Goddard Avenue camo site

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve problems with camping on the open land behind Goddard Avenue.

We received reports of a camp site having been set up consisting of four tents on this patch of land. We immediately set about pursuing action on the matter and the officers now inform us that outreach workers will be visiting the site to check up the occupiers. If they are homeless, the usual steps will be put in place to help them; if they are not the Police will be asked to move them on.

Newland Avenue road closure

John Fareham and John Abbott report that Newland Avenue is to be closed to all traffic – including of course that from Goddard Avenue – so that major resurfacing works can be carried out.

 

The Council has made an order prohibiting all traffic from entering Newland Avenue from 11^th September onwards so that resurfacing works can be carried out in safety. Access will be maintained for emergency services and the order will remain in place for eighteen months or until the work is completed, whichever is the sooner.  The work is actually expected to take place between September 11^th and November 3^rd. What this of course means for all residents of Goddard Avenue is that there will only be one way to drive in and out, namely onto Chanterlands Avenue North, for the duration of the works. We will of course be interested in local residents’ opinions of the impact of this as it may shed some light on policy options for Goddard Avenue traffic in the future.

More on National Avenue fly tipping

John Fareham and John Abbott are close to resolving issues with fly-tipping on National Avenue.

As a result of our working closely with the officers on this, we are now pleased to be able to report that the fly-tipping has been cleared and the possibility exists of enforcement action being taken against those responsible as a result of information sufficient to identify them being furnished by local residents. The officers will also be talking to the crew who drove through the fly-tipped rubbish  in order to ensure that this kind of mistake is not allowed to recur.  It is our hope that, if enforcement action can indeed be taken against those responsible for this particular instance of fly tipping, others will draw the conclusion that, if they do likewise, they will be punished with equal severity.

National Avenue fly tipping

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged with officers for the investigation of problems with dustcarts interacting with fly tipping on National Avenue.

We received complaints from local residents to the effect that not only had fly tipping occurred – and evidence may be to hand which will identify those responsible – but council dustcarts had then run straight into the fly-tipped waste compounding the problem and obliging neighbouring residents to set about cleaning it all up.  We therefore referred the problem to the officers who have since undertaken to look in to it.  If we receive the evidence we will of course pass it on to the officers as, whenever firm evidence is to hand that will enable fly tippers to be definitively identified, the Council will without hesitation seek to have them brought to justice.

National Avenue speeding

John Fareham and John Abbott are working with the police to ensure that speeding is curbed on National Avenue.

We have received complaints from local residents, in particular ones we have reason to believe know what they’re talking about, to the effect that cars and commercial vehicles are bending the speed limit during daylight hours and breaking it wide open in the evenings.  We have therefore passed on these complaints to the police with a request that they take them seriously.  As and when they reply, we will of course pass on their findings and, if applicable, their chosen course of action to local residents.  It could of course be that those causing trouble are not local residents, but rather those using National Avenue and Perth Street as a rat run.  Whichever is the case, speeding can under certain circumstances be dangerous and irresponsible; speed limits are, for the most part, there for a reason and we intend to see that they are kept to.

County Road-National Avenue junction equipment

John Fareham and John Abbott report that the Council have introduced new video stop line detecting equipment at the junction of County Road North and National Avenue in order to aid the flow of vehicles through the traffic lights.

The device has been funded by the corporate centre, which is a pleasant change, but as such equipment is not normally kept on hand they thought it would need to be ordered until a contractor found one in stock. The device “looks” at the carriageway and when it “sees” the picture change it “knows” a vehicles is there and tells the traffic lights to change. This is believed by the officers to be the most beneficial option in terms of resolving the problems with the lights not changing when they should. It is hoped that these changes will resolve the problems that have been experienced with vehicles pulling up at the wrong distance from the lights. It remains to be seen whether that will be the case but if it is not, local residents will be welcome to report any difficulties to us; as happened when this matter was first drawn to our attention, we will only be too happy to refer those problems to the officers as well.

More on Cropton Park security

John Fareham and John Abbott continue to work on security issues relating to Cropton Park.

The officers hope that additional police patrols and further youth engagement activities will encourage more people to come forward with the names of those responsible for the damage. Meanwhile HCAL are reviewing resource provision to determine what options there are for locking the gates at the end of the day, on a rota basis with other organisations if need be. If the problems persist the officers agree with us that it would be worth applying to the new Police and Crime Commissioner for funding to help resolve the problem. Meanwhile the issue continues to be discussed at an internal officer level and the area team are fully sympathetic to our determination that the matter be resolved.

Police and officers visit Cropton Road

John Fareham and John Abbott report that the Police and officer walkabout on Cropton Road took place as scheduled on Thursday 20th July.

According to the officers, a very limited number of people were actually at home when called on.  However, every home was circulated with a leaflet asking local residents to notify the Police or the Council about any instances of antisocial behaviour of which they were aware, and offering to provide the necessary diary sheets that local residents can compile in order to provide proof of the existence of antisocial behaviour.  We would not claim that this is a final resolution of all problems relating to criminal damage on the park, but it is a step in the right direction, and we will continue to pursue through all official channels a fully coordinated response to stamp out damage to play equipment which costs the public purse considerable sums of money and results in decisions not to keep replacing damaged equipment.

New bus service for Bricknell Estate

John Fareham and John Abbott report that a revised Stagecoach bus service to Bricknell Estate will begin operations on Monday September 4^th.

We are given to understand that the new service will be numbered 3B and that it has been developed by Stagecoach in response to concerns that the 9A meandered  too much in coming here from the City Centre via Newland Avenue and Inglemire Lane. It is currently assumed – though the plans may be subject to alteration – that the 3B will follow the old route taken by the former Service 9 as far as Grammar School Road; Stagecoach inform us that the new timetables will be printed in advance so as to be ready when the new service starts.New B