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local event
Starbucks withdraw after failure to answer residents’ concerns
In a surprising turnaround, Starbucks have withdrawn their application to build a drive-through coffee shop in Weoley following Julie Johnson’s public meeting earlier this month.
I’m so proud to have played a part in giving the people of Weoley this platform to get their voices heard
Starbucks failed to send a representative to provide any answers to local residents’ concerns about increased traffic flow and other key safety factors, including on-street parking, additional pollution, and the potential for late night anti-social behaviour.
Julie also highlighted local Tories’ mistaken claims that thirty jobs would be created, pointing out that the coffee shop had forecast only ten full-time and ten part-time jobs.
Julie said: “I’m so proud to be able to represent the people of Weoley in the face of Starbucks’ lack of consultation.
“We welcome businesses investment in Weoley, but local parents, teachers and neighbours refuse to accept that it should be at the expense of their children’s safety. The proposed site on a busy corner near the Bellfield schools is not appropriate for the type of business Starbucks want to use it for.
“Local residents were excited about Starbucks’ drive-through coffee shop innovation, along with the promised jobs, but felt another more suitable site in the Weoley ward should be sought.
“We congratulate Starbucks for listening to our concerns and and responding to our wishes. We wish them well and look forward to working with them in their future ventures.”
Birmingham City Council notified Julie that
Starbucks had withdrawn their application
For more information on this story, click here.
Starbucks no-show in Weoley consultation
Julie Johnson with Cllr Andy Cartwright
In response to local concerns, Julie Johnson, Weoley Labour candidate, organised an open consultation meeting last week for Weoley residents affected by a recent Starbucks planning application.
The well-known coffee seller Starbucks have submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council for a drive-through coffee shop at the junction of Sir Herbert Austin Way and Vineyard Road.
Local residents, teachers and parents voiced deep concerns about increased traffic flow and other key safety factors, including on-street parking in what is already a congested area during parts of the day, the additional pollution on a site adjacent to two primary schools and a children’s centre, and the potential for late night anti-social behaviour.
Julie said: “Not only have Starbucks made downward projections for jobs on this site before it’s even been approved, but my request for a site visit was refused, despite documentation offering access and a visit already having been undertaken by Cllr Freeman.”
It was acknowledged that Northfield is in great need of jobs, particularly for young people, but proposals to restrict these to local residents were dismissed as potentially contravening the Equality Act 2010 and therefore unjustifiable.
Other residents raised objections about Starbucks’ reputation for unethical tax avoidance in the UK.
Starbucks were invited to send a representative to talk to local people, but no one turned up.
The planning application documentation can be found at the City Council’s website here.
The Birmingham City Council Planning Committee is next due to meet on 28th April 2016.
Weoley Labour Summer Garden Party
Come and join us this Sunday
for some fun and games!
Birmingham Victims’ Champion to speak about antisocial behaviour
Come along on Saturday morning to hear Cllr Jess Phillips talk about antisocial behaviour in your area. Question and answer session will follow.
Click on the image for larger view of details of Saturday’s public meeting
Save the date
Weoley Labour has invited Councillor James McKay to meet the people of Weoley to discuss the new wheelie bin project.
The consultation will take place on 23rd April. More information about venue and time will follow shortly.
In the meantime, why not have a look at our previous post that includes a video of Cllr McKay, Cabinet Member for a Green, Safe and Smart City, explaining what the scheme means for Birmingham?
Antisocial behaviour – how to stop it
Click on the image for full details of tonight’s public meeting
Arts March 01 Weoley Castle
Weoley Castle Library hosting Arts March on Saturday 2 March from 11am to 3pm
It’s in your hands – #WMidsPCC hustings
[JUMP TO LATEST EVENTS.]
Cuts, privatisation, victim support, business fraud, gang crime, antisocial behaviour – we all worry about crime and we all have an opinion on what the priorities should be for policing in the West Midlands.
So, what do you want to see the new Police and Crime Commissioner doing about it? What improvements do you want to see across the county? How do you know which candidate stands the best chance of achieving what you want and what’s best for West Midlands Police?
