Reduce Anti-social behavious in the village
There are far too many beggars/big issue sellers/buskers in Moseley. One official vendor outside Somerfield is fine but one night there was 1 authorised vendor, 3 x unauthorised vendors and a busker so walking past the shops was like running the gauntlet of people asking for money. As a woman it can be quite intimidating and frightening. I was asked for money by 2 men outside Barclays Bank one morning and they were pestering other women on their way to work. I work with the homeless so I know the only thing they are spending the money on is drink and or drugs.
They should be moved on by police/wardens as should the drinkers that congregate by the church on St Mary's Row.
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Personally I have no problem with buskers - they have been an intrinsic part of Moseley Village's character for as long as I can remember - but there is a definite problem of unauthorised vendors, particularly outside Somerfield, and the beggars congregating around ATMs should be discouraged as it disconcerts many people. However, the reasons behind this behaviour should be tackled - local help could be provided for these desperate people at the CDT. There are always reasons behind people's behaviour, so taclking the source instead of merely the symptoms is defintely in everybody's interests.
What part of being a homeless person is per se antisocial?
However I agree, it would be great to get rid of them off the streets of moseley. So let's pull together across the UK and campaign for social justice, fairer house prices, rebuilt 'society' and a redistributive fiscal regime.
Where was the CDT when so many alcohol establishments suddenly appeared? It is far too late to start worrying about drunks hanging about now. This is so typical of the CDT, allow numerous pubs and wine bars to open and then introduce an alcohol restriction zone! The CDT and the local politicos always get everything back to front and the big plan will be the same........a complete waste of time!
Where are these numerous pubs and bars that the CDT has alowed to open? As far as I can tell only one pub/bar has opened in Moseley in the past one hundred years! This is the Cross. Apart from that all the pubs were built by the Victorians and Edwardians. I suppose you could include the Tappas bar on Alcester Road but this is a resturant rather than a bar. Its also a huge benifit to the area.
The main reason my friends and I moved to Moseley is because of the pubs, bars and resturants. My friends are all young proffesionals who respect the area and the local residents. Some of us have bought property in the area. We would like to see more pubs, bars resturants etc.
The pubs are not the cause of drunken people on the street. Most of these people get their alcohol from shops. They are in Moseley village because of the half way houses and out reach centres. The lower quality pubs do attract less desirable people, as is the case all over Britain. The good news is the poor quality pubs are being improved and turned into decent places to go which are the envy of all Birmingham. Just look at how the Fighting Cocks has improved.
Moseley needs more good pubs and bars if it is to compete with Harbourne. Harbourne has improved its stock of good pubs considerably over the past two years. It now has three good pubs and is catching Moseley up! The Jug Of Ail should be reopened as soon as possible. Trendy pubs should be established in North Moseley and the suburbs of Moseley (The Highbury clould be a lovely place if it was cleaned and served good food and drink). The hotels on and near Wake Green road could also be turned into good quality 'gastro' type pubs.
Many people move to Moseley and thousands chose to stay here because of its rich and varied leisure outlets.
As chairman of Pubwatch, I meet the police every month to discuss any problems with licensed premises. The shocking thing is despite the fact thousands of people visit Moseley every month, there are only a handful of incidents and most of these are minor. Moseley pubs are well managed. Its true, on occasion, a particular pub may try something and upset its neighbours, but such issues are quickly resolved and residents have ample power and support via the police and the city Council to stop pubs from being a nuissance.
Its easy to forget the contribution in jobs, incoming revenues, social facilities, entertainment and other benefits that Moseley's pub's bring to the Village.
The main cause of alcohol related anti-social behaviour is cheap supermarket booze. Street drinkers, agressive beggars, young kids in the park, drunks at bus stops and at the centre of the village; these folks didn't buy a pint from a pub, they bought cans and bottles from a supermarket.
Moseley should play to its strengths and build on its potential as a cultural and creative centre. Leisure and Tourism fit very well with Moseley's recent history and the economic success of its night time economy. Education is another sector that could be encouraged.
We need some bigger ideas to shape our thinking.