Report on new housing development

An article recently appeared in the Burton Mail regarding the 306 house development behind Church Street and Thorpe Downs Road.  The article, for which a link is below, extolled the virtues of the development but did not highlight the issues it is likely to create to local residents.  As I was not happy about this I contacted them as neither ourselves or local residents were mentioned in the article.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/8203-DEVELOPMENT-600-newjobs-300-new-homes-new/story-24516956-detail/story.html

To be fair to the reporter, he was unable to contact any of us but agreed to listen to my views and the following story was printed which balances things somewhat and I am grateful for that.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/HOUSING-Ben-Stuart-represents-Church-Gresley-ward/story-24557695-detail/story.html

Whilst I am pleased that the article has addressed the issues, particularly from the residents perspective, there are a few points requiring further explanation:

• The local MP has highlighted that there are issues with the design and access and on behalf of the residents will seek to improve this.  Well people, even in the position of MP she has no jurisdiction over the planning function of SDDC.  As local members we pleaded with the planning committee to at least consider a deferral based on the access issue.  Our pleas fell on deaf ears and, as the many residents who were present will have noticed, the development was voted through by the Conservative members.  It is no good shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

• Whilst the news of jobs is always good news, we will be looking to ensure that they are good quality jobs, preferably for local people.

Toy collection for CVS and food bank information

Please see below details of stories recently in the local press.

The first is in relation to the annual toy collection made for the CVS by the local Methodist Church.  This is a much valued collection for those who can not afford toys for Children  The last collection for toys will be this coming Saturday 6th December.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/COMMUNITY-Church-Gresley-Methodist-Church/story-24524084-detail/story.html

Similarly, the next story features a report on the demand for Food Parcels which seems to rise every year despite the lack of acknowledgement from the government last year to the requirement for food banks.  The food parcels are collected and distributed by South Derbyshire CVS.  There is also a food bank collection point at Sainsbury's local at Glamorgan Way.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Food-parcel-demand-rises-25-cent-South-Derbyshire/story-24517534-detail/story.html

Furthermore to the above, the Burton Mail is now running a campaign to promote the food banks.  Whilst the below mainly applies to Burton there is a section on what items are best to donate.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/CAMPAIGN-Mail-launches-Feed-Families-campaign/story-24600822-detail/story.html

Response to flooding issues on Thorpe Downs Road

Following the recent planning decision to allow the 3 houses at the bottom of Thorpe Downs Road, it had been requested at the committee that the flooding situation needs to be looked into and the following resolution was made:

 

That the Council’s drainage engineer write to Severn Trent Water, requesting a review of the adjacent pumping station problems, with a request that an engineer also inspect the ditch to the rear in order to investigate possible dredging to expand capacity.

 

The issue has now been investigated and the following actions have been communicated:

 

 

• The adoption process of the Sewage Pumping Station is well underway, with very close liaison with Severn Trent Water.
• New Flight pumps have been installed quite recently and these will  have the capacity to take the additional flows from the new proposed three further dwellings.
• It is likely that the transfer will be completed with Severn Trent in the next 12 months, however for whatever reason if this does not happen within this timescale, new legislation will ensure that all Section 104 adoptions will be transferred to STW on the 1^st October 20016.
• The existing site Surface Water system is not adopted either, however it’s likely that this will go through at the same time as the SPS, this is due to the consent being outstanding to discharge to the existing water course.
• Approximately 500m of the water course has been inspected and there does not appear to be any visible restrictions and the amount of visible silt is not excessive as to require dredging.
• Furthermore there is sufficient flow and depths to the ditch is approximately 1.50m which will provide capacity in wet weather conditions

 

Hope this is useful to residents.  If there are any further issues, please let us know

 

 

 

 

Green Dog Walking Scheme

Following work between ourselves and SDDC officers over the issue of persistent Dog Fouling we are very happy to share the following information:

 

The Environmental Health Department have looked into a scheme run by other councils and achieved funding to enable it to run across South Derbyshire.

We hope that lots of people sign up to the scheme and we see a reduction in the amount of dog fouling in the area and especially away from play areas and schools.

It already has an endorsement via the "I Love Swad" page on Facebook, albeit with some tongue in cheek comments too!

Below is an explanation of the scheme from SDDC Environmental Health Manager Matt Holford:

 

On the 27^th November we launch a new initiative to improve dog stewardship across our district and to seek to reduce dog fouling.

 

The Green Dog Walker Pledge is an initiative which asks dog owners to sign a Pledge whereby they;

 

·         Make a commitment to always clean up after their dog;

·         Will give other dog walkers extra doggie bags if they do not have any, and;

·         Agree to promote the Green Dog Walker message with other dog owners by wearing branded leads, armbands and badges which they will get for free when they sign up.

 

Academic research indicates that one of the biggest influences which makes irresponsible owners pick up is peer pressure. Our Safer Neighbourhood Wardens do their very best to catch and deter irresponsible dog owners, but academic research and experience on the ground shows that the biggest successes in reducing fouling come when communities come together and make it clear that it is socially unacceptable not to pick up.

 

The philosophy of the campaign is therefore twofold.

 

Firstly to increase conscientiousness amongst the majority of responsible dog owners to make sure that they always pick up.

 

Secondly, to use responsible dog owners to promote the Green Dog Walker brand to help build the peer pressure and shift public attitudes so that it becomes socially unacceptable not to pick up after a dog.

