May 2010
1 post
5 tags
Priory Walkabouts
This weekend I took time to talk in more detail with residents on the Priory. I enjoyed listening to peoples views on the traffic issues and was pleased also to discuss the new play facilities with a number of the people who signed our earlier petition.
April 2010
20 posts
7 tags
Traffic Safety Issues
Today I met with an officer of the council to provide feedbck on a number of traffic, parking and safety issues including issues on the Priory, Northborough and Bath Road.
I would like to thank everyone how has provided feedback on the specific issues and I will be providing further updates directly by email
6 tags
Walkabouts on the Northborough
This weekend I concentrated my walkabouts on the Northborough. I heard a lot of comments regarding anti social behaviour and also mixed views on the Britwell Regeneration Poject. I hope that people will have taken the time to look at the full plans including the changes to the park.
5 tags
Derwent Drive - Traffic and Safety Issues
Thanks to everyone for sharing their comment concrns and possible solutions to the school run issue in Derwent Drive. I will be discussing this in more detail with the Council this week and will feedback shortly afterwards. In the meantime if you have a view on this issue please let me know.
5 tags
Northborough - Crime and Anti Social Behaviour
During my walkabouts yesterday I heard a number of distressing reports about Crime and Anti Social Behaviour. I know that the Neighbourhood Action Group are already looking at this issue but I got a strong sense that more needs to be done. I will be discussing this directly with the Police to see if a more effective strategy can be found to deal with these issues.
3 tags
Orchard Avenue - Vandalism
Regulars who have been following my posts will be aware tha I reported this box and I am pleased to say that it has now been properly repaired. If you have boxes broken in your road then feel free to report them either to me or to the service provider
3 tags
Northborough - Street Scene
I am not sure why this happens but it seems that this little corner of Newchurch is never properly cleared of rubbish nor is the grass cut. I will be raising the issue with the council again.
5 tags
Walpole Road & Lowestoft Drive
Firstly can I thank everyone who has responded to me regarding this issue. Some o you will be aware that the COuncil are taking this seriously and have already altered the phasing of the lights to make things safer I will however continue to campaign for a clearer right turn filter and will keep you informed on my progress
2 tags
St Georges Day
Friday the 23rd and I was our canvassing. It was great to see so many St George Flags flying!
5 tags
Another look at the Walpole Road Problem
This week I spent more time looking at the problem at the Junction of the Bath Road and Walpole Road. I have now rasied two escalations on behalf of residents and I will be speaking directly to Council Officers on this matter.
5 tags
Alan Johnson Visits The Priory
It was great to have the opportunity to meet with Alan Johnson onthe 21st. Alan was visiting a community development project which was staffed by people through using Future Jobs Funding.
4 tags
Royston Way
Ahhhh the beauty of our new artistic white lines all down the road… I have reported this to the Council and they have promised to look into the situation and see what can be done.
3 tags
Littlebrook Avenue - Update
Firstly can I say thanks to all the residents who took the time to respond to my note. It is very clear that their are a number of traffic and safety issues, including the issue of Station parking. I am still collating results so please let me know if you are experiencing issues at all.
6 tags
Derwent Drive - Update
I have now received a wide variety of comments from residents in Derwent Drive. I have also raised this issue at the NAG meeting. I am currently putting together a summary of the possible solutions which I will then copy back to the residents who have responded. In addition I will be passing the information to the Council and we can then arrange for a more formal consultation
6 tags
Walpole Road and Lowestoft Drive
I am now following up on a number of issues reported to me by residents of Walpole Road and Lowestoft drive regarding the traffic safety issue turning in from the Bath Road. If you have a view on this please email and let me know.
I have taken the time to review this with one of the residents and it is clearly a safety concern which I have raised wit the council and will follow up with them...
5 tags
Royston Way - White Lines?
This weekend I spent sometime talking to residents in Royston Way and the surrounding roads Iwas really pleased that so many people recognised me from my work with the cones and with campaigning to make the entrance safer for emergency vehicles. I was also glad to find that the vast majority of residents feel happier with the yellow lines despite the incovenience they cause some of our visitors.
...
6 tags
The Millie - Adding Woodchips
On Friday I took a little time out to join with the friends of Haymill Valley and get my hands dirty helping to shift wood chippings onto the new hedgerow on the edge of Whittaker Road. The Millie is a fantastic place, if you haven’t visited already then I promise you it is worth a visit. If you are lucky you may see some of the wildlife including kingfishers, woodpeckers and possibly even...
4 tags
Slough FM - Officially Launched
On Friday I was also luck enough to visit the launch party for Slough FM. This brilliant community based internet radio station is an incredible demonstration of people in the community helping to communicate more effectively to their local neighbours regardless of age or background.
