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A voice on the internet for the residents of Aldridge
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Putting Aldridge residents first |
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 Sunday, November 23, 2008 |
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Super market postpones opening over refrigeration equipment.
A planning wrangle has been blamed for a delay in opening Aldridges new Tesco Express supermarket.The store is to open a month later than planned after Walsall Council refused permission for refrigeration equipment.
It was due to open on November 6th but will now open on December 11th after the development control committee refused the firms application to install equipment at the rear of a house .The Paddock Lane building,formerly the Aldridge Tavern,was refurbished by the retail chain.Hopes of opening on time were thwarted as planning chiefs said they thought the refridgeration unit should be installed at a different part of the property.Tesco spokeswoman Lauren Nicklinson said "The store has been delayed due to planning permission.The authority rejected the refridgeration plant submission,and we have re applied,meeting all their requirements.We would not open a store with out planning consent for the plant,even though we have consents for every thing else,she added.Last month councillors gave the green light to new signs for the store and for the automated cash machine.
It is the latest battle the supermarket firm has faced in the attempt to serve the people of Aldridge.
It has had to postpone its official opening twice but now bosses hope the planning issues will have been ironed out.More than 600 residents in the area signed a petition saying they did not want the store there at all.And when they had lost that battle,a new campaign was launched to prevent the new mini market selling alcohol.However that ended up as another failed crusade.
Campaigner and businessman Ben Uppal,aged 31, of Lynmouth Close,said I went to a traders meeting recently,and the view was it was a nice thing to have Tesco in the town,but they have put it in the wrong place.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:49:59 PM -
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A trust set up in honour of a nine year old Aldridge boy who is battling a brain tumour has raised £30,000 towards pioneering research in to the condition.A trust set up in Ben Sambrooks name has been fund raising for a year now.
The money will be used to fund a specific research project which is the a molecular brain tumour test to improve diagnosis and treatment in patients.
The brain tumour break through will now benefit UK patients and has been made possible by the trusts fund raising.
The Ben Sambrook Trust is an umbrella group of the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.His mother Sharon said "We have managed to raise over £30,000 over the last 12 months and I would like to say a big thank you to every one who has helped.
The money will be used to fund a breakthrough test which will improve diagnosis and treatment for people who have a brain tumour like Ben's.The project will cost around £75,000 in total so we have a clear goal for fundraising.ASs a trust we wanted to do some thing which would benefit Ben and many other people who are in his position.This test is a massive break through.We are currently looking at fund raising ideas for next year and would welcome any ideas or help in any way.
Ben did not have a day off at Cooper and Jordan school,which he attends despite six weeks of gruelling chemotherapy and radiation treatment.At the moment the tumour has disappeared but he has to go and have regular scans every three months.
A La Vegas ball raised £10,00 and motor cycle enthuasist Jon Homfray raised thousands by riding across Europe on his motor cycle in the summer taking in as many mountain ranges as possible.
To donate to Bens Trust or to help out in fund raising call Sharon on 07910-752860
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:44:47 PM -
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An Aldridge mum whose daughter was fatally stabbed by a schizophrenic has been filmed as part of an initiative to educate youngsters on the dangers of knife crime.
Karen Ross, whose daughter Rosie was stabbed while sun batrhing in Birminghams Centenary Square in 2001,tells the story of how her life has changed since her loss.The film is part of an iniative launched by Willenhall police and Walsall - based Mad Youth Steering Group,who have developed a play on issues which affect young peoples lives.The play examines the fallout of knife crime for all involved.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:40:35 PM -
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Campaigners dealt massive blow.
The Government has ruled out plans to close a controversial Aldridge bail hostel,it revealed today.The decision to keep the Stonnall Road hostei has left hundreds of campaigners devastated.Residents have been fighting to move the centre since the 1980's,claiming it is not in a suitable location.
But the battle was reignited in August following an alleged sexual assualt on an eight year old girl by an hostel resident.Hundreds of concerned local residents,councillors and MP's signed a petition calling for the hostel to close and it was hoped the Government would axe the centre.But a Home office letter today says there was no reason for the hostel to close.It reads "We are not aware of any reason to believe that Stonnall Road ought to close.West Midlands Probation Area have said for more than 10 years that they would be prepared to move from Stonnall Road,subject to a suitable and larger alternative site being found - although I must stress that they have never said that they regard the Stonnall Road location as inherently unsafe or unsuitable.
