Wednesday is the 20th September. A little local history is made when the City Council is held at the Grand Central banqueting Suite, which rose from the former Great Western Railway Station..The Wolverhampton Low Level Railway Station!

The move has been made as the Civic Centre Council Chamber is closed for refurbishment.

Ironically I worked at Wolverhampton Low Level Station for many years, and to go back for A City Council meeting will be a delight for me. In fact I shall be moving a resolution at the City Council meeting tomorrow that calls for more funding for the Policing of the City.

The Grand Old Low Level Station an architectural gem in my mind. Will have heard my dulcet tones talking politics many times on the platforms of that station in the late 1970’s and Early 80’s!

I was in those days an active National Union of Railwaymen Local Departmental Committee member, and (union official). Indeed I once led a strike of Parcel Delivery drivers from that station! When the management induced a decision, that later got overturned, and even though we went on strike, payment of my union members were made after the management reversed their decision!

I am looking forward to delivering my speech tomorrow is it is an important call for more funds for our force in the City. The thin blue line here in Wolverhampton is getting thinner and thinner. We want the police to be neighbourhood police officers, we want the police to be available when crime takes place, and we want crime solved when it happens. Currently our local Bobbies are at full stretch, and they are moved into other towns like Walsall and West Bromwich when those towns do not have enough officers! That leaves our local areas denuded of Officers….my constituents want to see police officers and PCSO’s in Wednesfield. They do not want to go day after day without seeing that uniform. I am sure there will be plenty of support for this resolution. I am hoping the Tory Councillors on the City Council will also support the resolution! But I am not going to hold my breath….

I have asked the Wolverhampton Homes team to review and clean the graffiti tags that are starting to appear around the shopping parade. They are ugly tags and very off putting for customers and residents a like.

The situation just cannot be allowed to continue and I am appealing for residents & shop keepers to report anyone they see creating this ugly mess. I shall be in touch with the Police also.

The Shopping Parade needs all the footfall it can get, making the place unattractive and unappealing will threaten the survival of the traders and that cannot be allowed to take place.

Electric

New electric taxi charging points to also be made publicly accessible

New electric car charging points for taxis in the City of Wolverhampton are also to be made accessible to the public.

City of Wolverhampton Council was handed £478,000 government funding in March to help fulfil a long-term plan to grow the number of electric taxis in the city.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ (OLEV) has since confirmed the electric charging network can also be made available for public use

Residents of Wednesfield North may be interested in the consultation correspondence that your Councillors have received this morning (Saturday) from a Telecommunication company who is seeking to develop a new Telecommunication infrastructure of a proposal for a 17.5 metre monopole with 3no shrouded antennas, 2no equipment cabinets and 1no meter – The Company have informed that their preferred site is in front of The Pheasant Inn on the verge of the highway, in our Ward of Wednesfield North in the Wood End area.

The company is keen to hear what views the Councillors have towards their proposals.

We in turn are keen to hear your views on this matter. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR EMAIL ME ON email@philbateman.com

This is the correspondence we received –

For the attention of the Ward Councillors for Wednesfield North

Dear Councillors,

Vodafone Limited has entered into an agreement with Telefonica UK Limited, commonly known as O2, pursuant to which the two companies plan to jointly operate and manage a single network grid across the UK. These arrangements will be overseen by Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd (CTIL) which is a joint venture company owned by Vodafone and Telefonica. This agreement allows both organisations to pool their basic network infrastructure, while running two, independent, nationwide networks. It will also maximise opportunities to consolidate the number of base stations and will significantly reduce the environmental impact of network development. However as you will appreciate mobiles can only work with a network of base stations in place where people want to use their mobile phones or other wireless devices. Without base stations, the mobile phones and other portable devices we rely on simply won’t work.

In light of the above a new base station is needed in the Wood End area, in order to provide 2G, 3G and 4G coverage and capacity for both Vodafone and Telefonica. Having explored a number of options as detailed in the table below, my client is looking to advance a proposal for a 17.5 metre monopole with 3no shrouded antennas, 2no equipment cabinets and 1no meter at the entitled site. In this regard please find attached the draft plans of the proposal in which we would appreciate any comments you may have at this stage. Taking the attached into account the purpose of this email is to consult with you and seek your views on our proposal before any planning submission is made. We understand that you are not always able to provide site specific comments, however, Vodafone and Telefónica are committed to consultation with communities on our mobile telecommunications proposals and as such would encourage you to respond.

Before we advanced the attached site and proposal, it is of note that we have considered alternative site options and discounted them as follows:

Site Type

Site Name & Address

National Grid Reference

Reason for not choosing

1

Rooftop

Long Knowle Primary School, Blackwood Avenue, Wolverhampton

WV11 1EB

E 394094

N 301594

The site provider was approached about accommodating a telecommunications installation however there has been no confirmation of interest or unwillingness to date. Given the time that has elapsed and the attempts to gain some form of acknowledgment, this site has to be discounted as the operator does not have the owner’s permission to use their land.

2

Greenfield

The Bethany Chapel,

Lower Prestwood Road,

Wolverhampton,

WV11 1JX

E 394334

N 301468

The site provider was approached about accommodating a telecommunications installation however there has been no confirmation of interest or unwillingness to date. Given the time that has elapsed and the attempts to gain some form of acknowledgment, this site has to be discounted as the operator does not have the owner’s permission to use their land.