Our recent post Remember, remember – the 15th of November outlined Labour candidate Bob Jones’s profile and now, with the official launch of the Home Office’s awareness campaign yesterday and the elections just five weeks away, the hustings are getting under way. Go along to one of these events and make sure the candidates know what matters to you.
Pink Shield
Date: Thursday 11 October
Venue The Penthouse, above the Loft Lounge, in Birmingham’s Gay Village
Time 8pm
Click here for online details.
Twitter: @pinkshieldbham
Victim Support
Birmingham
Date: Friday 12 October
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF
Time: 10am
Warwickshire
Date: 16 October
Venue: Warwickshire TBC
Time: TBC
Click here to download the flyer [PDF 435KB]. To book a place or for any further information, email nicola.biggs@victimsupport.org.uk.
Twitter: @VictimSupport
Moseley Forum
Date: Wednesday 17 October
Time: Following AGM at 7pm
Venue: St Columba Church, Chantry Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8DD (corner of Alcester Road)
Click here for online details.
Brap
Date: Thursday 18 October
Venue: Handsworth Community Fire Safety Centre, 41 Rookery Road Handsworth, Birmingham B21 9QU
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Click here for online details. Places are free but must be booked in advance by emailing events@brap.org.uk or telephone 0121 237 3608.
Twitter: @braphumanrights
Coventry Women’s Voices
Date: Wednesday 31 October
Venue: Coventry Council House, Diamond Room 1, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Click here for online details. To book a place at the event, send in a question for the panel or to find out more, contact pccscoventry@gmail.com or call/text 0754 507 8165.
Twitter: @CoventryWomen
Birmingham Trades Union Council
Date: Thursday 1 November
Venue: Birmingham Council House
Time: 8pm
The Drum
Date: Wednesday 7 November
Venue: The Drum, Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU
Time: 6.30pm
Click here for online details.This is a community event and your chance to question the candidates. Email birminghamef@gmail.com or contact Desmond Jaddoo 07946 374577.
Twitter: @DesJaddoo and @The_Drum
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Date: Thursday 8 November
Venue: Breakfast event with the West Midlands Police Authority, DeVere Venues, 5th Floor, Colmore Gate, Birmingham B3 2DX
Time: Between 8am and 10am
Click here to book online.
Twitter: @BrumChamber
KSIMC Birmingham
Date: Thursday 8 November
Venue: KSIMC Mehfil e Abbas, 17 Clifton Road, Birmingham B12 8SX
Time: 8pm
Click here for online details. To book a place at the event, send in a question for the panel or to find out more, contact asifiqbal.alidina@gmail.com.
Twitter: @ksimcb
Leave us a comment if you hear about any other events.
Steve Booton campaigns with Birmingham MPs
Steve Booton with Richard Burden and Liam Byrne
Steve was out knocking doors and meeting shoppers on Weoley Castle Square with two Birmingham MPs on Saturday.
Richard Burden, MP for Birmingham Northfield, and Liam Byrne, MP for Hodge Hill, both joined the Weoley Labour campaign team, along with Jess Phillips, the Labour candidate for the Longbridge ward to show their support.
Steve said: “It’s always fantastic to meet the people of Weoley and listen to their concerns. Many of them feel let down by the ConDem Coalition in Birmingham and the stall gives me the chance to explain why I hope to be their next Labour councillor. In tough times like these, Weoley needs a champion who will stand up for our community, protect local services, speak up for residents and work for a fair deal for our neighbourhood.”
Richard Burden said: “It’s important that local representatives are working in the same direction. An active Labour councillor in Weoley will give us the chance to complete the team in Northfield’s four wards.”
Steve’s pledge for Weoley
If I’m elected on 3 May, I pledge to:
- set up a Forum with Bournville Village Trust, local housing associations and Birmingham City Council to improve housing in the area
- lobby West Midlands Travel to improve bus services in the area
- tackle anti-social behaviour by developing a partnership with the police, residents and other agencies in the area
- ensure that young people have access to apprenticeships and training and employment opportunities
Compare this with the ConDem proposals
- £5.3 million worth of cuts from our Children’s Centres
- £1.9 million worth of cuts from the Supporting People programme, hitting our most vulnerable neighbours
- masses of jobs lost in frontline services
Weoley Labour 