Residents' Update:
Sunday 13th September 2015
Dear All,
With Hazel’s decision not to stand for re-election in 2016, Coventry Conservatives have selected Mark Taylor as their candidate for Cheylesmore in the next local elections. Mark will join ‘’Team Cheylesmore’’ which previously comprised of your Councillors Hazel & Roger and Pauline, a volunteer who helps compile & edit this residents’ update.
Mark has lived and worked in Coventry for over 35 years. He was an Electronics Service Engineer before moving into education. Mark said: “I'm very pleased to join Team Cheylesmore. Hazel and Roger are highly respected Councillors across Cheylesmore, Whitley and Stonehouse Estate because they listen to residents' concerns, respond quickly and want to see improvements to the area. My challenge is to build on their hard work across this community.”
This week’s updates include:
Riverside Close Road Closure; Exminster Road and Brathay Close new Road Surfaces; JLR and Whitley Road Congestion; Petition for Crossing at Daventry Road; Noise Mystery Continues; Whitley Bridge Trees; Stonehouse Estate – weed spraying; Tablet Lessons Available; Fly Tipping in Leaf Lane; Cheylesmore Library Events; Humber Road Forthcoming Roadworks; Macmillan Coffee morning at Quinton Park; Salt Lane Free Parking; City of Culture 2021; Community Health Event; NSPCC Gang Helpline; Diary; Useful Links. And Finally ….
Riverside Close Road Closure
A number of angry residents contacted us about the terrible congestion caused by Riverside Close /London Road junction closure, plus the reduction of London Road down to one lane, for the laying of new gas pipes.
Initially we were told that the junction would be re-opened 18th September. Hazel and Roger asked the Councils Traffic Management to look at opening this junction sooner. We received this email on Friday with the great news that the junction is
now open.
Good afternoon Councillors,
Chad is now working at Whitley Depot, hence the update from me (via Chad) about the roadworks at London Road/Riverside Close.
Upon Chad’s site look around today, the area no longer needs a lane closure or a road closure and as such I have instructed the contractors to remove all traffic management prior to 3.30pm this afternoon.
This should mean that the roads are fully open in time for the evening peak periods. The contractors have advised that their equipment still stored in the central area of Riverside Close may not get collected until next week, but the road should be able to maintain 2 way traffic flows easily.
Many thanks
Sara-Louise Allman
Traffic & Network Management
Exminster Road and Brathay Close to receive new Road Surfaces.
Work is scheduled to take place this week to resurface two roads in our area: Exminster Road on 16th September & Brathay Close on 17th September.
Please note the roads will be closed while the works take place. Any vehicles left on the above mentioned roads during the working hours will be removed.
JLR and Whitley Road Congestion
Sam, a representative from JLR, recently faced the Whitley Residents at their last meeting, to discuss the problems that JLR employees are causing on local roads. Sam explained all the actions that have already been taken:
- car share,
- park & ride
- buses from the station
- increased bus services (see our last 2 Updates for more details on these)
She said that once the new car parks are completed then there will be enough spaces for everyone on site to park. JLR will then be applying the same procedures as at their Solihull plant to guarantee that workers don’t park in residential areas.
Petition for a Safer Crossing at Daventry Road
Hazel has received a petition of 36 signatures asking for the Council to put in a safer crossing from the Asda store to the Daventry Road shops.
When Asda received their planning permission for the store they gave the Council some money to improve this crossing point. Residents who use this crossing will know that new tactile paving was laid. Drivers who use the Daventry Road shops will be aware that entering the parking lay-by has been made more awkward because of this new tactile paving.
Residents are telling us that the Daventry Road has become busier and it is now difficult and dangerous to cross this road. They are asking for either a Zebra or Pelican crossing to enable this crossing point to be safer. The petition will go to a cabinet member meeting. When we have the date we will let you know.
Do you use this crossing point? Please let us know if you have any comments you’d like passing on to the Council.
Noise Mystery Continues.
Unfortunately Hazel and Roger have been unable to find out who is responsible for the early morning and late night noises heard from the direction of the Whitley Business Park.
Travis Perkins is in the process of building a National Distribution Centre on the Whitley Business Park. Roger and Hazel are arranging a visit to their site to try to solve the noise mystery & misery.
If you hear any disturbing noises at non-working hours please let us know the date, time and type of noise.
Whitley Bridge Trees
A resident has asked questions about the trees that are due to be planted around the Whitley bridge works.
“How many trees will there be and when will they be planted?”. He is aware that trees are usually planted early spring or late autumn. Response from Ian Lewis
The landscaping element of the works has been taken off Costains due to a number of reasons, mainly contractual, and these will form a separate contract that I am currently looking into. It may be that we source the design and works internally; however this has not yet been confirmed either way.
There are limited times during which planting can take place but before any of this is moved forward I need to complete the snagging and tidying up works on the main project.
Stonehouse Estate – weed spraying
A resident asked when their next weed spraying would be taking place. Reply from Martin Sollis, Area Manager – South Streetscene & Greenspace
Stonehouse Estate was last sprayed in June (Approx 22nd/23rd) and is due for its 2nd and final spray of the financial year in the next 2-3 weeks (I am just waiting for a confirmed start date).
