As a new councillor I have a lot to learn, but hope that I will serve you well.
I already know many of the residents in Marton West, but hope to meet many more while I am out walking, which I do most days.
If you have any issues please do get in touch.
I will be keeping you up to date on any events that are happening in our area.
Transport Meeting 2nd June 2008 with Brian Glover & Cllr. Rooney
Once again we have taken up issues raised by residents:
Speeding Gunnergate Lane still to be looked into.
Speeding Turnberry Way - mentioned accident and car overturned - will monitor the situation
Signage at Poole Hospital too small to read - temporary sign
Bus Shelter - Turnberry Way none available at the present time - even if money became available it would have to be at the bus stops most used.
Beck Maintenance - Becks need properly cleaning and also the Drains that flow into the Becks need some maintenance - terribly overgrown - will be looked into.
Northumbria In Bloom
The first stage of the Northumbria in Bloom judging took place on 15th April, and this counts as 25% of the mark. We hope the judges were impressed, but will not here about the marking until the end of the competition. The second part of the judging will take place on 15th July 2008.
If anyone would like to help with the organisation please get in touch.
SITE 44, Longridge Wood
We have just heard that Site 44, Longridge Wood Village Green Status has been rejected. It was rejected on the fact that we have not used the land for sports and leisure over the 20 year period. The Inspector's report was then put to a Licensing Committee for the final decision, i.e. they could decide whether the Inspector's report was accepted or rejected. We lost 5 votes to 4. We were very disappointed with Cllr Williams who voted against it. As he has a woodland in his ward of Stainton which is not well used, we thought he would be on the side of the people who do use their small woodland to a great extent.
This is not the end we will keep on fighting.
Watch this space.
Streetscene meeting 17th April 2008 - with Exec. Cllr. Parvez Khan and Tom Punton
John and I have been taking up issues with the streetscene department that have been raised by constituents over the past few months.
Sudbury Pond - we are hoping to get this cleaned out this year.
Litter - we mentioned the litter in various areas but especially Sudbury, plus the cut from Sudbury to Stainton Way and South Side of Stainton Way going towards the Parkway Centre from the traffic lights at Southern Cross.
Beck Drain which runs along Stainton Way needs cleaning and de-silting.
Bins being left in the middle of drives causing problems.
Dog Bin and Litter Bin in Fairy Dell near Dell Close.
Leaflets about refuse and green waste need to be easier to read.
Transport Meeting 5th March 2008 - with Exec. Cll. Ron Lowes and Brian Glover
Once again I have been taking up issues with the transport department that have been raised by constituents over the past few months.
One of the main concerns in Marton West is the crossing for school children over Stainton Way. At the present time there is no funding for a crossing. I was told however, that there is already a safe crossing point at the Southern Cross Traffic Lights.
Footpath on The Croft - will look at it and see how bad it is.
Gunnergate Lane - Woodrow Avenue - Tollesby Lane exits - nothing can be done.
Hole in road on Woodrow Avenue- will be filled in.
Speeding Traffic in Gunnergate Lane will be monitored. Don't want to put humps in the road if can help it.
Tollesby Lane Post Box too close to end of road - will write to the Post Office on our behalf to see if it can be moved.
Turnburry Way - Speeding Traffic, work to help to slow down traffic is imminent.
Turnburry Way - Bus Shelters- Adshell provide bus shelters and we have had our quota for the time being, however if money does become available the shelters are provided by priority of the most used bus stops.
Buses on Turnberry Way not turning off engines whilst waiting. They are supposed to turn their engines off and this will be looked into.
Slip Road onto the Parkway, causing problems for pedestrians crossing from the cut in Canberra Road, suggested that they make this an actual left turn rather than slip road, which would slow cars down as it would be a turn rather than driving straight onto it. This is a highway matter and they do not think it would be possible.
Signage at Poole too small, this will be looked at.
Flats behind Tesco Garage
The developer has proposed that these properties are called 'The Willows' however, as we already have a road in Marton called 'The Willows' it was thought that this would cause lots of confusion, both for mail and visitors. I have asked the council if the name for the new development could be changed. I received the following reply:
The developer has been informed that this name would lead to confusion and they have been asked to submit an alternative name. This new name has not been made known to date but the Council and the Post Office shall continue to resist the use of the original name sugested.
We have now heard that the proposed name is going to be The Willowsdene.
Bonny Grove Park
The council have been successful in getting a bid of £150,000 to be spent on the play area in Bonny Grove Park. I have been busy putting out questionnaires and the feedback has been very helpful in finding out what you would like to see there. I will be discussing all the feedback with the officer who is overseeing this project and hopefully we may end up with something that the residents would like rather than spending the money on things we do not want.
I would like to thank all the residents who took the time to fill in the questionnaire and post it back to me.
I have now had discussions with an officer and the deputy mayor but unfortunately it does not appear that anything will change. They are determined to give the people something that they do not want.
I have been monitoring Bonnygrove over the last few months, the number of vodka bottles is getting worse, I have asked PCSO Alan Hill to monitor this and he agrees that the equipment offered can only make things worse.
I am still consulting to try to get this changed. One of 'The Local Area Agreements' objectives is to 'empower the community', but does anyone listen when we do.
Brass Castle Lane
I have been asking for a 30 mile an hour sign for the entrance to Brass Castle Lane from Stokesley Road. I think this will be erected very shortly.
This has now been completed.
There will also be some improvements to Turnberry Way to help to slow down the traffic. The aim is to put cross hatching on the road, yellow markings at the bus stops and mark out the cycle and footpaths.
Bulb Planting
Friends of Fairy Dell and pupils from St. Augustines School were out planting bulbs on Thursday 22nd November. On Wednesday 28th November pupils from Lingfield School planted daffodil bulbs on the Green in Tewkesbury Avenue. A big thank you to all and especially the Area Care Team who came out to help to dig the holes.
Environment Issues
I have had a meeting with Street Scene Services (Tom Punton and Parvez Kahn) to discuss a few issues. I have asked for the grass down the slope of the green in Cheltenham Avenue to be kept short. Talked about Marton West in Bloom. Mentioned again about the moss on the pavements in the McInnes Estate. We discussed the green bags and black boxes and the confusion of the timetable, hopefully this is going to change to make collection days easier.
Fairy Dell
The story of renovating The Dell
Community Council
The next meeting of Marton West Community Council will be held in The Methodist Church, The Grove,...
Latest Middlesbrough Council News
BEST EVER GCSE RESULTS FOR MIDDLESBROUGH
Results for Middlesbrough’s young people in their GCSE results have continued to improve according to figures released today (10/01/08). The final figures for exams taken in 2007 show that almost 54 per cent of young people taking the exams in Middlesbrough achieved five or more A* to C grades, continuing the upward trend shown in the previous year’s figures.
|
