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A voice on the internet for the residents of Aldridge
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Putting Aldridge residents first |
October 2008 |
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 Monday, October 27, 2008 |
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The mayor of Walsall has called for the Aldridge community to "stick together " after the loss of 200 jobs due to the collapse of freight company Amtrak,the Aldridge base of the company in Northgate Way closed last week after going in to administration,throwing all 230 workers out of work.
Aldridge Central and South has appealed for the residents to look out for one another.People in the community really need to stick together topull through these difficult times.Its not a good time at all for the area,when you thinkabout the post offices closing and the credit crunch affecting every body.The news happened so suddenly people have had very little time toprepare for this and with the way the job market is its unlikely that they will all go staight in to other jobs,Its a terrible blow for the area and local economy.
Tim Spiers
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:48:29 PM -
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Around 30 workers had to flee from an Aldridge factory when a furnace full of molten brass ruptured.The spillage happened at Bolton Brass Ltd,Middlemore Lane,Aldridge where 12 tonnes of moulten brass metal burst out of an induction furnance which had ruptured,the workers had to flee the factory to avoid the liquid metal.Firefighters had to tackle the moulten metal using sand.They contained the spillage and it will be left to burn itself out which could take up to 24 hours.The part of the site affected will remain shut.But other parts of the factory remained open.
Aldridge Red watch commander Andrew Dickson,said " There was about 30 workers in there at the time and they had to leg it out of there pretty sharpish as this stuff basically consumes anything in its path.
Its basically now a case of letting it burn itself out now.It won't spread any where else he added.
Mr Dickson said some ofthe sand being used to soak up the liquid metal was even being turned in to glass it was that hot.Mr Dickson added " There was an horrendous amount of smoke and we are using ventilators to clear the factory as well.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:47:18 PM -
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A World War 1 hero who was awarded the Victoria Cross was honoured at the weekend.The late Captain Charles George Bonner ,who spent his childhood in Aldridge and was educated at Sutton Coldfield was remembered on Sunday at a parade and service at the newly - refurbished Aldridge Cenotaph,were a stone plaque installed in the surrounding wall was dedicated to him.
On August 8th,1917 Capt Bonner- known as Gus to friends- was First Lieutenant on a Q ship,HNS Dunraven,which was shelled and set on fire by a German u boat in the Bay of Biscay.
He remained at his post in charge of his gun 's crew until the ship exploded.Captain Bonner survived the explosion.He moved to Edinburgh after the war and lived until 1951.
Aldridge Branch of the Royal British Legion,which was formed in 1928 with Captain Bonner as its first president organised Sundays dedication ceremony.Current president David Partridge aged 88 ,who is Bonners nephew,said "He was always held in very high regard by the people of Aldridge for his bravery.We had been clamouring for years for some permanent memorial for him to be provided in Aldridge.The plaque was installed ten months ago and this is now to be dedicated in his honour".
The parade was led by the band and a detachment from Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets and included other detachments from Walsall Sea Cadets ,the army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps and Standards and members of the Royal British Legion and St Johns Ambulance.
The service was jointly led by the vicar of St Margarets Church Great Barr ,the Rev Martin C Rutter who is also a Royal British Legion Chaplin and Rector of Aldridge,the Rev Richard Cornfield.
Leaders and members of all community groups in Aldridge attended.Following the service,the Mayor of Walsall,Councillor Tom Ansell,was joined by local councillors and other civic dignitaries in taking the salute as the parade left the cenotaph to make its way to the Green.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:46:22 PM -
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A woman was attacked and dragged from her car by two hooded thugs before they stole her high performance vehicle.
The two robbers singledout and attacked the lone 34 - year old victim in Aldridge on Wednesday afternoon last week at 15.45pm.
The un-named woman was walking back to her car - a blue Audio S3 Quattro registration number BD57 VZX - which was parked in a small car park in Bakers Lane situated between High Street and Little Aston Road.She was approached by a man who demanded her car keys and dragged her by her hair,the men then stole the vehicle.