3

Greenfield – SW

Roundabout of Long Knowle Lane, Blackhalve Lane and Pear Tree Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11

E 393734

N 301850

This location is too far removed from the search area to provide the required level of coverage and would impact upon the neighbouring base station sites in the network. Therefore, this site has to be discounted as it does not meet the operator’s technical requirements.

4

Rooftop

Red Lion Pub

Amos Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E 394050

N 301290

When taking into account the roof shape of the property, its overall building height and the immediate natural and built clutter, it was felt that the building does not lend itself to host a sensitively designed telecommunication installation. A rooftop proposal of significant height and massing would be required to meet the operator’s technical requirements. In this regard it is considered that should a proposal of this type come forward it would be highly visible and out of keeping with the host building and surrounding uses.

5

Greenfield – SW

Outside Red Lion Pub

Amos Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E 394057

N 301253

An application by Vodafone for a 12.5 metre monopole clad with timber effect (LPA Ref.: – 12/00164/TEL) was refused by Wolverhampton City Council and was deemed unacceptable due to its height and appearance in the street scene.

6

Greenfield – SW

Linthouse Lane

Opposite Ridge Lane

Wolverhampton

WV11

E 394442

N 301544

This site is found on the edge of the search area and given its geographical position would not provide meaningful coverage and capacity to the target area. Therefore, this site has to be discounted as it does not meet operator’s technical requirements.

7

Greenfield – SW

Grass verge of Lower Prestwood Road, near the roundabout with Wood End Road and Linthouse Lane, Wolverhampton

WV11

E394434

N301519

This site was introduced to the LPA, however they considered the location unacceptable as they felt a proposal here would significantly impact upon the open space visual amenities and be detrimental to the street scene.

8

Rooftop

The Pheasant PH, Wood End Road, Wolverhampton,

WV11 1YQ

E394529

N301520

When taking into account the roof shape of the property, its overall building height and the immediate natural and built clutter, it was felt that the building does not lend itself to host a sensitively designed telecommunication installation. A rooftop proposal of significant height and massing would be required to meet the operator’s technical requirements. In this regard it is considered that should a proposal of this type come forward it would be highly visible and out of keeping with the host building and surrounding uses.

9

Rooftop Existing Telecoms

1-7 Long Knowle Lane, Wolverhampton

WV11 1HZ

E393997

N301273

The building accommodates a Telefonica installation in the form of antennas shrouded in mock flagpoles. They are not shareable structures in their current form, in which significant redevelopment would be required to meet the operators needs. In this respect it is considered that an increase in height and a complete change in appearance would increase the visual prominence of this installation on the host building, within the street scene and on surrounding uses.

The Local Planning Authority mast register and our records of other potential sites have already been reviewed, the policies in the Development Plan have been taken into account and the planning history of telecoms in the area has been examined. All Vodafone and Telefonica installations are designed to be fully compliant with the public exposure guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines have the support of UK Government, the European Union and they also have the formal backing of the World Health Organisation. A certificate of ICNIRP compliance will be included within the planning submission.

In order to give you time to send your comments or request further information, we commit to allow at least 14 days before an application is submitted to the Local Planning Authority. This 14 day period starts from the date of this email.

We look forward to receiving any comments you may have on the proposal.

Kind Regards

Chris Taylor

Mono
Steam Packet House, 76 Cross Street
Manchester M2 4JG

Web: www.monoconsultants.com

Mono Consultants Limited, a company registered in Scotland, company number SC175320. Registered office 3rd Floor, 48 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5TS

Residents of Wednesfield North and those that read my social media sites will know that for a long period now I have been concerned about West Midlands Police and their ability to police our communities in a way that carry’s our broadest community support. We have had a difficult time in Wednesfield this summer.

Many of you as residents have told me that you are concerned that this Ward is not receiving the Police support it has in the past.

Your three Wednesfield North Councillors – Rita, Mary and I, have heard your concerns.

We have acted together as your Councillors and this resolution which will appear on the City Council Agenda in my name. It will be debated (next Wednesday, 20th September, 2017, 5.45 pm) at City Full Council – the resolution was put together to address those concerns you have as a community.

It’s not only Wednesfield that is suffering through stretched Police resources. It’s the whole of our City! That is why the resolution is couched in these terms.

Now you too can help.

You can address your views directly to me, or you can make your concerns known on Facebook and Twitter!

If we are to get the right police resources for our City, The Police & Crime Commissioner must be made aware of our feelings, and he must in turn make the strongest case that can be mustered to alert the Government. Short changing Wolverhampton and denuding us of police cover is not making Wolverhampton or Wednesfield Safer, it is having quite the opposite affect! – Tell me what you think!

Resolution to Wolverhampton City Council – Neighbourhood Policing

“The City of Wolverhampton Council is concerned about the ability of the West Midlands Police as it is currently funded to continue to deliver the sort of proper Community and Neighbourhood Policing that keeps our City safe.

We note the Chief Constable’s recent comments that the force is very stretched, and that he may not be able to deliver ‘neighbourhood policing’.

We therefore request that the Police and Crime Commissioner urgently demand
increased funding from Government to meet the needs and requirements of West
Midlands Police and the Chief Constable and return confidence in Policing to our City.

We call on the Government to provide the resources that tackles the changing face of crime, protects our residents and their property, delivers better and safer policing, in an age when large Metropolitan conurbations also have to protect themselves from terrorism.”