Grit Bin Success – but not yet!

THANK YOU to all the residents who signed our petition to save grit bins.  We’ve WON!

Following the LibDem campaign right across Milton Keynes, the Conservatives backed down from their proposal to stop grit bins this week.  They have now allocated a small budget next year  – but it will have to cover both replacing damaged bins and adding new ones.

Vanessa McPake commented “The budget is not enough, it doesn’t start till April, and it stops after just a year, but at least its something.  Now we need to campaign to make sure OUR residents get the bins they urgently need!”

Following residents requests, the Focus team has asked for two more bins – both on steeply sloping roads – one in Canonbury in Monkston Park, and one in Bartholomews Close in Walton Park.  The Council have said, again, that we can’t have them at present! Please sign our petitions for these grit bins to let the Council understand how important they are!

Canonbury petition    Bartholomews Close petition

If you need grit for roads and footpaths in the meantime, then ask for a bag by contacting us, or MK Council on 01908 252353 or email [email protected].  If you need it for your driveways, it can be bought at local builders merchants.

Tory Council Threatens Transport for the Elderly and Disabled

Community Transport for the elderly and disabled under threat from Conservative cuts

Community Transport for the elderly and disabled under threat from Conservative cuts

MK’s Conservatives have confirmed their proposal to make huge cuts to the  Community Transport service (currently “PlusBus”).  Around two thirds of the elderly and disabled users will be excluded from the service.

Although the Council has to make £10M cuts, the Lib Dems have made clear to the Conservatives that they expect the most vulnerable people to be protected from the worst of the cuts.

Cllr Subhan Shafiq said: “This would imprison people in their homes.  It’s appalling while the Council continues to waste money.”

Please sign our petition and respond to the consultation  to let them know your views!  There are two consultations:

Budget Consultation 2014-15 – including a massive cut to the Community Transport budget
Consultation ends 15/2/2014

Future Provision of Adult Social Care and Supported Services Transport – specifically about the Community Transport
Consultation ends 28/2/2014

Broadband Speeds Up at Last (for most!)

Like many people Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq have fast broadband - but can you get it in your area?

Like many people Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq have fast broadband – but can you get it in your area?

BT published its plans recently for the government-funded fibre project and it’s mixed news for our area.  Fibre is needed to get even moderately good speeds, not just fast and superfast, in our area (because we’re a long way from the telephone exchange and copper wire broadband slows down with distance), so this will benefit a lot of people and it’s really important that everyone gets the option.

Fibre-optic broadband will be available to most households in our area that want it by 31st March and most of the rest during 2014.  But a few will wait longer, and some may not get it at all on this project. The details we know at present are below.  

If you want to get fibre in your area, please:

  • Check the timetable below to see whether it should be available
  • Read our quick guide Fibre-intro which tells you what the options are and how to find out for (reasonably) sure what’s available
  • If it’s not available, take our survey and register your needs for broadband with us – we’ll pass the overall numbers on to BT and the Council
  • If you’re not satisfied with the timetable, contact us to help us campaign!

 

The Schedule

It’s important to note that the schedule is NOT guaranteed.  The work may prove easier or more difficult than expected, so the overall timetable may slip, or individual small areas may be moved between phases.  At present, the schedule is:

  • Phase 1: July – December 2014
  • Phase 3: January – June 2015
  • Phase 8: NOT fibre.  Some speed-up to 2mbps on copper cables – in 2016!
  • Flats anywhere: by negotiation with the owners of the building.  Please let Jenni Ferrans know if you need that resolved.

Kents Hill

  • All existing roads supposed to be covered by 31st March 2014
  • Except Bedgebury Place – discussions about to start

Monkston

  • Most supposed to be covered by 31st March 2014, except:
  • Bridlington Crescent some of nos 1-9 and 2-22, and all of nos 11+ and 24+, Abbeydore Grove, Aylesford Grove, high numbers in Stanbrook Place, Tynemouth Rise, Leominster Gate, St Helen’s Grove to be covered in Phase 1.
  • The rest of Bridlington Crescent 1-9 and 2-22, Ealing Chase, Tewkesbury Lane, Woodspring Court, Penmon Grove to be covered in Phase 3
  • Blanchland Circle nos 75-171 and all even numbers and St Bartholomews odd numbers,  Brinkburn Place, Parkminster and Flaxley Gate to be covered in Phase 1
  • Lilleshall Ave, Chirbury Close, Boxgrove Close, Malton Close to be covered in Phase 1
  • Kilwinning Drive some already covered. Higher numbers of the rest and Waverley Croft to be covered in Phase 1.  The rest to be covered in Phase 3.  Exact split awaited!

