Our aim
is to preserve and enhance the green environment of Selly Oak Park, so
that it is a clean, safe and pleasant area that will be enjoyed responsibly
by the whole community.
Introduction
Friends of Selly
Oak Park was set up as a community group in 2006, following a well attended
local meeting. The local councillor, Alistair Dow, and the council parks
officer for the area, Simon Cooper, hosted the first meeting of more than
50 local residents, who had come along on a dull and wet Sunday afternoon
to find out what was proposed.
A few people volunteered to form a committee, and so the Friends group was born. Following our first year a number of local residents joined our ranks which has now allowed us to evolve our group aims.
The initial survey the council distributed (2006) identified a number of concerns that will probably be familiar. Top of the list were gangs of youths and motorcyclists using the park, followed by litter. The main improvements people would like to see were an increased security in the form of a park ranger, other visible staff or police presence, sporting facilities and more flowerbeds.
We’ve made a start on building relationships with local agencies, attending meetings with the police, and representing the park at the Selly Oak Ward Advisory Board and the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum.
Results of the consultation
carried out by Birmingham City Council in 2006 can be seen here
The group made an excellent start in our first year. We have involved a number of other organisations and services to enhance the green and open space which is our park. This has included liaising with the police to ensure an increased presence, especially in the summer months, of both Police Officers and Community Support Officers. We have worked with the park services to ensure an increase in dog bins and seating; there has also been the introduction of ‘no motorcycle signs’ to discourage this scourge of illegal activity.
We have lobbied to have the play park re-opened and are pleased to announce that within the coming months the park will be resurfaced and a number of older park items will be replaced.
In April 2008 the Friends held their first event involving the erection of several bird boxes within the Park. Following this in June 2008 our Summer event was sponsored by Robert Wilkinson's funfair. We promoted our aims in this family event and welcomed a number of local groups including the Lapal Canal Trust who are planning for the reconstruction of the canal: which would skirt the edge of the park.
From the initial survey, supplemented by their own knowledge and experience of the area, the committee have recently discussed the options for our future aims. This will be fully published in due course and will include:
-
Facilities for older children, such as upgrading a number of ‘tired’
items and considering a separate ‘Multi Use Games Area’,
- Arranging a low level fence down the length of Gibbins Road,
- Developing car parking facilities for the park (possibly involving CCTV
security),
- Protection of the wildlife and plant life in the park
- Deal with problem behaviour in the park including (large groups of youths,
further discouraging illegal motor cyclists, litter and graffiti and neglect.
- Working with Sainsbury's and the council to ensure a connection to the
new development and a pedestrian/ cyclist route to the City Centre, University
and Selly Oak Station.
Summary
The committee believe we must find a way of preserving the accessibility
and openness of the park, identified as features that people like, but
improve the feeling of safety for all users of the park. We wish to build
upon the current infrastructure and develop facilities that will further
enhance the park.
We liaise with other park users, wherever appropriate, however participation
at the Friends of Selly Oak Park meetings/committee will be the best way
of steering the agenda. Become involved to make a difference to your park.
See the Contact Us page to learn some more!
