Residents' Update:
Sunday 21st February 2016

Dear All,
 
This week’s update includes:- Tollbar Island Update; Residents Parking Scheme Consultation; “Save Our Trees”; Illegal Turn on JLR Slip Road; Recycle Bins - Stonehouse Estate; Bollard replaced on Black Prince Avenue; Exminster - Paving Slabs; Why is Footpath to Nowhere Lit?; Leaf Lane Gate Rehung; Local Road Closures; Local Plan & City Centre Area Action Plan; JLR Planning Application for Whitley South; Reopen Stoney Road to all Traffic; Coventry Homeless Night Shelters; Medieval Treasures Unearthed in Far Gosford Street; Survey for Older Users; Coventry Men’s Shed; Coventry City Council Customer Services Centre; Charter House Open Day 16th March; “Getting your Signature is Easy”; Make your Home Safer; Allergy Alert; GP Surgery Scam; Product Recall; Diary; Useful Links. And Finally

Tollbar Island Update
Update just received from Alan Jones, Galliford Try
The A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass northbound will be closed for up to 10 nights from 19 February until 28 February from 8pm each evening until 6am the following morning. The closures are required to safely construct the additional bridge supports on the north side of the east bridge, immediately adjacent to the northbound carriageway of A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass.
Read the full update with the diversion map.
 
Residents Parking Scheme Consultation
Over the last couple of weeks, Roger, Mark and Hazel have been delivering letters and leaflets, which were amongst other things, reminding residents that the survey review for the Cheylesmore Residents Parking Scheme is being delivered. All houses in the scheme, those requesting to join and those on the outside borders of the scheme, will receive one. View Street News - it is A4 in size and might not be obvious so please check your post or Complete the online questionnaire.  


Update from Jon Hagan, Business & Strategy Analyst (Parking Services)
Meetings between the officers, ward councillors and resident groups have been completed.

• The scope of the review and contents of Street News have been agreed (click to View Street News).
• As of 15 February, the online questionnaire is available ( www.coventry.gov.uk/review ).
• February). It is expected delivery will be completed early next week.
• Street News is at the printers today(17th) 
• Given the delay in printing, the deadline for responses has been extended to 21 March 2016.

In addition to the feedback from residents, we will also be conducting surveys of parked cars. It has been requested that this takes place week beginning March 7th, i.e. after the school half term and University reading week. The surveys will be taken during the day and in the evening on a number of days, including at least one week day, Friday and Saturday.
 
“Save Our Trees”
This week concerned residents contacted both Mark and Roger about trees being cut down on Black Prince Avenue/ Poitiers Road. They quickly found out that the land was owned by Whitefriars, made contact and work was immediately stopped. Roger agreed to meet with their officers on Friday morning to discuss the issue.
 
It transpires that the trees were causing a problem with damp, for residents in the nearby flats. An agreement was reached in that Whitefriars would look into heavily pruning the third tree. If this was not appropriate then it would be chopped down. However they have agreed to replace all those chopped down with new fast growing trees ones and to keep us informed of all future work of this nature.
 
Illegal Turn on JLR Slip Road
Residents continue to inform us that cars are making an illegal turn on JLR slip road to avoid queuing. Your comments are continually being passed to officers but ‘legal procedures’ have to be followed. We’ve been told that measures should be in place within 2 weeks.
 
From Ian Lewis, Senior Consultant
Please see below a response I sent out yesterday to a number of other residents/commuters that have raised this issue.
 
I have been passed a copy of an issue you raised with respect to the illegal left turn movements being undertaken on the new Whitley Junction Bridge and access roads.
 
Unfortunately there has been a growth in numbers of users that are undertaking this manoeuvre over the last few months and we are seeking to rectify this situation. To ensure that we follow the necessary legal and regulatory requirements before we take action we have had to make a number of applications for the use of CCTV and road signs to support this. This would allow the Council or Police to take action if evidence could be provided.
 
There is an order already placed with the sign manufacturer to produce a set of prohibition signs which can be further enforced and also a supplementary sets of information signs. Both sets, when installed, will notify users that CCTV is in operation and enforcement can be taken. To further assist, to the right hand side of the stop line at the top of the slip road, we have installed a CCTV camera that can record and store images for up to 30days.
 