Monkston Park

  • Most to be covered by 31st March 2014 except:
  • Part of Canonbury to be covered in Phase 1

Walnut Tree

  • Most to be covered by 31st March 2014 except:
  • Lichfield Down nos. 10-110 and 41-73 and Wadesmill Lane, Bourton Low, Caraway Close, Harebell Close, Rosebay Close, Coriander Court, Tamarisk Court, Khasiaberry, Nutmeg Close, Paprika Court, Hockliffe Brae, Spearmint Close, Twyford Lane, Meadowsweet and Camomile Court to be covered in Phase 1
  • Tamworth Stubb, Cinnamon Grove, Celadine Court, Sandbrier Close, Samphire Court, Berberis Close, Tatling Grove, Cloudberry, Tarragon Close, Twinflower, and part of Boxberry Gardens are in Phase 1.
  • Parts of  Walton Road, Boxberry Gardens, Pinfold, Honeysuckle Court will be covered in Phase 1, but parts are in Phase 8. Exact split on these awaited!

Walton Grange

  • Every street in Walton Grange is marked as split between Phase 1 and Phase 8.  We think that’s technically impossible – so we’re pressing for details!
  • New houses finished after the start of August will not necessarily be covered at all.
  • We’re campaigning for the whole estate to be cabled with at least fast broadband speeds – this is the part of the ward where copper cable speeds are lowest.

Walton Park

  • BT claim that fibre is available throughout Walton Park.  Please let us know if that’s not the case

Walton Hall

  • The houses near the OU are not mentioned at all – BT appear to have forgotten about them.  We’ve reminded them!  We’re waiting to hear.

Making our Paths Safe

The Focus team has been out and about getting dogs mess, leaves and branches removed from our local footpaths.  We want all to be safe and not to have to walk in the road.

If you spot any problems in your area do let the Focus team know as we will get it sorted out.

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans try to walk past the buses in Dunchurch Dale, Walnut Tree and near Maida Vale, Monkston Park

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans try to walk past the buses in Dunchurch Dale, Walnut Tree and near Maida Vale, Monkston Park

Play Area Campaign Update

Where’s Our Playground?  That’s the cry of young children in Walton Grange.
Most of the houses and flats have now been built BUT there is nowhere for younger children to play.
The Lib Dems are demanding that something be done to provide a play area, possibly on the edge of the new development next to Walton Grange.  We’ll keep you posted and thanks to those local mums who have started a petition.

Some of the children campaigning for a play area in Walton Grange

Some of the children campaigning for a play area in Walton Grange

Support Local Charities

Please do support our local charities.

By shopping in the Walnut Tree Community Shop at 4 Fyfield Barrow, Walnut Tree, MK7 7AN you are supporting two MK charities:
The MK Reader Service — for people with visual impairment and
Rethink — a charity for those with mental illness.

There is also a Community Shop in Kingston, opposite Tesco’s entrance which supports:
Cross Roads Care – caring for elderly and vulnerable and supporting carers
MK Toy Library – toys on loan and advice on play

Your local Lib Dem Focus team think it is very good for our local community to have these shops in our area, please do support them.

Strategic Reserve Area Plans In

The Supplementary Planning Document has been approved and the first detailed planning applications for the strategic reserve area, for Eagle Farm and Glebe Farm have been submitted.

The SPD includes a single carriageway extension to the H10, with Britten Grove acting as a road link but closing the footpath.  What do you think?

If you want to know more please contact: Cllr. Jenni Ferrans: [email protected]

 

Bedgebury Place

The plans for 40 dwellings in Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill are in and are likely to go to the Committee at MK Council in the new year.  You can comment on the Council web site and let then know if you want to speak at the meeting.
Thank you to all the local residents who took part in the meetings.  The developers now seem to have listened to your views.  Your local Lib Dems are much happier with the latest version of the proposals; some of the parking and landscaping issues have been addressed.
For further information contact Jenni Ferrans on [email protected]

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans discuss the plans for new homes in Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans discuss the plans for new homes in Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill

Caldecotte Brook

Vanessa McPake, who is a member of the Internal Drainage Board for MK, has got them to dredge Caldecotte Brook and take away the silt too.
After meeting the river engineer she said: “It is essential that we prevent yet more flooding in Walnut Tree so I am delighted the work is going to be done right now”.

Vanessa McPake discussed arrangements with the engineer at the grill in Walnut Tree.

Vanessa McPake discussed arrangements with the engineer at the grill in Walnut Tree.