Kents Hill Playing Fields – More Help Needed!

MK Council have invited community organisations to bid to take over the playing fields and the pavilion at Kents Hill.
But that’s not all.  They have also included the footpath, the basketball court, and the play area!
And now MK Council is also proposing changing the use of the field from football and general recreation, to just football!

The Council says this is to ensure better community use of the facilities.  The Focus team says it’s more likely to result in the facilities being closed to the general public!

Public access to Kents Hill playing fields is threatened

Cllrs Jenni Ferrans and Vanessa McPake at the playing fields

MK Wanderers want to bid for the pavilion and playing fields – but they have no interest in the rest.
Residents want the public use of part of the playing fields to continue, as well as the basketball court, and the footpath – and MK Wanderers agree.

Cllr Jenni Ferrans says “If MK Wanderers have to take the lot – and pay for it’s upkeep, they will need to raise money.  And that could mean closing off of some of the facilities except when people pay.  And the Focus team has discovered that the footpath is not a right of way, so a future owner could close that too!  It’s important to understand that MK Wanderers DON’T WANT this!  They want to keep everything public.  They would like to take ownership of the fields and the pavilion, because that makes it easier for them to raise money for their upkeep, but they have no intention of closing anything to the public.

Help Needed
Thank you to the many people who have supported our application to make the footpath a public right of way.  The application has gone in, and we’ll let you know when the DCC committee are to hear it. If you’ve not given evidence, please sign our petition – and tell your friends and neighbours!

But we need more help.  MK Council are consulting on the Playing Fields Strategy – and that’s where they are proposing to make the fields for football only.  You can read the strategy here.  Please respond to the consultation and tell them whether you think the fields should be just for football or for general use, by 11th November – and tell your friends!

And beyond that, we need to safeguard the public use of the basketball court and the play area too.  So please sign our petition to let MK Council know how residents feel.

And please let your friends and neighbours know!

Landscaping Disaster

MK Council has formally admitted that they are months behind with cutting back the bushes and removing weeds and brambles – and that urgent jobs weren’t being prioritised and have waited for months. They are now promising to get the problem under control with a new contract and work on the helpline.  We’ve put in requests for over a dozen urgent jobs that are still waiting!

Your Lib Dem Focus team thanks local residents who are helping do the work which the Council should be doing!
In Beales Lane, Cllr Subhan Shafiq celebrated with the resident who had got the grass cut – but they have not cut the weeds!
And in Pyxe Court, Cllr Jenni Ferrans finds the street sign still invisible behind bushes.

Landscaping-WaltonPark-SS-JF

 

Lilleshall Developments

Homes coming on the site at Lilleshall AvenueThe plot on the corner of Lilleshall Avenue and Flaxley Gate, Monkston is shortly to be developed.  Thank you to residents who took part in our survey on options for the site. Lets hope that developers take some notice!

Please send us your email address if you want us to let you know when there are firm plans, so that you can have your say.

H9 Closure

Roadworks close the H9 till Spring 2015The H9 will be closed near Kingston roundabout until spring 2015 while a new underpass is constructed underneath it. The underpass will serve new housing beyond the roundabout.
The road is still open from the V11 as far as the entrances to the houses in Wavendon Gate, and the businesses in Brinklow.

The roadworks are causing queues on the V11.  Please remember to leave room for people to cross the V11 into and out of estates.  Thank you.

Street Lights

Light fixed at Goldilocks, Walnut TreeWith the darker evenings, your Lib Dem Focus team has been trying to get some lighting problems sorted out asap. Some lights don’t work, some flash, some are wasting electricity by being on all day!

Cllr Vanessa McPake (left with local residents) got the street light sorted out in Goldilocks, Walnut Tree.

 

 

 

Light on all day at Walton RdCllr Subhan Shafiq (right with resident) is still working with MK Council on the street light in Walton Road, Walnut Tree, which had been day burning for some months.

If you spot a street light that is not working properly then tell your Lib Dem councillors.

Potholes in Lichfield Down

Pothole fixed on Lichfield DownAfter a lot of pressure from your Lib DemFocus team, some of the potholes in Lichfield Down, Walnut Tree are beginning to be fixed BUT the Council are still saying they must be 50cm deep before they will repair them!  Your councillors will still keep leaning on the council.
More potholes to go on Lichfield DownThe Lib Dems still want the whole of Lichfield Down re-surfaced, and not this piecemeal work, to ensure car drivers, cyclists and bus users have a less bumpy trip.

 

Pigeons Again

Pigeon mess at Brecon Court underpassPigeons are now causing problems under the bridge off Brecon Court, Monkston (above).  Vanessa McPake has added it to list of problem bridges.

Sadly the new anti-pigeon netting we had installed in Birdlip Lane and Tewkesbury Lane was vandalised.  MK Council have told us they are reinstalling it in Tewksbury Lane, and having a general clean up of all 3 sites.