I anticipate that we should be able to have these installed and enforceable within the next two weeks. This would then be monitored for a period of about two weeks and reviewed if necessary.
 
Recycle Bins - Stonehouse Estate
A Stonehouse Estate resident contacted Hazel to say that their recycling bin had not been emptied again this week
 
Here is the response from Layla Shannon, Waste Management Officer
If the recycling bins were missed last Tuesday due to the strike action they will be collected as per their next scheduled collection on Tuesday (23rd), we will collect additional side waste.
 
If they were missed on another day the resident can report them as being missed via the online system, rather than waiting to do it via the phone.
 
Bollard replaced on Black Prince Avenue/ Leaf Lane
At our last surgery a resident informed us that a cone had replaced a bollard at the junction of Black Prince Avenue and Leaf Lane. Response from Rebecca Alcock, Senior Highway Inspector
 
Dear Councillor Bailey
The inspector has been out to site and confirmed that the bollard has been replaced on Leaf Lane junction with Black Prince Avenue.
 
Exminster - Paving Slabs
A resident informed Roger that a couple of paving slabs at their drop kerb rocked and flipped up when driven over & scraped the bottom of their car.

We are pleased to report that Rebecca Alcock Senior Highway Inspector & the Highways Department reacted very quickly to this problem by removing the offending slabs & filling the area with tarmac.
 

Why is Footpath to Nowhere Lit?
Last week a resident sent us this:-
On a couple of late night dog walks we note that the footpath to nowhere from Leaf Lane to the new JLR bridge still has lights working and as these lighting poles are virtually new it would appear that they need to be reused in more suitable location.
 
Roger met with Rachel Goodyer, Street Lighting PFI Contract Officer, at this footpath where she agreed to have these lights switched off. Their removal would be expensive & so would not immediately be actioned.
 
Leaf Lane Gate Rehung
Our local resident sent us this:
Dear All

Pleased to report that the gate to the top meadow was rehung yesterday (18th). They have also built new fences at each side. There are very strong chains and padlocks on each side and a bent nail holding the hinge pin!

Just the piles of soil/rubble to be removed.

Local Road Closures
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. Following a question from a concerned resident we can confirm that there will be a pedestrian footpath open during the works.
 
Local Plan & City Centre Area Action Plan
Last week, Mark & Roger attended the drop-in consultation for the Local Plan & City Centre Area Action Plan held at Whitley Academy. This gave residents another chance to talk to the officers about the plans and to understand what they needed to do if they were against it.
You have until Monday 29 February 2016 to make your opinion known
Read more on the Council Website. 
 
A council officer was also there showing residents the JLR application for Whitley South.   

JLR Planning Application for Whitley South
Plans for the Employment Extension to the south of the JLR site.

• View  Plan of proposed new roads layout
• View  Plan of how Whitley South might look

Above plans are courtesy of the council officer at the Whitley Academy drop-in session. The complete planning application for Whitley South can be viewed here.
These plans will be discussed at a special planning meeting on 28th April.
 
Public Consultation has started & will end on 3rd March.
 
E-petition - Reopen Stoney Road to all Traffic
The e-petition to “Reopen Stoney Road to all Traffic” is on the agenda for Cabinet Member for Public Services on Monday, 22nd February, 2016, 10am. Anyone can attend. More details
 
Coventry Homeless Night Shelters Update
Following our 31st January update about Coventry Homeless Night Shelters a resident sent us this
Hello councillors...........
                         Re  homelessness and night shelters
 
I talked with a man recently who claimed to be homeless and sleeping rough. When I asked him about the Salvation Army and the church night shelters this was what he claimed -
 
He had tried to get a bed at the S Army but they were always full with people who had arrived before him and had block booked. When he arrived at 6 a.m. he was moved on by the police.
The night shelter places are taken by people who already have a place booked to sleep at the S Army where you have to feed yourself, because there is free food at the night shelters.
 
I realize stories must be taken with a pinch of salt, but if there is any truth in his story, what can be done about it? Can you investigate? Many thanks
 
Response from Nobby Clarke who runs the Coventry night shelter.
 
