Liberal Democrat councillors were shocked to be told that the Conservative run MK Council is proposing to scrap grit bins altogether because they are not used! New and replacement grit bins are now being refused.
Instead, the Tories propose to dump open bags of grit on the street – AFTER the snow has fallen!
The Liberal Democrats have started a campaign to save our grit bins. Please sign up here.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/grit-bins
The Focus team are still encountering littered areas in our ward. Residents are NOT getting value for money from this service!Now at last the Council has agreed to provide details of the litter cleaning schedule, so that discussions can start on how the budget can best be used. Cllr Jenni Ferrans comments “Residents have been suffering filthy paths and play areas and we have been asking for this information for months. At last the Council is talking – but why has it taken so long?”
Vanessa McPake getting the litter collected in the Abbeydore play area in Monkston.
The Liberal Democrats have found out that due to poor management by the Conservative run MK Council, the street light contractors have not been fixing the lights properly. This has led to countless street lights being out. Have you seen the stretch of the V10 with 5 out of 6 streets lights out? Or the entrance to Walton Grange with lights out on both sides of the road?Your local Focus team are campaigning to get to get street lights repaired, and properly, as soon as possible.
If you have a street light out on your local estate then let the Focus team know.
Just tell us the road name and the number/letter on the street light pole.
Your local Lib Dem Focus team has just learnt that the Conservative run MK Council will be cutting the Community Transport scheme next year. It looks as if 2/3rds of the current users will NOT be able to use the service.
The Liberal Democrats believe in standing up for our older and vulnerable people and will be fighting hard to stop this scandal. We want to keep the service and ensure that our older people can still get out and around to their lunch clubs, doctors and the shops.
The Conservative run MK Council has decided that they are not going to pay for any more grit bins in MK!
Worse, they won’t even let the local councillors or parish councils pay either. Many residents are left worrying that they will fall over in the first icy weather. The Lib Dems say this is a cut too far!
Vanessa McPake had asked for new grit bins in Bartholomew Close, Walton Park and Cloudberry, Walnut Tree but these will now be refused. Disgraceful! Subhan Shafiq is wondering if the grit bin in Tewksbury Lane, Monkston will ever get repaired, put back in the right place and filled with grit!
Vanessa McPake checking the existing grit bins in Walnut Tree and Subhan Shafiq finding the bits of the bin in Tewkesbury Lane, Monkston Park.
Yet again, problems with litter and rubbish right across Monkston ward have been taking up the Lib Dems time. If you spot any litter or dumped rubbish please do report it to the team.
Vanessa McPake and Subhan Shafiq contacted MK Council to remove this lot from Perivale, Monkston Park.
Cllr. Jenni Ferrans contacted MK Council to remove this lot from the bus stop outside Walton High and to get the play areas in Studley Knapp (photo) and Tatling Grove, Walnut Tree cleared.
There have been a number of burglaries and thefts from cars over the past few months in our area. The police are doing their best to catch the gang responsible and have been giving out advice to residents including:
Don’t forget you can ring your neighbourhood police team on 101 for advice on how to keep safe. And you can get local crime alerts by signing up to www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk
After months of problems, ignored by MK Council, some greenery is finally being cut back. Please let us know if any areas have been missed.
Jenni and Subhan in the middle of the roundabout in Monkston Park. All the weeds have now been cut back.
Vanessa McPake got the overhanging tree in Frithwood Crescent, Kents Hill, cut back to stop residents being hit by branches.
Well done to Kents Hill & Monkston Parish Council for keeping children busy this summer. Activities run until August 30th, so go along and beat the end-of-holidays blues!
Play Sessions for ages 4-14
(children under 8 should be accompanied by an adult):
Monkston Green:
Monday 10-12.30 (NOT Bank Holiday Monday)
Friday 2-4.30 pm
Monkston Park Green:
Tuesdays 2-4.30 pm
Kents Hill Park
Wednesdays 2-4.30 pm
Youth Club
For older children and teenagers the Youth Club at Monkston Pavilion on Tuesday evenings has now split into two:
7.00-8.30 pm for years 6 – 8
8.30 – 10 pm for years 9-11
Details on their website at www.kentshill-monkston-pc-org.uk – play schemes are under News and the Youth Club is under Youth Matters
“These sessions are really popular. Check them out for your own children and teenagers” says Parish Councillor Jenni Ferrans.
Why does the Conservative run MK Council not collect litter in our play areas often enough?
That is what the Lib Dem Focus team wants to know after visiting all our play areas. They found unacceptable litter in almost ALL of them!
Litter, litter everywhere in the play areas! Top: Vanessa McPake and Cllr Jenni Ferrans at the whirligig play area, Kents Hill.
Right: Cllr Subhan Shafiq near the river in Monkston Park. Left Subhan and Vanessa near the community centre in Walnut Tree.