Cleaning Up the Litter

The Focus team are still encountering littered areas in our ward.  Residents are NOT getting value for money from this service!Now at last the Council has agreed to provide details of the litter cleaning schedule, so that discussions can start on how the budget can best be used.  Cllr Jenni Ferrans comments “Residents have been suffering filthy paths and play areas and we have been asking for this information for months.  At last the Council is talking – but why has it taken so long?”

Vanessa McPake getting the litter collected in the Abbeydore play area in Monkston.

Vanessa McPake getting the litter collected in the Abbeydore play area in Monkston.

Street Light Fiasco

Lamppost-smallThe Liberal Democrats have found out that due to poor management by the Conservative run MK Council, the street light contractors have not been fixing the lights properly.  This has led to countless street lights being out.  Have you seen the stretch of the V10 with 5 out of 6 streets lights out?  Or the entrance to Walton Grange with lights out on both sides of the road?Your local Focus team are campaigning to get  to get street lights repaired, and properly, as soon as possible.
If you have a street light out on your local estate then let the Focus team know.
Just tell us the road name and the number/letter on the street light pole.

Cuts to Community Transport

smallbusYour local Lib Dem Focus team has just learnt that the Conservative run MK Council will be cutting the Community Transport scheme next year.   It looks as if 2/3rds of the current users will NOT be able to use the service.

The Liberal Democrats believe in standing up for our older and vulnerable people and will be fighting hard to stop this scandal.   We want to keep the service and ensure that our older people can still get out and around to their lunch clubs, doctors and the shops.

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!

GritB-Walton-tewkesbury-VM-SS

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

 

Can’t DIY? Try the HandyPerson

DIYThe Papworth Trust is now providing a handy-person service to do all the small jobs that you may find difficult.  The charge is £12 per hour for older or disabled people or £20 for others.  They also offer advice (for a fee) on getting larger jobs done.  Phone them on 01908 320059 to discuss your jobs.

NB apologies for the incorrect information in the Focus – an out of date leaflet was supplied to us.  These details are correct.

Bedgebury Place

Your Lib Dem Focus team would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to residents of Kents Hill who took part in the recent consultations on the new houses to be built in Bedgebury Place, Kents Hill.

Jenni Ferrans is meeting the developer and planning staff to ensure that your views are taken into account before the full planning application comes to Council for approval.  Issues raised included:

  • Driveways leading onto Tunbridge Grove close to the grid road
  • Tandem parking spaces that could lead to on-street congestion
  • Screening of the development from houses in Lamberhurst Grove
  • Access to the bin store for the flat to discourage rubbish dumping
  • Contributions to local services eg schools, health, and buses

Bedgebury Place fiencing-JF

Photo: Jenni Ferrans at the fenced off site.  The fencing has been repaired.

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.

Extra Money for Schools

The Liberal Democrat’s Pupil Premium provides schools with extra money to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This will help whole classes move forward faster together.
In our area all our schools have benefitted this year and will be getting even more next year:

SchoolworkMonkston Primary School £33,019
Kents Hill School £16,198
Walton High £127,092
Oakgrove School £147,028

Don’t forget that the Lib Dems in government have just announced free hot school meals for the under 7s.