Labour 13 Points Adrift In Latest Poll

In the latest poll for the Guardian Newspaper, voters give David Cameron's Conservatives a 13 point lead over Labour when asked how they would vote if Gordon Brown were Prime Minister.

The poll puts the Conservatives on 42%, Labour on 29% and the Lib Dems on 17%.

Save Oaklands Swimming Pool

Last week Labour proposed the closure of Oaklands Swimming Pool. At the city council budget setting meeting they proposed to cut the budget for Oaklands pool by a crippling £160,000 (approximately 2/3rd of its annual budget). This would have forced the closure of the pool within a few months from now.

I am not entirely sure why Labour did this. In the budget debate Labour Councillors were unable to offer any satisfactory explanation.

Conservatives by contrast proposed that the pool stays open and that its opening hours remain unaffected.

I was astonished to read on Alan Whitehead's website that he is slamming the Conservatives over plans to reduce the opening times of the pool!

I can only conclude that his party on the city council do not talk to him or that he is simply trying to mislead people. The truth of the matter is all a matter of public record.

I am meeting the chairman of Eastleigh and Oaklands Swimming Club tomorrow to discuss how best we can secure the future of the pool.

It is not on that every year the pool is under threat from either closure or partial closure.

Flats on the Star and Garter Site

The Star and Garter in Freemantle

A planning application has been submitted for 14 two bedroom flats on the site of the Star and Garter Pub (50 Waterloo Road).

I have some concerns about the application. I have no objection to the site being used for flats however I am not sure the proposed building is in keeping with the surrounding area and also parking provision is limited.

I will be discussing the application with planning officers. I have put a copy of of the plans on the notice board in the Park Hotel in Shirley Road. Please get in touch with me if you want to discuss it.

Also you can click HERE for a link to all the planning papers online. The planning reference is 07/00027/FUL.

Conservatives Secure Key Changes To City Budget

Yesterday afternoon the City Council set its budget for the coming year.

I am really pleased that Conservative Councillors were able to successfully lobby for changes to improve the budget.

Some of the key concessions achieved by the Conservatives were:

1. Keeping the weekly bin collection.
2. Preventing the introduction of night time car parking charges.
3. Keeping Cobbett Road Library open.
4. Preventing planned cuts to vital children's social services.

We were also able to presuade the Council to reduce the council tax increase from 3.5% to 3.3%.

These things were funded by bureaucracy savings.

During the budget debate Labour Councillors were exposed over their U-Turn on providing free buses across Hampshire for pensioners and over their plans to close Oaklands swimming pool.

£66k Lost On Temporary Icerink - Lib Dems Face Enquiry

The reason the council lost money is because a very poor deal was struck wih the company that ran it, leaving the council carrying all the risk. Only very feeble ,last minute attempts were made to secure sponsorship.

Next time I think the council should:
1) plan the event earlier,
2) get the balance of risk between the council and the operator correct,
3) engage with business and sponsors earlier,
4) consider a better location,
5) ensure that english speaking staff are on hand to help skaters,
6) start it on a day that isn't the day all the students go home,
7) consider having a canopy in case it rains,
8) have the rink visable to people as they walk past.

Hopefully lessons will be learned and I am told that an enquiry is to be launched into the handling of the affair by the Lib Dems.

Matt Dean Selected to Contest Shirley Ward

Shirley Conservatives have selected local publican Matt Dean to contest the Shirley Ward at the local elections in May.

I think this is excellent news! Matt is a very experienced local politician and will make a fine councillor. Matt owns the Park Hotel in Shirley Road (actually in Freemantle Ward) and has been a tremendous help to me over the years with my council work.

If elected Matt will take over from Councillor Richard Forbes. Richard has served as a councillor for the past 4 years and has been a very diligent and hardworking representative for the local community.

Labour's Priorities For Southampton Are All Wrong!

Labour's proposals for next year's City Council budget show that they have all the wrong priorities for Southampton.

Labour want to impose a Council Tax increase of 4.5% on local residents. This is almost the maximum that they could get away with as the Government caps increases of more that 5%. By contrast the Conservatives want to keep council tax increases below inflation and propose a 2.7% increase. In addition we have proposed a 10% reduction in Council Tax for pensioners. Households where people are 65 or over would pay on average £160 less a year in Council Tax under the Conservatives than they would under a Labour run city council.