Dective Sergeant Rob Bastin from Walsall CID said " The victim is clearly shaken up by this incident but otherwise unhurt.
It is believed the offenders were also using a black Audio A3 and may have been parked in or near the car park for a while before the incident.We would ask that any one who was in the area of the car park around the time of the robbery,or any one who saw the men parked in the black Audio to contact us.
Both Audis were driven away following the robbery but the direction of travel isnot known.
Police believe there were at least two robbers who were described as black,aged between 20 and 23 and wearing hooded tops and jeans.
Any one with information on the robbery or vehicles should ring Walsall CID on 0845 113 5000 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:45:33 PM -
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Organisers of an Aldridge - based youth charity were bowled over at a recent fundraising event when they were handeda suprise cheque for more than £3,000.Money left over since the closure of Aldridge Manor House Community and Youth Association in December 2006 was donated to the charity,set up in memory of Aldridge teenager Rosie Ross,stabbed to death in Birmingham in 2001.
Charities that close must donate any surplus funds to a registered charity.
A cheque for £3,261 .61 was presented to Karen and Sean Ross,Rosies parents,at a fundraiser night at the Lazyhill pub,in Walsall Wood Road,last month.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:44:44 PM -
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Generous traders have dug deep to buy a state-of -the art mountain bike to help police in Aldridge.The £600 bike has been donated by the Aldridge Village Business Partnership to the beat team in the area.It means police community support officers alongside regular police officers will be able to use the cycle to patrol the village.
Maria Bianco,partnership chair,said "This is great news As an organisation we do aim to build pride in the village and to make it a safer place to shop and work".
We have a good relationship with the police and with our police community support officer and to have regular patrols on the bike will be an excellent step.
The bicycle will allow officers to respond quickly to situations as well as provide high profile police patrols that retain a human touch.
Aldridge - based Sergeant Peter Finch said " I 'm extremely pleased to receive the bike on behalf of my team.It will greatly assist in raising their profile and accessibility throughout Aldridge.
This very generous donation is also evidence of the support and strength of the relationship that exists between the police and the local business community.It is a partnership that benefits all.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:44:05 PM -
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Walsall Councils Trading Standards Service has teamed up with West Midlands Fire Service and Age concern for a tour of venues across the borough testing electric blankets.The campaign to prevent tradedgies will see the free safety checks take place until Saturday.
During the checks,qualified staff will repair minor faults free of charge and a discount voucher will be provided to replace unsafe blankets.It is the 10th year Walsall Trading Standards has offered the service. during which time 3,000 blankets have been checked - with nearly half being condemned as potentially - life threatening.
Fire fighters will also be offering all householders free home safety checks including installation of new smoke alarms where required and advice on how to make an escape plan in the event of a blaze.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:39:16 PM -
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A kind and gentle Aldridge mother who died in her sisters arms after a car crash in New Zealand will be remembered in a memorial concert on Saturday.Laura Donnellan,25,moved down under with her 15 month - old son Sam in 2002.She joined her youngest of two brothers Patrick Donnellan in Christchurch,along with one of her threee sisters Catherine McCullagh and her mother Elizabeth.
The former St Francis of Assissi pupil gained employment on a honey farm,and had built a new life for herself.In August last,another of her sisters Eilleen McCullagh,35 flew down under to visit Laura.Just six days into the trip,the pair were involved in a car crash,which claimed the life of Laura.Eileen was hospitalised in New Zealand until May this year,when she returned home to Lichfield.
With the one year anniversary of the former Berryfields resident now passed,Lauras family have arranged a memorial service to be held at St Marys of Angels Church in Whetstone Lane on Saturday 12th September at 14.00pm.Eileen said "Laura was a very kind gentle and warm person.She was also very funny and naive at times and dopey.But she could also be very sensitive.
