Residents' Update:
Sunday 24th January 2016
Dear All,
This week’s update includes:-
JLR Expansion Pre-Application Consultation Meetings; Ebbw Vale Terrace - Sheltered Housing Block; Parking on a Dropped Kerb?; Parking on Grass Verges; Verge Works Programme; Local Road Closures; Tree Work at Bartholomew Court; Parking in Swifts Corner; New Illuminated Signs; Clean it Up or be Fined; West Midlands Combined Authority; Coventry – the Local Plan; Central Library’s 30th Birthday; ‘Get Safe Online’ week; Holocaust Memorial Day; New Rail Stations; Coventry Half Marathon; Career in Civil Engineering Opportunity; Recent UK Government Affairs Manager’s Statements about JLR; Ash Tree Dieback Disease; Diary; Useful Links. And Finally …
JLR Expansion Pre-Application Consultation Meetings
As reported last week, JLR is proposing to build a new Engineering Technology Hub in Whitley South. A pre-application consultation period has begun which ends on 31st January 2016. Earlier this week Mark, Roger and Hazel attended the open sessions at a marquee on the JLR Whitley site, where they asked many questions and spoke to residents.
The proposed new roads layout will have additional entrances and exits, to and from the existing and new sites. If the application is passed & money is set aside for the community then Mark would like to see local residents consulted on its use. The display information on show in the marquee is available
here.
You can ask JLR questions and leave feedback on:
consultation@whitleysouth.co.uk or check out:
www.whitleysouth.co.uk .
Ebbw Vale Terrace - Sheltered Housing Block
Hazel & Roger have been approached by concerned residents about the properties in Ebbw Vale Terrace. This is the response from Kevin Roach, Director of Regeneration:
As you may be aware Whitefriars have been re-housing the residents from the sheltered housing block in Ebbw Vale Terrace. The rationale for rehousing residents from the block is that it has shared bathing facilities which we believe, and following consultation with customers, are not fit for purpose and meets the needs of our customers.
We have now completed the re-housing with the final tenant moving yesterday. I have started the tendering process for the demolition of the block but as you may appreciate the physical demolition of the block won’t happen for 3 to 4 months. I have therefore been considering the most appropriate approach for the security of the block until such time it is handed over to the demolition contractor and don’t feel that boarding the block up is appropriate given its locality and surroundings particularly as a boarded up property can attract potential vandalism. The approach I am taking is to engage a Property Guardian Company which I have used on many of my regeneration schemes and I understand has also been used by the City Council in providing security to vacant buildings. Read more
Kevin has since been asked if anything is happening to the bungalows on this site. We’ll keep you updated.
Parking on a Dropped Kerb?
Last week a resident sent us this email:-
Would you be able to clarify what the law is regarding parking on a dropped kerb which gives access to a private drive?
Many people think it's ok to park on the dropped kerb outside a private residence as long as there is no vehicle parked on the drive. Is that the case?
As far as I know, parking in a dropped kerb is a violation of the highways act and can be subject to a penalty notice from the council and/or reportable to the police who can get the vehicle removed.
Are you able to shed any light please?
This is the response that Roger sent:
If the vehicle is parked across the dropped kerb our Civil Enforcement Officers can issue a Penalty Charge Notice to the vehicle, which would require the owner to pay the charge to the Council. The Civil Enforcement supervisor’s number is 024 7683 4367
However, the Council does not have any powers to remove the vehicle and as such in an urgent situation, this may not benefit the resident. The police can act on “obstruction”, but are generally saying it should be the Council. However, the police can access the DVLA database and may be able to locate the owner of the vehicle to ask them to remove it if it is blocking the access. If anyone needs to contact the police, the Council suggests the non-emergency 101 number.
Parking on Grass Verges
Another residents’ question about parking:
With regards to people crossing kerbs is it also illegal to park on grass verges as cars on Black Prince Avenue have been doing it for a long time and are leaving the verges a muddy mess. Please let me know if this can be stopped as it makes Cheylesmore look very untidy.
This is Hazel’s response:-
Unfortunately it is not illegal unless there are traffic regulations on the road, for example double yellow lines, then the car could be issued a ticket.
If the vehicle is causing an obstruction like blocking the pavements so pedestrian can not pass or blocking a driver’s view at a junction then they can be ticketed by the police.
Verge Works Programme
Due to a recent resident’s request about converting their muddy grass verge into a parking are, Hazel received the following information from Colin Knight:-
- the budget is only £125,000pa
- the list of requests is significant
- there is a policy in place for prioritising schemes
- if the residents were willing to fund the works themselves that would be great
Hazel was very surprised by the last statement, about residents being able to fund projects, and so asked for confirmation:-
Dear Cllr Noonan
You are right that this would not have been considered in the past, but the view is now that if people are willing to pay then provided the proposal meets our policies and criteria we look favourably at such a request. Given that we have such a long list of schemes, at least it will shorten the waiting time for people who don’t want to pay.
