Waste and recyling update

Message from CFYA 

Update on refuse/recycling collections. 

We got round some homes this morning (including all of those missed in Ingleby Barwick yesterday) but have reluctantly taken the decision to suspend all remaining refuse/recycling collections today (1 March) due to the severe weather. 

 If your refuse/recycling was due for collection today but hasn’t been collected, you should leave it out on Saturday from 7am instead. 

Please see this useful page on our website to provide details of service disruptions: https://www.stockton.gov.uk/stockton-council/service-disruptions/

Broadband at Queensgate

I have been involved in a series of meetings and discussions concerning this issue since my election.

I am now in a position to update you as follows.

With respect to Queensgate (the estate opposite Lidl on Yarm Road), SBC have advised they are prepared on this occasion to accept pavements with repairs, as opposed to pristine ones, when adoption of the estate occurs, if it means residents can access decent broadband. That is important in convincing Bellway to let cabling occur, otherwise there may have been financial costs in terms of making good afterwards, which they perhaps wouldn't accept.

Virgin have advised that if they can get on to the estate as part of the current phase two build and start cabling there, they will then consider the commercial viability of moving over to cable phase one too (if permitted).

The hold up has been persuading Bellway Yorkshire to let them on site.

There is now a meeting planned for next week between Bellway and Virgin to discuss phase two access. I have given Virgin a statement to share with Bellway at that meeting, stressing how important this access is to me, and to Dr Paul, on behalf of residents.

I have also arranged a meeting with SBC officers to discuss how we might change local Planning law so that in future when a developer submits a planning application for a new estate in the borough, access to cabling/broadband becomes a condition of accepting the application. I don't think anyone wants to go through this every time.

Finally I would encourage residents in Queensgate to register their interest with Virgin so as to encourage them to make that shift over to phase one in due course, as and when it becomes possible.

Running red lights on Yarm Road

I have been contacted by a number of residents, individually, who are worried about traffic jumping the traffic lights along Yarm Road. The two junctions causing most concern are Yarm Road/West End Way/Van Mildert Way and Yarm Road/Sculptor Crescent/Lidl.

It is not clear to me whether the cars driving along Yarm Road are failing to notice the red lights, or whether they are choosing to ignore them. However, too many are taking dangerous chances by driving straight through.

I have been in touch with Highways a number of times and am now asking them to consider adding a couple of extra seconds, to both sides holding people at red for a bit longer, so that the cars emerging from the side streets have less chance of being smashed off the road.

I am being told that there are very few reports of accidents at these locations. I can't explain that but I do know from long experience that when a number of people separately approach their councillor about an issue they are concerned about, without knowing that anyone else has done so, it is something that needs taking seriously. 

I hope to have more news soon

Rubbish dumped over Christmas

My first job on 27th December was to report three different lots of rubbish.

A mattress on Grove Street, some rubbish by the entrance to the park on Yarm Road opposite Arncliffe Avenue and yet more builders waste in the alley behind Densham Drive.

I have also enquired about installing a new bin on Yarm Road by the park entrance in the hope that sorts that problem out for the future. Thanks to Low Hartburn Residents Group for that suggestion.

Why are people so selfish? Particular cowboy builders, we will catch them in the end, and I look forward to the naming and shaming!

There's a hole on Ellen Avenue - workers are looking into it!

- the old ones are the best.

When I was  knocking on doors in Ellen Avenue I noticed a depression in the surface of the road which worried me. I got in touch with the council and suggested they ask Northumbria Water to take a look. They have done that now and say they don't believe there is a problem with the sewers. I am now waiting for Highways to come and fill it in and make it safe.

Road markings

I have had two quick wins for residents this month.

A resident in Windsor Road asked me if it would be possible to have 20mph markings painted on the surface of their road. They used to have small signs on their lamposts but unfortunately these had to be removed when the new lights went up because they are now attached to houses not columns. I am pleased to report that even despite the snowy weather, this has already been done.

And Janey, the owner of From Drab to Fab, the furniture upcycling business on the corner of Osborne Road and Oxbridge Lane asked me if she could have a white line, in the shape of an H painted across the entrance to her warehouse doors so that cars couldn't block access for her delivery trucks. It is great shop by the way, if you haven't been in, do pay a visit.  Again the work was done very quickly.

A big thank you to Stockton Highways - who won an award this year as the best in the country - for their prompt action.

Criminal activity in Densham Drive

Flytippers rake soil from the back of a van onto the alley behind Densham Drive

I was approached by a resident in Densham Drive just before Christmas. Residents have been experiencing a spike in criminal activity on the estate - car theft, burglary, theft from cars and fly tipping in the alley, along with occasional liaisons there between prostitutes and punters.

I organised a residents' meeting with Councillor Javed and our local Police Sergeant, Mark Doherty. There was a good turnout and we talked about the various incidents and discussed some possible measures to keep them safe.

The police have agreed to give the area more attention and Councillor Javed and I have enquired of council staff about the possibility of using some of our small locally held budget to introduce various safety measures. We are looking at installing a new CCTV camera - or moving an existing one to a better position, possibly replacing a piece of fence with a wall, and putting up some better lighting in a few places.

I hope to have a site visit with a council officer in early January to explore the options.

Residents are reminded to always report incidents to the police, so that we have a true picture of criminal activity.