In the coming months I am sure you will be hearing a lot more from the Station.
5 tags
Slough FM
This week I was able to go along to the studios o Slough FM, a community project which aims to improve the lives and communication methods for younger people. This fantastic project is already nearing completion so keep an eye on the website for further information on the upcoming launch!
3 tags
Northborough Gating
Since my last post on this issue I have heard from a number of other residents complaining about the anti social behaviour in this area. I have looked at the wider area and it is clear that residents do need some form of gating or control solution as has been implemented elsewhere.
4 tags
Derwent Drive
I am still gathering input and ideas from residents on Derwent Dive. This photograph is an example of the issues faced by local residents. A number of possible solutions have been put forward by residents but their is no single solution which is acceptable to all. I will aim to bring residents together so that all options can be discussed with a view to finding a single solution.
March 2010
22 posts
5 tags
Helping at The Millie
Today I had a little break from wandering around and instead popped down to the Millie to join the regular work party. I ended up helping with path clerance whilst others were digging new ponds.
If you enjoy a little bit of outdoor life then I thoroughly recommend joining up as one of the local volunteers.
4 tags
Broken Streetlights in the Northborough
On my walkabouts I have noticed that a number of areas now have new and improved street lighting, but there are still some areas with old or broken lamp-posts. This particular example is on the Northborough and leaves the Childrens play park quite dark. Hopefully with the summer approaching this will be less of an issue but I will report it to the Council for repair.
Bath Road - Cars dumped in road
I reported earlier on the car problem in the side roads of bath road. I am glad to say that with a concerted effort by residents, police and council this problem has now been resolved.
4 tags
Suffolk Close - Car Crime
Suffolk Close residents pointed to the large amount of broken glass in the area as a result of car crime from parked cars. I will rase this hotspot with the Neighbourhood Action Group to ensure the police are aware.
6 tags
Lowestoft Drive - Facilities for Teenagers
I had a great discussion with a resdent in Lowestoft Drive about the lack of facilities for youngr children around the borough which leads to kids hanging around. We chatted about the Haymill Centre and also some of the play areas. I agree that we need to do more to provide facilities for our teenage residents and will campaign accordingly.
5 tags
Scaffel Road - Gating
During my Northborough walkabout I received a number of complaints about the inconsistent use of gating. It seems that some areas have been properly gated and others havent, leaving houses, fences and walls subject to Anti Social Behaviour. This is just one example. I will raise this with the Council to see why some alleys have been gated and others havent.
6 tags
Teesdale Road - Council Repairs
Once again I received both good and bad feedback regarding People 1st. Many residents are grateful for the home improvements program which is being rolled out by People 1st but residents still feel that they are not receiving the right level of tenancy support. In each case I have raised the necessary casework to help individuals who are having difficulties.
6 tags
Scaffell Road - Anti Social Behaviour
Residents in Scaffell Road are still unhappy about the levels of Anti Social Behaviour. I try to encourage these residents to report the issues to the police and to engage with the Naighbourhood Action Group to look for community wide solutions. I will be bringing this up with the Police to see if there are more things we can do to reduce the perception of Anti Social Behanviour across the...
5 tags
Littlebrook Avenue - Speeding and Parking
During my evening walkabouts yesterday I heard from a number of residents regarding the issues of speeding and parking. The Neighbourhood Action Group are aware of the issue and I will be sure to keep pushing for an effective solution.
6 tags
Derwent Drive - Traffic Safety
I am receiving a wide range of views regarding the Derwent Drive situation. I will summarise these views shortly on the haymill.info website, but in the meantime please let me know if you have something you would like to say on this subject.
6 tags
Britwell Regeneration Project
I had quite a detailed discussion with a resident this afternoon relating to the Britwell regeneration project. I agree with the view that this is a BIG change for Britwell, Northborough and Haymill and hope that people are taking the time to look at all the details of the plans. This is a large and complex project with a number of phases.
Some of the things I am hearing on the doorstep are not...
3 tags
Sandringham Court & Burnham Station
During my visit to Sandringham Court I heard a lot of concerns relating to traffic in the area and one specific issue relating to the phasing of the lights at Burnham Station. Apparently these lights are breaking down regularly and causing a backlog. If this is something you have experienced then please let me know about it via the haymill.info website
5 tags
Northmead Road - Vandalised Virgin Box
Another vadlised box, this time in Northmead Road, I will report it to Virgin Media on Monday.
These boxes really do make the neighbourhood look messy.