Regards
Colin
Local Road Closures
From 15th February, for a week, one lane of the London Road, near to the bridge/ cemetery entrance will be closed due to drainage works.
From 22nd – 26th February, The Hiron will close to allow for the repainting of the bridge chevrons, repointing of the brickwork and removal of vegetation
Proposed Tree Work at Bartholomew Court, The Avenue
In response to these proposals
- Lime trees (4600, 4601, 4602, 4559, 4561, 4562, 4563, 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
A resident has sent us the following update:-
The tree wardens living in Cheylesmore have looked at the trees in Bartholomew Court and asked for most of the proposed work to be reconsidered, apart from felling the lime with the pathogen which was confirmed by Robert Penlington, Tree Preservation Officer.
We could not see the necessity for the crown lifting particularly the row of limes running along Abbey Road and forming an important wildlife corridor. We felt that removing lower branches would only cause the trees stress and promote extra dense growth. We have recently been made aware that the lime hawkmoth is becoming rare in Warwickshire because it needs the lower growth on the trees in order to survive.
Parking in Swifts Corner
A resident recently contacted us about parking problems he is having in Swift Corner.
Here is Hazel’s response:-
I have spoken to Whitefriars who own the grassed area opposite your home. Unfortunately improving parking in your street by making parking access on the verge is not a priority for them.
I noticed that Thursday was a bad day for parking in and around Whitley Village, not sure if this was the same for Swifts Corner?
Sorry I can not be more helpful. Parking is becoming an increasing issue around the Cheylesmore area of which there is not any easy solution.
New Illuminated Signs
Recently a resident wrote to us saying that they thought that the new illuminated signs being installed on the inner ring road were useless. They felt that the problem was a combination of the limitation of forming the letters out of the LED lamps, their brightness and the fact that they appear to be subject to a 'viewing angle'. They considered them to be significantly less readable than the previous signs and yet considerably more expensive to install and maintain.
Hazel received this response from Shamala Evans, Project Manager/Senior Engineer
Traffic and Transportation:-
“There are no limitations in forming letters in LED and these new signs demonstrate this fact. These signs are mainly and widely used on the motorway. The Variable Message Signs here on the ring road is Phase 1 of the Car Park Guidance Strategy and are designed to serve multiple functions.
Once the Phase 1 project is complete, the signs currently on display will be shown as default signs. Otherwise, as and when necessary/required, these signs will display valuable traffic information such as, give public information on the parking availability at each junction in real time, inform public if there are any incidents, events, congestion etc. In general, manage traffic within the City Centre.”
Clean it Up or be Fined
A resident has asked us to insert this:-
There are still many irresponsible dog owners who do no cleanup after their dogs (poop scoop). I have even come home to find dog poop on my front lawn and it seems any green verge is used as a dog potty around Cheylesmore.
Could we send reminders to residents to remind them of their responsibilities and fines if they don't?
Reporting Dog Fouling
West Midlands Combined Authority
The Coventry Conservative group continue to state that they’d prefer an alliance with Warwickshire away from the West Midlands, amid fears of dominance of the new alliance by Birmingham.
A public survey on this subject is available on their website at:
www.westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk
Read the Coventry Telegraph’s Article on this survey and what they are calling a “propaganda exercise”
Coventry – the Local Plan
The Council has corrected the dates on their card which they delivered last week.
The
Coventry Local Plan covers policies including: development, housing, economy, jobs, employment, public health, leisure, greenbelt, heritage, design, transport, climate change and infrastructure provision.
View the plans at Whitley Academy, Abbey Road
Public meeting - Tuesday 26 January 7pm-9pm
Drop-in session - Tuesday 16 February 3pm-7pm
Central Library’s 30th Birthday
Central Library celebrates its 30 years in Smithford Way, on Wednesday 10th February 2016! Come along and see what’s going on – there’s something for everyone and everyone’s welcome. Join us for a cup of tea and a piece of cake at 11.30am on Wednesday 10 February.
We have lots of events going on in the library. Book onto a free behind the scenes tour, you never know what can be found; a knitting group meeting, a chess tournament, children’s rhymetime and a popular family history information session - Barking Mad.
On Saturday 6 February the party continues with events, including a music talk by Pete Chambers, live music and a storytime. Saturday 13 February sees poetry on demand 11am - 2pm and on Sunday 14 February there will be a storytime, hedgehog book craft and Mehndi.
All events are free and there is no need to book!
Read more
Holocaust Memorial Day
Read more
‘Get Safe Online’ week
Next week is ‘Get Safe Online’ week. This is a huge issue across the whole country connecting issues of organised crime, abuse and financial security. Here is their promotional poster.
