Kingsway Villagers

There is a national campaign for the “Big Lunch” on the 19th July.

The concept is simple, you get together with your neighbours and have lunch! What I am suggesting is this could be an ideal event for us Kingsway folks to get to know each other a bit better.

So how about using this event to host a Kingsway Picnic? Everybody brings their picnic to the big area beside the big park and have a shared lunch. Maybe we could grow this a bit depending on interest, but lets walk before we run.

As a simple expression of interest (not binding), if you would be interested in attending, please put a comment on this post to that effect and if there is enough interest, then I will see about promoting it a bit more to make an event of it.

It is obviously only a month away, hence I’m suggesting a lower key event, but could still be fun none the less!

For more info on the national event, look here.

In my article entitled Quedgeley Community Police posted April 16th, I said:

Fraser Mackie has kindly agreed to furnish us with future copies of the monthly Police Crime Reports for Kingsway, which will give us some insight into local crime and ASB statistics on an ongoing basis

Fraser has kindly supplied the reports for April and May 2009. They are available on the Community Police Reports Page (at the bottom of that page).

Amongst other interesting details the reports show that:
In February 2009, 18 crimes were recorded in Kingsway Village.
In March 2009, 15 crimes were recorded in Kingsway Village.
In April 2009, 15 crimes were recorded in Kingsway Village.

Calls relating to Public Disorder are also reported for the Quedgeley area over those same 3 months, but were only reported seperately for Kingsway during April when 25 such offences were recorded.

Other reported details include information about the Youth Pod, the Pubwatch Scheme, the "Large crime series of damage to vehicles", and more…

My thanks to Fraser Mackie and the team for supplying this information and for all their hard work and help in keeping Kingsway Village a safe and pleasant place to live.

There has been much confusion about the role of the QUVL (Quedgeley Urban Village Ltd) and the various builders/developers who have played a part in the construction of Kingsway Village.

Part of the confusion arises from the fact that the QUVL are often referred to as “the developers”, whereas they are – in fact a consortium of (some of) the developers.

In February this year, Baz_k and I were invited to attend a meeting with Andrew Hunter where he explained the relationship between the various interested parties and invited me to create an article defining the areas of responsibility. It seems that many residents contact him (as a representative of the QUVL) for problems which are in fact, the responsibility of the various developers.

Andrew supplied several documents (plans) and gave me permission to edit and publish them here.

I have created a page for the Kingsway Developers where I have explained the set up, linked to the relevant plan documents and furnished details of contact numbers for all of the developers and the QUVL.

The relationship is not simple to explain! Baz_k put it quite well in an email to me when he said:

QUVL is a limited company comprising representation from George Wimpey, Taylor Woodrow, Persimmon and Robert Hitchin’s. They exist to provide the infrastructure (the main roads and large green areas). This is project managed by Andrew Hunter (who is a consultant employed by QUVL).

The land has been sold off in packets to various builders/developers. These include George Wimpey, Taylor Woodrow, Persimmon, Robert Hitchin’s, Barratt, Bryant, Lioncourt and Miller (I think that’s it, though others have been sub-sold again.

Its important to note that while Taylor Wimpey (for example) that sits on QUVL is the same overall company that is also a builder, it is different parts of the same business. Thus a complaint going to QUVL about a parcel of land which is owned by Taylor Wimpey will not be actioned by QUVL and should be redirected to the appropriate Taylor Wimpey representative.

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get this published… See the first part of my article entitled School Closed for Elections for the reason(s) why!

I received this message from Andrew Hunter (QUVL Project Manager):

We have received consistent complaints about unauthorised/dangerous parking in Woodvale, Thatcham Ave’ and Valley Gardens and the problem seems to have escalated.

Dangerous or inconsiderate parking only puts peoples lives at risk and is frustrating for everyone. Therefore, CPS have been to site over the last few days to deal with this issue.

Having reviewed our comments made earlier this year, QUVL’s position has not changed (I refer to our last statement in mid April):

• Residents should not park on the double yellow lines (where visible) – there are good reasons for this!
• Residents should not park on pavements (whether it is just a wheel) that could restrict pedestrian access in any form.
• Residents should not park in areas that restrict visibility or present a risk (IE: on corners, etc), although these areas generally do have lines.
• QUVL has a duty of care to ensure that we have acted responsibly.
  As a father myself, I would not want to have to answer to a child’s parents as to why an accident happened or how it may have been prevented. Health and safety is our top priority and is not negotiable. I think the majority would support me here.

Last year I came to a compromise with GCC that double yellow lines along both sides of the roads was waived (under our planning conditions to provide a school safety zone), and that specific areas for parking were granted by QUVL to ease the parking problem. Clamping would also not be imposed, if this situation was not abused. Clearly it has been.

I have asked CPS to erect new signs to all areas that they intend to patrol. these signs clearly indicate the restrictions. Anyone who feels that they have been improperly clamped should submit their appeal to CPS.

Just to let people know that someone is stealing pots from gardens in Kingsway.

We had our two bay trees (in granite cube shaped pots) stolen last night (late evening of 10/6/09 – early hours of 11/6/09).
The thieves kindly shut our gate after their getaway, which amazed us!

The trees must have been put into a vehicle as they would be too heavy to carry down the road. The pots are heavy in themselves, but once the soil, trees and decorative stones are added, they weigh a tonne!

The pots and trees have great sentimental value to us, which is what upsets us more than the cash value of replacing them.

If anyone has noticed their neighbours have recently added two bay trees to their garden, please do the right thing by reporting it.

If the thieves are reading this blog, please, have a heart and put them back.

Hi Folks,

On the off chance…

Does anyone commute daily to Filton, Bristol (or through it) and would like to share some of the costs?

I work next to Airbus (or GKN as it is now) and in keeping with trying to only have one car, would be more than happy to contribute to expenses to get a lift.

If you do, and would be willing, please drop me an email at mrbpkirby@hotmail.com

Cheers,

Baz