We have a big family and losing her completely devasted all of us,we think about her every single day,and we miss her terribly.The local community in New Zealand gave us phenomenal support,there were nearly 550 people at her funeral.Over the years we have lost touch with her friends and we want as many of her friends,old school friends and any one who knew her to come along and remember her.
Visitors are asked to not bring flowers,but instead make a contribution on the day to a fund set up to support Lauras seven year old son.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:26:51 PM -
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An Aldridge man has been honoured by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution after raising an astonishing £65,000 for the organisation.
Tony Carter received the RNLI silver badge in recognition of his sterling work as sales secretary of the charity's Sutton Coldfield branch.He has overseen the charitys merchandise sales for 9 years.
Tonys wife Jill,who is Chairman of the Sutton branch said she was very proud of him.There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scences.We are all volunteers and this time of yearparticularly hectic with Christmas cards going on sale she said.
The award was presented by June Addison senior are fund raising manager for the RNLI Wales and West Region.She said Tony has given many years of dedicated and loyal service for the RNLI.His commitment has always been first class.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 9:03:22 PM -
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A suspected drunk driver fled in a passing taxi after crashing a car in Aldridge today - only for police to flag it down moments later.
Officers looking for the suspect,who had kicked his way out of the wrecked Skoda,stopped the taxi by chance during their search.
The car demolished a fence and railings on the A454 Aldridge bypass before flipping on to its roof when it careered off the road at around 3.00am.
The 22 year old motorist had to kick out the rear window to escape.The unnamed driver was travelling along the bypass at about 3.10am when the vehicle left the carriageway on the bridge near the junction with Walsall Road.
Watch commander Andrew Dickson of Aldridge fire said " The Skoda left the road,demolished railings,a fence and damaged a pedestrian crossing.
It landed upside down and wedged between the railings and the fence.
West Midlands Police spokesperson Catherine Preece said a 22 year old man from Walsall was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following the incident and bailed.The driver managed to get out of the car by kicking through the back window he managed to catch a taxi as he left the scence,but police officers looking for him just happened to flag down the same taxi down the road and he was spoken to.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 8:34:44 PM -
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Aldridge Youth Theatre is set to expand its range of drama activities on offer for youngsters in the borough.
Following a successful summer school,the group will add a third group to its two existing theatre classes.
A new group for Year 6 and 7 pupils will start at the end of September,meeting on Thursdays from 18.00pm - 19.15pm.
The intermediate group caters for youngsters aged 12 and over,while the senior group caters for 15-21 year olds.
Intermediate meet and seniors on Mondays from 19.00pm - 21.30pm,classes will take place at the groups 154 seater theatre in Noddy Park Road in Aldridge.
e mail ellis_n@live.com for more details.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 8:22:38 PM -
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A raucous church hall social club in Aldridge has been banned from staging late - night parties after neighbours said they had endured a six - year night mare.
Licensing bosses have stripped the Friary Club of its licence to play live and recorded music in its venue at St Marys of the Angels Church in Whetstone Lane.
Residents living next door to the site kept a detailed record of the catelogue of noise nuisances.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 8:15:35 PM -
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Up to 180 metal workers at an Aldridge factory were today continuing their strike over a pay dispute and possible redundanciesThe industrial action was sparked by the decision of bosses at Bolton Brass in Middlemore Lane not to increase wages and to drastically reduce redundancy packages.Spokesman for Union Unite Tom Keogh said employees would not strike next week but intended to stage weekly two day walk- outs from the following week.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 8:10:34 PM -
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Five football - loving friends based at an Aldridge sports club have combined their love of watching the game with a series of sponsored walks to the regions top grounds.
The effort kicked off with a five mile jaunt from the towns Friary Sports and Social Club to Banks Stadium to see the Saddlers clash with Leyton Orient.
