At last we have a demolition date for the Bishop Alcock Road shops. The utilities have been in an disconnected everything and it looks as though the building could be down by the end of May. The only outstanding issue is a dispute over the boundary wall with the brewery who own the Barrowman.
We are assured that this wont delay the demolition of the buildings and we shall certainly do all we can to make sure it does not. The demolition will remove the appalling eyesore and improve the area substantially. Needless to say, John and I had to push hard to get a demolition date!
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Horses William Gee Site
John and I became aware of the horses on the William Gee site last Thursday. We reported it immediately but as usual, Council action has been slow.
Last year I met with officers to demand that they secure the playing fields as I did worry that the site could be occupied illegally. Alas, they decided not to listen to my concerns! Rest assured, if the site is now illegally occupied we shall waste no time in demanding a tough and swift response from the Council.
Last year I met with officers to demand that they secure the playing fields as I did worry that the site could be occupied illegally. Alas, they decided not to listen to my concerns! Rest assured, if the site is now illegally occupied we shall waste no time in demanding a tough and swift response from the Council.
Goodfellowship Planning Application Withdrawn
Residents will know how concerned I was about the planning application which had been lodged for building on the Goodfellowship car park. I am pleased to report that the application has now been withdrawn.
This does not mean it will not return but at least the immediate threat has gone. We have already produced a street newsletter for nearby properties and will produce another should the application be re-submitted.
This does not mean it will not return but at least the immediate threat has gone. We have already produced a street newsletter for nearby properties and will produce another should the application be re-submitted.
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Updates Updates Updates
John and I have been hitting the campaign trail fairly hard that we have not had chance to update the blog as much as we would like. We are receiving the best reception on the doorstep I can remember. So many residents have mentioned how we keep residents informed all year round, not just at election time. Thanks for all the positive feedback we have received, it really is appreciated.
Local updates are as follows
Commonwealth Homes
The new gardens in the middle we promised residents have now been completed. There will be a presentation for residents this week so that they can see how the gardens will look once in full bloom. The Commonwealth theme should look really good, with a different area of the Commonwealth represented in each bed.
John and I have also agreed to re-plant the gardens to the front of the Homes too and this work should start once we have both signed off on the funding.
Langdale Lighting
Given the Council's inability to act, we have set aside £30 k for improved lighting locally. In particular we are looking at Langdale and another street with a hope of getting them both re-lighted soon. It is annoying we have to use our local funds for this but unless we do it could be some time until they are done!
Cardboard Recycling
Those with brown bins will now know that the collection of cardboard has been suspended for the next year. This is because of Government changes and demonstrates how little Labour understand the needs of local residents.
John and I argued that an alternative should be put in place and we have succeeded in getting agreement for a cardboard recycling bin to be added to the recycling centre at Bricknell Primary. It is not a perfect solution but it at least means those residents who wish to continue recycling cardboard can do so.
The collection of cardboard from the kerbside will hopefully resume next year!
Potholes
Due to neglect from both the 'old parties' who have run the City in recent years, our roads continue to crumble. Burniston, Hotham Road North, Barrington and Bricknell Ave are all among the roads we are pressing for action on.
Huntley Drive One Way System
The consultation is now complete and the matter will come before the Wyke Area Committee shortly for a final decision. Subject to a few small adjustments I expect the scheme to be passed. We will then begin consulting on Linkfield.
Tesco - Bricknell Avenue
I have put in a formal objection to the hour extension sought by Tesco. The matter is now with a Government Inspector who will decide whether or not Tesco's appeal against the Council's refusal of the extra hour will be granted or not.
William Gee Site
We have asked for the field to be cleaned up and we remain appalled at the general lack of care by the Council of this site. Residents will be aware that following touch negotiations by John and I, we have now agreed that half of the site can be used as sports fields for the new Kelvin, although this is subject to residents having access to the site and to a new community facility also being constructed on the site.
