Redlands Liberal Democrats

Licensed to ill: Police join Lib Dem fight against nuisance skips

Over the past four years I have received a number of complaints from residents in the wards about skips - skips taking up parking spaces for weeks and full-to-the-brim skips have become a nuisance or an eyesore. My (unscientific) study of the problem over the past few years based on what I've seen whilst out and about in the ward and from emails I've received from constituents has led me to conclude that the worst affected streets in Redlands are Donnington Road, Donnington Gardens, Granby Gardens and Blenheim Road.

Yes, you guessed it - areas of Redlands and other parts of Town with high numbers of HMOs and student lets. Waste and parking are already problems in these areas without skips to add to the list. Skips must be licensed by the Council and they must not be left on streets indefintely.

Every overfull skip we see we report but we are concerned that RBC enforcement of skip licenses is not as good as it could be.

So I was pleased to see I'm not the only person who gets het up about this problem as I read on GetReading today that local PCSOs are taking a proactive approach to tackling overfull skips. My guess is we have Kevin Sinfield - until recently the longstanding Thames Valley Police Inspector for South and East Reading to thank for this Police initiative.

Kevin, an incredible, community-minded Police Officer who I have got to know very well over the past few years and who won TVP's Neighbourhood Bobby of the Year Award in 2009 often commented to me how the high number of skips in central Reading made the Town look.

Athough managing skip licenses and problems is technically a Council responsibility Kevin instructed his officers to report any skips they saw to the Council to be sorted out. We need more Police officers like Kevin and Katie! Kevin recently moved to work in Wokingham - he will be much missed by councillors and residents in Redlands alike.

As soon as I mentioned the subject of skips on Twitter a constituent got in touch to say that there are currently two overfilled skips on Blenheim Road are causing a nuisance to residents. It appears that one of them might have been in situ since the Summer! I have instructed officers to investigate the status of the skip's licence. With luck these blights on our area should be moved soon.

If skips are a problem in your street please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

In the meantime, check out this video that Glenn and I made last year with the help of Lib Dem Councillor for Katesgrove, Warren Swaine:

Bike Theft

At the last full council I asked how many bicycles had been reported stolen in the last 2 years. This issue is very dear to me as I have had 3 bikes stolen from various locations in Reading since I first moved here. I also continually hear about friends and constituents who have their bikes stolen. One friend had his bike locked to a Sheffield-post near the stadium. He returned a day later to find that not only had the bike gone, but so had the post!

From 2007/08 to 2008/09 there was a minimal increase of 5 reports, but from 2008/09 to 2009/10 it looks like there could be an increase of between 50 and 100 reports (estimated figures for Jan, Feb and March based on the previous years trends). On average, around 70 bikes are reported as stolen each month across Reading. In 2007 Reading Post reported that 1 bike a day was stolen from the station, this new data suggests about 3 bikes are stolen per day throughout Reading.

The monthly breakdown is shown below:

Clearly, there are surges in the numbers reported during University term time, and these report numbers drop off during the major University holidays (but on average remain above 50 reports a month).

In the answer to my question, the Labour lead councillor says that neither Reading's Crime & Disorder Partnership or any of the NAG's have set bicycle theft as a priority. But despite this RBC works with its partners to offer "generic crime reduction advice", and they talk about the 'motherhood and apple pie' detailed in the cycle strategy.

There is clearly no appetite to tackle this issue because it is a difficult one to fix. Stop and postcode checks of suspected stolen bikes by the police/PCSO's might be a start. Better quality, well lit bike racks is another.

I'm concerned that people are not reporting stolen bikes because they feel, quite rightly, that nothing serious is being don't to tackle these issues. This is only reported thefts, after all. Also I know of no-one who has ever had their bike returned to them by the police, despite having a postcode etched or UV-inked onto the frame.

If you have had your bike stolen, I would urge you to report it - otherwise this issue will always be not be seen as a serious issue or a priority.

Meeting Milward Court residents

This morning Kirsten and I popped into Milward Court off Warwick Road to meet the residents.

