Hutton Close dog fouling

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to deter dog fouling on Hutton Close. We were asked at our pioneering and trail-blazing mobile forum to address this issue – most dog owners take responsible action in the matter of their pets fouling the pavement or the verge but a minority do not. We have therefore arranged with the officers that “No Dog Fouling” signs, of which the Council has a number in store, will be put up here in the hope of deterring those who cannot or will not ensure their dogs, who are not of course at fault, are not left in a position of responsibility for being environmental nuisances.

Goddard Avenue and the City Plan again

John Fareham and John Abbott have secured the support of Wyke Area Committee in opposing the zoning of open land behind Goddard Avenue for housing in the new City Plan. A report came to committee in December seeking the opinions of committee members on the city plan proposals as they then stood as part of the overall consultation process. As part of a useful general discussion which also involved most of us taking issue with the officers over the general importance of Newland Avenue and Princes Avenue, we made clear, with all party support, that under no circumstances were we prepared to see the land in question allocated for housing. Time will tell whether dark forces at the corporate centre take our collective comments as seriously as they should, but as for John and myself, our view on this matter will not waver.

Cropton Park crime and disorder

John Fareham and John Abbott have been working to help prevent break-ins and antisocial behaviour during the rebuilding of the Wyke rugby league clubhouse at Cropton Park. Reports were coming in of a series of attempted break-ins and various anti-social behaviour incidents on site. Arrangements have therefore been made for the area team and others to liaise with the rugby league club and with the Police in order to implement security measures and ensure the area is covered by patrols while the building work is in progress. It goes without saying that we will be prepared to assist further if necessary, not least because we know that this is a popular local community facility, with large numbers of children attending to learn how to play rugby league, and the last thing we want is for crime and disorder to rear their ugly heads and interfere with important enhancements to local recreational provision.

Loveridge Avenue traffic consultation

John Fareham and John Abbott are pleased to report that the consultation exercise on the Loveridge Avenue traffic proposals will now take place in January 2016. After all the various categories of delay imposed on us getting to this point, it is a great relief to inform you that an officer from the Highways Department of the Council present at the December meeting of Wyke Area Committee confirmed that the consultation exercise will now take place in January and that, with all the reservations, justified or otherwise, previously expressed by legal and other officers resolved and the wording of the questionnaire virtually finalized, it was now possible to give a firm date for when local residents will be asked to express an opinion on the proposals being put forward. Whatever those opinions might be, we look forward to hearing them at last.

Commonwealth Homes tree planting

John Fareham and John Abbott have arranged for funding to plant trees on the grassed area within the Commonwealth Homes site. The object of the exercise – apart, or course, from improving the view – is to reduce standing water from heavy rainfall. The recent heavy rain elsewhere in the country has of course concentrated many people’s minds on what might happen if future rainfall exceeded everybody’s worst expectations, and these trees, by having the arboricultural equivalent of a few drinks now and then, will lower the on-site standing water level and improve the chances of Commonwealth Homes being immune to future flood risks. We will of course let local residents know when the actual planting is to take place.

Cropton Park cleaning

John Fareham and John Abbott are arranging for community payback people to clean up the part of Cropton Park nearest to County Road North. This is not by any means the first attempt at using such people for such work, but in an age where litter and fly tipping are more or less endemic, and resources for clamping down on such irresponsible behaviour are in short supply, we feel it appropriate that persons making good their debt to society should specialise in making good the damage caused to residential and visual amenity by other less than wholly responsible elements. It goes without saying that, if other tasks of this character should become necessary, we will be only too ready to deploy such resources as these once again.

Huntley Drive parking

John Fareham and John Abbott are working to resolve problems with parking on double yellow lines in Huntley Drive. We have been receiving a number of complaints from local residents to the effect that various vehicles have been parking on double yellow lines in considerable numbers at certain times of day. We have of course arranged for rocks to be placed at strategic points in the grass verge to prevent motor vehicles encroaching there, but the officers are now seeking to arrange for increased frequency of visits to Huntley Drive by traffic enforcement officers. If this is not sufficient we will of course revisit the issue in pursuit of a solution that will into practice be effective.