Dent Road fly tipping removal

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for community payback people to carry out the removal of litter and fly tipping from Dent Road. This is not of course the first work of this kind that has been undertaken on this basis – nor is it the first attempt to keep on top of the problem. In an ideal world the selfish so-and-sos responsible for the fly tipping would be obliged to tidy up the mess they themselves had made, but as we do not live in an Orwellian police state with CCTV cameras on every corner, we hope that this alternative will at least restore the moral balance while providing the Council with the resources to do jobs it might otherwise be unable to undertake.

Bakers Field landscaping

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for further landscaping works on Bakers Field. Environmental Management Solutions, who planted 500 trees and shrubs on the site, will be returning during the spring to plant a meadow area in the vicinity of the allotment site. This, we feel, renews our commitment to making Bakers Field an important environmental resource for local residents in general as well as for allotment holders. We do not as yet have a start date for the work – we assume that the date chosen will be governed by horticultural reasons - but as soon as we do we will pass it on.

Skelton Avenue traffic markings

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve problems with traffic markings on Skelton Avenue. Whilst we were making inquiries on behalf of local residents concerning the possible reinstatement of pre-existing junction and other markings, it came to our attention that certain markings at the junction of Skelton Avenue and Appleton Road had not been put down as a result of any traffic regulation order and should therefore not have been there in the first place. It also appears that a school keep-clear order installed in 2001, which referred to the single yellow line, was completely incorrect and was replaced by another one in 2007 which failed to mention either this location or any parking restrictions applying here. We are therefore investigating the possibility of an estate-wide reappraisal of all existing markings with any changes which might be necessary to be funded jointly by our own ward funds and those of the corporate centre.

Murrayfield Road and Southfield Road land handover

John Fareham and John Abbott report that delays in handing over surplus Council land to residents of Murrayfield Road and Southfield Road are about to be resolved. Much to our surprise we received a complaint to the effect that this was still going on from local residents. We therefore contacted the Council’s property agents NPS to ask what the delay was and were told that a variety of matters had caused the delay from arguments about the size of the plots to problems with fly tipping. However, we are given to understand that these have now been resolved and that NPS have prepared new drawings of the sites to be transferred. This should have allowed the Council’s legal officers to send out the necessary documentation to residents which will mean that the transfers can be completed.”

Briarfield Road Traffic Regulation Order

John Fareham and John Abbott announce that the Council are now proceeding with the traffic regulation order for Briarfield Road. John Fareham says, “We have asked the officers to proceed with the formal advertisement of the traffic regulation order. As the procedure requires, once all the comments from local residents are in, the decision will come to Wyke Area Committee to give (or not give) the final go-ahead for the traffic regulation order to go ahead and the markings to go down. We wish to emphasise that the formal consultation process is the best chance for all concerned to express opinions on the proposal, but it is also the last – once the Area Committee has considered the responses, if the general view is in favour, the work will proceed.”

Commonwealth Homes heating

John Fareham and John Abbott have been addressing problems with the central heating at Commonwealth Homes. We received reports from residents to the effect that the heating was off and that switching it off resulted in being unable to switch it back on again. We therefore reported the matter to the officers with a request that, having due regard to the time of year and the possibility of prolonged lack of heating being injurious to local residents’ health and well being, they should take steps as soon as possible to get the heating system up and running again.

Commonwealth Homes tree planting

John Fareham and John Abbott were provided with full details of the proposed tree planting in the grounds of Commonwealth Homes. The officers prepared a detailed scale drawing, showing exactly where the trees will go. Given the reputation of the corporate centre for being less than ideally proactive in matters relating to the maintenance of Commonwealth Homes flowerbeds, we welcome the level of dedication and willingness to work with members now being exhibited.