There were meetings of both the Neighbourhood Forums which cover Acocks Green last week.

The Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum (which covers the area to the north of the Warwick Road) met on Tuesday. Key issues discussed were:

• Claire Mullin, Parliamentary Outreach Worker gave a briefing of the work of the House of Commons.
• Murray Woodward, Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Canal and River Trust gave a presentation on the potential adoption of a section of the Grand Union Canal by local volunteers to help keep it in better condition. This would be similar to the work in Fox Hollies Park by the Friends of Fox Hollies Park. Lee Copplestone from Waterside Care, who are supporting this activity, gave an update on this project. This included a very successful litter pick on 31st January which I took part in and cleared 36 black bags of rubbish from the park.
• Sgt Trevor Orton, who has recently replaced Sgt Mark Fellows in our Neighbourhood Policing Team, gave a short presentation on the latest crime figures. There has been a big fall in burglaries from homes following a focus on this topic over the Christmas period.

The Fox Hollies Green Neighbourhood Forum (which covers Acocks Green to the south of the Warwick Road and Westley Road) met the following evening. Key topics discussed were:

• Alan Martin, the Chief Executive of Yardley Great Trust gave a presentation on their work. They are keen to support local community organisations and would welcome a discussion with such groups about potential funding bids to their grants office.
• Michael Turner, secretary of the Friends of Fox Hollies Park gave an update on their work. The next meeting of the group is on 10th March in the common room of Homemeadow House at 7pm.
• Phil Santos, Tim Emburey (both BCC) and Andy Murphy (Fitzeralds) gave an update on the work in Acocks Green Village. This has taken longer than planned due in part to the discovery of cellars beneath the old central reservation. The revised completion date (was 21/5/15) is now 30th June 2015. The new trees will be planted in October. There is weekly update morning in the site office every Wednesday from 10am to midday. All members of the public are welcome to join these sessions.