There will be no classrooms here, the daft idea of a split school site was roundly beaten! Many thanks to the huge number of local residents who responded to my survey on the matter and supported my fight against the split site option.
And Finally,
Please remember to Vote on May 1st in the Council Elections.
Local updates are as follows
Commonwealth Homes
The new gardens in the middle we promised residents have now been completed. There will be a presentation for residents this week so that they can see how the gardens will look once in full bloom. The Commonwealth theme should look really good, with a different area of the Commonwealth represented in each bed.
John and I have also agreed to re-plant the gardens to the front of the Homes too and this work should start once we have both signed off on the funding.
Langdale Lighting
Given the Council's inability to act, we have set aside £30 k for improved lighting locally. In particular we are looking at Langdale and another street with a hope of getting them both re-lighted soon. It is annoying we have to use our local funds for this but unless we do it could be some time until they are done!
Cardboard Recycling
Those with brown bins will now know that the collection of cardboard has been suspended for the next year. This is because of Government changes and demonstrates how little Labour understand the needs of local residents.
John and I argued that an alternative should be put in place and we have succeeded in getting agreement for a cardboard recycling bin to be added to the recycling centre at Bricknell Primary. It is not a perfect solution but it at least means those residents who wish to continue recycling cardboard can do so.
The collection of cardboard from the kerbside will hopefully resume next year!
Potholes
Due to neglect from both the 'old parties' who have run the City in recent years, our roads continue to crumble. Burniston, Hotham Road North, Barrington and Bricknell Ave are all among the roads we are pressing for action on.
Huntley Drive One Way System
The consultation is now complete and the matter will come before the Wyke Area Committee shortly for a final decision. Subject to a few small adjustments I expect the scheme to be passed. We will then begin consulting on Linkfield.
Tesco - Bricknell Avenue
I have put in a formal objection to the hour extension sought by Tesco. The matter is now with a Government Inspector who will decide whether or not Tesco's appeal against the Council's refusal of the extra hour will be granted or not.
William Gee Site
We have asked for the field to be cleaned up and we remain appalled at the general lack of care by the Council of this site. Residents will be aware that following touch negotiations by John and I, we have now agreed that half of the site can be used as sports fields for the new Kelvin, although this is subject to residents having access to the site and to a new community facility also being constructed on the site.
There will be no classrooms here, the daft idea of a split school site was roundly beaten! Many thanks to the huge number of local residents who responded to my survey on the matter and supported my fight against the split site option.
And Finally,
Please remember to Vote on May 1st in the Council Elections.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
County Road North Parking
I attended a meeting with representatives from Hull City who now occupy the Ideal Standard site to discuss the problems their usage of the site is having on parking for local residents.
I have to say that John and I support Hull City using the site for the benefit of sport in the city but we want a solution to the parking problems. Local residents rightly expect their own amenity to protected and we are with them in trying to strike a balance between the needs of residents and Hull City.
The meeting was most useful with the representatives of Hull City approaching the issue in a positive way. As a result they have agreed to -
We are clearly most keen to see the car park extended but this will depend on funding. Hull City will now look into that option and report back to us.Credit must go to the club for pursuing the issue so positively.
I have to say that John and I support Hull City using the site for the benefit of sport in the city but we want a solution to the parking problems. Local residents rightly expect their own amenity to protected and we are with them in trying to strike a balance between the needs of residents and Hull City.
The meeting was most useful with the representatives of Hull City approaching the issue in a positive way. As a result they have agreed to -
1. Encourage more sensible parking by people using the site, preferably by parking up the flyover
2. Mark out their car park properly once they have finished working on the drains, this should mean more cars can park on site
3. More importantly, investigate the possibility of extending their car park area, possibly in a strip along the side of the pitches.
We are clearly most keen to see the car park extended but this will depend on funding. Hull City will now look into that option and report back to us.Credit must go to the club for pursuing the issue so positively.
Friday, 18 January 2008
Good fellowship
Tremendous blow for people power!