Labour claim that they are protecting services yet they want to cut £333,000 out of the children's social services budget and close family centres which help look after abused and vulnerable children. Last year they conspired with the Liberal Democrats to cut the budget for elderly people receiving home care and increased the fees charged by the Council. Surely looking after the most vulnerable in society should be the highest priority for the Council yet Labour do not seem to see this as being remotely important. Conservatives will do all they can to resist cuts to these vital services.

Labour have promised free bus travel across Hampshire for Southampton pensioners but unlike the Conservatives they haven't shown how they would pay for it.

Labour are promising free swmiming for under 11s but to pay for it they want to close Oaklands swimming pool. So it is free swimming unless you live in Lordswood or Lordshill!

Labour want to give £100,000 to subsidise the activities of trades unions in the City. I can't think of anywhere else in the country where this sort of thing happens!

It is also interesting to note that the only political party calling for cuts to be made to Councillor allowances is the Conservative Party.

Labour Hypocrisy Over Buses in Southampton

The Labour party in Southampton have repeatedly promised that they would provide free bus travel across Hampshire for Southampton pensioners. Click HERE to read what they say.

At the moment bus travel is free for pensioners within the boundaries of the city and to some defined places outside the boundary, such as Totton.

Labour made a manifesto pledge in the 2006 elections to extend the scheme across all of Hampshire and were deeply critical of the Council for not doing this. Despite this they did not include proposals to fund the increased service in their 2006 budget proposals for the City Council. I have now just discovered that they haven't included the funding in their 2007 proposals either!

How on earth are people supposed to trust what they say!!!

Conservatives agree that it's unfair that pensioners in the rest of Hampshire can travel Hampshire wide for free whilst Southampton residents can't. That's why we support the proposal to extend free bus travel to Hampshire. That's also why we have allocated money in our budget proposals to pay for it.

MP Whitehead Finally falls off the Fence...and lands on the right side!

I was delighted to learn that Southampton Test Labour MP Alan Whitehead has finally decided to back the Conservative Campaign for the Council to buy the former Civil Service Sports Ground so that it can be used by local people, by neighbouring St Marks School and nearby Regents Park School.

Conservative Councillors have been pushing for this as it will be a huge boost for local children and the community as well as the best and most practical solution for saving the land from flats being built on it by its owners Bovis Homes.

In a survey of 300 local people conducted by Mr Whitehead over 80% supported the Conservative campaign.

My colleagues and I are now pushing hard for the negotiations to buy the land to start.

Whilst being really pleased that the MP has chosen to support the campaign I would like to take the opportunity to correct some inaccuracies being peddled by Mr Whitehead.

Alan says:

“The City Council must guarantee that other groups and clubs will be allowed to use the playing fields out of school time, in a similar way that people can currently use the pool at Oaklands and Millbrook’s playing fields."


In fact...

This guarantee has been repeatedly given by all parties on the City Council. Of course we want community access and want any new school to be a community school in its truest sense. There is search facility on this website so anyone in any doubt of the Conservative position on this need only look any of dozens of earlier postings stretching back over recent years.

Labour plan to close Oaklands swimming pool! In their budget proposals for the next year published last week they have identified the closure of the pool as means of savings £160,000.

Alan says:

“The proposal to buy the sports ground is a fantastic opportunity- something I and the Labour group have been calling for since 2004. At that time the Conservative Councillors voted against the purchase. I’m delighted they have changed their policy and are supporting our campaign to preserve a vital green space in Freemantle.”

In fact...

The Conservatives did vote against Labour budget proposals in 2004. This included a proposal to allocate a small sum of money to compulsorily purchase the land from its then owners the Civil Service Sports Association. The vote was over the issue of all Council expenditure for the year which amounted to about a quarter of a billion pounds. We had our own budget proposals which we put forward which we felt were much better. Despite supporting the Council buying the land we did not support the route of compulsory purchase. A compulsory purchase is like using a hammer to crack a nut. It is also like writing a blank cheque. It is a legal process where the land is independently valued by a land tribunal. Once you have entered into the process you must pay whatever the land is deemed to be worth. Given that the land was in danger of being built on and that this was cited as the reason for the purchase, the sum of money could have been huge. Also there is no backing out of you don't like the price. The Conservative Group have always argued that negotiation and discussion is a better way of achieving a positive outcome. In the end it turned out the the money allocated by Labour was woefully inadequate and a fraction of the value Bovis Homes paid the Civil Service Sports Association.

