Back in January I blogged about the failure by Reading Girls School to adaquately maintain a fence and hedge on Bede Walk off Northumberland Avenue.
Well, I visited the area yesterday and received more complaints from residents about lack of action by the School. The trees by the fence have got so overgrown that they are blocking some of the streetlights on the Walk. Result - residents are not impressed.
I have written once again to the School requesting that they take action as soon as possible to tidy up the fence area.
I've asked that they increase their monitoring of this area so that residents and I do not have to keep reminding them to cut the trees back etc. Let's hope they get the message this time.
I'm sorry to say dog fouling is still a major problem on the Walk. This issue was raise by virtually every resident I spoke to. They take pride in their gardens and do not take kindly to people who allow their dogs to foul outside their front doors.
My colleague Kirsten highlighted this issue and the lack of routine enforcement action by RBC earlier this year. Residents are totally fed up with the lack of action and the fact that some irresponsible dog owners are 'getting away with it'.
I don't think this problem is being overstated by residents. I'm aware that dog fouling was one of the top issues to come out of the recent South Reading Residents' Survey. I'm due to be getting a more detailed briefing about the other issues which were identified from officers soon - should be interesting.
Other issues residents raised with me yesterday was lack of street cleaning and dumping of rubbish around the garages.
The garage area between Bede Walk and Hexham Road has been a bit of a crime and fly-tipping hot spot over the years and as a result I've spent considerable time over the past couple of years campaigning for more support for residents from the Police and the Council.
It was disappointing to see anti-social behaviour around the alley gates is still going on. Following our successful campaign to improve the security of gates on the estate, kids have now taken to climbing over them and into the alley ways. Kids are also digging up paving stones (!) for fun which could be dangerous.
I've written to officers at the Council about all the issues residents raised with me and hopefully residents will see some improvement as a result.
A meeting is being held at the Community Centre on Hexham Road tomorrow (Tuesday 14 July) at 7.30pm. I called for the meeting as I'd like to see residents more involved in deciding what the Council does on the estate.
It's really important that what residents want is the top priority, not just what Council officers might want to see happen. It's part and parcel of our campaign to improve the quality of life for residents living on the estate. I hope as many residents as possible come along and have their say.
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