Burniston Road tenfoot flooding

John Fareham and John Abbott are making progress with flooding problems on Burniston Road tenfoots and the adjoining Kelvin Hall School playing fields.

After we were contacted by local residents regarding this problem we made contact with the residents and saw that their concerns were legitimate. We were informed by drain-cleaners called by Kelvin Hall School that previous attempts at repairs had probably done far more harm than good, coming close to wrecking the drains, and that there were issues to be pursued with Yorkshire Water as well as with officers of the Council. Basically – and further investigations will take place in due course – it would appear that as well as the damage caused by the previous attempts to clear the drains, tree roots from London Plane trees on the school grounds were probably clogging up the drains. It goes without saying that we will continue to pursue this matter until we secure an appropriate outcome.

Commonwealth Homes residents' safety

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve issues with snow and ice accumulating on the grassed area inside Commonwealth Homes.

While conducting our mobile bus forum for December, we made our scheduled stop on Appleton Road and saw the iced-up state of your lawns and in particular the large patch of ice in the middle.  We therefore got in touch with the officers as a matter of urgency and asked them to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of residents.  It may be the case that, under present budgetary and organisational circumstances, there may be some delay, but equally it goes without saying that we will continue to pursue this matter until we get a result.

Aneurin Bevan Lodge site after the travellers

John Fareham and John Abbott report that since travellers have now left the site of the former Aneurin Bevan Lodge, steps have been put in place to render it secure.

This could be something to do with the fact that on Wednesday October 24^th at 10 am the Council was to go to court and get permission to tow away their vehicles.  Most of the vehicles had left by the night before the hearing.  All of them were gone by the following day. As they had done so before the matter came to court, it was not legally possible to get the three-month ban on their returning the Council would otherwise have sought.  However, the community-payback organisation have since cleared up the rubbish and the officers have now padlocked the gates - after repeated requests from both of us - to make the site secure.

Kelvin Hall School flooding

Your local Conservative Councillors JOHN FAREHAM and JOHN ABBOTT are working to resolve problems with potential flooding from Kelvin School playing fields.

During the latest of our pioneering and trail-blazing mobile bus forums on December 12^th local residents brought to our notice concerns regarding the part of the school grounds where construction vehicles had been parked. This was, they said, compressed enough for rainwater to gather there and not drain away, which could lead to flooding if the rain were to be heavy enough. We have therefore contacted the officers and asked them to take the matter in hand as it could have serious implications both for local residents and the Council.  It goes without saying that we will continue to work on this issue until a solution is in place. We expect to be hearing from the developers soon and we are grateful to the school for their co-operation in this matter.

YPI floodlight enforcement

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured further action on the YPI leaving their floodlights on too long.

Having received complaints from local residents that the YPI were at it again with their floodlights after the time the planning conditions said they had to be switched off, complaints which were accompanied by detailed timings, we raised the matter on their behalf with the enforcement officers.  They replied to the effect they had written to the YPI to remind them of the planning conditions relating to the use of the floodlights and that a continuing breach of those conditions would leave them open to formal enforcement action.  We will of course be happy to hear again from anyone who thinks these lights are on too long and will pass the information on to the officers. Meanwhile the officers will also be inspecting the site themselves as staff time permits.

Bricknell Avenue central reservation

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured undertakings that damage to the Bricknell Avenue central reservation caused by recent contractor workings will be attended to.

In the course of delivering the September-October issue of CONTACT! we noticed that the grass verges were getting chewed up by contractors’ vehicles as a consequence of the recent road works.  We therefore referred the matter to the officers who say that the issue has been passed on to those concerned to ensure that when the road works are finished reinstatement works will be carried out.  It goes without saying that we will continue to take an interest in these verges and  that we will continue to keep an eye on progress until all is well.