Alan Says:

"Autumn 2006: the revised Learning Futures proposals are published, this time including a proposal to buy the former Civil Service sports ground for use as playing fields for a joint Regents Park – St Mark’s campus. Money is again allocated by the city council to purchase the sports ground; this time the Conservatives vote with Labour for the purchase."

In fact...

Conservatives successfully gained agreement to add the idea of a new school on the St Marks site into the Consultation. this was not one of the Council's original proposals. Additional money was then put aside in the Autumn following a Conservative motion. This then gained Labour support.

In December 2006 Alan Whitehead decided to back the campaign for a new school. As recently as November he was still considering whether the proposal was worthy of his support.

Anyway regardless of who said what I think its great news for Freemantle!!!

Political Parties Produce Their Budget Proposals for the City Council

Last week all three political parties on Southampton City Council produced details of their spending plans for the City Council for the next three years.

The Administration (Lib Dem) budget is published in full on the Southampton City Council Website and will be presented at the Council Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Details can be found HERE. Links to the main report and various appendices can be found under A4a
General Fund Revenue Budget 2007/08 - 2009/10.

Conservative and Labour opposition budget proposals have also been released and will be published on the Council website ahead of the meeting of the full council on 14th February, when Councillors will agree a budget for the city. I will post links so soon as they are on the city council website.

A brief summary is as follows:

What you would pay under each of the parties

Labour = 4.5% increase in Council Tax
Lib Dem = 3.5% increase in Council Tax
Conservative = 2.7% increase in Council Tax

Note: The Government's Official Figure for the rate of inflation rate = 3%

Click HERE to see what the current Council Tax charges are:


Conservative Proposals

Conservative priorities for Southampton are: more money into roads and street lighting, social services, waste collection and recycling and fighting crime whilst keeping council tax as low as possible.

If the Conservatives were running the City Council we would use powers available to us to further reduce the burden of Council Tax on some groups.

10% reduction in Council Tax for Pensioners

Pensioners in particular struggle to meet high council tax bills on their fixed incomes. The inflation rate paid by pensioners on goods and services has been widely reported over recent months as being around 9%. In recognition of this we would introduce a 10% reduction in Council Tax for pensioner households (where everyone in the house is over 65). This would be a reduction of 10% on what is currently charged.

Scrap Council Tax for Special Constables

We would scrap Council Tax for households where there is a special constable living there. I.e. there would a be a 100% discount. This would we hope encourage more people to sign up to become specials in the city.

Click HERE for an explanation of what discounts currently exist and how they work.


Where the Conservatives would spend more:
- Introduce free Hampshire wide bus travel for Southampton residents (currently it is only free within the city boundaries and to a few select locations like Totton).
- Keep the weekly bin collection rather than going to once a fortnight.
- Reject Lib Dem plans to introduce night car parking charges in the city centre.
- Extra funding for introducing residents' parking schemes where they are wanted.
- Protect funding to children's centres which look after abused and vulnerable children.
- Reduce Charges for home care for elderly (reverse extra charges introduced by Labour and Lib Dems last year).
- Protect funding for advice centres which provide housing advice to people in danger of exploitation from unscrupulous landlords.
- Increase funding to residents associations.
- Fund a feasibility study into building a heritage centre at the Civic Centre.
- More recycling initiatives (such as commerical waste recycling, glass and textiles).

Where the Conservatives would spend less or save money:
- Reduce bureaucracy.
- Reduce Councillors allowances and fewer trips abroad for Councillors!
- Deletion of non front line vacant posts.
- Scrap City Council subsidy to trade unions.
- Reduce expenditure on printing (glossy booklets and the like).
- Have a recruitment freeze on some back office posts.
- Generate more money from the city council's £130m art collection.
- Generate more money from sponsorship.
- Delete Neighbourhood Partnerships.

RESPECT Initiative Is All Spin!