There are occasions where people make themselves 'Deliberately Inadmissible' by the way they present, either as aggressive, violent and/or intimidating to others, both staff and clients alike and in those circumstances they may be refused or excluded from being given a service. My experience shows however, that when someone is on the streets and is begging for money, it is far more likely that this is in order to support a habit, rather than to save up to pay the rent or to buy food and claiming rejection is far more likely to make the enquirer feel more generous and is part of the way in which people become groomed by them.

Homelessness services continually try to reach out to those on the street and the Coventry Winter Night Shelter has rarely been full this winter. If someone is genuinely seeking to come in off the streets, they will always be given the chance.
 
Medieval Treasures are Unearthed in Far Gosford Street
The restoration has revealed original Medieval features hidden and covered up for hundreds of years.

A one-off open day on February 27 will enable the public to see them for probably the only time.

Read more ..
 
Survey for Older Users
To Whom It May Concern
 
My name is Suriati, a PhD student from the Serious Games Institute at Coventry University. I would like to invite you to participate in my research study, ‘An Investigation into User Interaction and Experience focusing on Older Users and Digital Games’, where I intend to explore the needs and expectations of the older population and the potential of game technologies in fostering engagement with beneficial activities.
 
I am looking for participants aged 55 years old and above. The survey contains 30 questions and takes approximately 15-20 minutes of your time.
 
If you are interested, please proceed to the survey at  https://coventry.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/investigate-ui-and-ux-on-older-users
 

 
Coventry City Council Customer Services Centre
An update from Clare Storey, Transformation Programme Manager – Customer Journey 

• Using My Account – our portal where people can log-in and check balances and statuses, apply for, tell us about changes and ask for services. Council Tax, Housing Benefit, reporting missed bins, asking for an assisted waste collection and arranging a bulky waste collection are all available through My Account.
• Paying online – Seven out of ten people pay Council Tax by Direct Debit, online at www.coventry.gov.uk/paycounciltax  or by calling our automated telephone line 024 7678 7778. Other services such as fines and invoices can also be paid online at www.coventry.gov.uk/payonline
  .
• Applying for it/telling us – there are a wide range of services that people can apply for at www.coventry.gov.uk and we’re adding more all the time.

Annual Council Tax bills will be going out in the next few weeks and we’ll use this to promote payment online by card and encouraging people to pay by Direct Debit.
 
Charter House Open Day 16th March

 
“Getting your Signature is Easy”
A convicted fraudster who was recently interviewed said: “If we want to get someone’s signature it’s really easy. All we do is put on a fluorescent coat or vest, knock on the door and ask the person to sign for a letter or a flyer”.
“They don’t need signing for but nobody ever questions why and we don’t hang around for a chat! Once we have the signature we can make changes on their bank accounts and authorise fraudulent money transfers.”

 

Visit Register My Appliance
 

 

 
 
 
Our Website
Our Website address is www.cheylesmoreward.wix.com/teamcheylesmore. It contains our previous updates, parking scheme information & notices.
 
Dates for your Diary
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
 
Tuesday 1st March – 7pm – Whitley History Group. Ralph Butcher & Reg Kimber will be “Reflecting on their National Service in the RAF”, at ibis Hotel, Whitley Village. All welcome.
 
Friday 4th March - 9am - Howes Primary “Litter Pick. If you would like to help then please email deputy@howes.coventry.sch.uk for details.
 
Wednesday 9th March – 7pm – Whitley Residents & Neighbourhood Watch Association Meeting at Whitley Community Centre
 
Sunday 13th March - London Road Cemetery tidy-up day. Meet at the Paxton Memorial at 10am. Click here for the Friends of London Road Cemetery website.
 
Sunday 26th June 2016 11am - 5pm Styvechale Open Gardens in aid of Local Air Ambulance Service. Everybody welcome.
 
And Finally … Coventry Reborn 1949. Watch the video.
 
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
Dropped Kerb Information
European Health Insurance Card
General Online Safety Tips & Advice
Government Services
Noise Nuisance
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
 

Team Cheylesmore

Mark, Hazel and Roger are campaigning on local issues and working to make a difference in our area. They are always happy to hear from local residents and you can contact them on  
            024 7683 1101   

or e-mail Roger.Bailey@coventry.gov.uk Hazel.Noonan@coventry.gov.uk 
mtaylor24@live.co.uk