All Change – Bus Changes

Cllr Vanessa McPake checks the new bus timetables.

Cllr Vanessa McPake checks the new bus timetables.

Bus user, Vanessa McPake, says “Watch Out” as the new bus timetable comes in on 27th April. She is an active member of the MK Bus Users Group and has been checking out the changes for local residents.

No 8 bus route has a revised timetable; you may have to change in CMK if going westwards. Sunday services end earlier and will now be run by Arriva.

No 9 bus route – no change.

Nos 11/12 bus routes – some route changes with no buses to the hospital.

What a Mess!

Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq on the redway from Monkston to Kingston

Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq on the redway from Monkston to Kingston

That was the verdict of the Lib Dem Focus team when they walked up the main redway from Lindisfarne Drive, Monkston to Kingston.
They have been continuously reporting this litter and it is just not picked up by MK Council often enough.

Many local residents have been complaining about the mess. The Council appears to empty the nearby bin but just does not collect the litter that is all over the redway.

“We need spots like this cleared more often”, said Cllr Jenni Ferrans.  Once a month is nowhere near enough.

You’ve Done It! Fibre is Coming!

Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq - walton Grange will now get fibre this summer.

Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Subhan Shafiq – Walton Grange will now get fibre this summer.

Months of arguing by the Lib Dem Focus team and lots of lobbying from residents in Walton Grange has finally paid off.
Walton Grange will get fibre broadband this summer!

BT announced this week that they will upgrade cabinet 88, which serves the whole of Walton Grange, to fibre optic cables this summer in phase 1 of the BDUK project. With the very short distances across the estate, most households will be able to get almost the full 70mbps speed at their homes if they pay for the high speed contract. (Walton Grange at present is limited to about 0.25 mbps!)

Lower speed fibre contracts from BT that will give reliable broadband at around 30mbps currently start at £10 per month once you’ve got a landline. Other providers may start offering fibre contracts a few months later. Contracts for Fibre to the Premises should also be available after that – currently giving 140 mpbs.

Cllr Jenni Ferrans said “This is great news for the estate – an end to the misery of super-slow connections that cut out every 5 minutes! And it will be available for EVERYONE – flats – houses – original residents – new arrivals – everyone who wants fast
broadband, not just those who moved into houses early.”

Thanks for helping get the message across to BT. They were really aware of the message they were getting from residents!

Jenni said; “Now we need to work on other ‘not spots’ locally. Please see our guide to what’s proposed and contact us if you need fibre broadband and won’t get it under the current plans”.

300th Celebration!

300 editions and going strong! The Focus in Monkston ward

300 editions and going strong! The Focus in Monkston ward

The local Liberal Democrat team of Subhan Shafiq, Vanessa McPake and Jenni Ferrans celebrated the 300th edition of Focus with a tea party. Focus is delivered by local volunteers right across your area. The Lib Dems use Focus to tell you what’s going on and to ask your views. Thank you to the volunteer deliverers and to all those residents who tell us they enjoy reading Focus.

Did you know:

  • There have been Liberal or Liberal Democrat councillors in most of the ward continuously for the last 34 years.
  • They have all issued Focus all year round, not just at election times like some other parties.
  • Over the years, the Liberal or Liberal Democrat councillors have worked hard to get you schools, local play areas, clear up the litter and graffiti, stop flooding, fight for your broadband, get you bus stops and litter bins and much more.
  • The current Lib Dem Focus team are standing for election on 22nd May. Please vote for them to ensure they can keep helping local residents. Look for the bird on the ballot paper.

On 22nd May vote for the Lib Dem Focus team – the best people for the job.

Don’t leave it to others – they may be leaving it to you!

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.