To do so without an alternative would reduce the amount of supervised accomodation in the area and so would reduce public protection.
Aldridge ward councillor Mike Flower said "Its in the wrong location and the wrong place.In the current economic climate,things are not being built and theres lots of land available.The fact behind this whole letter is the Government does not want to do anything.They are quite comfortable where they are and do not want to be bothered with it.Campaigner Lee Stone aged 35,from Clifton Avenue,
Aldridge,said the announcement was disappointing but he was determined the fight would continue any way.
Catherine Dalton.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:34:48 PM -
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GKN workers in Aldridge and Birmingham have been put on a four day week,while nearly 100 jobs are to go at the groups factory in Telford.
The short time working is already in operation,while the 90 job losses at the Hadley Castle plant were announced today.
Thr group blamed the down turn in the automotive industry for the move.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:31:52 PM -
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Aldridge Residents Association have made a donation of £140.20p to Walsall Wood JMI School to support the Manor Adventure activity - trip made from a raffle on Saturday 22nd November.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 8:25:40 PM -
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Club bosses declare they will challenge ban on discos.
A six - year battle for families near a noisy community centre at an Aldridge church will continue after the management committee challenged its ban on discos.
People living near the Friary Club in up - market Whetstone Lane have been keeping a record of the various hits that have been giving them an head ache,including Living on a Prayer,Tainted Love and Disco Inferno.
Following an extraordinary four hour meeting last month members of Walsall Councils Licensing Comittee agreed to remove the clubs music licence and reduce its opening hours.
But Steve Hough a member of the managing committee at the St Marys of the Angels - based club,said an appeal would be lodged by todays dead line.We have suggested new licensing conditions to the council,but I think realistically we will have to appeal them legally.
We hope we will get a fairer treatment in court,because that will be based on facts rather than hearsay.I think the council were putting two andtwo togeter and making 42.Neigbours who fought to put an end to their six years noise night mare today declined to comment until any possible appeal went to court.Last months meeting also saw the councils licensing sub - committee hear neighbours recordings of screaming children and presented with an iron pole that had been hurled in to a nearby garden next to the club.
Training consultant Ian Perry whose home backs on to the club,told the meeting that he and his wife arrange to go away at weekend to escape the noise.
Councillor Graham Wilkes said "We are not happy that the committee are responsible people.They have shown a disregard that has bordered on contempt for the authorities and even more so the local neighbours.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 7:38:21 PM -
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Banned motorist in chase is jailed.
A banned motorist found to be twice the alcohol limit after he hit speeds of 100mph in a police car chase in Aldridge town centre has been jailed for eight months.
Mark Egerton of Castle Road,Walsall Wood,admitted driving dangerously,while disqualified,without insurance and with excess alcohol.
Wolverhampton Crown court heard that the pursuit came to an end when Egerton who was carrying women passengers, ploughed the vehicle in to bushes.Egertons reading measured 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.The legal limit is 35.
Mr Mark Rees prosecuting said that during the chase,the 37 year old went through traffic lights on red and also drove on the wrong side of the road.Egerton was seen by officers in Portland Road, in Aldridge on June 28th.He was folowed on to Erdington Road then Little Aston Road before negotiating a town centre round about and heading in to Walsall Wood Road,where he was eventually stopped after about a mile.
Egerton was jailed for eight months on Tuesday and also banned from driving for four years.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 7:19:56 PM -
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A new Tesco Express in Aldridge will now open next month after being hit by delays.
The branch,in Paddock Lane,is now due to open to customers on December 11th more than a month after it was originally set to be be launched.
Store bosses have not revealed the reasons behind the delays.
Around 15 jobs have been created at the convience store,which replaced the Aldridge Tavern,despite concerns raised by nearby residents.
The supermarket giant has been granted an alcohol licence,which as attracted objections from residents on the grounds that it would cause traffic nuisance and anti - social behaviour.
# - Dusan Popratnjak - 11/23/08; 7:05:39 PM -
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