Apologies for lack of posts

I am sorry that I haven't had the chance to update the blog for a while. This isn't through lack of things going on in the ward!

Parking in Cawte Road

Council officers have now responded to concerns that I raised about parking in Cawte Road.

Below is an extract of letters sent to residents who have written to me or the Council in recent weeks.

A few years ago a survey was carried out with a view to introducing a Residents’ Parking Scheme in the side roads off Shirley Road. At that time, as a result of residents' responses to the survey and the discussions with Ward Councillors, the proposals for the Cawte Road area were withdrawn. However, there now appears to be quite a lot of support in Cawte Road for a Residents’ Parking Scheme, and it may be possible to add Cawte Road to the existing Freemantle residents parking scheme. However, we would need to carry out further investigation, and there are still issues to be resolved, including funding.

If a residents parking scheme is introduced in Cawte Road, this would entail marking out parking bays. Yellow lines would be marked where we deem it unsafe or obstructive to park, even though vehicles may have parked there in the past. I would also point out that a residents permit does not guarantee a parking space, and a permit holder may park in any permit bay in their zone. Currently permits are limited to one per person, with a maximum of two per household, the first permit is free of charge, and a second costs £50 per year. The Freemantle residents parking scheme currently operates 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday.

More Car Parking Spaces Needed

Some sensible suggestions have come out of the recent Council enquiry into parking in the City. The enquiry panel has recommended that transport officers in the Council write to John Prescott concerning the restrictive planning laws which prevent the Council from requiring adequate numbers of car parking spaces for new developments.

At the moment the rules state that a maximum of half a car parking space can be provided for each bedroom in a new property. Given that many couples will have two cars this is causing real problems. Inadequate parking means more and more cars on the street.

Getting the Council to even provide this maximum of half a space per bedroom is a real challenge. Hopefully some common sense will come out of this recommendation.

Free Green Waste Bags Arrive

My free green waste bag arrived yesterday. If you havent got yours yet it should arrive very soon. If you want a second free bag you can get one by calling Actionline on 0800 5 19 19 19.

Previously, the council charged for the green garden waste collection scheme. Customers who have already signed up for this year will have their money refunded. Call Actionline for more details.

Civil Service Ground Sold to Bovis Homes

My understanding is that Bovis Homes will want to try and produce a Housing Scheme, with public space.

They will be trying to fix up a meeting with Council officers in the near future, with a view to starting a Public Consultation exercise.

I am planning to meet with Bovis homes very soon to find out their exact intentions.

As always I will keep you abreast of anything I hear.

Road improvement works in Howard Road / Archers Road

A note from the Council which is being posted to people in the area and put on signs.

Work is scheduled to start during the week commencing 11 July 2005 and be completed by 23 December 2005. It will involve:

1. Renew street lighting in Howard Road and Archers Road.

2. Renew kerbs and resurface footway north side of Howard Road from Stafford Road to Hill Lane.

3. Renew kerbs and resurface footway south side of Howard Road as above.

4. Plane off and resurface carriageway in Howard Road as above.

5. Install ducts etc for new traffic lights, inclusive of pedestrian phase, at Hill Lane junction.

6. Renew kerbs and resurface footway north side of Archers Rd from Hill Lane to Westrow Rd.

7. Renew kerbs and resurface footway south side of Archers Road as above.

8. Install Toucan crossing just to west of Northlands Road.

9. Plane off and resurface carriageway at Hill Lane Junction.

10. Plane off and resurface carriageway in Archers Rd from Hill Lane to Westrow Rd.

11. Install traffic lights at Howard Road Hill Lane junction.

Items 1 to 4 and 5 to 10 will each take approx 11 wks and Item 11 approx 4 wks.

The street light replacement will start on 11 July 2005 at the western end of the site and work east in advance of the footway works.
The civil engineering work will commence on 18 July 2005 at the western end of Howard Road and again progress east.

During the construction we will operate a one-way system, the westbound traffic will use Howard Road and Archers Road, the eastbound traffic will follow a signed diversion.

The road will be closed for the carriageway resurfacing with access for residents only.

For the duration of the works the bus routes and stops will probably change. All alterations to the routes or stops will be advertised by the bus companies at their original stops.

In order to comply with the requirements for signing and guarding roadworks and Health and Safety Legislation we would ask that you park your car away from the works to allow the contractor to continue without hindrance.

Cars parked off the carriageway can stay in position, but there may be times when it will not be possible to get out of or return to the parking space.

No waiting cones will be placed along the road, this will be done in conjunction with the police. Any cars parking within the cones will be removed.

Access for pedestrians will not generally be affected but at certain times various lengths of footway may be closed. Please for your own safety obey all the signs.

Whilst every effort will be made to keep disruption and inconvenience to a minimum you are requested to exercise extra caution during the construction works. We hope that the long-term improvement will justify the short-term inconvenience.

Should any further information be required, please contact Mr Steve White (Resident Engineer) on 07734 070760

Civil Service Sports Ground Sold

The Civil Service Sports ground has been sold by the Civil Service Sports Association. As yet the buyers are unknown. The Council has designated the land as "green space" and I have been fighting to stop housing being built on the land.

I am looking forward to hearing who the new buyers are and what their intentions are.

Recycling Bins Arrive

The new blue-lidded recyling bins have started to be delivered in Freemantle Ward this week.