I was not suprised to read in tonight's Daily Echo that only one resident bothered to turn up for the Southampton's RESPECT meeting in Millbrook. People in Southampton are right to be sceptical.

Southampton has been chosen as one of the areas where the Government is investing money in combating anti social behaviour under it's so called RESPECT initiative.

The Government has done an amazing job at marketing the Respect campaign. In the local Echo there have been numerous stories highlighting the investment of Government money. It has secured television and radio coverage and Labour politicans have lined up to say how wonderful it is. It was even the subject of a question in last Wednesday's Council meeting at the Civic Centre.

The reality however is rather different to the spin. Southampton City Council is getting £50k to pay for a super nanny. This is a tiny sum of money which I doubt will have any real impact on crime in the City. Bear in mind Southampton City Council spends over a £1m a day!

Typically the extra money will only last for a couple of years and then it will be withdrawn.

Maybe I am wrong and a £50k super nanny is the answer to dealing with low level crime in the City. If this is the case though I wish someone had mentioned it before. If someone had told me a few years ago that £50k is what it takes to sort out the scourge of anti social behaviour in the city I would have gladly supported the Council spending the money. Some how I expect it isn't answer!

Planning Meeting 30th January

The next meeting of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel is on Tuesday 30th January.

Click HERE for a link to the list of planning applications being considered.

There are 2 application in Freemantle Ward; one in Waterloo Road and one in Cawte Road. I have objected to both.

UPDATE 04/02/07: The planning application for Cawte Road was rejected by the planning panel.

No To Gypsy Site In Swaythling

The Conservatives are strongly against Lib Dem and Labour plans to build a Gypsy Transit Site at Monks Brook in Swaythling.

Providing a Gypsy site is a good thing in principle, however:

1) There has been no consultation on alternative sites. Swaythling residents are simply told take it and don't complain. This is outrageous!
2) It is going to cost the tax payer millions for a site for 12 caravans
3) The roads in the area will need extensive changes and this will cost the Council Tax payers of Southampton an estimated £1m to £1.5m.
4) There are lots of higher priorities.
5) There is a perfectly suitable site already at Kanes Hill.


Here is an extract from the speech I gave to Council on Wednesday on the subject:

There are many competing demands on the council finances. The roads in the suburbs are in a terrible state and are in urgent need of more money, we desperately need a park and ride scheme in the city, vulnerable adults and children in the city need extra funding. So why is the Council planning to spend millions of pounds on a few travellers?

For me providing a gypsy site is important, as many things are but nowhere near as important as these other things.

The site at Monks Brook is going to be very expensive and its also going to cause a lot of disruption for those living in the area.

I sat on the gypsy and traveller scrutiny panel. It was a well informed and some interesting ideas came out of our meetings.

Tolerated sites - on patches of empty ground not near houses, under bridges etc. If travellers stopping on these sites are not causing problems then I don’t think it is a good use of public resources to seek their speedy removal.

However if we are going to be tolerant in some areas which we don’t deem to be really a problem we need to be even more vigorous in protecting sites such as parks and playing fields. We should have a policy of absolute zero tolerance on these sites.

In Freemantle ward we have had had two recent gypsy incursions, one of which was opposite St Marks school. I did not get the feeling that there was any sense of urgency about removing the encampment. The police by contrast we extremely responsive and clearly do have the powers to act if they put under some pressure.

There is a permanent site at Kanes Hill. Our proposal is that we look at this site to provide a transit site.

UPDATE 22/01/07: I went to the public meeting in Wide Lane yesterday. I estimate that there was in excess of 350 people there. This really demonstrates the strength of opposition to the planned transit site. Until now these people have not been consulted as the whole process has been kept under a veil of total secrecy.

I think it is quite wrong that the transit site is being imposed on a local community without their consent. The Council's cabinet is meeting today at the Civic Centre at 3pm and the transit site is on the agenda. Lots of residents are expected to attend to make their views clear.

Local Lib Dem Councillors in Swaythling have said they are now against the transit site. This is despite voting in favour of it on Wednesday. I doubt however they will persuade the rest of the Lib Dem Councillors on the City Council to scrap the idea. If they don't then the Council will continue to push ahead with the plan.

£1m Boost to Freemantle Community Centre

Good News for Freemantle!