We hold monthly surgeries in various locations around the ward but we are conscious that for one reason or another we don't get to see everyone we represent so this was a good opportunity to pick up any problems or concerns people have.

It was lovely to chat to residents. Issues they raised with us included:

• State of the pavements around Christchurch Road
• Litter and rubbish by the shops on Christchurch Green
• Overgrown trees blocking light into their rooms (Cintra Park)
• Road safety on Cintra Avenue

We will be raising these issues with Reading Borough Council for action and reporting back to residents soon.

We chatted about current affairs, including the recession and the recent bad weather. It was good to hear they hadn't had too many problems. They were all very complimentary about local bus services, which was good.

I asked the residents gathered there what they thought about the latest bid for city status by Reading Borough Council. They were non-plussed - one elderly gentleman commented: "what benefits will it bring?". Many of the residents had moved to Reading from other parts of the country and said they'd like it to stay as a Town please!

If you would like to talk to Kirsten, Glenn or I about any issues of concern to you please do not hesitate to get in touch.

A problem shared (is a problem halved): Hospital parking

Yesterday afternoon Kirsten, Glenn and I sat down with the estates & facilities manager of the Royal Berks Hospital and senior officers from Reading Borough Council's transport team to discuss parking matters.

I set this meeting up in attempt to get a better dialogue going between RBC and the RBH about how to reduce pressure on parking in local roads around the Hospital.

The University of Reading is also a key player in this discussion and as I pointed out in December itsplan to redevelop it's Mansfield Hall campus will reduce available parking for Hospital staff.

The meeting was very friendly and productive. We are sympathetic as councillors to the plight of the Hospital.

However we are reaching saturation point in a number of local roads from Alexandra Road to Allcroft Road where parking is unrestricted or only partly restricted with commuters leaving their cars for long periods in many streets, students and University staff parking around the campus and worshippers at the Mosque seeking parking too.

This makes life very difficult for residents who wish to park and for pedestrians and cyclists. Road safety around Addington Road and Craven Road is a real concern and there have been a number of accidents.

As ward councillors our primary responsibility are to ensure safe roads for residents and as far as possible to ensure their interests are represented.

At the meeting we heard that Hospital is currently investigating a number of options including expanding the multi-storey car park and leasing spaces in other Town Centre car parks. I was pleased to hear the Hospital management are in talks with the Carbon Trust and have signed up to a very challenging target to dramatically reduce emissions.

RBH management have also recently cut down the number of people who are eligible to receive parking permits.Obviously, the trouble with that is that staff are then more likely to park in local roads.

It sounds as though planning applications could be on the horizon (subject to RBH having the cash to embark on this kind of project).

We made a plea for the Hospital to consult residents and councillors as early as possible - an approach the University never seems to manage, despite regular feedback from us over the years.

However, as Kirsten pointed out there is no "one-size fits all" solution to the problem of parking.  We have limited road space in Redlands, and as officers are always keen to point out to us "no-one has a right to a parking space".

A park and ride scheme was tried by the RBH but it was dropped as it was not a success. RBC working with the RBH and UoR need to make it more attractive for people to use alternative modes of transport. But more needs to be done to make this a reality.

This is about behaviour change - and attitudes are hard to shift.

But there are things that can be done including creating better cycle lanes, better bus services and other ideas such as car-sharing and car clubs - something we have campaigned for.

Interestingly, the officer from the RBH said that car-sharing during the recent bad weather period increased markedly with many members of staff picking up colleagues on their way into work.

RBC Officersreported to us in the meeting that bus passenger numbers also went up during this period. I hope this will encourage more people to consider sharing their car or taking a bus, but I can't help but think that people will go back to driving in.

One very positive thing to come out of the meeting is that RBC officers are now going to liaise with RBH and UoR officers to bring them into a network of South Reading businesses/stakeholders to look at ways of working together to tackle parking collectively - after all they all share the same road space.

This isn't rocket science but it's amazing how many times as a councillor you find officers in public bodies working in silos.

I think everyone involved thought the meeting was a very good idea. The aim was not to give the Hospital are hard time - quite the reverse - but to get a better understanding of the issues the Hospital is facing, so we can work towards finding solutions.

