Agenda item

There will be an opportunity to discuss and assist in developing the future Ward Action Plan for the Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields ward.

Councillor Cooke introduced the ward action plan that was being prepared. He explained that the ward had been split into areas to address specific needs. These areas were referred to as Braunstone North and South, Rowley Fields and Holy Apostles. The plan would be owned by the community and would be a mandate for the next four years. He gave a presentation and invited residents to make suggestions for the Holy Apostles area. The other two areas had been considered at previous meetings. Councillor Naylor recorded the issues as they were raised.

Some of the big issues in the area included:

·        Narborough Road Shops

·        Parking and traffic management

·        Wheelie bins left on streets

·        Prevalence of private rented property (mainly students)

·        Council housing fronting Imperial Avenue, Narborough Road and Fosse Road South.

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:

Environmental Issues

• Litter from fast food outlets; and to railway bridge banking
• Graffiti and fly-posting – mostly to cable boxes, road signs, lamp posts, post boxes and railway bridges
• Street cleaning – detritus to gutters; and leaves
• Trees and shrubs – localised overgrown and overhanging branches to some streets
• Sub stations – overgrown vegetation on Nutfield Road and Fosse Road South
• Despoiled brook in Westcotes Park
• Overgrown gardens to some council housing

Traffic and Streets

• Vehicles parked on pavements in Gaddesby Avenue and Imperial Avenue
• Some areas of sunken, uneven and broken paving
• State of repair of some roads
• Persistent blockages to street gullies and water holding to some sites
• Vehicles speeding in Winchester Avenue and Imperial Avenue

Other Issues

• Vacated Council depot on Fullhurst Avenue

Residents also raised the following concerns:

• Newsletter for area – not getting information
• Dog fouling (possibly)
• Children playing football outside Holy Apostles Church – nowhere to play
• Footpath by railway bridge suffering leakage from bridge
• Building adjacent to Lyn’s Café full of rubbish
• Drainage issues on corner of Narborough Road/Winchester Avenue
• Parking on corners along Lavender Road/Sweetbriar Road/Imperial Avenue
• Sunken road surface adjacent 273 Fosse Road South

The following actions were proposed by Members to address the above issues:

Big issues

• Forecourts and general appearance to be maintained and, where possible, improved
• Investigate the feasibility of altering traffic flows
• Ensure wheelie bins are not left on streets
• Seek to reduce the number of privately rented properties used by students
• Ensure that all privately rented properties are improved and maintained to a proper standard; and ensure such properties do not detract from the appearance of the area
• Review the reasons for converting family houses to flats; and where this has happened, the Lettings Policy (Council Housing only)

Environment

•         Keep area clear of litter and explore provision of additional litter bins

•         Periodically remove accumulated litter and refuse to the railway banking

•         Keep area clear of graffiti

•         Arrange for more regular street gutter clearing to remove detritus; and the streets of leaves

•         Ensure all overgrown and hanging branches to streets are removed expeditiously

•         Ensure that all substations are properly maintained and kept clear of litter and rubbish

•         Keep the brook in Wescotes Park clear of litter and other deposits

•         Pursue with the Council Housing Dept how the gardens to their properties can be maintained in a proper state

Traffic and streets

•         Stop vehicles from parking on the pavement

•         Maintain the repair of the road and paving surfaces in a fit state

•         Audit all street gullies to ensure they are adequate to prevent water accumulating on the roads

•         Stop speeding in the 20mph areas

Other issues

•         Pursue the reuse of the former Council Depot on Fullhurst Avenue

Actions for issues raised by residents would be considered further by Councillors and added to the action plan. Residents were informed that timescales for dealing with each issue would vary depending on the actions required.

The meeting also discussed recycling arrangements and the loss of the recycling facilities on the Merry Monarch car park. It was noted that cardboard was recycled from general waste in wheelie bins. The new scheme would allow for a wider range of materials to be separated at home.