On Wednesday the City Council agreed funding of over over £1m over the next 2 years to rebuild Freemantle Community Centre.

The new centre will in part be used for day service provision for adults with learning disabilities.

Work with the Freemantle Community Association has been going on since 2002 but in January 2006 Council Architects were commissioned to design and cost the work that needs to be done.

We are all keen for these works to be completed as soon as possible. I asked Council officers when we should expect work to be finished and was told early to mid 2008.

Cllr Brian Parnell raised his concerns about the long term use by vulnerable adults of temporary accomodation at Freemantle Scout Hall.

We are hopeful the the investment will be a foundation for the community hub in Freemantle that local people are pushing for.

Shirley Road Needle Exchange Not To Go Ahead

Earlier this month city planners gave the green light for a drug treatment centre at 14-20 Shirley Road. The Society of St James was granted planning permission for a new drop in service for drug users in Southampton.

Cllr Brian Parnell and I met with the Society of St James to discuss the application in advance of the planning meeting. We raised lots of concerns such as whether it was a suitable location, whether it would mean increased drug litter in the area and where it would increase dealing in the area. We received some very reassuring answers to our questions.

The site would have catered for the City's 1,400 hard drugs users. However the landlord of 14-20 Shirley Road has decided against using the premises for this purpose and so it will not now go ahead. The Society will now search for an alternative site.

Public Money Should Not Be Given to Political Parties

Coxford Ward's Conservative Candidate, Neil Fitzgerald, has rightly drawn attention to our local MP's mad plans to fund political parties using taxpayers' money.

I find it unbelieveable that Alan Whitehead wants taxes raised to fund the campaigning activities of political parties.

I think he must live on another planet. I have yet to meet anyone who agrees with this crazy idea.

I supect most people think political parties are rolling in money. This may be true of Southampton's Labour Party which is generously funded by the Trades Unions. The local Labour MPs also receive lavish expenses to pay for travel costs and for staff such as press agents and researchers.

The Conservatives in Southampton by contrast receive no external funding and are entirely dependent on the generosity of our local membership; donating money and coming to our fund raising events.

It is a lot of hard work to fund an election campaign. Over the years I have put on my fair share of events, cooking dinners, pouring cups of tea and coffee, printing and distributing flyers etc.

However it is also a lot of fun. I have made some great friends and met some fascinating speakers. Over recent months we have had a number of ex Cabinet Ministers, including Lord Hurd who came and spoke in Freemantle ward to our local members.

I think this is much healthier state of play than Government taking more money off people to fund politicians. Long may it continue!!!

IKEA in Southampton

I think it is fantastic news that Southampton may have an IKEA in the very near future. Previous attempts to site the store here have been thwarted by the planning process and the Government Inspector.

The Pirelli site seems ideal to me for a new store.

The other day I had a letter from IKEA. They are putting on a public exhibition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week. It will be held in front of the Bargate and will run between 10am and 4pm. This is to obtain the views of residents, shoppers and local business prior to them submitting a formal planning application.

New Version of Blogger

I just tried switching to the new (google) version of Blogger. It didn't work though. According to the help notes it could be because the blog is too big. I am advised to have another try later.

I am slightly concerned it might wreck my blog as I have fiddled with the code a bit over the years. I am not an IT expert and I really don't want to lose my entire blog and have to start again...! Any advice is welcome.

Update on Friends of The Field Survey

Below is an update from Cevn Vibert, chairman of the Friends of the Field, on the survey being carried out of local people's views on the future of the former Civil Service Sports Ground.

Jeremy


Not all the forms we delivered are back in for collation but here is a sample of our survey so far.

Survey Choices (1st - 4th place choices):
67% wanted 100% Open Space and Community Use as 1st Choice
52% wanted A Community Hub as 2nd Choice
54% wanted A School merger as 3rd Choice
60% wanted Housing Development as 4th Choice
15% were strongly against any housing development

When asked if they were prepared to lose any space:
59% wanted zero housing development
25% would accept up to 25% housing (some only if it would benefit the community)
11% would accept some other percentages (higher and lower)

