Enforcement Action on unsightly area in Newport
The situation regarding the condition of the land known as Land East of 3 Canal Side West in Newport (just behind the play area) is coming to an end, with successful enforcement action through the courts having been taken against the owner.
The owner has been to subject of many complaints from residents for well over a year now. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council carried out an investigation, and agreed with residents that the land was in such a state as to be damaging to the amenity of the area.
Requests were made to the owner of the land to have the land tidied, but this did not happen. A Waste Land Notice under s215 of the Town and Country Planning Acts was therefore served on the 9 April 2008 and gave until the 11 June 2008 to comply with the notice by tidying the land.
Unfortunately the notice was not complied with and the owner made an Appeal to the
Goole Magistrates Court. The owner's appeal was rejected at the
Goole Magistrates Court on the 3 March 2009 and he was ordered to pay Costs of £3,449.50 The notice now takes effect on the 1 April 2009 and the land must be tidied by the 1 May 2009.
Hopefully this will send out a clear message to those individuals who persist with wanton acts of selfishness in allowing gardens and land in general to become eyesores, that damage the amenity of our communities.
Published Date:
28/03/2009
Modified Date:
28/03/2009
Gilberdyke and Howden Underage Drinking Project
Last Friday evening (the coldest of the year so far I’m told) I spent out in Gilberdyke with the Howden and Howdenshire Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s), Sgt Jo Mathews, and Safer Communities East Riding Officer Paul Green, as part of a campaign aimed at reducing the number of adults buying alcohol for underage drinkers. This was the second evening, with the first being in Howden a couple of weeks ago.
The shops and garages selling alcohol in Gilberdyke and Howden are very much aware of underage drinking and I believe that all outlets are very vigilant when it comes to sales of alcohol to people under 18. Unfortunately there are a number of adults (people over 18) who are legally buying alcohol - and then illegally either passing to or selling to underage drinkers, and it is those adults the campaign is aimed at.
If you know of shops in your area that sell alcohol to young people, or if you know of adults who buy it on their behalf please call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111
For more information on Safer Communities East Riding please go to the following website: http://www.safecommunities.eastriding.gov.uk/
Published Date:
28/03/2009
Modified Date:
28/03/2009
Review of Car Parking Charges
Review of Car Parking Charges
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
A series of roadshows are taking place across the East Riding in the next few weeks on the subject of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Parking Review Panel's proposals for new car parking car parking arrangements. The roadshows will be drop-in sessions, where people can view the proposals, ask questions and give comments.
All roadshows run between 4.30 and 7pm and are to be held as follows:
Thursday 2nd April @ Memorial Hall, Beverley.
Tuesday 7th April @ The Bell Hotel, Driffield
Monday 27th April @ Goole Leisure Centre
Thursday 30th @ Royal Spa, Bridlington
Monday 11th May @ Hornsea Secondary School
Thursday 14th May @ South Holderness Tech College, Preston
Monday 18th May @ Hessle Town Hall
Tuesday 21st May @ Pocklington Rugby Club
Thursday 11th June @ Cottingham Civic Hall
Many people have raised the issue of the proposed changes to car parking charges across the East Riding. I can see the pro's and the con's and have yet to decide which way I will vote when the vote comes to the Full Council. My decision, along with that of many fellow Councilors will only be made when we've seen the results of the consultation, therefore I encourage as many of you as possible to give your views.
Published Date:
28/03/2009
Modified Date:
28/03/2009
Police & Partners Working Together
One of my roles is to chair the Howden & Howdenshire Police and Partners Community Forum (PPCF), and we recently held the spring meeting in North Cave. The East Riding Safer and Stronger Communities Action Group (SSCAG) also attended; this group involves the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, the NHS, the Police Authority and various Council-led teams dealing with areas such as crime and disorder reduction, anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, youth offending, substance abuse, licensing, and the Children’s Service. Coupled with these were the Neighbourhood Action Teams (NATs) and last but not least the Local Action Teams (LATs).
The meeting was a chance for all the different partner organisations working in the area of crime and disorder to meet with the public as one, giving the opportunity to listen to residents and demonstrate that it is just not about the Police working alone, it is about Police Officers working with the Local Authority, partner organisations and the community to address problems in this area.
"It is important that we have partnership working and that all have a common approach to solving the problems we face. It is equally important that we do not have organisations duplicating their efforts and separately trying to do similar things with the same target groups of people, as this is a very inefficient use of time and resources".
"The East Riding is very much at the forefront within the whole country of having partners sitting around a table, cooperating and exploring ways of working together, both at the senior management level and at the delivery level. It is the local coordination of service delivery that is important, and the Local Action Teams (LATs) are at the forefront of this".