School Places
One of the residents I met recently felt that their child had been treated unfairly during the school admissions process and that the apepals process was not working. They have already been advised to approach the ombudsman but their problem is mde more complex by the schools of choice being in a different Authority. This is something I notice a lot in Haymill where we are right on the Berks/Buck...
6 tags
Blumfield Crescent
This afternoon I went walkabouts in Blumfied Crescent. I heard from a number of residents on a wide range of topics. People were happy with the improved pathways, concerned about what might happen on the Garage Plot and whether it might stop access from Littlebrook but also might reduce anti social behaviour in that area. Some residents were alo worried about the Green Space and also a perception...
6 tags
Garage Site Regeneration
I have heard a lot from residents about the regeneration of older Garage Sites into housing schemes and I have seen for myself the Anti Social impact which neglected blocks can have. I have also heard from people in local areas where the blocks are being construced that they have concerns about increased traffic and safety issues. Today I visited one of the newly completed blocks and was lucky...
4 tags
Orchard Avenue - Virgin Media
Wow!, It turns out that if you are a resident and you want to report vandalism then you have to phone an 0870 number and wait AGES for a response. The cabinet is now reported OFFICIALLY, lets see what happens
6 tags
Orchard Avenue - Vandalism
It seems that some of the technical stuff around Haymill has been vandalised. In this particular case in Orchard Avenue. I will be raising this with Virgin Media this morning.
6 tags
Littlebrook Avenue - Parking Issues
Residents in Littlebrook Avenue contacted me to tell me about the issue of commuter parking in Littlebrook. It seems that the commuters are now parking all along the road making it difficult to turn out of the side roads. Whilst takng a look for myself I heard from local residents that there is an issue of speeding in the mornings and evenings. I believe the Neighbourhood Action Group are aware...
6 tags
Priory Play Park - Grand Opening
I am really glad to say that the results of our people power petition have finally been completed. Thanks to everyone who signed up to get the park refurbished, Ihope you like the results. I know the local School Children did, it was great to see so many people enjoying the park on a beautiful March day.
7 tags
Derwent Drive Parking
I am amazed by the number of people who have raised the issue of traffic safety and parking in Derwent Drive. I took a look for myself and it is clear that residents are having to put up with a lot of problems.
Interestingly many of the problems occur at school times as there is not enough room for all the parents dropping off and picking up from the local School. But strangely the yellow lines...
4 tags
Beautiful Haymill
Wow. Sometimes when you are wandering around in the community you come across some really astonishing sites. This was how Royston Way looked to me in March
February 2010
8 posts
5 tags
Dogs Mess!
I have spen a lot of time on the streets since the Begining of January and I have often noticed that there isa lot of dogs mess. In Cippenham it was one of the things which people were bringing to my attention. I was glad to see that the Council stepped up enforcement recently and I hope that ths will persuade the dogs to bag up their mess and put it in a proper bin!
6 tags
Huntercombe Lane Verge
This is the side of the road leading down Huntercombe Lane North before the railway bridge. It is clear that the residents need more parking spaces and are having to park on the verge. But this is th edge of Haymill and it does look a mess. I have asked the Council to consider cutting bays into the verge to make parking easier and make Haymill look a little tidier
6 tags
Bath Road - Uninsured Cars
During my walkabouts in north Cippenham residents pointed out the issue of cars parked all day in the turning bay. This has been reported to the Council I will be checking back shortly to see what action has been taken.
4 tags
Marescroft Road Parking
This is just an example of one area where parking has become very difficult. Marescroft, like other area is suffering from the rapid growth in the number of cars owned by each household and is now seeing real problems for residents with limited spaces to accomodate everyone.
We are discussing this with the Council to see if we are able to find new ways to increase parking capacity without...
4 tags
Goldsworthy Play Park
Today I visited Goldsworthy Way and took a look at the new play park. It looks great and it seems it is well used.
I spoke to local residents who pointed out that the goal is quite close to the Garage Roofs which might cause some Anti Social Behaviour and I can see there point. I have reported this to the Council
7 tags
People First and Tenancy Issues
I have had a number of discussions with residents regarding People 1st. It seems that most people are happy with the Home Improvements whih are being managed by People 1st (The new Kitchens, Bathrooms and Doors) but I am also getting a number of reports of People 1st being unresponsive to other Tenancy Issues. Each individual case has been raised with the Council and People 1st. If you have an...
7 tags
The Priory Playpark - Complete ?
Many of you will recall our petition in 2009 to get the Priory Play Park upgraded, we got over 600 signatures and as a result Priory Park was one of the parks prioritised for refurbishment.
Following the Icy weather I popped down to look at the progress. It was nice to see that most of the equipment was installed but I noticed that there was still some work to do.
I spoke with the Council and...