The Wednesfield & Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership is holding an open forum meeting to discuss neighbourhood priorities for the area this week.

The meeting will be an opportunity to share your views on local priorities for Wednesfield, Fallings Park & Ashmore Park directly with the people who provide services in these areas.

The open forum meeting takes place at the Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield on Thursday 28th July at 6:30pm and is open to all.

This is your chance to have your say on what happens in your neighbourhood – so come along and share your views!

For further information, contact Simon Hamilton on 01902 552 623 or simon.hamilton@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

Wardens have recently dealt with several resident concerns which have included:

• Several elderly residents suffering from anti-social behaviour from neighbours in Ashmore Park
• A couple in the Perry Hall area suffering with problems caused by children from another area playing football; when spoken to the children were aggressive and abusive
• Ongoing concerns about a family in the Wednesfield area causing anti-social behaviour and possible drug dealing
• An elderly lady having problems with her neighbour’s dog
• A resident in Long Knowle experiencing harassment from several neighbours
• Problems with the garage site on Whiston Avenue; possible drug dealing and drug activity taking place

ACTIONS TAKEN

The wardens have taken various actions to resolve the above problems. They include:

• Reassurance visits to homes of residents with concerns
• Information gathering
• Shared information with relevant partner agencies including police and anti-social behaviour unit
• Provoked interest in setting up a neighbourhood watch group. Delivered the relevant information and contact details

INITIATIVES

• Wardens have distributed bike safety locks to children at Corpus Christi school. The idea behind the initiative is to get children more active by cycling to school over a set period of time. In return they are rewarded with a new bike lock. The wardens are looking to introduce this idea to other schools in the Wednesfield area
• Wardens are working closely with the Brownies at St.Gregory’s Church. In return for funding for their Brownie anniversary celebrations, the Brownies are to commit some of their time to a community project; the type of project, is yet to be decided

Click here to see what the Wednesfield and Fallings Park Neighbourhood Wardens have been up to during August in their latest Newsletter.

This action has been taken due to vandalism that has already occurred and the equipment will be put back in place once the travellers have been removed from the site and any repairs needed have been carried out.

Anyone who has witnessed vandalism to the play area equipment should report it to Wednesfield Police Station on 0345 113 5000.

From Wednesfield & Fallings Park LNP:

Choirs put on a performance to sing about!!!

Choir’s from Edward the Elder, St Patrick’s & Wodensfield Primary Schools performed a collection of songs in the new Wednesfield Community Centre in celebration of the opening of the new Community Library.

Attendees at the event included the Community Library Champions, Parents, Library staff and VIP guests; this event was part of the Wednesfield History Week program.

Poet Emma Purshouse also recited a selection of poems and interacted with the pupils to the enjoyment of the audience.

Battle of Wodensfield as been re-enacted!!!!!

Pupils from Wodensfield Primary School as part of the Wednesfield History Week have performed a dance routine of the Battle of Wodensfield.

Simon Hamilton Neighbourhood Partnership Officer for the Wednesfield & Fallings Park LNP said ‘The work that the teachers and pupils have put into the performance was fantastic, we thank them for all their hard work and commitment’.

The performance took place on Thursday 10th June at the Amphitheatre area near to the new Community Library building in Rookery St; watched by LNP & Library Staff, Parents, Pupils from the Edward the Elder Primary, St Patrick’s Primary, Wodensfield Primary Schools.

The new Trap Makers Bridge in Wednesfield was officially opened by the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett on Monday 1st June.

Other VIP Guests included Peter Hurlstone President of the Wednesfield Rotary club, David Johns Hon Sectary Wednesfield Rotary Club, Steve Ritchings of the Halcrow Group, Wednesfield and Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership Board members, Jan Hickman (Local Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator) and Ken Purchase and his Wife Brenda (retired Wolverhampton North East MP).

The event was also attended by members of the Sons of Rest and the Bowling team who are based in Wednesfield Park and the Walking for Health group who meet at the Woden Resource Centre in Vicarage Road.

The Trap maker’s bridge was a regeneration project part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The project was overseen by Wolverhampton City Councils Culture and Leisure services and British Waterways and construction was carried out by Halcrow Group.

Following the opening, Walking for Health coordinator Andrew Tomlinson in Partnership with the Walk leader from the Woden Resource Centre lead a 50 strong group on a short 30 minutes walk as part of the opening event. The walk route lead the Mayor and guests over the New the Trap Makers Bridge down the Essington and Great Wryley Canal and around the Wednesfield Park finishing at the new Community Centre for a well earned cup of tea!

The bridge was named after the Trap makers work shops which played a large part in the industrial history of Wednesfield.

Mr Richard Rhodes, whose Grandfather was the Founder of the Sidebotham trap works in Wednesfield, gave a talk to the Mayor and guests on the Trap Makers industry which was the main source of income for the folk who lived in Wednesfield Village in the early 1900’s

The opening of the bridge was the first event to take place for the Wednesfield History Week and was kindly sponsored by Sainsbury’s Wednesfield.

