Residents' Update:
Sunday 10th January 2016

Dear All,

This week’s update includes:- Safety Concerns highlighted in recent Team Cheylesmore Survey; Post Office Modernisation, Daventry Road; Roadworks at Junction of Abbey Road & The Avenue; Residents Consultation Meeting at Whitley Abbey Primary School on Friday 15th January; London Road Cemetery - Application for Heritage Lottery Funding; Refuse Collections in Hillfray Drive & Ashington Grove - Petition Results; Proposed Tree Work at Bartholomew Court, The Avenue; Coventry – the Local Plan; Charter House Open Day; A45/A46 Tollbar Improvement Scheme - Road Closure; Grow Your Own Potatoes; Looking for a Local Club or Activity?; Women of Warwick WI; Funding Opportunities for Groups; Guide Dogs Fund Raiser; Get on Track; Money Advisors; Diary; Useful Links. And Finally …

Safety Concerns highlighted in recent Team Cheylesmore Survey

Following concerns raised by residents in our recent survey of the safety around Ashington Grove, Rutherglen Avenue and Abbey Road, Mark has now visited the site a number of times. The area is a focal point for parents collecting pupils from Whitley Abbey Primary, where many vehicles park on corners and on the zig zag lines outside the school gates. This is causing safety issues and difficulties for residents trying to leave or access their home.

Roger, Hazel and the Whitley Residents Group have been working hard to resolve the parking issues in Whitley. The forthcoming Council Consultation on ‘Whitley Parking Issues’ is as a result of their work. When the Consultation letter arrives it will offer the residents an opportunity to make comments on parking restrictions in their area, such as having yellow lines on the corners of some roads.

Mark will continue to report any illegal parking.

Post Office Modernisation, Daventry Road.

Read more
The Post Office will close on Thursday 11th February at 17:30 for refurbishment.
It is scheduled to re-open on Friday 19th February at 13:00

Roadworks at Junction of Abbey Road & The Avenue

Work has commenced on the water mains installation, with Mark and Roger monitoring the situation. During a visit, at Whitley Academy finishing time, Mark observed cars parked on double yellow lines and yellow zig zag lines. Some parents were even parking within the ‘designated traffic light area’, despite the very clear instructions on signs positioned under each traffic light.

Mark witnessed pupils run out of the school gates directly into the oncoming traffic and run towards the parked cars collecting them. One driver stopped on the road outside the school entrance, opened the car door to collect a pupil, threw rubbish out of their car and drove off!!!

Mark discussed his concerns for pupil safety, with the member of staff on duty at the school gates. Clearly, the school is not responsible for the actions of drivers who collect pupils but Mark hopes his concerns over pupils’ awareness of the road works and running into oncoming traffic will be noted.

Residents Consultation Meeting at Whitley Abbey Primary School:
To hear about the new school for children with severe learning difficulties to be built on the old Alice Stevens School Site. Meeting is on Friday 15th January 5pm till 5.30pm. Click here for further details

London Road Cemetery - Application for Heritage Lottery Funding
The London Road Cemetery Lottery Funding is on the agenda of the Cabinet Member for Public Services meeting on Thursday, 14th January.

The meeting starts at 10am and will be held in Committee Rooms 2 and 3 in the Council House. Members of the public may attend.
The agenda and related documents can be found here

Refuse Collections in Hillfray Drive and Ashington Grove - Petition Results
The petition was considered at the Cabinet Member for Public Services meeting on 15th December, 2015.

Approval was given for the following to monitor and address the issues raised:

Develop further communication methods for highlighting the issues with local residents and those living, working and parking in the area
Work with residents to identify and address issues with individuals parking in the problem areas including working with the police where appropriate
Discuss the issues with the collection crews in relation to access and safety to develop a consistent approach across all services
Consider the placement of double yellow lines in a limited and specific way to prevent vehicles parking in the problem areas.

Proposed Tree Work at Bartholomew Court, The Avenue
A resident recently asked us what this work entailed. Here is the response from Robert Penlington, Tree Preservation Officer
Dear Cllr Bailey,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the proposed felling of a privately owned Lime tree, located at Bartholomew Court.

Re: TP/2015/3755 proposed tree work at Bartholomew Court, The Avenue.

Proposal;-
·         Lime trees (4600, 4601, 4602, 4559, 4560, 4561, 4562, 4563, 4565, 4567) - Crown lift to 5.2m.
·         Ash tree (4566) - Crown lift to 5.2m.
·         Yew trees (4577, 4583, 4580) - crown lift to 4m
·         Scots Pine (4592) - reduce lateral spread over building by 2m.
·         Lime (4603)- Fell to near ground level

This application was validated on 08/12/2015 and requires determination by 06/02/2016, we have received 2 objections to date and your constituent is still welcome to comment should they wish, I have not as yet carried out my site visit.

The tree survey identifies the privately owned tree TPO tree proposed to being felled, as tree no. 4603 Common Lime which is located to the right hand side off the Avenue entrance. The reason stated for the felling is due to basal decay resulting from an aggressive fungal pathogen (species: Kretzschmaria deusta) evident to 50% of the base circumference of the tree. The report mentions that upon percussion when struck with a mallet, a dull resonance is heard. The crown condition is mentioned as being sparse being of poor leaf size with scattered die back.
.
I shall update you further following my site visit.

Coventry – the Local Plan

Coventry is changing and now is the time to have your say on how the city will grow over the next 20 years.

A local plan is being prepared to guide how the city grows and develops so, once again, we can become a top ten city. It will set out how and where new homes, jobs, services and infrastructure could be developed and the kind of places and environments that will be created.

Drop-in session in our area
Whitley Academy, Abbey Road
Public meeting - Tuesday 26 January 7pm-9pm
Drop-in session - Tuesday 16 February 3pm-7pm
Read more on the Council Website.

Our diminishing Greenbelt was in the Coventry Telegraph a lot this week and here are some of the articles:

Charter House Open Day

Grow Your Own Potatoes

A45/A46 Tollbar Improvement Scheme - Road Closure
Received from Alan Jones, Galliford Try on Monday 5th January.
Further to my letter dated 22 December regarding the preparatory works for the work required to the east bridge supports, please note that the first closure will be taking place tonight. The A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass northbound carriageway will be closed overnight on Tuesday 5 January 2016, 8pm to 6am.

This is the first stage in providing additional supports for the east bridge, which will take place during January and February. We will inform you of specific dates for further closures in due course.

These closures will be published on the Highways England website and the diversion routes will be clearly signed. The planned closures may be cancelled or extended in the event of inclement weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

If you require information please contact the Highways England project team at A45A46TollbarEndImprovement@highwaysengland.co.uk or visit the scheme website at www.highways.gov.uk/a45a46tollbar

Looking for a Local Club or Activity?
Use the Community Activities Directory. There are over 700 activities available in Coventry.

Simply click here; enter your Post Code, a keyword and select how far you wish to travel.

Your group isn’t included or some of the details are incorrect? Then complete this form.

Women of Warwick WI

Their website is http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/wow-wi

Funding Opportunities for Groups
There are various grants available for groups.
Click here for more information

Guide Dogs Fund Raiser
This event is being organised by the "Young at Heart" Group, from the Village Hotel, Dolomite Avenue.

Get on Track

Residents' Update: Sunday 10th January 2016

Team Cheylesmore

Residents' Update:
Sunday 10th January 2016