the inevitable siren.

I do have a video of that but with my breathing and the wind it is not great quality !

To encourage these people is encouraging a major problem of metal theft. Maybe they thought it would be OK but the more they pick up the more they come around. I admit I used to do this but no longer, we have a proper place for disposal with a very good facility in Aldridge.

Surely they could have took these machines there ethically and in the right way ?

Details of new Bus Route to Nether Hall

After Duncan brought to our attention the details of the 651 being withdrawn, we now have the timetable details from National Express HERE (a PDF will open).

This is a vastly improved service with a service every half an hour from the extended 46 route (the old 406 route) that runs from West Bromwich.

Change of bus to Nether Hall

Duncan has posted this piece of information

Travelling on the 651 the other week I noticed a National Express notice advising passengers that the service was to be replaced on 22nd April by an extension of the 46 (former 406) from its terminus at Scott Arms Monday to Saturday. The 46 will terminate at Queslett Asda for these journeys. I can’t remember the timings but I think they were similar to the 651 service frequency.

My only concern is that the 46 currently uses single decker buses much longer than the mini-bus style used for the 651.
Will the 46 buses be able to negotiate the Nether Hall hill and the limited turning circle at the top with their existing vehicles?

=====

Duncan, I can only presume this will be a small bus as many for that journey can use the 451 (the new numbers I hate !!) anyway and a walk up to the houses.

SCHOOL & BIN UPDATE – Pheasey and Barr Beacon Open Tuesday and big snowdrifts

Well even sitting here I did not realise how bad the snow was around here. Did you see Midlands today up at Longwood Road Aldridge with the big snowdrifts ? Well look at this large snow drift at Barr Beacon.

We have just heard that Pheasey School is OPEN and I expect all the others to be open as well.

EDIT 21:00 Barr Beacon now open

Barr Beacon School @barrbeaconsch
We are open tomorrow (Tuesday 26th) thanks to a Herculean effort from the caretakers. All staff and students are in usual time.

Barr Beacon School @barrbeaconsch
Sixth formers – please don’t bring cars tomorrow as there are still snow mounds on car parks and you won’t be able to fit your vehicle on.

EDIT 21:30 – Bin update from the council is that they will try and collect where possible. I know it is likely in my close we will not have collections. Brown bin collection is suspended for next week in case of any uncollected green bins.

Snow Update – Barr Beacon, Pheasey & Meadowview School – CLOSED

It is disappointing that I just saw this being tweeted.

Barr Beacon School @barrbeaconsch
School is closed tomorrow (Monday 25th). Help your child revise evening will be rescheduled.

I really believe with some effort and an appeal to parents that it could and should have been kept open. Will update with Pheasey and Meadowview if we get them.

EDIT – Further update from the School

Barr Beacon School @barrbeaconsch
Even with a massive effort from our caretaking staff we could not guarantee the site’s safety tomorrow. We aim to be open again Tuesday.

EDIT – 17.30 SUN – Now hearing that Meadowview School is now closed

EDIT – 18:10 – Now Pheasey School is closed and this is very very disappointing news. There is no reason they could not have asked parents to come in and clear the schools.

Wintry pictures of Pheasey in the Snow

I will admit, I love this weather. It makes the estate seem so clean and special. When you walk around as I do crunching in the snow and looking around it is so peaceful from normal. I have actually seen some community spirit, some of the roads and paths have actually be swept away. I would make a plea that Walsall Council does the same as Sandwell and introduce ‘snow champions’.

Walking around at 8 last night, and as the street lights fell upon the snowy scene you could imagine everyone in their homes and actually speaking to each other !

So here are a few photo’s from today, I reckon in places we have had around 25-30cm of snow. At this time of year the last I can remember this bad was when I was at school 30 years ago.

It was good to see on Friday BTW that all three local schools were kept open, more of that please. Anyone of my age (40) will remember many times having to go to school in our moonboots, remember those ??

My child should do the same !!

Phone mast appeal FAILS

Unfortunately Valerie Vaz has bad news on the mast appeal.

It has been refused as the court ruled it has no jurisdiction to allow an appeal. Valerie is awaiting to see a transcript of the case but her understanding is that the appeal judges were unsympathetic to the Council’s case.

Valerie will now look into with the Council if any further steps can be taken in this case. of course I will update further on any news.

If you wish to contact Valerie on this matter please see the contact details for her on this site. She is happy to speak to any interested person on it.

Latest – Phone Mast Appeal

The last episode about the phone mast on Waverely Avenue is due tomorrow.

I have been informed by Valerie Vaz MP the following

This is to let you know that the first stage of Walsall MBC’s appeal against the Secretary of State’s decision will be heard at the Court of Appeal tomorrow at 10.30am before Lord Justice Pill, Lord Justice Sullivan and Lord Justice Tomlinson.

It has been listed for 2 days and Judgement may not be handed down immediately after the hearing.

We should remind ourselves the background is that the mast application was refused by 2nd class post but the phone mast operator say they did not receive the notice in time. The council say that the rejection was placed on their website and that constitutes public notification.

At this stage the council have lost all previous legal debate.

Snow update on Pheasey – Barr Beacon CLOSED Tues

Weather is getting better now in that no further snow forecast. Been out and the roads are passable on the estate but not great. Take care out there and especially tonight with temperatures predicted to be -5C.

Walsall Council finally got back about the gritting and pointed me towards THIS SITE run by volunteers. Go to Pheasey and note the high priority roads are Beacon Road, Collingwood Drive and Queslett Road.

I have received nothing back from the councillors as of this moment and I have to say where Hillingford Road, Romney Road and Wimperis Way are not high priority given the steepness of the hills is rather bemusing.

These roads are medium priority and they were certainly not down this morning when I went out. Also Collingwood is of the highest priority, that hardly looked gritted at all. It seems however side roads in Aldridge were done today, why is Pheasey left out ?

The answer to that may be self evident to many of us who live here.

From what I have heard all the schools will be open tomorrow which is good news.

Buses also appear to back to normal with the 997 and 5 running a normal service through the estate.

As for the Bin Collection the details can be found HERE for tomorrow’s collections. I would say a lot of us will be missed out.

Also would it not be a good idea for Walsall to copy Sandwell and get Snow Champions sorted. I cleared most of where I live but would be great if people did it around the area.

EDIT – 14.24

Barr Beacon School @barrbeaconsch
Due to continuing snowfall, school will be closed to students and staff tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd January) except for those taking exams.

I am surprised at this news as it is not too bad out there and teachers would be able to get in