To find out if there are plans to carry out work on the roads in and around Barnt Green, the county council has a useful website where you can search for current road works including road closures and diversion routes. This is the link: https://worcestershire.roadworks.org/
Barnt Green’s first Motor Festival, held on Sunday afternoon 2 July 2017, was a great success. It attracted a display of over 60 cars and 12 bikes outside the shops in Barnt Green village. Many residents and people from the neighbouring communities came to the village to see the cars.
The vehicles on display were all owned by local residents. They ranged from steam powered to electric cars, as well as the more conventional variety of Lambretta scooters, MG sports cars, pre-war Austins and modern-day Ferraris.
The winner of the public vote for Best Car on Show was the Land Rover, the owner of which won a magnum of prosecco.
With perfect weather, a convivial community spirit was evident. Trade was good for the ice cream van and the shops selling food and drink.
Click here to view a full gallery of images taken on the day.
Barnt Green Motor Festival
Join our footpath officer Simon Richards on a walk to Apes Dale and back on Tuesday 6th June starting at 7pm. The 5 mile walk will start at Millennium Arch in Hewell Road, opposite Meadow Farm Butchers
View the map – https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/15091271
Take a look at Apes Dale before the M42 – M42 Development – YouTube
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Barnt-Green-Community-Walk-110967279254978/
Due to the resignation of one of the eight parish council members, there is now a vacant seat on the council. There is a 14-day window (ie 14 working days) of opportunity to call for a by-election which will end on 8th May. If by that time there has been no call for a by-election then the parish council will co-opt a suitable candidate.
If you are interested in calling a by-election then ten local government electors must submit the request to the Returning Officer based at Bromsgrove District Council. A request template can be obtained from the Returning Officer at their office in Parkside, Market Street, Bromsgrove B61 8DA.
If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor please contact the Executive Officer at the parish council office. More information will be posted on here after 8th May.
Network Rail has been in touch to tell us about the next stage of the electrification project:
We’re about to commence some significant electrification installation work in the area between the railway station and northwards beyond the Bittell Road rail bridge, to put in place the electrification arrangements to tie-in the new electrification to the existing, and to run it back towards the Redditch Branch platforms.
This will involve foundation piling and augering along the railway parallel to Fiery Hill Road and the opposite side. A ‘movax’ vibration piling machine (see photo) will be used, which although makes some noise, is quieter than percussive hammering of the piles. 
The work will take place between 2300 on Saturday 22nd April and early morning on Monday 24th. Our contractor ABC Electrification will try to minimise noise by doing the installation furthest away from housing first, and vibration piling at night. They will continue in daytime hours on Sunday 23rd April to final-hammer in the piles, which will be noisy, but confined to daylight.
Network Rail have also provided a more detailed timetable for the extent of the work: BAG2 51m 880y to 55m 1562y Improvement Works Barnt Green Hewell Lane …
It’s all systems go for Sunday 2nd July 2017. The parish council will be hosting an event showcasing local motor vehicles of interest – not necessarily vintage or classic, but definitely interesting! For more information contact the parish council – or / 0121 447 9893 or 0121 445 4214.
The event will take place between 2pm – 5pm in the centre of Barnt Green village.
ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA 2017-04-26
The annual opportunity for residents to discuss Parish Affairs will take place on Wednesday 26th April. This is your meeting so please make the time to come along to have your say on any matters relating to Barnt Green. Hot topics are likely to be the condition of the roads in the village, the suggestion that we might install public toilets and proposed improvements to the playing field – why not add your voice and share your opinion on these and other village-related matters?
As part of the meeting, Steve Hinton the Senior Ranger at the Lickey Hills Country Park has been invited to talk on the current challenges facing the country park.
Refreshments will be provided after the discussions.
NB This is not a parish council meeting; but since we are obliged by law to host it each year it would be really heartening to see it well supported! It starts at 7.30pm and will be held in the Cofton Lounge, Parish Centre, Sandhills Road. We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you.
If it matters to you, then it matters!
Local author, Gavin Bantok, has written to let us know of the book he has written about his life growing up in Barnt Green during the 1940’s and 50’s. It is a fascinating glimpse into the history of our village.
Gavin tells us that the revised edition of ‘Hail, Salubrious Spot! (How’s Your Rupture?) – Memories of a Worcestershire Village’ is now available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com as a Kindle book, and can be read on a Kindle Reader, iPhone or iPad and other devices, with the Kindle app. You can look inside and read the first two chapters without buying the book.
The book is authored by Gavin, but has essays in it written by his brothers and other relatives. It is also copiously illustrated with many pictures and photos in colour.
Read about GB’s early days of making drama along with many humorous anecdotes about the Bantock family and local personalities! Compare the village of yesteryear to that of today and see what’s changed and what hasn’t. Take a look and enjoy!