Parking and Noise
Created by DJEHi 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
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on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
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August 24th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Hi DJE,
Thanks for joining in
Sorry it had to be such undesirable circumstances that prompted you to post!
I’ve heard similar complaints from many people in Kingsway over the last year or so, so I imagine you will have much sympathy and will hopefully get some support in dealing with your problem.
Personally, although I often hear noises from folks retrurning home late at night (particularly at weekends) as they travel down Thatcham Avenue, I am too far away to be bothered by the problems you’re talking about.
Please feel free to log issues using our Community Polce Report form and let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
Good Luck
August 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Hi DJE,
Count me in, glad i’m not the only one to be thinking the same thing. I can’t take any more of it!
August 24th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Hello G Note,
Thanks for the support. I am also relieved that it isn’t just me. I’m not sure as to the best way to show you the status of my actions to date! I’m happy to post my house number here or I can give you my email address. Is there a secure forum to do this? (new to the site, so still feeling my way around)!
August 24th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hi Neighbours,
I’m actually considering adding “enhanced user-profiles” as part of my birthday celebrations and I think that will include a method of "private messaging" directly between users.
For now though, as soon as one of you gives me explicit permission/instruction to do so, I will send an email to the other with details of your email address.
(Given the sensitivity of the subject matter I’d suggest you don’t publicise your address)!
With a service like that, who needs technology?
August 24th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hello DJE,
You can count me in also, I think I know what you are talking about and am totally happy to lend any support.
August 24th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Hello Clive,
You have my permission to forward my email address to both G Note and Ashley should they wish it.
Ashley, thanks for your support also. Anyone who knows as to what and whom I am referring can probably guess my address. If anyone does, please don’t hesitate to knock my door.
Thanks
August 24th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Hi DJE,
You can count me in too! Please let me know what I can do to support you in this issue.
Kind Regards
August 24th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi DJE,
I’ve emailed G Note and DJE (seperately – as I don’t have permission to share their addresses with each-other).
If you wish to publish your address / ‘phone number / email address etc, go ahead. If not, I’ll copy the same mail to Miss Lane (if you say so).
Note: If you wish I will forward a copy to everybody who responds to this thread with the request… I just need your instruction.
August 24th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I would be very interested in knowing the options, as I was very concerned over shouting last night. If it’s what I think it is, I think there is a very legal footing for the car parking.
Clive can you pass my email on pls. As I’d like to help if poss’.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Although I don’t live in or Near to Thatcham Avenue, such action has my full support.
For those of you who read the various threads the Chairman and Secetary of the Residents Association have both resigned…
(Editors Note: For more on this subject, please read Shane’s post here).
I too am in the process of legal action with problems I have in Headley Court, however mine are not related to parking or anti-social behaviour, but merely a breech of planning.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hello Everyone,
Thanks for all the offers of support. Seeing as it appears to be the bulk of the people local to the issue, I have attached my email here for you all to mail me direct. That way I can forward to you the letters and mails I have sent to Wimpey, Environmental, Police, QUVL and the Gloucester Council.
My mail address is: david.kennedy@intier.com
Thanks
August 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
All,
Just a suggestion because of the significant correspondence I have, I am more than happy to arrange an informal meet at my house or anywhere else someone may suggest. I will also post my mobile number below for anyone who wishes to speak to me direct. I am available most of the time.
07739 931279
Thanks
August 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hi Neighbours,
Baz_k: DJE beat me to it… so now you can email him directly
shanemmc: Forgive me for splitting your post in two
DJE: If you’re meeting and would like me to attend (re: my local Police involvement) please let me know (Tel 722965)… and Good Luck
August 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Hi DJE
You can count on me.
I also live on Thatcham Ave’.
I have to say we have had young girls laid on the pavement drinking vodka drinks, playing music on their mobile phones, going across to the brook, pulling down their trousers and going to the toilet… and I have to pick up the bottles from the gutter the following morning!
I do wonder what I have moved into! And then there are the mopeds haring down going the wrong side of the island to keep up their speed, also the cars do the same. I have requested that there should be some speed ramps to slow them down but Clive has said before he is not in favour of speed ramps, but then again he does not live down this end of Thatcham Ave.