Comments verbatim from Survey:-
- A community hub would perhaps stop youngsters roaming the streets through boredom and perhaps it could be a place for families to do things together
- A lot of potential for a community centre for everyone, It will keep youths off the street causing trouble - get them doing sports etc!!
- Answers leaning towards youth but if youth club built times could be set aside for OAPs during daytime hours
- Anything would be an improvement on the present situation
- As the field is large and flat, thought should be given to entrance points (at least two), pathways (perimeter + within), lighting, boundary security (for neighbouring properties)
- Both my children will go through St Marks School, one is currently there. - They need somewhere for sports, athletics etc.
- Children need a play area; adults need a green space to stroll
- Children, teenagers and adults need this space more than private houses with more children and nowhere to play. Play areas are in short supply
- Good Community publicity and fun involvement always gains support
- How absurd even to have to debate this - the St Marks School and any other school/children clubs NEED outdoor space far more than we need housing development
- I am fed up seeing flats being built on every piece of land in this city and need to fight to keep as many natural fields as they are without building on them
- I am strongly opposed to any housing provision on this area
- I feel this should be used as a sports facility for all the community
- I really disagree with this field being built on. This green open space is needed for the school and the community
- I strongly object to the land being used for housing development.
- I think it would be a good idea to do football
- I think that every available space is being taken for house building. I find this very disappointing, even though we need housing.
- I think the future generations are going to need every square inch of space and sturdy trees
- I think there is enough building taking place in Shirley at present leave this lovely green space alone
- I would like a casual space like this on a weekend, open to all for these sorts of things (tables, clothes, rails etc.) Car Boot, Craft sales on Saturday all day 8 - 5
- I would like to see it as more of an area that you would want to stroll around with the opportunity to engage/watch sport
- IF pay and play - not membership
- Indoor sports/gym would increase the number of adults using the area, in addition to sports pitches and outdoor facilities
- It is important to keep it for children’s use
- It is vital to keep this area for the school/community. I do NOT want it developed for housing at all
- It might be good to have a small community centre in place that could act as a base for outdoor activities
- It would be a callous use of land if built on. This community needs more spaces for leisure activities
- It is hardly a campaign to "save" the field when nobody has been able to use it for so many years!
- Just leave some a green area with some indoor venue
- My sister attends st marks and enjoys using the field and I hope to
- Once lost forever lost - what about our kids fitness and future
- Open Spaces in towns are so precious - Do not lose this one!!
- Loads of Grandchildren who would use this one
- Please could we keep this a dog free area?
- Please do not let Bovis homes win, we are fed up of them building flats in every space they find
- Please keep the green spaces - once you have left them to housing/building development - it is gone forever
- Safe local facilities which our teenagers and younger get to on foot or bike with staff on site
- Sense of community needs to be reinforced; more homes would not enable this to happen, what about infrastructure needed? Doctors, utilities, etc
- Southampton needs some open spaces
- The area is one of the few in a highly populated area. It is an oasis for children + adults. For school and homes, possibly for all
- The building should be designed for people to come communicate and should have a kitchen facility where people can use for parties, have a set fee for use, bar, creche
- The character of the area is changing, not for the better. Overdeveloped, no parking, no green space - we need green areas for all ages to develop healthily
- The community is crying out for an area for children to play especially older kids to reduce boredom which leads to antisocial behaviour
- The exceptionally high rate of building within this suburb needs green space for the residents to access and enjoy
- The Field should stay as is
- The field should stay green.
- The infrastructure will not support access to housing
- The last thing we need are more blocks of flats
- The space should be maintained as an open space with a strong focus on the young
- There are few areas where children can play safely locally - this would be an ideal site
- There is already far too much housing development in the area.
- Children (young) are forced to play in the street outside our house. This is unsafe
- There is enough in filling development in Southampton. Essential to preserve some green space
- There is nowhere for older people to relax in, it would be nice to see a seated area, plus children play area
- This is a densely populated area, small children and teenage need outdoor play space
- This is a green lung for this area we must look 100% at saving it - a park would be fantastic.
- This is a valuable piece of green
- To much land is used to build housing, although needed, so are leisure facilities.