The subjects of speeding traffic and parking, along with incidents of anti-social behaviour were again the main issues raised by the public. It was acknowledged the East Riding as a whole is a safe place in which to live and crime levels are low. The subject of Police visibility was also discussed with the message coming across that people would like to see a greater Police presence.
Divisional Commander Chief Supt Paul Davison talked about confidence in the Police, but most of the concerns raised were about minor things, which cause residents real problems. He sympathised with the problem, but was not sure if speed cameras were the answer. He took the opportunity to ask residents about the scale of the problems of speeding vehicles in Howdenshire villages. He referred to the debate on public confidence and satisfaction with the Police in general, and specifically regarding people who were charged for speeding. He explained that cameras did reduce fatalities, but also caught people who were maybe only one or two mph over the speed limit but otherwise law-abiding citizens. He was more concerned about anti-social use of vehicles on the road, suggesting that the police should be stopping speeding before it happened and targeting those who used the roads recklessly, not those who occasionally strayed marginally over the speed limit.
"As Chairman of the Police Authority Forum I welcome the Police and partners listening to what residents have to say, and how changes and improvements can be made. I am more of a critical friend to the Police, and as such I understand some of the problems they face, mainly from targets imposed by central Government. I feel they need to be unshackled from the bureaucracy they are burdened with and allowed to get on with the job of being policemen and policewomen. I am a great supporter of PCSOs who are probably the nearest thing we will get to a local Bobby; they have a positive influence particularly with young people. The PCSOs show respect to the young kids, and this respect is returned multiplied and does a lot to address the issues of anti-social behaviour".
Published Date:
28/03/2009
Modified Date:
28/03/2009
Gilberdyke's Flooding Problems
For more information go to:
http://paul-robinson-howdenshire.blogpot.comRegarding the flooding in Gilberdyke, not only over the recent weeks, but something evidence suggests has been ongoing and getting steadily worse over the last 30 years or so. “I feel it is now time to look at a positive approach to permanently alleviate Gilberdyke’s flooding problems, as the effect of global warming increases the frequency”.
A great quantity of the recent floodwater was pumped through the foul water drainage system, which is not designed for or capable of moving large amounts of water quickly. This is one of the reasons many residents suffered with floodwater, and blocked drains for many days after the initial rainfall. Gilberdyke Primary School remained closed not because of direct flooding or damage - but simply because the toilets could not be flushed as a result of the foul water drains being full, not withstanding the Yorkshire Water pumping station working constantly for a number of days.
“Although Gilberdyke has surface water drainage problems within the village boundary resulting from dykes being blocked, some having been filled in by developers and householders, and houses built lower than the roads. The evidence shows that it doesn’t really matter what work is done to the surface water drains within the confines of the village, the water will not drain from the village to the River”.
The area south of the railway, including the dykes in front of the farms on Bellasize Lane, into which the surface water from the west side of Gilberdyke discharges were also found to be flooded, with water across the road in places. “Ironically at the same time the 3 large dykes running down to the River Ouse had a normal level of water at the river end, this raises the question of whether these dykes were not blocked or badly maintained (the evidence of the photographs below would indicate this may be the case). It was also noticeable that a number of fields were flooded in the Bellasize and Bennetland areas and south towards the river; therefore it is clearly not just householders who are suffering but also farmers who were estimated to have had 3,500 acres under water”.
Mr Robin Sweeting in last week’s letters section of the Goole Times raised an interesting point, with which I totally agree. “It is unacceptable for Gilberdyke residents to be knee deep in flood water within their homes, because the section where a major dyke enters the river, cannot be cleaned of silt build up for the sake of protecting some reed beds. If these reed beds are so precious - dig them up and move them or let Natural England and/or the Environment Agency come and explain to Gilberdyke residents exactly why not”!
I’m led to believe there is a Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board proposal for improving the flow of surface water from Gilberdyke and the land south to the river that was generated over 10 years ago. This includes plans for a new cross dyke to bring the main dykes together, deepening and regrading of existing dykes, and the installation of a pumping station, similar to the one exiting at Yokefleet, to pump the water up and over into the river. The effect of this would be to ensure surface water drains quickly from Gilberdyke and the surrounding communities.
I would like to offer my total support for moving forward on this proposal, or a variation, as soon as possible. I have mentioned this to my ERYC colleagues who are supportive. There would appear to be two main issues in moving this forward, obtaining the landowners permission for the project and seeking funding. I am led to believe that the landowners would be receptive to the project; therefore the big issue would be the funding, which may not be so difficult, especially with the support of farmers and the community as a whole. An amount of say £1 million could be obtained if there is the will, and at this time there is no doubt a considerable amount of will.
To become reality this project must first have the support of the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board without which there would be no possibility of moving forward. The Drainage Board must then take a lead on this, working together with Environment Agency, the communities affected, and the local councillors, and MEPs to make this reality.
Published Date:
28/07/2007
Modified Date:
28/07/2007