Parks Councillor Swindon - What have I been doing?

Lots of phonecalls today about rubbish -
- recycling not collected
- Health and safety issues with wheelie bins,
- people not happy with the system and
- wanting food waste collected.

It's been busy!

Also had one inquiry about a housing issue and chased up a few outstanding concerns I've yet to had sorted. It's good to be back

The results of the clean up day are in, they are as follows -

Graffiti:
Tags - 299

Litter:
Bags - 88
Warning letters - 2

Flytipping:
Tonnes - 3.2

Dog issues:
Stray dogs/tag issues - 5

Accumulation of waste issues:
Investigations instigated - 41

Fire:
Home safety checks completed - 7
Referrals for home safety checks - 23
Packs of low energy light bulbs given out - 40

Police:
Advice given re tax disc offences

So a fair amount of fly tipping. It'll be interesting to see whether that will go up once the full wheelie bin system is rolled out Especially if paying as you throw comes in! Let's hope it doesn't.

Am back from a few days away. We left the kids with grandparents and escaped

Sorry if you've called and I've not got back to you, I'm on the case now.

I see in the paper Steve Allsopp was busy cleaning when Park North had it's clean up day. I can't seem to find it online to provide a link, sorry.

Since being back I have had two meetings, one looking at how children are affected by domestic violence which is a topic scrutiny wanted us to cover. Woman suffer 30+ incidents before they 1st report domestic violence. Some boroughs are running courses to help the women and children who have been affected and we hope to do the same. The cost re all the services involved is huge. If we can stop the cycle there should be big savings in terms of benefits for all involved and finance too.

I've come back to piles of things to read as well as the phonecalls so that should keep me busy for some time.

I hope the week has treated you well and now the weekend too

Shame Swindon lost

Today was indeed a day of lots of meetings. Consequently I have info to pass on
I met with Lucy Rees who is heading up the Swindon energy project. This aims to help people save money through saving energy thus also helping the environment. There's an event coming up soon you may like to come along to;

Eco Bingo
27th November
7pm- 8.30pm
at Mecca Bingo, Regent Circus

It's free and you could win energy saving gadgets.

Lucy shared some energy saving tips with me. As I sahre my info, here you are :-

- Call 0800 512 012 for free advice on any grants and discounts you may be entitled to, in order to help save you money by making your home more energy efficient.

- Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need. Apparently boiling 1 litre of water uses as much energy as your fridge needs to keep it going for 8 hours

and finally

- Switch off standby. On average homes waste £37 a year leaving things on standby. Those little red lights use alot of electricity over the year

Will be putting these into action in my house

Another meeting I had was the Parks & East Walcot forum which aims to be a forum for Parks and East Walcot residents as well as for groups working within the area and individuals who work there too.
The next meeting will be Nov 15th at 12.30pm, venue to be confirmed. Let me know if you'd like more information, new members most welcome. There was a good turnout today and we were all full of enthusiam and keeness to get things done, so watch this space.

So more than enough to keep me busy today. Plus two calls about the wheelie bins and how it's not going to work for some. I am taking up this case now and will let you know when I've heard back. Have you got yours yet?

So no election yet afterall, phew At least that means no mass leafleting in the windy and wet Autumn. Although there is still plenty to go out, but not the rush Good on Gordon!

It's been busy here, yesterday we had school transport appeals. It showed up an anolomy in the difference children go to school, aged 4 and when they become entitled to school transport - aged 5 Very odd, and unhelpful. It appears that as they do not have to go to school until they are 5 then they shouldn't get transport. This dispite a big push to get youngsters to start at 4. I am seeking more info on this and will see if it's something we can change.

Will post more later as I'm being kicked off the computer by my daughter who has imprtant homework (and no doubt MSN) to do !
Meanwhile here's the latest bulletin re Cavendish Sqaure

Monthly Newsletter No 13
Cavendish Square Regeneration Project
October 2007

Library Closure

The Library closed on Saturday 6th October to enable refurbishment and extension works to be undertaken. A mobile service is being provided on both Fridays and Saturdays, and Liden and Walcot Libraries have extended their opening hours.

School

All of the school works are now complete.

Retail Shopping Centre

The fit-out works are nearing completion and the first units will be opening on Monday 15th October. The next phase of enabling works will commence with demolitions planned in November.

Residential Housing

The Priory Road footway has now re-opened.

Good progress is being made on phases 2 and 3.

Additional Information

Some recently asked questions:
Q) Will there be a cycle rack?
A) Yes, there will be cycle parking facilities
Q) What about the mosaics in the Square? Are they being left?
A) One mosaic is being relocated to the grounds of St John’s church and other will be re-sited within the scheme.
Q) The traffic in Priory Road and Kingston Road is causing a bottleneck. With the flow of traffic to the Doctor's car park and the School car park all are obstructed by on street parking.
A) The Highways Department has been informed and will monitor the situation.

This newsletter will as be displayed on the Cavendish Square website, at www.swindon.gov.uk/cavendishsquare

Anyone entered the competition to name the new Cavendish Square? I believe whatever its name it'll still be Cavendish Square for everyone for a very long time and I like that name. But I am happy to see a new name if that's what's decided. I may still call it Cav Square though
The new houses next to it are St Johns court I think so maybe that’ll be the favourite. I'm not sure about Compass point What do you think? You can email your thoughts to namecavendish@swindon.gov.uk

Goddard Park is busy next week, it's family learning week
If you have children at the school do get involved.
Saturday it's family bike It from 9.30 - 11.30.
Tuesday, all the children can bring a bear to share from 1.15-2.45.
Wednesday it's computer capers from 9.15-11.15
Friday there's Woodland learning from 9.15-11.15
and finally there's, next Saturday
Fit Family Fun Session 9.30-11.30

With the closure of the library on Cavendish Square tomorrow, with it's computers, Goddard Park are inviting residents to use their Cybernet Cafe. If you'd like more information Contact Colin Eustace on Tel 342347
Before the library closes altogether though, they had a Christmas party yesterday

Hopefully this time next week we'll know either way about a general election and we can get on with life either way!
In the meanwhile it is Friday night and the end of a long day starting at 5am when my son left for France on his school trip I best get to bed
It's our surgery tomorrow, Steve will be there if you drop in. I'm in London so can't be there, sorry.
Casework is still coming in, phones, emails and post (even with postal strike). If you've been in touch with an issue I'm working my way through things and will contact you soon.
Have a good weekend.