Huntley Drive grass verge trimming

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for the cutting of overgrown Huntley Drive grass verges. We received complaints from local residents to the effect that overgrown foliage in the grass verges was getting out of hand. We therefore both passed on the complaints we received to the officers who told us that the grass would be cut within 48 hours. Of course once the grass has been cut it will begin to grow back but if there are any further complaints of this kinds we will of course refer those to the officers as well. We will also pay particular attention to the tendency of large clumps of foliage to gather round street furniture as this is where the grass grows highest.

Bricknell Estate bus tendering exercise

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to ensure that the Council’s tendering exercise for supported bus services turns out satisfactorily for residents of Bricknell Estate. In order to save money on subsidising buses – something on which the Council currently spends £300,000 every year – the corporate centre are re-tendering for the affected services. We have met with the officers to seek assurances that this will not unduly affect the frequency and quality of such routes as the service 9 and we have made additional representations on these matters, working with other opposition members, via the Scrutiny process. The tendering exercise will, as usual, take several months and if any changes are introduced, will happen before the end of October.

Hartoft Road bollard damage

John Fareham and John Abbott have initiated an investigation into claims that a Council refuse vehicle demolished one of the bollards surrounding the Hartoft Road shops. We received a report of this incident from local residents who saw it happen and have referred it to the officers with a request that they (a) find out how this came to happen and (b) take steps to have the bollard restored to its correct position. The officers have undertaken to have an investigation carried out; which part of the corporate centre makes good the damage will depend on the outcome of this investigation, but we will persist in insisting that, if it is the fault of council employees that this accident happened, then the corporate centre should take the necessary steps to repair the damage its own actions caused.

National Avenue tree trimming

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured initial undertakings with regard to tree trimming and removal works to be carried out on Norway Maple trees on National Avenue. As a result of various complaints about such matters as trees leaking sap onto house frontages and parked cars, to say nothing of birds finding abundant foliage convenient to nest in, with the inevitable resultant mess, we referred the matter to the officers. They have now informed us that it is proposed to get rid of four or five of the largest trees, specifically those causing the most nuisance. It is hoped that details of this work, together with trimming of other trees, will be available in the next few weeks; when we have this information we will of course pass it on.

Barrington Avenue tree planting

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured undertakings of further tree planting in Barrington Avenue in the winter of 2016-17. Complaints from local residents to the effect that at least one tree blown down some years ago had yet to be replaced. We therefore raised the matter with the officers who tell us that they have plans to plant more trees in Barrington Avenue over the winter of 2016-17 and that they will pay special attention to where trees were blown down. It goes without saying that when we have fuller information about when and where trees will be planted we will of course pass those details on.

Cropton Park vandalism

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for the police and others to take steps to prevent antisocial behaviour and vandalism on Cropton Park. We received complaints from local residents regarding youths misbehaving in the play area and of damage to Play Equipment we have therefore arranged through the local area team that they, in conjunction with the local community policing team and the neighbourhood nuisance team, will monitor any such issues on a continuing basis. It goes without saying that, especially in the light of the recent claims to the contrary, we do care about the state of maintenance of these playing fields, we have put funding into new equipment and we will take a serious view of any attempt at wanton destruction or damage where any play equipment is concerned.

Baker's Field allotment painting

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for the painting of the perimeter fencing of the Baker’s Field allotments to blend in with the surrounding area. Working in conjunction with the officers, we arranged for a local conservation group to undertake this work. The green paint job is intended to harmonise the appearance of the fencing with the rest of Baker’s Field and the fencing has been painted both inside and out. Obviously, any coat of paint on any outdoor surfaces cannot be expected to last indefinitely, and when this one wears out we will need to arrange for a fresh coat of paint to be applied, but for now the fences have a protective coating that will last them for some time, and that is intended to improve their appearance considerably.

Goddard Avenue and the City Plan consultation process

John Fareham and John Abbott urge local residents on Goddard Avenue to play their full part in any future consultation exercise carried out by the City Council on the new City Plan. At a recent meeting of Planning Committee, members of different political persuasions were aghast to notice that the officers were still proposing to consult on maps showing both the privately owned and publicly owned parts of the land behind Goddard Avenue as available for housing purposes. All of the Committee rejected this proposal out of hand and asked that the maps be corrected accordingly, but what this seems to us to suggest is that unless local residents who feel strongly that this land should remain open say so loudly and clearly when the time comes, the same officer mindset that moved the area team from Newland Avenue to Park Avenue in order to make money on selling the former building might easily be applied, with unpleasant and inappropriate environmental consequences. We therefore urge residents to look out for any consultation forms they may be sent by the Council and to make the fullest use of them in expressing their views on this matter.