The officer from the RBH also raised a number of problems and issues the Hospital is facing including Taxis parking on yellow lines (which is making it difficult for ambulances to get in and out).

At the end of the meeting we also managed to touch on the thorny problem of cigarette litter - something I have raised with the Hospital a number of times. There is way too much litter around Redlands Road linked to people smoking. Noises from the RBH were more positive on dealing with this issue.

I also raised once again the possibility of installing a small recycling centre on the Hospital grounds for staff, visitors and local residents.

Next week Glenn and I are taking to the streets with RBC officers to look at ways of reducing parking problems for residents who live around Lydford Road.

Watch this space for updates!

Labour still failing to keep University area clean in eyes of residents

Regular readers of this blog may remember our campaigning last summer in support of residents living in the University area who's streets had become a dumping ground.

Every year around the end of the University term residents report problems to us about rubbish going uncollected, bulky waste being dumped in gardens etc.

We regularly raise this issue with Reading Borough Council and have been doing so since 2006 - but still the response on the ground has been lacking.

Reading University has got slightly better on this issue, working more closely with the Students Union, but we have consistently argued that there could be a lot more joint-working between the University and the Council to reduce the nuisance caused to local residents.

We have also actively campaigned for enforcement action to be taken against people who dump rubbish on our streets.Our local Police team have backed us on this issue which has been great.

The scrutiny review I led into private rented housing, in conjunction with my colleague Cllr Ricky Duveen (Lib Dem Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Panel), last year, made a number of recommendations to the Council and local universities in Reading in the area of improving our street environment.

The Labour Cabinet in Reading endorsed pretty much all of our recommendations. However, we are monitoring what the Labour administration does closely to ensure our recommendations are followed up for the benefit of residents.

Last year our long-running campaign for a cleaner, greener Redlands was boosted by the efforts of a great constituent of ours called Rebecca. Rebecca was sick to death of living in a rubbish tip - she persistently raised this with the Council, her councillors and her local MP.

Rebecca is attending full Council this evening to ask a public question to the Lead Member for the Environment. Her question is the first on the list of questions tonight and she is the second Redlands constituent who has raised Streetcare issues in Council in this way. Her question is as follows:

"Since the summer of 2009 Redlands ward has had issues with excess rubbish in front gardens and on the street due to the increase of tenanted properties in the area. There have been many complaints about this area turning into a slum directly to the Council via email or through the Call Centre identifying the addresses that are offending and causing an increase in vermin on the streets in some areas.

Despite all the promises by the Council to tackle these problems they are still ongoing and residents should not have to bear the brunt, as taxpayers.

What further action does the Council plan to take working with the University and landlords to ensure residents are not forced to live in these conditions every year and suffer the health and hygiene consequences of the increase in vermin?"

Great question, Rebecca. Over to you, Labour!

Lib Dems welcome tree win for residents

Redlands Lib Dem councillors have today welcomed the news that Reading Borough Council has pledged to plant replacement trees in Alexandra road after 18 Lime trees were set to be removed from the ward due to ill-health.

This follows an active campaign mounted by residents of Alexandra Road actively supported by local councillor Glenn Goodall

Residents will be presenting a petition to Reading Borough Council this evening.

Glenn has led the campaign in recent years in Reading to get more trees planted in local streets. He has challenged the Labour administration to do better, introducing a motion to Council in October 2008.

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Redlands councillor and Lib Dem Environment spokesperson said,

"There was a lot of concern expressed locally that trees due to be removed by the Council would not be replaced.

“This would have had a detrimental effect on the street scene around Alexandra Road.”

“Residents are presenting a petition tonight which I whole-heartedly supported.”

“The residents of Alexandra Road deserve praise for the way they have campaigned and got the Labour-run Council to listen.”

The trees will be cut down in early February 2010, and some will be replaced in March 2010. We will continue to pressure the council to replace the remaining 10 trees felled outside of Alexandra road. After years of neglect, this is the least we could hope for.

Bus meeting in Redlands

James Freeman, Chief Executive of Reading bus company, will available to answer all your buses schedule questions on Thursday 28th January 2010.