 

We launch the Pledge in Eureka Park on the 27^th where we are hosting a joint event with the Dogs Trust who will be micro chipping dogs for free.

 

A page on our website will also go live on the 27^th where residents can sign up on-line.

County Council consultation on bus and community transport cuts - closing date 14 December

The following email was received via South Derbyshire CVS and has links to an online consultation.

If you use Public or Community Transport this will be of interest to you....


If you or your service users/members use public or community transport services in Derbyshire, please alert them to the proposals and encourage them to respond to this consultation.

Derbyshire County Council needs to make cuts of £157 million by 2018.  This includes proposed savings of £3.96m  from local bus and community transport services.

Most bus services in Derbyshire are run commercially by local bus companies who set the routes and fares.   But around 15 per cent (including a number of South Derbyshire services) are funded by the council which currently spends £3.7m on subsidised bus services.  A cut of £2.5m from this budget over 2 years  is proposed.

Local bus services which currently receive a subsidy include service numbers: 19 Ashby –Swadlincote-Burton via Netherseal, 21E and 22 Burton-Swadlincote services, 24 Swadlincote-Midway, 70 Barrow on Trent-Derby, 73 Weston on Trent-Derby, V1 Sunday service Derby-Hilton-Tutbury-Burton, V2 Derby-Burton via Eggington, and V3 Derby-Willington-Repton-Burton.

Around £1.4 m is also spent on grant funding for Community Transport dial-a-bus services throughout the county and £500k revenue funding Wheels to Work − a moped loan and cycle scheme which helps people get to work, education or training.  The proposal is to cut £1.46m from this budget over 2 years.

But before any decisions about reducing or withdrawing services are made bus users are being asked to tell DCC about the journeys they make − which routes and community transport services they use, and the impact on them if any of these services were taken away or changed.

Full details can be found, and the bus user survey can be completed online at
http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/have_your_say/consultation_search/Consultation_search_index/local_bus_and_community_transport_consultation.asp or printed copies are available from all Derbyshire branch libraries.

Closing date for responses is 14 December 2014. Feedback from this survey will then be used to develop proposals for how transport, funded by the council, could run in the future.
These proposals will then go out to full consultation in 2015.

More Scam Phone alerts and Derbyshire Alert website information

The following message is from Derbyshire Trading Standards via the Derbyshire Alert Website (see details below).  
Trading Standards is warning consumers to be aware of an incident in the Wirksworth area.  A consumer received an unsolicited call from a business which claimed to be working on behalf of the Government.  The caller told the consumer that all homes must have a ‘green deal assessment’ by 2020 - this is untrue.  The business also told the consumer that he would have to pay £179.

The Green Deal is a Government initiative to improve the energy efficiency of homes by offering loans to pay for energy saving measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation, double glazing or new boilers.  The loan is repaid through savings made on electricity bills, therefore bills shouldn't be any higher than usual.  When the loan is paid off consumers can take advantage of the energy savings made. In order to apply for Green Deal finance, a consumer must have an energy assessment from an assessor accredited with the Green Deal Quality Mark. On 24 July 2014, the scheme was closed as all of the funding available had been claimed.  In April 2015, more funding will become available, but full details of the new scheme have not been released.  Trading Standards is concerned that some unscrupulous traders may be misrepresenting the Green Deal scheme by making it appear that assessments are compulsory when they are not.

Reputable companies do not usually advertise for business by calling at your home uninvited or cold-calling via the telephone.  They'll also explain your consumer rights which rogue traders will not do.  If you receive an unsolicited call from any business offering this kind of scheme, our advice is to ignore it and do not agree to a visit.

Consumers wanting to purchase energy saving products or any other goods or services can use Derbyshire County Council’s Trusted Trader scheme.  This includes details of hundreds of local traders who have been checked out by Derbyshire Trading Standards service and have agreed to abide by a code of conduct.

For more information on the Trusted Trader scheme Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058.

If you have a complaint or concerns about rogue traders/trading practices you can call Citizen’s Advice Consumer Advice Service on  08454 04 05 06

This post is one of several copied via the Derbyshire Alert website.  It is a useful tool to have, especially with the increasing number of scam calls as above as we approach Christmas.

The website can be found on the below link:

https://www.derbyshirealert.co.uk/

Book Sale, Cakes and Meals at Methodist Church

This coming Saturday at the Methodist Church on York Road there will be a book sale.  This will take place between 10am and 12pm during the monthly coffee morning.  It also coincides with our monthly surgery.

There will also be cakes and food available.  For more information, please see below link:

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/CHURCH-GRESLEY-Book-sale-coffee-morning-Church/story-24005688-detail/story.html

The week ahead - w/c 3rd November 2014- Council, Surgery & Remembrance Sunday

The following events are taking place this week:

On Thursday 6th it is Full Council at the SDDC Council Chamber from 6pm.

Link to meeting agenda: http://south-derbys.cmis.uk.com/south-derbys/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/1709/Committee/364/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx

On Saturday 8th November is our monthly Surgery.

This takes place at York Road Methodist Church between 10am and 11am during the monthly coffee morning.

On Sunday 9th November is the annual Remembrance Service.  This will take place at the War Memorial Garden on Market Street at 10:45 and be followed by a parade down Market Street and Church Street to be followed by the church service at St George and St Mary's church.

We hope that the event is well supported this year as it always is by young and old alike.