Here are the events coming up this week…

Monday 7th – Friday 11th June

Venue: New Wednesfield Community Library

• Artifacts loaned by the Wolverhampton Art Gallery will be on display throughout the week.
• History time lines created by local schools will be displayed
• A free drinks Sainsbury’s voucher will be given to all users who borrow a book from the new Community Library for use in the café area of the Wednesfield store.

Monday 7th June

• The Mayor of Wolverhampton will officially open Trap Makers Bridge at 11 am, including a short walk and refreshments at the new Wednesfield Community Centre.
• The meeting point for the event/walk will be at the Trap Makers Bridge. Enter Wednesfield Park via the side of the Snooker Hall by St Patrick’s School on Graisley Lane. Click here for a map showing the route of the walk.

Tuesday & Wednesday 8th & 9th June

• Short history talks will take place at Wodensfield & St Patrick’s Primary Schools for pupils by Mr. Rhodes (Grandson of the Founder of Sidebothams Trap Makers Company) and Ray Fellows (Local Historian/Author)

Thursday 10th June

Venue: New Wednesfield Community Library / New Wednesfield Community Centre Hall
Time: 11 am – 12:15 pm

• Wodensfield, St Patrick’s & Edward the Elder Primary School choirs will be performing in the new Wednesfield Community Centre.
• Emma Purhouse (Poet) will be performing a collection of poems.
• A dance of the Battle of Wodensfield will be performed by Wodensfield Primary School.

Friday 11th June

Venue: Wednesfield Library
Time: 1:30pm – 5pm

• Local historian Ray Fellows will be signing copies of his new book ‘Wednesfield Our Village’

Wednesfield & Fallings Park neighbourhood partnership officer will hike up the highest mountain in Britain to raise money for Cancer Research UK after his own father was diagnosed with the illness.

Simon Hamilton, who works for Wednesfield and Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership, will be attempting the arduous task along with his friend Diane Crutchley, a rehabilitation assistant at Warstone’s Resource Centre, in July.

Simon walked up Snowdon Mountain last year, but this time around the trek will have added significance as he hiking with his dad.

“I walked up Snowdon last year for my 40th birthday with my brothers – this year we decided to do it again but for charity,” said Simon.

“My dad had cancer of the bowel but is in remission now and is back at work and enjoying himself.

Those of you who would like to donate to Simon and Diane’s cause can visit their just giving site by clicking here: http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-Hamilton69. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Simon by calling 07814549416.

WV11.co.uk will be donating a month’s worth of our advertising revenues to Simon’s cause – we hope you join us.

“I’m really excited because last year it was the first time all my brothers came together  as a family for years but this time we will be walking with our dad too, who although is 61 is very fit for his age and celebrating that he is in remission.”

Simon already donates to the charity every month but felt he wanted to do all he could to help others who found themselves in his dad’s position.

“With my dad’s treatment, we thought it would be a good idea to support the huge amount of research that is already being carried out, which helps to save so many lives,” added Simon.

Diane is best friends with Simon’s wife and asked if she could be a part of the slog too.

“I like walking and completed a half marathon – it’s good to stay fit but I’ve never done it for charity,” she said.

“I’m not really getting worried as it’s something I love to do. I’ve started to go out rambling on the weekends in preparation and am really looking forward to it.”

As well as raising cash for Cancer Research UK, some of Simon’s brothers will also donate money to Compton Hospice after it helped the family during an illness that was suffered by a relative.

Simon’s dad Ken added: “I’m really looking forward to the hike with my sons and am proud that we are raising as much as we can for two such good causes.”

The inaugural ‘Local Heroes Award’ evening was held at Edward the Elder School and was attended by around 150 local people.  The categories included volunteer, Good Neighbour, Young Achiever and Team; awards were given to those that had gone the ‘extra mile’ for their community.

The evening was kept on track thanks to Rev Simon Mansfield, Chair of the Local Neighbourhood Partnership and Jan Hickman, LANA co-ordinator.  Wednesfield High School Gospel Choir provided superb entertainment during the evening.

The judging panel were overwhelmed with the number and standard of entries and had great difficulty in choosing a winner, but they eventually decided on:

• Volunteer – John Lees, Wolverhampton Utd FC
• Good Neighbour – Jean Shinton
• Young Achiever -  Preety Kaur
• Team – Wednesfield FC Colts, Under 9’s

Wednesfield and fallings Park LNP would like to congratulate all of the winners and also thank all those that made the evening such a success.  Special thanks should also go to Nick Cunliffe headteacher at Edward the Elder School.

The job requires someone to: “Work in the Local Neighbourhood Partnership (LNP) areas with local communities, businesses, service providers and other partner agencies, to build positive relations in order to respond to community safety and anti-social behaviour issues as identified via the local tasking process and to provide a visible presence and reassurance service across the LNP area. To work in a flexible way that meets the needs of the LNP process including working  outside normal office hours.”

For more information and to download the full job description, visit the City Council website.

A program of activities for adults to take part in have been put together over a fortnight starting on 22 March and running until 2 April. These range from Plastering & Basic Plumbing to the new fitness craze ‘Zumbra’.

Booklets with all the available courses will be distributed to local Community Centres, Schools and other community venues.

For further details, please contact Simon Hamilton on 01902 551750 or Jo Ingleby on 01902 551867.