We have booked the conference room in Reading Boys School on Erleigh Road from 9am to 11am, there will be tea, coffee and biscuits.

I'll be by reception at 9 am, so I can meet you all there.

Room is limited so please e-mail me if you plan to attend: glenn_goodall@hotmail.com

Mini-moto nuisance on Hexham estate: getting action taken

Residents on Hexham estate have been suffering in recent years with problems connected with motorbikes - both full size and so-called 'mini-motos' being ridden on public footways.

Problems like this damage the quality of life of many local residents so we are keen to see action taken by the authorities.

Some residents got in touch with me before Christmas to report serious problems with bikes and stolen cars being ridden dangerously on Stanhope Road.

I raised this with Reading Borough Council and the Police - but I got a very lacklustre response

Another hotspot over the years has been the footpath along side Stanhope Road and up the alley towards Staverton Road. This is the main route youths use to bring bikes on to the estate.

Residents and I have been reporting these problems for a couple of years and nothing has been done by the Police or the Council to tackle it.

Good news yesterday as we received an email from our excellent RBC Neighbourhood Officer to say that the Council and the Police had received more reports of problems relating to 'mini-mopeds' in this area and that they were considering bringing in preventative measures - at last!!

RBC is now considering installing anti-cycle barrier in this area to reduce the number of people riding bikes and also to reduce their speed - to improve safety for adults and children using the footpath.

We successfully campaigned to get these barriers installed on Bede Walk on Hexham estate two years ago and although anti-social behaviour is still a problem in the area they have reduced the speed of bikes.

Do you live on or near Hexham estate? What do you think of these plans? Please let us know.

If you see any mini-motos being ridden illegally on the estate please report this to the Police on 0845 8 505 505 and call our local Neighbourhood Officer Ashley Blackwood on 0118 939 0161 (email: ashley.blackwood@reading.gov.uk)

School Dinners

At the last Council meeting I asked a question about the uptake of free school meals, which apparently hasn't risen during the recession in Reading. Not quite believing the figures, at the Council meeting on Monday I will be asking what the proportion of people who could claim the benefit actually do so.

Some people feel shame in claiming for free school meals for their children. In fact, it is one of the best things one can do when times are tough. Children who receive free school meals automatically qualify for other benefits (for example, if they need to take a bus to get to school they can get a bus pass free). The number of children claiming free meals is also an indicator used to determine whether schools get funding for e.g. new buildings.

What's also happening in schools is that even where meals are provided to paying pupils, the uptake nationally appears to have dropped in favour of the packed lunch. So, I have asked a question about that too. For me, the provision of healthy food at a good price to children is one of the best ways to improve study concentration and general health: and therefore closing the gap between children from the richest and the poorest families.

I'll let you know what the Council says.

- Kirsten

Delays to bin collections: response from RBC

On Monday I blogged about problems residents were facing getting their bins collected by Reading Borough Council.

I raised these issues with RBC's Streetcare team and I have just had this response:

"Unfortunately there are a number of areas in Reading that are suffering similar circumstances to those you describe in Redlands Road, some in fact are in a worse situation. There can be no doubt that our crews did their utmost in what were very difficult conditions over the past few weeks.
 
However it was necessary to make a decision on how we would get everyone back to a normal schedule, as you will appreciate we have a fixed resource and are doing our best to prioritise queries such as this attempting to sort out the worst hit areas first... residents can be assured that our teams will collect all residual and recycling waste presented on the day of collection over the next couple of weeks."

This sounds reasonable to me but may not be much comfort to residents some of who, have had to wait three weeks or more for a bin collection - due to the impact of the bad weather.

We are particularly concerned about areas with high numbers of HMOs and student houses where rubbish easily mounts up.

Regrettably some residents in parts of Redlands have experienced multiple missed collections in the past - notably people living on or around Foxhill Road.

I hope there won't be any missed collections over the next few weeks as this would only  add to residents' woes.

Please do get in touch with us if you are having any problems with your bin collections or if there is an accumulation of rubbish in your street you would like us to report.