Good Neighbour Tablet lessons
Fly Tipping in Leaf Lane
Unfortunately the fly tipping in Leaf Lane is continuing, with it now spreading to other nearby sites. As soon as the Council cleans it up, more is being dumped. If you use the Leaf Lane area please keep an eye out and report registration numbers of any suspicious parked vehicles to us.
Hazel has asked the Council to consider placing surveillance cameras to catch the offenders. She knows residents are against using these cameras in public places but those responsible for these offences need to be caught and taken to court.
Some local residents contacted us after last week’s "Leaf Lane Field" article, saying that they wanted the mowing to be delayed as long as possible because they were enjoying the “wilderness” of the field. Also, they believed, that it was encouraging an increase in the mole and hedgehog population.
Cheylesmore Library September Events
On Saturday Hazel and Roger presented certificates and medals to local children who had taken part in the Summer Reading Challenge. The theme this year was ‘Record Breakers’. The Challenge was to read 6 books over the summer holidays and was open to all children aged 4 – 11.
We would like to send our congratulations to all the children who received their award.
Cheylesmore Library Website
Humber Road Forthcoming Roadworks
Hazel asked the traffic management officer, Chad Smallman, for information of any further planned road works in our area? Below is part of an email from Chad outlining future road works on Humber Road. This is likely to cause congestion at the Asda Island and to Whitley residents. We will keep you updated when the works are expected to start.
In terms of upcoming nearby works, the normal source can be seen online via http://roadworks.org/ and at the moment other than Gas works in the Chesil’s area there is nothing notified of any particular disruptive nature in the next couple of weeks.
However, there are other works also due to be undertaken soon in Humber Road (close to Whitley depot entrance) by Western Power Distribution to repair a section of their previous work which failed inspection. They requested to undertake the works approx. 1 month ago but they delayed the work at our instruction in order to avoid a clash with the National Grid works.
Those upcoming WPD works have not yet appeared on roadworks.org because the preliminary discussion has been undertaken before the notice to work has even yet been submitted and the dates are not yet finalised.
However, they will require temporary signals quite close to the nearby island, they cannot be undertaken offpeak only and they (WPD) have advised that they cannot be completed over the course of a weekend. As with Nat Grid Gas, refusing the work altogether or delaying for any long period is not an option as the reinstatement has failed and will eventually create a hazard on the highway if left unrepaired.
WPD were therefore asked to wait until there is no clash with nearby gas work (ideally during the half-term period), to incorporate weekend working so as to minimise the number of weekdays on site, and when they do commence work to use manual control of the signals, with priority to the flow off the island to keep the disruption to the London Road at a minimum.
These are all considerations and discussions that have already been had in advance, and all with an eye to minimise disruption by keeping the time on site, the area affected and both the type and operation of traffic management to its least disruptive.
The website detailing roadworks is
http://roadworks.org/ .and has been added to our Useful Links
Macmillan Coffee morning at Quinton Park Baptist Church
Coventry City of Culture 2021 Bid
Youth workshops
Two youth workshops are currently being planned to further develop the Coventry 2021 story. We are really keen to get a strong youth voice, so if you know any people aged 16-25 who would like to get involved, please let us know by emailing
info@coventry2021.co.uk.
Community Health Event
NSPCC Gang Helpline
Hazel received this from the NSPCC to help raise everyone's awareness of gang culture.
Dear Colleague,
The NSPCC recently produced a short film to promote NSPCC gangs helpline. This is a two-minute animation illustrating the behaviour that young people show when they’re involved with a gang, and encourages people to contact the helpline if they’re concerned about a child.
The NSPCC gangs helpline gives free advice and support to anyone worried about a young person’s involvement in a gang. It can be reached anonymously on 0800 800 5000, 24/7.
The link will take you to a number of NSPCC DVD that your workforce may find informative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYFw6kiRkus#t=21
Best wishes
Cathy Small, Service Manager, NSPCC Coventry Service Centre
A Note from the Editor
Do you have any stories or photos of Hazel that you’d like to share with everyone (no names will be printed)? Please email them to Cheylesmore.ward@gmail.com
Dates for your Diary
Saturday 19th September - Sowe Valley Whitley Grove Woods Group tidy-up day. Meet at the end of the tarmac "road" on Folly Lane playing field near the entrance to the wood at 10am. We can provide bags, gloves and litter pickers. For more information email juderobins@hotmail.com or phone 02476 304341.
Friday 25th September 2pm to 4pm – Cheylesmore Good Neighbours will have Jenny Venn speaking about the West Midlands Combined Authority. This will take place at Quinton Park Baptist Church Hall – (no religious connection)
Friday 25th September 10am – 1pm. Macmillan Coffee Morning at Central Library
Sunday 27th September at 11am – Skyride Coventry. For more details click
here and select Big Bike Events
And Finally ……. Average speed cameras in Coventry: How do they work? Your guide to avoiding speeding fines.
Read the
Coventry Telegraph Article
Useful Links.
Age UK Coventry - Trusted Traders Scheme
Blood test locations to download a document listing the locations
Cheylesmore Parking Scheme Email:
parkingenforcement@coventry.gov.uk or Tel: 024 7683 3400
Community Activity Directory
Disposal of Large or Bulky items
European Health Insurance Card
General Online Safety Tips & Advice
Government Services
Report Fly Tipping
Report Graffiti
Report a Missed Bin
Report a Pothole
Report a Street Light Fault
Road Works
Scams & Warnings
