It is right and fitting that we remind ourselves of just some of the Society’s successes.
- Social events were a feature of the Society’s earliest years including Scottish dance parties; summer outings [Elan Valley, Jodrell Bank] until 1968; a New Year party every year until 1985; the first Annual Dinner in 1973 and every year since; and ad hoc visits to local places of interest including the main churches in Harborne.
- Since 1960 an annual programme of speakers’ meetings on an eclectic range of subjects.
- Joint organisers of three Harborne Village Fetes in 1970s and also of Harborne & Quinton Commu-nity Festivals also in 1970s.
- Opposing the City Council’s proposal to change Harborne Church Farm Golf Course into a commercial golf driving range and to sell the rest of the course for housing.
- Opposing an Edgbaston & Woodgate Valley Expressway from M5 at Quinton via Woodgate Valley and Bourne Brook to the old Harborne Reservoir and on to Five Ways.
- Opposing proposed Women’s Remand Home in Lordswood Road.
- Twice opposing City Council attempts to Close Church Farm Golf Course.
- Opposing Harborne Expressway to bypass Harborne from Harborne Hill via allotments and Clarence Road etc and pedestrianizing High Street from Albany Road to [now] ‘Iceland’.
- Organising Art Exhibitions.
- Saving Park Hill Road railway bridge from demoli-tion.
- Opposing the [then] West Midland County Council’s traffic improvement lines at Prince’s Corner which involved major demolition of property for a dual car-riageway.
- Proposal for Greenfield Road Conservation Area presented to the City Council and achieved 20 years later.
- Securing National Grade II Listing of former High Street Junior School, Fire Station, Harborne Institute and former ‘Royalty’ cinema.
- Nine year campaign to secure Harborne Traffic Management Scheme including major changes to parking regulations on High Street and adjacent roads and adoption of one-way traffic systems in Vivian Road/Greenfield Road and in Margaret Grove/Moorpool Avenue.
- Dr. Hugh Morton Commemorative Plaque.
- Annual Heritage Day Guided Walks for 21 years led by Edward Chitham.
- Publication of ‘Harborne Walks’ book containing historical walks round Harborne.
- “Harborne 2000 ~ A photographic Record” Millen-nium project [donated to Harborne Library].
- Campaign for modernisation of Harborne Library including use of adjoining shop to secure street level access.
- Campaigns for a series of improvements at Queen’s Park and Grove Park including new children’s play areas in both parks and tree planting.
- Ward Boundary Review 2001 ~ successfully opposed the Boundary Committee’s proposal for the Queen’s Park Road, Court Oak Road, Tennal Lane and Tennal Road triangle to be moved to Quinton Ward.
- Securing Christmas lighting and tree in High Street and donating towards the costs.
- Establishment of the monthly Farmer’s Market.
- Major public meeting to consider decline of High Street and achieving appointment of Village Centre Manager with ultimate aim of securing a Business Improvement District.
- Direct involvement with the City Council in securing the future of The Clock Tower and its restoration as part of The School Yard development.
- Representation at every meeting of the Harborne Ward Committee.
- Fifty-eight years of monitoring, and where appropriate responding to, every planning application submitted for Harborne.
- Distributing the Society’s Summer Newsletter to over 8,500 homes in Harborne since 1981.
- Eleven year campaign for new Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre ~ opened January 2012
A PROUD RECORD OF SERVICE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
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