Southfield Road feral pigeons

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve problems with feral pigeon infestation of the Chanterlands Avenue rail bridge and its impact on Southfield Road.

During the local elections a number of residents in streets nearby were complaining about this problem and we have been liaising for some time with the officers to approach the problem from two angles.  The first is to resolve issues as to whether the Council or Network Rail are responsible for dealing with pigeons using the bridge as a home and social venue. The second is, pending a full solution being put in place, to ensure that pigeon faeces are cleared off the pavement and do not cause health problems.  On receiving information from local residents that pigeons were a problem on Southfield Road too we contacted the officers who undertook to arrange for the pigeon mess to be cleared away and to continue to seek resolution of the issues with Network Rail. It goes without saying that we will continue to pursue this matter until we secure an appropriate outcome.”

Litter on Bishop Alcock Road open land

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured the clearing of the grassed area formerly occupied by the Bishop Alcock Road shops.

During the latest in our pioneering and trail-blazing series of forum-on-the-move events we noticed further litter on this site including vodka bottle labels and other indicators of possible anti-social behaviour. We therefore contacted the officers to draw their attention to the matter and they have since arranged for community-payback people to clear the rubbish. We will of course continue to keep an eye on this location with a view to keeping it in good order pending action being taken on the long term future of the site.”

School playing field fences

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured undertakings that broken fencing on the prospective Kelvin Hall School playing fields will be repaired.

We became aware of concerns that a rather large pool had arisen and was now accessible via two breaches in the fences surrounding the playing field.  Given the possible safety implications, arising out of rumours of local children using this pool for recreational purposes, we contacted the officers responsible for the Kelvin building project and they told us that the building contractors would be told to repair the fences as soon as possible.  It goes without saying that we will continue to pursue this matter until we have secured an appropriate outcome.”

County Road North – National Avenue crossing safety problems

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve problems with the safety of children  crossing County Road North and National Avenue.

John Fareham says, "John and I have both been receiving separate representations from local residents regarding the lack of continuity in crossing patrol provision on County Road North and the lack of any provision at the County Road North-National Avenue junction – this when there is a crossing patrol provided in tandem with the traffic island and push-button crossings at Bricknell Avenue. We have therefore referred the matter to the officers who will be carrying out a survey to confirm levels of demand for a crossing patrol at the junction. It goes without saying that John and I will continue to pursue this matter until we secure an appropriate outcome.”

Location of burger van near Wises Farm Road/Woolsheds Close/Haverflats Close

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured conditions attaching to the operation of a burger van which should prevent its being a nuisance to residents of Wises Farm Road, Woolsheds Close and Haverflats Close.

The May meeting of the Council’s Licensing Committee considered an application for a 9ft. long burger van to sell food to those who work on the National Avenue industrial estate. We were able to draw the Committee’s attention to the fact that the proposed site was too close to local residents’ homes and the Committee agreed to the application being approved subject to the van being parked further down, near the Golf Centre and in a position to be agreed between the applicant, the officers, and ourselves.

Brompton Close tree trimming

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured further tree trimming and the prospect of future tree planting on Brompton Close.

As local residents will be aware we have taken a keen interest in tree maintenance here and have received confirmation from the officers that some additional careful pruning will be carried out in the near future.  In addition, as the current trees are in what the experts call “early maturity”, the planting of further trees, intended to take their place in due course, will be put on the Council’s winter tree planting programme for 2012-13.  It goes without saying that we will continue to take an interest in the state of local trees and will pursue work if we think it is necessary.

Carriageway repairs

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured undertakings of carriageway repairs on Bricknell Avenue between Strathcona Avenue and Ancaster Avenue; on Hotham Road North between Bricknell Avenue and the Barrowman public house; on Bishop Alcock Road between Hotham Road North and the City boundary; on Slingsby Close; and on Goddard Avenue.

These repairs will be conducted using new and experimental carriageway patching materials and form part of a wider programme of work across the ward. It goes without saying  that if these do not prove satisfactory we will expect to have the work done again with more conventional materials and that when we have a start date we will pass it on as soon as we have it. The general situation across the city as regards carriageway repairs is not ideal but we have pressed for Bricknell Ward to receive, at the very least, its fair share of carriageway repair resources.