Indoor Activities listed:-
A Youth club for older children would be great, including basketball, squash, badminton, pool, etc
Any activity which would be acceptable to the residents living in very close proximity to the field
Any sports, parent meetings, etc.
Anything that would be useful for the community sports leisure
Badminton
Badminton, basketball
Badminton, squash courts, etc
Badminton, squash, kiddies club, gym tots, bar, cafe
Badminton, tennis, community events
Ball pool, ice rink/roller rink, climbing walls
Bowls, Keep Fit, Netball, Basketball, Judo
Bowls, rounders, cricket
But I think there should be an area indoors
changing facilities, social club
Childrens playgroups etc
Club House, Toilets, Changing Facilities
Community Buildings for groups
Community centre
Community centre, activity centre for the public
Community for children of all ages
Community sports
Community use, adult education and family education, social events, a meeting place for mums & dads with young children, a cafe
connected to community activities e.g. Youth club, OAP drop in centre, mother and baby club, etc
Cricket and football
Don’t mind
Five aside football, badminton, basketball, sponge pit for tumble tots - mothers get together
Football
Football or tennis or snooker or badminton or boxing
Football, badminton, youth club
Football, basketball, tennis, etc.
Football, bowling
Gym / Indoor Sports, Adult Education
Gym, Indoor Tennis, Any other type of sport
Gym, Indoor Tennis, Any other type of sport
Gymnastics
Ice skating
Indoor Sports / Community Centre
Indoor sports/rec
Indoor Swimming Pool
Leisure for teens
None
Playing games
Possible sports hall which school and community can use?
Possibly a Sports Hall
Provision for young people e.g. Table tennis, snooker, indoor 5-a-side style games
School Sports Day
Similar to Oaklands
Skating Rink
Small sports hall for basketball/badminton/five-a-side football
Snooker, dance, general things lads and young people are interested in
Sport and leisure facilities or school buildings
Sports
Sports
Sports and an after school club or any community use
Sports and archery
Sports and community activities
Sports and social for area
Sports Centre
Sports facilities
Sports Hall
Sports hall
Sports Hall
Sports hall
Sports Hall, ideally including a swimming pool
Sports like swimming for ladies
Sports or youth club for younger people
Sports such as badminton, table tennis, gym
Sports, community classes
Sports, Community Events
Sports, music, community groups
Sports, youth activities
Sports, Youth Club Coffee Bar, Juke Box
Sports/music hall
Squash
Squash and bar
Swimming pool, gym, amateur dramatics, disco
Swimming pool, gym, amateur dramatics, disco
table tennis, pool, etc
Table tennis, gymnastics
Table tennis, squash, gym, gymnastics, childrens activities
Tennis and squash
Tennis, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Gymnastic
Tennis, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Gymnastic
Those that can be enjoyed by the whole community - not just sporting or keep fit activities
Toilets, Facilities for car boot, etc
Use buildings as changing rooms for schools + toilets
Youth centre for teenagers - indoor sports
Youth Centre, Sports Hall,
Youth club, community centre
Youth club, basketball, pool, indoor football, squash courts, meeting rooms for clubs, keep fit

