Kingsway Villagers

Hi all,

(I have been reading this site for some time but never before registered).

I am in the process of working through the legal options reference some anti social behaviour that affects us all local to Thatcham Avenue in the Bryant show home region and has been occurring for some time.

IE: Dangerous car parking, late-night noise etc.

If anyone wants to contact/support me on this issue, please use this forum and we can arrange for me to show you the current status.

I’ve only taken this on because my family’s quality of life is being severely diminished by some people who do not care for the welfare of others.

Sorry for the heavy sentiment!

Thanks
DJE

Does anyone have any idea when all the hardcore is going to removed from Woodvale (towards the business park) so that we can use the road to go towards the Naas Lane roundabout?

It is really starting to irk me that we cant use a road that has been laid and is intended for the purpose yet we have to go on some silly detour which is about a mile just to get to a place that is about 300 yards from the estate, please somebody have some good news?

There have been numerous reports of local residents riding mopeds on Kingsway in a dangerous manner. I myself witnessed 3 youths on one moped (with no crash helmets), speeding along Thatcham Avenue recently.

Quedgeley Community Police (Gloucester South SCT) have asked me to bring this issue to your attention by publishing the following:

We’ve had a few reports recently of mopeds being riden around Kingsway estate, with little or no consideration to anyone else in the area.
However, we are a bit short of information as to who might be doing this.

The Police are looking for information as to what bikes are being riden anti-socially, with a view to speaking to the rider(s) and enforcing any relevant piece of road legislation where necessary.

Info’ that I would require is: Time, date, which road, what the registration number is, and a quick description of why it was dangerous/careless/anti-social.

You can contact the local Police by ringing 0845 0901234 and asking for the Quedgeley Police Station.
Alternatively – for incidents of dangerous driving / riding without crash helmets etc – you should dial 999.

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.

Several cars were clamped in Kingsway Village this morning and it’s likely to happen again.

After hearing some details from local residents, I was concerned that the clamping / removal was done in a seemingly ad-hoc fashion so I spoke to Andrew Hunter (QUVL) to check that the company levying the fines was legitimate (bearing in mind that recent BBC Watchdog reports have been broadcast about bogus clamping companies).

Mr Hunter said that the only company authorised to clamp on Kingsway is CPS Enforcement and residents should check to make sure that they don’t pay fines to anybody else. He said that cars were clamped for parking on double-yellow lines on Woodvale (the main bus route) and Valley Gardens (where folks tend to park on bends and cause severe problems for passing traffic).

Evidently some cars were also clamped on other roads (Thatcham Avenue for instance) but clamps were removed without charge (although it seems that some of those people did pay to have the clamps removed but AH said that he would try to get those fines refunded).

Just to reiterate some points covered in previous discussions, the roads in Kingsway are currently owned by the QUVL and – as such – are not subject to “normal” restrictions, but – as private owners – the QUVL have the right to enforce parking restrictions by clamping vehicles, and charging for removal of the clamps.

Parking in Kingsway Village has been a problem for a long time now and doesn’t look like it will get any better. Unfortunately the Governement Guidelines of 1 car-space per family on new-build properties are hopelessly inadequate for modern-day families in commuter areas like Kingsway and have led to people ignoring restrictions, and – unfortunately – to some parking on their front gardens and a lot of irresponsible parking on pavements, bends and junctions!

Following discussions between the Residents Association and Andrew Hunter last year, some concessions were made and sections of the double-yellow lines on Thatcham Avenue (and other roads) were painted out to allow some parking areas.

Sadly the lack of road surface on Thatcham Avenue has meant that some of the double-yellow lines have worn off and much of the “black-out paint” is completely gone… so I have also reported this to Mr Hunter by Email.