The Chair stated that it was important
priorities and issues in the ward were identified so they could be
fed into the Council’s budget process for next year which was
due to begin in September. He commented that it was also important
due to the local elections next year it was important that all
candidates standing for the ward knew what the issues were in the
area.
It was stated that the current big issues in
the area were:
- The closure of Riverside School
– The Chair stated that pupils and staff at the school would
continue to be supported until the closure. It was also aimed to
secure the continued use of the site for educational purposes. The
Chair reported that the Ward Councillors had a meeting with the
Cabinet Lead for Children and Schools planned for early
September.
- Manor House Neighbourhood Centre and
the associated playing fields – The Chair stated that it was
proposed to secure the reopening of the centre. It was also
proposed to retain the playing fields as open space and explore
future community use of the land. A resident stated that if the
Centre was reopened then more security and better lighting was
needed in the area.
- Bus routes – It was noted that
residents had raised concerns that the current bus routes did not
serve the community well. Concern was also raised that there was no
bus which took people directly to the City Council offices from
Rowley Fields. The Chair suggested that an audit of public
transport needs for residents in Rowley Fields was needed. This
included addressing concerns raised regarding the rerouting of the
number 50 bus.
- Evesham Road link – it was
noted that there had been a lot of campaigning on this issue
however it was stated that the County Council did have a say on the
road and it was on their strategic plan. The Chair stated that it was propsoed to seek the withdrawal from the County
Council of the Evesham Road link.
- Tesco’s/Anti Social Behaviour
– It was reported that the Coalition Government were seeking
a revision of the licensing laws. The Chair stated that it was
proposed to continue high level monitoring of anti social behaviour
associated with Tesco’s.
The Chair reported on the main issues that had
been noted on the patch walks that had been conducted by the
Members in the ward. These fell into the Environment and Traffic
and Streets categories. The Chair also stated the proposed actions
to address the issues that had been raised. These included:
Environment
Issues
- Litter – particular hotspots
included Narborough Road frontages,
River Byam and Great Central way. It
was also noted that there may be a shortage of bins. It was
proposed that the provision of additional litter bins would be
explored.
- Graffiti – mostly to cable
boxes, road signs, post boxes and Great Central Way.
- Street Cleaning – issues
included detritus to gutters and seasonal weeds. It was proposed
that more regular street gutter cleaning needed to be arranged to
remove detritus. It was also proposed that it needed to be ensured
that weed treatments were carried out.
- Trees – localised overgrown
and overhanging branches to some streets. It was proposed that it
would be ensured all overgrown and hanging branches to streets were
removed expeditiously
Traffic and Streets
Issues
- Vehicles parking on the pavement
– in particular Foxcroft Close,
Heyworth Road and Evelyn Drive.
- Dangerous corner of Harefield/Lyncote Road – it was proposed that
traffic restrictions would be sought to reduce the danger of the
bend.
- Areas of sunken, uneven and broken
paving.
- State of repair of some roads
– in particular Roundhay Road at
Evesham Road junction, and Great Central Way bridge.
- Lorries accessing industrial estate
through Evelyn Drive – It was proposed that feasibility of
changing the vehicular access and egress to the industrial estate
be looked into.
Other issues
- Restricted access to Great Central
Way – it was proposed that safe and proper access for
residents to Great Central Way would be secured.
In addition, residents raised the following
concerns:
- Safety issues on the junction of
Meredith Road/Dumbleton Avenue
- Anti-social Behaviour around Rowley
Fields Avenue
- Youths gathering around church
grounds and substation
- People parking on Evesham Road
bridge – it was suggested that bollards were possibly
needed.
- The Roundhay Rd/Evesham Rd corner was too narrow for a
main road.
- Lack of dog bins on Great Central
Way.
- Sweeper vehicles in the area passing
too quickly and not cleaning.
- The speed of buses being too
dangerous in the area.
- Mortimer Place being blocked due to
parking.
- Neighbourhood Watch needed on
Dumbleton Avenue