Jenni and Vanessa check the extent of bushes overgrown blocking paths.
Jenni is leaning hard on the developer of the vacant plot near Perivale to clear the footpath in Queensbury Lane, Monkston Park so that residents can get through to school and to shop. The path over to Oakgrove has already been cleared on the Monkston Park side after residents asked her for help.
Vanessa has asked for this bush to be pruned on Monkston Park and Subhan the one on Monkston as they block the pavement.
Dumped rubbish continues to be a problem all around our ward. The Focus Team have had several lots removed.
Vanessa McPake has got this rubbish cleared from Wadesmill Lane near Caldecotte Brook, Walnut Tree.
Jenni Ferrans has got this rubbish cleared from Kilwinning Drive roundabout in Monkston.
Jenni Ferrans and Vanessa McPake look for the picnic table. Inset: the damaged tree dumped in Crowborough Lane.
Over the past two months a gang of young people seem to have been having a mindless field day in Kents Hill Park and the young children’s play area.
Some trees, the stakes supporting the trees and the main picnic table and bench have been removed from in and around the play area. Worse, all were then dumped in the middle of Crowborough Lane!
Many thanks to the residents who informed the police and moved stuff out of the road!
The Focus team are trying to get the picnic bench and trees replaced and they have asked the Police to patrol or install a camera for a while to see if they can catch the offenders.
Groundsel Close’s name plate was almost covered until the Focus team intervened.
Over the summer the Lib Dem Focus team has got many street signs cleared of bushes but the work continues as evergreen bushes are still spreading. Don’t forget to tell the Focus team if your street name plate is covered up.
This was the only “safe” footpath out of Walton Grange!
“What a mess”, that was the verdict of the Lib Dem Monkston Focus team when they recently visited the temporary footpath out of Walton Grange. “We have had many new developments in our area but we have never seen such a mess!”, continued the Focus team.
The temporary footpath is the only safe way out of the estate to walk to school, go shopping, get onto the redways to cycle and for many dog walkers. It leads into Beales Lane.
But at present, with the latest houses being built, the builders’ contractors have managed to dump rubble and mud along the footpath so that it is very dangerous. And there were lorries and dumper trucks manoeuvring round and parked across the entrance!
The Lib Dems have complained to the developers in the strongest terms and have been told they will ensure pedestrians can get through. We wait to see!
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Subhan Shafiq said: “As a new dad, I could not have got my pram up this footpath. It is a disgrace and dangerous for kids. Why is the Council allowing this to go on?”
SUCCESS! The path surface was compacted again and properly fenced and the material store moved within a few days.
Street lights come on again in Monkston Park thanks to Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq
The Lib Dem Focus team discovered that the contractor engaged by the Tory-run Council to fi street lights has been fixing them wrongly – and there was a FOUR MONTH backlog as a result!
Residents in Monkston Park asked for help before Christmas when one in 5 of their street lights were out – and they were getting no response from MK Council! We reported all the lights, and chased up to find out what was happening. at last, thanks to our pressure, the Conservative-run MK Council has got on top of their contractor and nearly all are now repaired.
UPDATE: after continuing problems, hitting Kents Hill and Walnut Tree among other estates, the Council changed contractor recently. Let us know if you have problems with the new contractor! Any lights not working or flashing, or on during the day should be fixed within 3 weeks of your reporting them to MK Council.
Residents in Walton Park and Walnut Tree get cut off whenever Wadesmill Lane floods.
Vanessa McPake has got the brook dredged, the grill cleared, and the debris and rubbish removed to prevent future flooding.
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.
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, 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.