Cllr Ken Hawkins

New Website up and running

2009-12-08T15:36:00.001Z

This may be the last post on this blogsite. Please visit me at www.cllrkenhawkins.co.uk. All existing blogs will be merged onto the new site.

Severn Trent Corporate Responsibility?

2009-12-04T15:23:00.002Z

From their website (my highlights):

Community involvement:

At Severn Trent we recognise our responsibility towards the communities in which we live and operate and we are committed to continuously improving our contribution in this area. We aim to be a good neighbour and to contribute to the long-term benefit of our communities by improving our day to operational service and performance.

We also contribute through community investment, our education programme, provision of recreation facilities, employee volunteering and by operating match funding schemes for employee fund raising.

Not much about still being able to park across residents drives and clock delivery and waste vehicles.

Severn Trent Parking

2009-12-04T14:18:00.004Z

Severn Trent staff are causing real problems through inconsiderate parking in roads off Valley Road, Elmdon. Driveways are blocked and refuse and delivery vehicles are sometimes blocked from driving down roads, such as Arden Croft. Mangers at Severn Trent have declined my invitation to meet them on site. Next step seems to try and name and shame them nationally I will write to their head office and shareholders, informing them that their internationally recognised company does not seem to have green credential at a local level. Do they have a Green travel policy? Do they encourage workers to car share?

The image above shows vehicles parked in Arden Croft, off Valley Road with the Severn Trent offices in the background.

Disappointed of Solihull.

HGV's on Damson Lane

2009-12-01T21:06:00.002Z

Because foreign HGV's visiting the Land Rover site still tend to use Damson lane I have written to the main hauliers Willi Betz, writing both to the UK office in Kent and the German base in Baden-Wurttemburg. In an effort to motivate the drivers of these vehicles to not use the built up Damson lane I have provided a map and photographs on the route via Damson Parkway. I also had the original letter translated in the German. Hopefully the drivers will be presented with the better and safer route to the plant.

I would prefer the vehicles to access the plant via the M42 and A45 arterial routes, but appreciate this may not be possible due to the increased distance involved. I will though be looking for Land Rover to include the M42/A45 route when contracts are due for re-negotiation with Willi Betz.

Solihull's Christmas Market

2009-11-30T12:41:00.002Z

Get on down there. It is absolutely fantastic and a credit to all those who have worked so hard to make it happen in such a small amount of time. This market has all the hallmarks of being a great success and be a longstanding event in Solihull every Christmas

Exotic Dancing or Lap Dancing?

2009-10-18T17:32:00.004+01:00

I will be disappointed if the owner of the Opal Lounge does not heed the requests from councillors who spoke at Tuesday's Full Council Meeting (13 Oct). I spoke for the motion and fully agreed that a Lap Dancing Club on Solihull's High Street is not the image we want in Solihull. Now, I'm not a prude but these clubs should be licensed as sex shops and not arrive on a 'High Street near you' via some poorly thought out Licensing Legislation. Two years after the legislation the government is now (slowly) pushing an amendment through parliament but so many Lap Dancing clubs are with us. Together with one on Broad Street, Birmingham Solihull's club will make three within a very short distance. The other one is in Shakespeare's Stratford on Avon.

One worry I have is that punters will visit the establishment (such a nice word) in the day time and the mix of 'gentlemen' punters and High Street shoppers may be not be an appropriate mix. There is also a worry that such clubs seek lads on stag weekends and our High Street is not the right place for such enterprise. Further, these clubs, in order to compete with others, may offer extras to get custom. Well, after the lads have been made happy in the club they can pop next door to McDonald's and have a Happy Meal. Lets hope there is not an increase in sexual attacks in the Town Centre as a result of sad acts having to get their kicks by visiting such a vile club.

Christmas Market Comes to Solihull

2009-10-08T09:54:00.003+01:00

I am pleased that Solihull's Planning Committee last night (7.10.09) gave permission for a German Christmas Market in Mell Square, Solihull this year, between 28 November and 24 December 2009. The market will be an added boost to the retailers in Solihull, especially after the year they have suffered though the economic downturn.

I felt sad that one member voted against the market, being anti-alcohol, on religious grounds, thereby trying to stop the vast majority of fair minded Solihull people who wished to celebrate Christmas in a community way by partaking in a glass of Glow Wine (Glue vine to some). However, common sense won the day. Thank you to members of the Planning Committee. And, thank you for the Town Centre partnership who sought to make this enterprise happen.

Ken

Blog Up and Running

2009-10-06T18:22:00.000+01:00

This evening I join the 21st Century and have become a 'blogger'. I hope this will be of great use, not only to Elmdon Ward members but also to the residents of Solihull in general.