By the time we turned up, armed to the teeth with good reasons to support the four grounds for objection Marston's brewers had refined their application to take out just about everything you objected to!
I was consideraby relieved to see widely respected former chairman Andrew Percy was chairing the tribunal (there was a chance he would be on hence he could not speak and prejudge the application) and he was assisted by two of the able Liberal democrats Cllrs Robinson and Williams.
It soon became clear that outside seating and wholesale extensions were not the topic and finally i was called to speak. Fortunately I had followed the complex twists and turns in this ludicrously complex procedure inflicted on us by the Labour Government and was able to make representations for you on the only matter they were seeking to change...the smoking outside policy.
With the smoking ban (again from this government) one of the problems glossed over was the fact that drinkers would go outside and probably cause nuisance and disturbance. To be totally fair, as we always are, the brewers did not ask for ANY beverages to be consumed outside after the cut-off time , merely that there should be permission to smoke outside around the sensitive time of post 11.30.
I made what I hope was a strong case (all my carefully thought out arguments and hours of preparation by now being so much wasted effort) and winged an argument that this activity carried out by people exuberant on alcohol may lead to loud noise and disturbance. I asked the tribunal to consoder a designated smoking spot away from local residents (the weakness of that being people could go and smoke on the pavements and we could not control it) or to see if they would consider some sort of controlled scheme with the landlord.
There was a bit of good natured sparring between Andrew and the brewer's lawyer about the pros and cons and i declined the opportunity to put some of my famous (apparently. I am told some obsess on this point!) tough questions.
Local residents spoke with passion and sincerity protecting their neighbourhoods, and it was good to see so many there. I certainly appreciated seeing the Chief Executive of Ferens and Pickering homes coming to be there for the residents of his housing scheme.
We were asked to leave and after an agonising wait called back in. I think the tribunal had to use the judgement of Solomon, both a designated spot and a controlled scheme had great strengths and great weaknesses in equal measure.
Andrew announced they had unanimously decided on:
The Licensee shall produce in agreement with Public Protection a smoking policy to manage smoking outside after 11.30pm. The policy will designate preferred smoking areas which will be provided with bins / ashtrays in order to minimise any public nuisance or crime and disorder.
Not quite verbatim, Andrew can speak faster than me at times, but no doubt he will post the precise words as soon as he can.
Personally I think this was agreeable as a basis, and there are some statutory provisions for enforcement under other legislation should they be needed. Smoking itself is not a licensable activity and it was important not to drive the smokers closer to the homes of local residents.
There were other provisions relating to dance floors and internal matters which were not controversial so I will not report on them here, and we did specify no metal/tubular chairs to stop noise late at night too, but that is the key point.
I think we should thank the tribunal, the brewers who saw sense and the civilised non confrontational way their lawyer put the case. Most of all I am grateful to local residents who turned up and followed the tortuous process the council is obliged to execute. The CONTACT team and local residents put out good quality and timely information to empower you....but you embraced the opportunity and chose to rise and speak for your community. I was proud to be able to represent you, to speak for decency and moderation, all you were asking for.
In the spirit of partnership (the pub has been there 80 years and they have certain rights too) we will of course work with all parties to try and ensure all works as it should.
Once again my very sincere thanks for not "leaving me to go naked into the conference chamber", and showing that you do care about your community
By the time we turned up, armed to the teeth with good reasons to support the four grounds for objection Marston's brewers had refined their application to take out just about everything you objected to!
I was consideraby relieved to see widely respected former chairman Andrew Percy was chairing the tribunal (there was a chance he would be on hence he could not speak and prejudge the application) and he was assisted by two of the able Liberal democrats Cllrs Robinson and Williams.
It soon became clear that outside seating and wholesale extensions were not the topic and finally i was called to speak. Fortunately I had followed the complex twists and turns in this ludicrously complex procedure inflicted on us by the Labour Government and was able to make representations for you on the only matter they were seeking to change...the smoking outside policy.
