THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

This page offers informed comment on goings-on in the Bloxwich area by The Forrener - The Tallygraph's intrepid roving reporter (right). 

Where relevant, there may also be the opportunity for readers to vote in online polls and make their opinions known in this way.

If there is enough interest a Letters Page will be added and your letters - if they are legal, decent, honest and truthful - will be considered for publication.  Write on!

I suppose most people would think of Lower Farm Estate as a quiet, pleasant place, near the semi-rural border with Staffordshire, which has not suffered the deprivation of some of the other largely ex-Council housing areas surrounding Bloxwich (some of which have now benefited from considerable regeneration efforts, and rightly so).  In fact, a nice place to live, with no real problems.  But appearances can be deceptive, and deprivation and neglect has many forms.

Lower Farm Estate - click on photo to enlarge (Satellite image courtesy Google Earth) 

The Lower Farm Community Association has recently issued a Community Survey which indicates some of the concerns that they, and local residents, who they are seeking to consult, have about the estate.

For example, they ask residents if they see a need for a community building in the local area.  Surprisingly, for an estate which was new in the early 1960's, Lower Farm has no community facilities as such.  Yes there is a small church, a small doctor's surgery and pharmacy, and the Lower Farm Primary School, but there are no dedicated community buildings at all, something which is sorely missed.  And there have been no play facilities for many years now, after those few meagre swings and a roundabout which were near the Bamford flats were vandalised, removed and never replaced.

In their Survey, the Association goes on to ask what sort of services residents would like to see offered in such a community building.  Those suggested include a Playgroup, After-school Club, Youth Club, Older People's Club, or other possible clubs of interest, e.g. a Computer Club, Chess Club etc.  Certainly all of these would be well worthwhile and I am sure the demand is there with a mixed population ranging from young families through to retired folk.

Finally, the Survey asks if the person filling it in would be interested in becoming more involved with Lower Farm Community Association, and asks for contact details if so. I would like to think that people who are keen to have more facilities on their doorstep would be only too pleased to offer their active assistance, and The Bloxidge Tallygraph is delighted to support the work of the Lower Farm Community Association by helping to publicise their efforts and the needs of the Estate.  We certainly encourage others to do likewise!

Some personal comments 

As a resident of the Estate since 1972, I would like to make a few further comments relating to the subjects of this survey and Lower Farm Estate in general. 

Firstly, I would have thought that the former Bloxwich North Neighbourhood Office could easily be turned over to the Community Association as a small Community Centre.  This would be ideal in many ways, despite its modest size, as it has a central location close to shops, the school etc.  I have heard that this building is in use as office accommodation by Social Services, but surely this could be based elsewhere, perhaps more centrally in Bloxwich?  And the cost of turning it into a Community Centre would be relatively small.

Former Bloxwich North Neighbourhood Office (Stuart Williams) 

Secondly, it seems unfortunate that the decision was taken to demolish Wiggin House, the former sheltered housing block next to the shops, when the Estate is crying out for facilities.  This large building not only has many small bedsit apartments but also meeting rooms and a lift which was installed at considerable expense, ideal for disabled access.  Wiggin House has not yet been demolished, but this is due any day now.  It seems a shame to waste a building with such potential.  What will replace it?  If it is going to be yet more houses, there will be even more families living on an estate with no community facilities, and more children with nothing to do.

Wiggin House:  not long for this world?  (Stuart Williams) 

Thirdly, is it not about time that the young people of Lower Farm Estate had some proper recreational facilities other than street corners and a patch of grass?  While boredom is never a valid reason for kids to cause trouble (sometimes seemingly encouraged by their parents!), why not head this off in advance by providing similar facilities to those at King George V Playing Fields, actually on the estate where parents can feel their children are safe and within easy reach?  Combine this with a community centre on the Estate and I'd be willing to bet that the present annoyance caused by a minority of young troublemakers would be sharply reduced, and certainly they would have no excuses for bad behaviour.

Finally, I have noticed that the traffic calming measures put in place a few years ago near the entrances to Lower Farm Estate are having little effect on Buxton Road, the main road through the Estate.  Many motorists seem to think this stretch of road is a race track, especially when they are using the Estate as a short cut to hurry home, perhaps to Turnberry Estate and Pelsall.  It is remarkably difficult to cross Buxton Road at certain times of the day, even on a Sunday, due to ignorant idiots who never stop to let people cross the stretch between Fishley Lane and Sanstone Road, except at the crossing between Bakewell Close and Ashbourne Road.  It's my view that we ought to have a further pedestrian crossing across Buxton Road near the junction with Matlock Road, to enable safe crossing without a long walk down to Fishley Lane or almost up to Bakewell Close, and making that a humped crossing to slow the "boy racers" down would be ideal.

As a concerned local resident and Council Tax payer myself, I think it's certainly long past time that some effort - and not a little money - was put into improving the lot of this seemingly "forgotten" part of Bloxwich.

'nuff said.

The Forrener, 1st September 2007

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So, another Bloxwich Carnival is over, having given thousands of people a lot of fun and entertainment.  Moreover, it is the one thing that is guaranteed to bring Bloxwich folk of all ages together in a spirit of fun, fellowship and friendship.

But all is not rosy in the Promenade Gardens - this year the famous Parade of floats and vehicles, while still of a high standard, was sadly depleted in numbers compared to previous years, though not due to lack of interest from potential float builders!

Why?  Simply because not enough companies were willing to provide vehicles and support for floats, that's why.  "Health and safety, insurance, cost - why should we take the risk and pay?" is the plaintive cry we hear from those who cannot be bothered to support this wonderful event.

Yah, booh, sez I - if this were really such a big deal then fine gentlemen like Mr. Paul Capper, owner/driver of the Canadian Pacific truck which supported the Lower Farm School children and parents this year (and last year) would have sat on his hands or covered his ears, but HE DID NOT!

Surely by being at the heart of such an event that helps define the spirit of Bloxwich, any company, transport or otherwise, can only benefit by association from the enormous goodwill Bloxwich Carnival generates each year?  And the advertising value must surely be significant?  Dare I suggest that they might also consider supporting the groups who work all year to create the floats we all enjoy so much simply because IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

I hope the captains of industry and transport companies of Bloxwich will raise their heads high next year and come forward, because the people of Bloxwich need their support, and they need the support of the people of Bloxwich.

'nuff said.

The Forrener, 5th August 2007

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