Tories Stop Grit Bins

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!

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Vanessa McPake checking the existing grit bins in Walnut Tree and Subhan Shafiq finding the bits of the bin in Tewkesbury Lane, Monkston Park.

 

Litter Again!

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 with 8 bags of rubbish put out too late in Perivale, Monkston Park

Vanessa McPake and Subhan Shafiq contacted MK Council to remove this lot from Perivale, Monkston Park.

Jenni Ferrans at littered areas near the bus stop and play areas in Walnut Tree.

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.

Crime in Our Area

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:

  • Keep doors/windows locked, even if you are only in the garden
  • Keep valuables out of sight
  • Keep house/car keys out of reach and sight of doors and windows
  • Lock away ladders, garden tools etc that burglars could use to gain access to your home
  • Mark your valuables using a UV marker pen
  • And don’t leave your SatNavs in your car!

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

 

Tree Destruction

Sadly, some young hooligans have destroyed four of the seven trees next to Heronsbrook Meeting Place.  This land is owned by the Parks Trust who will replace the trees in the spring.  Vanessa McPake has had discussions with the police and the Parks Trust.  They are both keeping an eye on the area.  The police say if you spot anyone causing damage please report it straight away by ringing 101.

subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake checking the damaged trees and the Police notice near Heronsbrook Meeting Place, Walnut Tree

Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake at the site next to Heronsbrook Meeting Place with the broken trees and the police notice.

Lib Dem Success

Cllr. Subhan Shafiq reported the broken wooden fencing along Lichfield Down, Walnut Tree and thanks to pressure from the Lib Dem Focus team it is now fixed at the key junction with Hockliffe Brae.

Vanessa McPake has also reported the other stretch of broken fencing along Lichfield Down, near the shop and the school and been told it too will shortly be fixed, once parts arrive.

Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake with the workmen on Lichfield Down

Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake with the workmen on Lichfield Down

Eastern Expansion – Have Your Say

MK Council is consulting on the future of the land around the A421 on the eastern edge of Milton Keynes, including Church Farm.

Developments are decided in three stages, with consultation at each stage, and it’s important to understand that what is decided at each stage can’t normally be changed later:

Stage 1 – this one – the brief.  This stage will set what is included in this development, eg. whether a main road or a community facility is there or not.  That much will be fixed now.   If you do want to comment at this level, the time to do it is now!

They’ll also give an outline of their intended layout, so that you can influence their thoughts before they draw up the final outline plan for stage 2.

Stage 2: Outline Plan – typically this sets the access roads and the basic layout of what goes where. It’s often accompanied by a “design code” which sets the look and feel of the development.

Stage 3: Detailed plans of each part – this sets the fine details of what goes where and the detailed design.

There will be exhibitions for you to see the Stage 1 brief and make comments on:

Wednesday 4 September, 5.30pm-7.30pm
At: Wavendon Community Centre, Walton Road, Wavendon

Thursday 12 September, 5.00pm-7.30pm
At: The Memorial Hall, High Street, Woburn Sands

 

Saturday 14th September, 2.00pm-4.00pm
At: Wavendon Gate Pavilion, Isaacson Drive, Wavendon Gate, MK7 7RZ

There are also copies in libraries and on MK Council’s website under Planning Policy.

Cllr Jenni Ferrans checks the proposals for the new development along the A421.

Cllr Jenni Ferrans checks the proposals for the new development along the A421.

Lotsa Litter!

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 in Walnut Tree.

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.

Bad Buses

Vanessa McPake checks the reliability of the no 12 bus.

Vanessa McPake checks the reliability of the buses after lots of complaints

Ever since the Conservative run MK Council cut the bus subsidy by nearly £1/2 million, your local Lib Dem team has been concerned about the quality of the service.

Bus user, Vanessa McPake, has been keeping an eye on the bus changes in our area since the new timetable came into force.  She has been contacted by residents about the nos. 8 & 9 services not running on time.

Do tell Vanessa by providing: the date location of bus stop time the bus was supposed to arrive time it did arrive.

She will then take up the problems with Arriva who run these services

Cleaning up the Mess

Jenni Ferrans and Vanessa McPake have had the dog mess removed from Birdlip Lane, between Kents Hill and Walnut Tree.

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans with more dog mess at Birdlip Lane, between Kents Hill and Walnut Tree.

Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans with more dog mess at Birdlip Lane, between Kents Hill and Walnut Tree.

Vanessa McPake has got this lot removed from the footpath opposite Bartholomew Close, Walton Park. She is now working to get a bin put in.

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If you have a problem with dog mess near you, please let us know roughly what time of day the mess appears as that will help Council officers to catch the offenders.