With the smoking ban (again from this government) one of the problems glossed over was the fact that drinkers would go outside and probably cause nuisance and disturbance. To be totally fair, as we always are, the brewers did not ask for ANY beverages to be consumed outside after the cut-off time , merely that there should be permission to smoke outside around the sensitive time of post 11.30.
I made what I hope was a strong case (all my carefully thought out arguments and hours of preparation by now being so much wasted effort) and winged an argument that this activity carried out by people exuberant on alcohol may lead to loud noise and disturbance. I asked the tribunal to consoder a designated smoking spot away from local residents (the weakness of that being people could go and smoke on the pavements and we could not control it) or to see if they would consider some sort of controlled scheme with the landlord.
There was a bit of good natured sparring between Andrew and the brewer's lawyer about the pros and cons and i declined the opportunity to put some of my famous (apparently. I am told some obsess on this point!) tough questions.
Local residents spoke with passion and sincerity protecting their neighbourhoods, and it was good to see so many there. I certainly appreciated seeing the Chief Executive of Ferens and Pickering homes coming to be there for the residents of his housing scheme.
We were asked to leave and after an agonising wait called back in. I think the tribunal had to use the judgement of Solomon, both a designated spot and a controlled scheme had great strengths and great weaknesses in equal measure.
Andrew announced they had unanimously decided on:
The Licensee shall produce in agreement with Public Protection a smoking policy to manage smoking outside after 11.30pm. The policy will designate preferred smoking areas which will be provided with bins / ashtrays in order to minimise any public nuisance or crime and disorder.
Not quite verbatim, Andrew can speak faster than me at times, but no doubt he will post the precise words as soon as he can.
Personally I think this was agreeable as a basis, and there are some statutory provisions for enforcement under other legislation should they be needed. Smoking itself is not a licensable activity and it was important not to drive the smokers closer to the homes of local residents.
There were other provisions relating to dance floors and internal matters which were not controversial so I will not report on them here, and we did specify no metal/tubular chairs to stop noise late at night too, but that is the key point.
I think we should thank the tribunal, the brewers who saw sense and the civilised non confrontational way their lawyer put the case. Most of all I am grateful to local residents who turned up and followed the tortuous process the council is obliged to execute. The CONTACT team and local residents put out good quality and timely information to empower you....but you embraced the opportunity and chose to rise and speak for your community. I was proud to be able to represent you, to speak for decency and moderation, all you were asking for.
In the spirit of partnership (the pub has been there 80 years and they have certain rights too) we will of course work with all parties to try and ensure all works as it should.
Once again my very sincere thanks for not "leaving me to go naked into the conference chamber", and showing that you do care about your community
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Windsor Road gating scheme
We have been approached about a possible gating scheme in this area by a local resident.
Due to Andrew's obvious links to the street, he really cannot get involved in this issue but we have an invariable approach to these matters. If a local resident can secure the agreement of the property owners who have the passageway we will support the scheme. If people want to argue, it is a civil matter in which we will not interfere. If people do not want it that's fine by us. Personally I loathe the things, we are turning into a defensive inward looking society, it being one thing protecting personal property but communally owned alleys is a step too far.
However we always fund half the costs through the Community Safety Fund if asked, as long as it exists and we have balances, and we shall do on this one too.
Proof again that Andrew and I are not in this for our own selfish reasons but we respect and understand the community who we work with all year round.
Due to Andrew's obvious links to the street, he really cannot get involved in this issue but we have an invariable approach to these matters. If a local resident can secure the agreement of the property owners who have the passageway we will support the scheme. If people want to argue, it is a civil matter in which we will not interfere. If people do not want it that's fine by us. Personally I loathe the things, we are turning into a defensive inward looking society, it being one thing protecting personal property but communally owned alleys is a step too far.
However we always fund half the costs through the Community Safety Fund if asked, as long as it exists and we have balances, and we shall do on this one too.
Proof again that Andrew and I are not in this for our own selfish reasons but we respect and understand the community who we work with all year round.
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