Outdoor Activities listed:-
Across the sporting board, with in-situ equipment such as goal posts that can be adapted for a multitude of sports
All Sports
All sports i.e. Football, cricket
All sports, including tennis, adventure playground, and death slide, etc! A ball pit for young children
Along the lines of what is used for already - school, community, etc
Any for children
Any games or sports
Any sports facilities
Anything for sports
Anything that would be useful for the community sports leisure
Athletics, Car Boot Sales, Funfairs, BMX/Mountain Bike Track, Skateboard Ramps, Permanent Football Goals
Athletics, cricket, football, etc
Athletics, skating
Basketball, football
Basketball, football
Bowls, rounders, cricket, tennis
childrens play area with swings, etc
Childrens Play area, football, rugby, cricket
Childrens play area, wildlife are/environmental studies
Community & school & sports
Community Activities
Community Gardens/Park Running Track, Nature Area, Playground, Activity Area, Dog Walking
Community tennis courts, real football goals, not a playground
Cricket
Cricket, football
Cricket, Football, Bowls, Croquet
Cricket, hockey, tennis, running track
Encourage football. Put safety net around the perimeter for other casual sports Build roller board facility (to keep kids off streets). At weekends for adult sales, car boot, craft fayres to fund facility
Football
Football
Football
Football
Football
Football etc
Football field, sports training ground, netball, hockey, basketball
Football in winter, Running Track (summer), plus swings etc. for younger children
Football or rugby or tennis or golf or pitch & putt or crazy golf or skateboarding
Football pitch (suitable for cricket in summer) & childrens playground (toddlers to early teens) + tree planting + landscaped gardens
Football, basketball
Football, basketball, cricket
Football, basketball, volley ball
Football, benchball, dodgeball
Football, Cricket & Bowling Green
Football, cricket, and an outdoor play facility for younger children
Football, Cricket, Athletics, Rugby
Football, Cricket, Bowls, Tennis, Schools Sports Day, Community Fairs
Football, Cricket, Bowls, Tennis, Schools Sports Day, Community Fairs
Football, Cricket, Climbing Frames
Football, cricket, netball, athletics, tennis, use for St Marks outdoor activities
Football, cricket, rugby, rounders, athletics, tennis, fetes
Football, Cricket, Running Track, Play Area for small children
Football, cricket, swings
Football, etc
Football, Hockey
Football, Hockey, Basketball, Netball
Football, netball, tennis, cricket, athletics, skateboard park, BMX track, childrens adventure playground
Football, play area, tennis
Football, Race Track, Rounders, netball, open days (car boot)
Football, rugby
Football, rugby, cricket, tennis
Football, rugby, tennis, rounders, cricket, play areas, outdoor gym, equipment i.e. wooden bars, etc, landscape area + seating
Football, sports days
Football, tennis courts, cricket
Football, tennis, athletics, etc, kids play area
Football, tennis, basketball, pool
Football, tennis, cricket
Football, Tennis, Rugby, Hockey, Bowls, Track/Field
Football, swimming pool, sports facilities, running tracks, etc
Football/basketball
Fundays, football, school pe
Games, a fitness course (as one has been removed from common)
General sport, e.g. Tennis, rugby, football
Hide and football, football, sports day
Hockey, Netball, Athletics, Football, Tennis
Netball, hockey
Netball, hockey
Outdoor games football, tennis, hockey, etc
Park
Park, Playground, Public Sports, Cycling Track
Pitches for rounders, cricket, football, etc, tennis
Recreation, sports, children playground
rounders
rounders, cricket, tennis
Rounders, cricket, tennis
rounders, tennis
Running Track, football, tennis, field sports
Running track, garden type space, open field, natural but some walking space
Running track, paths + plants
Running, rounders and football
School can use these facilities
School PE use. Any outdoor Activities that children need
School Sport, possibly open to the general public (after school hours)
School sports use
School sports, football, rounders, athletics etc.
Small area of childrens playground - swings slide climbing frame etc
Sport
Sport - football, tennis, most import this is a childrens park
Sport, recreation
Sporting
Sporting
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports activities
Sports and recreation, community outdoor activities
Sports and special events i.e. charity events
Sports community events
Sports or youth club for younger people
Sports pitches, open space for community use, dog walking
Sports, athletics, football, cricket, tennis, etc
Sports, Athletics, Games, Children Playground (safe)
Sports, community activities
Sports, community events
Sports, Football, Training
Sports, leisure facilities for community groups
Sports, particularly for young people
Sports, playground, nature pool
Sports, swings, etc
Sports, Swings/Slides
Sports, tennis maybe, all sports
Swimming pool, tennis courts, football
Tennis, cricket, football
Tennis, cycling
Tennis, Football
Tennis, football
Tennis, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Gymnastic
Tennis, Football, Basketball, Hockey, Gymnastic
Tennis, Walking Area, Green Play Area
Those that can be enjoyed by the whole community - not just sporting or keep fit activities
Various sports, boot sales, community functions
Walking, Jogging, Cricket, Cycle Track, Football, Tennis, Outward Bound type assault course for children/adults

Christmas tree collection and Christmas card recycling

You can leave your tree at the boundary of your home on the same day as your domestic waste collection, between Monday, January 8 and Saturday, January 13. They will be turned into much-needed mulch for the city parks and open spaces. Christmas cards can be put in your kerbside recycling bins but not Christmas wrapping paper unfortunately.

If you are interested in supporting the Woodland Trust drop your old Christmas cards in collection boxes at Tesco, TKMaxx and WHSmith. They will be there until Wednesday, January 31. Funds raised will be used to plant and maintain woodlands.