Recycling Scheme To Be Introduced In July

In July Freemantle Ward residents will get their new blue lidded recycling bins for recycling tins, paper and some plastics.

The recycling bin will be collected every two weeks. The regular green lidded bin for residual waste will continue to be collected every week.

Also residents will get their free garden waste bags in July. The scheme garden waste collection will be a free service.

Residents should be receiving an information pack from the Council about how the scheme works and what can and cannot be recycled.

Hopefully we will soon get doorstep collection collection of glass as well.

Civil Service Ground Meeting

There was a meeting tonight of the Shirley and Freemantle Community Association. Unfortunately I couldn't attend but my colleague Brian Parnell went. The latest is that the land is still up for sale by its owners the Civil Service Sports Association. They are still in negotiations with a potential buyer.

Gyspy Grove Tidy Up

The Council tidied up and painted the Gyspy Grove Alleyway last year however since then it been graffitied and has one again become an eysore.

In April I asked whether the Council was interested in having a graffiti mural to discourage more vandalism. Clearly anything like this would have to be tasteful and supported by the community.

The Council's Central Neighbourhoods Partnership is now planning to do an art project, in consultation with local people, in Gypsy Grove. It is in the very early stages as yet but I would be interested in your views. The contact at the Council is Kirsten Killander (kirsten.killander@southampton.gov.uk).

Parking Problems in Cawte Road

A number of people have contacted me asking for a Residents Parking Scheme for Cawte Road.

A little over 3 years ago a survey was done of the area and the majority of people were against the introduction of permit parking. The reason was concern about loss of parking spaces on the road.

I have written to the Council's Highways department asking that they carry out another survey to ascertain peoples' views. A lot has changed in the area in the last 3 years with a lot of new development taking place.

If the majority of people favour a residents' parking scheme I will push for the Council to introduce one as soon as possible.

Waterloo Road Flats Given Go Ahead

On Tuesday I went to the Council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel to speak against a development in Waterloo Road.

The application was for an extra storey on Napoleon House and Hougoumont House.

Unfortunately the application was passed despite objections by local residents and local residents' association.

I objected on the grounds that there would be no additional parking and the the development would cause disruptions to those living in the two blocks of flats.

In 2002 planning permission was in intially refused for a 4th floor extension to Wellington Court. There was however an appeal and planning permission was granted.

The panel felt that there was no way that the application could be refused on planning grounds and reluctantly approved it.

Conditions were put on the developers. Building work will only be able to take place between 8am and 6pm on Monday - Friday and 9am - 1pm on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holidays. The panel specified that this should also include works confined to the inside of the buildings.

No to building plans in Waterloo Road

Plans to build a 4th storey on Hougoumont House in Waterloo Road have raised concerns amongst local residents.

Under the proposal parking provision will remain unchanged and new flats will mean more cars parking on the roadside. This may also have an affect on road safety; the current level of parking on the north side of Waterloo Road exiting the site is already hazardous.

I have asked that the decision be made by the Council's planning committee. The application will be heard by the Planning Panel on Tuesday 7th June between 11:30am and 12:30pm. This is a public meeting and all are welcome to attend and speak.

The Council officer recommendation is to approve the application with conditions. It is my intention to speak against the application at the meeting.

Refit for Care Unit in Kentish Road

After being closed for four months the Respite Care Unit in Kentish Road has been re-opened. It has had a refit and is now ready to take short break adult residences who have Learning Disabilities. Users have to opportunity of meeting new people, relax and have fun. My Colleague Cllr Brian Parnell was invited to the re-opening of the Unit and was given a guided tour. For more information contact Health & Community Care 023 8083 4567.

VE Day Celebrations

Went to the VE Day Celebrations at the Civic Centre yesterday which were very good. There was a good turn out and the service was excellent.

Make Poverty History

Attended a General Election debate last night at the Central Baptist Church organised by the group, Make Poverty History. The debate was broadcast on Unity 24 Community Radio. The Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Southampton Test, Stephen MacLoughlin talked with passion about what he would do to reduce poverty in this Country and in the third world if he were elected. Stephen talked about how the Conservatives would increase the overseas aid budgets and ensure that money was better spent and directed more through our government departments rather than international agencies.
It was a very thought provoking and well informed debate.

More Flats in Hill Lane

A new application for dozens of new flats has been submitted to the Council. The proposed development near the junction of Howard Road. A previous application was recently turned down by the Council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel. I have asked that this new application also goes before the Panel for consideration. This way residents can come along and voice any concerns that they have. Any new developments should have adequate parking and should provide proper safe access onto Hill Lane. New developments should also be in keeping with the Edwardian architechure of the surrounding area. I will be opposing the application if it doesn't meet these conditions.

Theresa May MP adresses Hampshire Conservative Future

Spent an excellent evening in Winchester at a Conservative Future ball where the Guest Speaker wass Theresa May MP. There were dozens of young people there, disproving the conventional wisdom that young people aren't interested in politics.

David Willetts Breakfast Meeting

Southampton Conservatives had a very successful breakfast meeting with David Willetts MP this morning. David is the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and MP for Havant. He spoke to a mixture of business people about the forthcoming General Election and Conservative policy. He answered questions on a range of issues such as Private Pensions, the Health Service and Housing.