Visit their website
Read more
Coventry Half Marathon
Read more
Career in Civil Engineering Opportunity
Received from Alan Jones Galliford Try on Monday 18th January:-
On Monday 25th January there will be a Civil Engineering selection day organised by Coventry Job Centre Plus at our training facility off Rowley Road.
The day is intended for unemployed young people who would be interested in a career in Civil Engineering. There will be a basic test in Maths and English. Successful candidates will then be given a place on a one month course in February at the training centre, at the end of which they will be given a CSCS card [Construction Skills Certification Scheme]
If anyone knows of any young people who would be interested, please get them to phone the number given in More details
Recent UK Government Affairs Manager’s Statements about JLR
- JLR was Britain's largest automotive manufacturer in 2015
- Firm's three UK manufacturing plants break the 500,000 production milestone in 2015
- Company's UK production output more than trebles since 2009
- Growth is driven by unprecedented investment in new products and UK manufacturing plants to meet global consumer demand.
- JLR’s growth sees UK workforce more than double to 35,000 in 5 years
- Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has presented Jaguar Land Rover with a gold award for its active support of the Armed Forces Community as part of its Armed Forces Covenant. JLR has recruited over 200 former servicemen and servicewomen since 2013 and run a number of placements.
- A Bloomberg survey has revealed JLR is the most recommended place to work in the UK by its own employees.
Our Website
Our Website address is
www.cheylesmoreward.wix.com/teamcheylesmore. It contains our previous updates, parking scheme information & notices.
Ash Tree Dieback Disease
The British landscape will alter over the next few years because of this new disease Sadly, nothing we can do will reverse the effects of ash dieback. We can't stop this devastating disease. As many as 130 million ash trees are at risk from this deadly fungal tree disease, which is carried on the wind, making it impossible to contain. The outdoors we know and love is under threat, with ash dieback now found across the UK.
One way we can all help is by planting a mix of other native trees and shrubs. By planting new native trees at your local school or in your community, you'll help to bring life back to our countryside and renew the beautiful wooded areas we enjoy today.
More information and help contact the Woodland Trust
website -
woodlandtrust.org.uk
e.mail -
treedisease@woodlandtrust.org
Dates for your Diary
Friday 29th January 2pm to 4pm - Cheylesmore Good Neighbours will have a presentation on the local wild life by Graham Robson, at Quinton Park Baptist Church Hall – (no religious connection).
Saturday 30th January - Coombe Country Park –
Big Birds' Breakfast
Tuesday 2nd February, 7pm – Whitley History Group will have a presentation on doing Voluntary work in South Africa by Pauline Venables, at ibis Hotel, Whitley Village. All are welcome. Here is the
Blog site on her experiences.
Tuesday 9th February, 7pm - Cheylesmore Ward Forum – Quinton Park Baptist Church
Thursday 11th February, 17:30 - Daventry Road Post Office will close for refurbishment.
Tuesday 16th February – Coombe Country Park -
Berty the Bushcrafter: Shelter Building &
Berty the Bushcrafter: Fire Lighting
Wednesday 17th February- Coombe Country Park –
Watery Wildlife Workshop &
Pet Bug Rocks
Friday 19th February, 13:00, Daventry Road Post Office scheduled to re-open
Saturday 11th June - War Memorial Park - Grin and Bear it Obstacle Course for children from 6 to 10 years of age doing a 2.5k course, in aid of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.
More details here.
Sunday 12th June War - Memorial Park - Grin and Bear it Obstacle Course for 11 year olds upwards to adults doing a 5k course, in aid of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.
More details here.
And Finally …
Do you have any memories about the “Coventry Locarno”? The Central Library would love to hear about them. Call: 047 7683 2314; Email:
central.libraries@coventry.gov.uk ; Facebook: www.facebook.com/coventrylibraries/
Useful Links and Phone Numbers.
Age UK Coventry - Trusted Traders Scheme
Blood test locations to download a document listing the locations
Cheylesmore Parking Scheme Email:
parkingenforcement@coventry.gov.uk
Community Activity Directory
Crime Rates in the area
Disposal of Large or Bulky items
European Health Insurance Card
General Online Safety Tips & Advice
Government Services
Refuse Collection Information
Report Fly Tipping
Report Graffiti
Report a Missed Bin
Report a Pothole
Report a Street Light Fault
Road Works
Scams & Warnings
School Closures
Parking Enforcement phone numbers
Misuse of a visitor pass - 024 7683 4367
Not sure a car has a permit 024 7683 4367
Change virtual visitors pass registration number - 0345 520 7007
Buy a new permit virtual & paper - 0345 520 7007
Query the status of a PCN (Penalty Charge Notices) - 024 7683 3400
Roger & Hazel secretaries - 024 7683 1101