Next stop for club members Steve Hough aged 55,Mike Ford aged 46,Dave Turton,Tony Bland and Chris Spencer all aged 45,will be at St Andrews to watch Birmingham City tomorrow.They will be followed by visits to Aston Villa and West Brom and Wolverhampton Wanderers.They organised the fund raiser caper following the death of a friend who was cared for at St Giles Hospice in Whittington.They aim to raise £1,000 for charity for the hospice.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 8:03:24 PM -
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Up to 400 workers are set to join the dole queue after parcel delivery firm Amtrak collapsed.
The company,which has its head office in Aldridge,was being wound up after going in to administration last Friday.The end was announced after administrators Ernst and Young were unable to salvage the business.Atotal of 50 workers had already been made redudant,but the rest now face losing their jobs.
An Ernst and Young spokesman said "The business will be wound up by the end of the week.So far 50 staff at the Aldridge site have been made redudant,but it is likely thst all employees will be made redudant by the end of the week.Another 35 Amtrak bases across the country will also close,leading to another 500 job loses.Disconsolate workers were left contemplating life on the dole as they left the Aldridge site last Thursday.The company didn't even have the common courtesy to tell us when they knew it was going to happen last Thursday said a 50 year old engineer who would not be named.We were just left thinking what the company's next move would be.The mood is bad eveybodys just very upset.People have no pospects at a time like this,there's nowhere around here that could take in 100 employees.
Amtrak was launched in 1987 and chose the West Midlands as its base because of the regions key locationat the heart of the national transport network.It built up a nationwide network of depots and had more than 1,000 delivery vehicles operated by staff and franchised drivers.
Amtrak acquired the assets of Nightspeed Services in August 2005,and the whole business was sold to Netfold Ltd early last year.The high cost of fuel and the squeeze on consumer spending were blamed for the collapse of the business.Rival operator Business Post has been appointed to deliver any outstanding parcels stranded at the various depots around the country.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 7:55:14 PM -
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A crucial meeting has been arranged to tackle a problematic road in Aldridge after a series of protests by irate residents.
On Saturday morning ,a group of 30 Branton Hill Lane,Little Aston Road and Hallcroft Way residents demonstrated outside Aldridge Library with placards in hand.
They are stepping up a 20 - year battle to stop lorries using Branton Hill Lane to access Bliss Sand and Gravel.
The residents concerns centre around 2intolerable " air pollution and safety concerns with more than 100 lorries using the small road every day.
"They were very angry about the situation" said Mayor of Walsall and Aldridge Councillor Tom Ansell,whose surgery was interrupted by the demonstration.But this has been going on for 20 years and the road is in an atrocious state,so I certainly sympathised with them.Tom Ansell has arranged a crunch meeting with pollution chiefs in Walsall Council to discuss the matter urgently.
Residents have called for plans to be approved to open an access route via Chester Road.The proposal was originally rejected by Walsall Councils development control committee,but an appeal will be heard in October.This matter is serious for Aldridge residents said Branton Hill Lane resident Philip Mountford aged 68.
Pollution levels are well above safe levels and when it rains there is mud every where.The noise is terrible,espicially when the lorries are running empty.And there are many safety concerns with bricks falling from HGV's,the speed they travel down the road and the number of them coming down the road.
Activity starts at 07.00am and sometimes doesn't finish untill 18.30pm.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 7:38:04 PM -
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Dairy Crest has opened a new depot in Aldridge,creating up to 30 new jobs over the coming months,it has been announced.The firm has opened a new regional distribution centre at Arrow Pont,in Brickyard Road,which is being run by NR Evans on behalf of Dairycrest.The centre opened at the start of the month and will employ around 30 people.
Dairy crest is a long term supplier of fresh milk to Sainsburys and Morrisons.The Aldridge centre will help its distribution of milk to five of Lidl's six distribution centres.
Meanwhile,Dairy Crest is launching a new service in the Black Country delivering groceries and household products as well as milk.It has launched the on - line Milk and More grocery service at its depot in Rufford Road,Stourbridge
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 10/27/08; 7:21:45 PM -
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