Allderidge Avenue street lights

John Fareham and John Abbott have further information on the height and positioning of the new street lighting in Allderidge Avenue. The lights were not exactly as ordered, but the corporate centre’s engineers informed us that they were placed as close to the positions of the original lamps as possible so that the light would come from a familiar direction. The height of the lamps was chosen to get the required lighting levels, which would not have been possible with lamp standards the height of those being replaced. Indeed, it would have been necessary to add 4 or 5 lamp standards of the same height as the originals to achieve the same luminescence levels. The officers assure us that if there are any issues with the new lamps shining in through upstairs windows, these problems can be resolved by shielding the lamps; this has been undertaken elsewhere in the ward with success.

Huntley Drive gating scheme

John Fareham and John Abbott have details of a proposed gating scheme for the Huntley Drive tenfoot. When the idea of a gating scheme was first mooted a couple of years ago, objections were raised on the advice of Council officers who thought there might be legal difficulties with closing off the tenfoot, as a right of way could exist. Police evidence, we are told, suggests unauthorised vehicles are now accessing the tenfoot and we believe we have to compromise. However, as a result of discussions held at the meeting on Baker’s Field, plans are now being formulated for a gating scheme that would block the tenfoot off to unauthorised vehicles but would allow pedestrians such as those wishing to walk their dogs on Baker’s Field to get through. We are in a position to offer significant funding from our community budget and will circulate further details if residents back the scheme.

Baker's Field meeting

John Fareham and John Abbott report that a further public meeting has taken place to discuss plans for the future use and remodelling of Baker’s Field. Many residents attended a meeting on February 4th as advertised in advance by both ourselves and the officers. The preference expressed by those present was for a scheme that would include allotments, a wildflower meadow and a community orchard. Local residents have been given few days to pass comment by E-mail if they so wish and the officers will be preparing drawings of a scheme along the above lines which will be brought to a further meeting in due course. Residents will then be invited to pass comments on the details of the scheme and a final plan will be prepared on that basis. Our agents will pass further details directly to you very soon.

Barrington Avenue street lights

John Fareham and John Abbott wish to know whether Barrington Avenue residents would consider new, traditional-style street lamps suitable as a replacement for those in Barrington Avenue. “The question is, perhaps a little less abstract now than it might have been some time ago – Allderidge Avenue has now received new street lamps and these are in the sort of retro style local residents there were asking for in preference to something overtly modern. Their old lights were installed in 1930, as were yours, and needed to be replaced. We therefore suggest that residents with strong feelings either way on the matter may wish to take a look at the new street lights in Allderidge Avenue and see whether they would consider street lights like those, perhaps fractionally shorter as there are more lighting positions in Barrington Avenue, or lights of the same general type, to be suitable for Barrington Avenue. For some residents the appearance of new lights has been the stumbling block to finding new lights acceptable; we would be interested in local residents’ opinions on whether the solution is already on display in Allderidge Avenue.

Fairfax Avenue verge protection

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured the installation of an additional bollard to prevent drivers cutting across the grass verge onto the tarmac in front of the shops and are working so secure a more substantial long-term solution. This is intended as an interim measure – plans are already in place to use some rocks we have in storage to protect two turning circles on Bricknell Avenue and we have asked the officers to prepare a scheme whereby the largest of these and perhaps some chains are used to provide proper long-term protection for these verges. The underlying principle of both these schemes is that the method adopted should do the job properly but in a manner that is as close as we can get to maintaining or even enhancing visual amenity. The corporate centre still on occasion needs a little recalibration about what that actually entails but we are confident that the time the new bollard should buy us will be sufficient to come up with a scheme that meets our criteria.

Allderidge Avenue street lights

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured the installation of new, traditional-style street lights for Allderidge Avenue. The new lamps had to be appreciably taller than those they replace, so as to spread light over a wider area. This route was adopted to avoid disruption caused by installing many more columns. That said, in accordance with the clear majority of preferences expressed when we asked for comments some time ago, the new lamps, whilst they are not in any way exact replicas of the eighty-three-year-old lamp standards they replace, and certainly are not painted in the colours the Council favoured many years ago, they are nevertheless intended to be broadly old-fashioned in their detailing. We hope that local residents will like them and will come to appreciate the higher standard of lighting they will offer.

National Avenue speeding

John Fareham and John Abbott continue to work to resolve the problem of speeding on National Avenue and to determine its extent. Having received complaints from local residents that some drivers were doing up to 70 or even 80 mph on National Avenue, we have now referred the matter to those responsible for the placing of local speed cameras with a request that they consider bringing such equipment to National Avenue. It is our hope that the use of such accurate measuring equipment will establish the situation with incontrovertible evidence that will enable action to be taken against those who ignore the speed limit, their own safety and perhaps also the safety of others.