Kingsway Villagers

Recently, two of our Residents Association committee members have resigned due to personal commitments, leaving us a little short-handed.

In addition, the early resignation of another member left us one short, so we could also use one (or more) additional “General” Committee Members to help “lighten the load”.

Consequently we have need of volunteers to fill the following posts:

• Secretary
• Press Secretary
• General Member(s)

The roles are not too demanding, the Secretary is responsible for preparing meeting minutes and the Press Secretary generally prepares a monthly article for the Quedgeley News and other local media. The “General Member(s)” would simply help lighten the load for the rest of us by getting involved in dealing with local problems and assisting in organising local events.

The Committee meets one evening per month (normally at a local address), and once a quarter for public meetings, and several of us attend other local meetings and events, (‘though these are – obviously – voluntary).

No experience is necessary and there are no age limits (either way), so – if you have a little time to spare and would like to help your local community, please post here, contact Barry Kirby (or any comittee member) directly, or ask at our next Public Meeting (31st May).

Hi Folks,

A quick reminder that the next KRA meeting is on the 31st May 2011.

Guest speakers include:
Ian Mean – Editor In Chief of the Citizen

I will put more down as they confirm, but I am expecting reports from the QUVL, the Police and our City Councillor(s).

Cheers,
Barry
Chair – Kingsway Residents Association.

Kingsway Village Residents Association is holding a Quiz Night on Friday 8th April – 8PM, at The Little Thatch (Bristol Road, Quedgeley).

Teams consisting of up to 4 players can enter for £5 per team.
Prizes will be awarded to the first 3 teams.

If you don’t have any partners but would like to take part, please come along and we’ll try to find you some team-mates.

My apologies for the late post (although the above poster has been displayed in various local spots) – just another victim of my recent problems!

Clive

We are fairly new to Kingsway and this web site. We were unable to make the meeting last week due to work commitments and would like to know if there are any minutes done that are put on here or sent to our homes?

We had a leaflet delivered last week which stated that a Steering Group would be ’round on 24th Feb to do a survey of the village. We had no callers and no survey was posted through the door as promised.

During the "Residents Association resurrection meeting " of 22/10/2009, it was generally agreed that the Association should: "Present a focussed approach to the QUVL and apply pressure on them to address issues which are adversely affecting residents (eg: builders hours, construction traffic etc)"

At the last Residents Association committee meeting, we discussed the issue, which – it was noted – has continued to plague local residents.

During the AGM (minutes here), Andy Smith (QUVL) invited local residents to report breaches in the agreement to "Planning Enforcement Officer – Andy Birchley".

To facilitate this, the Residents Association has agreed (with your help) to compile lists of such problems, which we will submit (as appropriate) on a monthy basis, (to show it is indeed a very real problem which needs solving).

Thus the RA has asked me to invite you all to submit (via comments on this post), any sightings of constructor’s traffic, with as much info’ as possible… IE:

Regards,
Clive

I wish to provide clarity with regard to my recent resignation from the Kingsway Residents Association Committee, after I joined with the clear intensions of finding collective ways forward in stamping-out Anti Social Behaviour in our community – as those who have, and continued to endure serious Anti Social Behaviour…

I have waited until now as I have made every effort to persuade those responsible to investigate the circumstances which resulted in my resignation in protest toward the manner in-which Emily Jones was allowed to make socially dividing & discriminative comments during the last Residents Meeting in Nov’ 2010; comments which were supported by Barry Kirby (Chair) Kingsway Residents Association, and went unchallenged by Cllr: Wood (who was equally present at the meeting). Emily Jones considered residents used “snobbery” when reporting Anti Social Behaviour, and have no idea about the place – nor the Citizen Newspaper!

I registered a complaint with Emily Jones’ Senior Officers within Gloucester City Homes, and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team who are responsible for Project Solace (including Gloucester Police Chief Constable, Mr Tony Melville). Emily Jones was interviewed, and firmly denied ever making the comments. Evidence was later provided – and confirmed by others who recall such comments being made at the meeting (other committee members). Regardless, and thereafter acknowledging such comment was made, Emily Jones (who made the comments in public) refused to apologise in public, or stand down from her highly responsible position of trust in the community after denying she made the comments, and only acknowledged them after considerable effort was made to confirm the comments were fact!

Victoria King-Low (Senior Officer) made no further decision beyond her original interview of Emily Jones. Barry Kirby (Chair) Kingsway Residents Association, acknowledged himself that Emily Jones made the comment – and supported her words. However, he accepted that her comments be removed from the formal minutes of the meeting and rearranged via “discrete wording” in order to prevent them from being seen by the wider community. I made clear my own view of concerns which might be caused if read by the wider community. Mr Kirby stated: "However, I think the point about not necessarily including it in the minutes is fair, in terms of repeating it verbatim, but I think this can be easily achieved by some discrete wording. Her words, whilst right for the context of the meeting, would not come across the same when read cold"!

I was alarmed and totally disgusted by the alteration of the formal minutes of the Kingsway Residents Association, just to protect someone making such disgraceful socially dividing discrimination towards those in the community who suffer, and report Anti-Social Behaviour. I made clear that I wanted no part as a committee member in being involved in this improper behaviour when we are expected to be in place as representatives for – and as part of – this community. I resigned for these reasons, and currently await confirmation from those responsible in providing their final statements, in order for my request for the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate the actions of those who should act responsibly, and not make public statements of this kind or be protected when making such disgraceful statements by their senior officers.

I hope others in this community will consider my actions understandable when having factual awareness of such matters, and equally know that they were receiving selective alteration by others within the committee in order to protect individuals making such comments, instead of protecting those who suffer or need to report suffering Anti Social Behaviour with those who make remarks of this kind and are equally provided a platform by the Kingsway Residents Association, in order to voice them!