We did have an accident some weeks ago where a young girl came off a scooter at 2am. Again lots of other teenagers appreared, a lot of loud voices, no consideration for residents trying to sleep. Even the Police were laughing and joking with them! When I went out and spoke to the Police Officer at around 2-30am and said “can you not do something about this” his reply was “well you won’t have any more problems tonight”!
We rarely get a nights sleep and cannot wait to get out of Kingsway, although we do like the house, I just wish I had never come here.
Another thing: Why oh why can they not fix the bollards? Again a young lad and a girl come down each night 10:30-11pm and take them off and either throw them into the road making it difficult for traffic to get through. I hate to think if it were the emergency services trying to get through.
And they both look around for stones to throw at anything.
I just do not know where it is going to end.
It is just a nightmare.
Regards
Teddybear
August 25th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Although this doesn’t directly affect me at the moment, the problem will only be moved to another area, which then may well be my problem!
I’m happy to assist where I can if I’m of any use.
Baz/Clive: Do you have the contact details of the lady who attended the residents meeting with regard to offering workshops / activities for the young people on the Kingsway?
August 25th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
To add to that, I saw some interesting driving this week. Even with the bus bollard up in the underpass a car drove up on the pavement and squeezed through and continued his journey and there was a child in the car!
If parents are doing this then the bus bollard and the road bollard are pointless!
That’s no way to educate their children and it does make you wonder about their future(s)!
August 26th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Hello fellow aggrevated Residents.
I seem to have thrown a fresh match on the smoldering embers of discontent!
We are obviously all very disappointed about the way the community is going and while my issues are pretty specific to one locality, because of the overwhelming support I have received, then I wish to reciprocate that support to you all. To do this may I suggest the following:
I will have a local meet with the people who are directly affected with my ‘local’ issue.
Baz_K, Shanemmc and Clive, may I suggest that you call an extraordinary RA meeting and get things moving from a committee and agenda/issues perspective. Let’s have PC Mackie along too?
I’m fed up with all the anti-social stuff going on personally and I, like everyone who has contributed here, like my house, paid a lot of money for it and want to enjoy it and the surroundings.
I think I have received mails from everyone who is affected by my issues but if not, can you mail me so I do not miss off anyone when I pass out my correspondence to date.
Thanks
August 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Hello,
This may be of interest to you; in the Gloucester Citizen today (online version):
A CRACKDOWN on alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour is being launched in Coney Hill.
Police have the power to ban people from drinking in public, and last night promised to take action to combat the problem.
The power to stop people drinking in public is given to police by a Designated Public Place Order, known as a DPPO.
The scheme is being introduced in the Barnwood ward as a response to residents complaining about anti-social behaviour in Coney Hill Parade.
The new ruling makes it an offence to continue drinking within the designated area if asked to stop by a Policeman or PCSO.
Officers can then seize any opened or unopened container they consider to contain alcohol.
Inspector Jane Horrobin from the Hucclecote Inspector Neighbourhood Area said: “We are robustly working together with the Barnwood Community Partnership and the city council to enforce the DPPO and any breaches against it.
Hucclecote Safer Community Team is also working with Gloucester City Homes to look at measures to prevent repeat offenders.”
On Wednesday August 19, police arrested a 39-year-old man from Coney Hill for breaching the DPPO. At 4pm, officers requested that the man stop drinking but at 7pm he was spotted again and arrested.
The man was issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice.
Officers also arrested a 19-year-old man from Gloucester after he allegedly climbed a lamppost to pull a sign down about the DPPO.
He was charged with criminal damage and bailed to appear at Gloucester Magistrates’ Court on September 9.
Community beat officer PC Andy Plant said: “The residents of Coney Hill have had to suffer drink-related anti-social behaviour for too long. We now have the tools to deal with this effectively.
It is hoped that these arrests will send a clear message that police will enforce this new power with the aim of improving the quality of life for local residents.”
Deputy leader of the City Council Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey) said: “Anti-social behaviour is not going to be tolerated. We are supporting The Police in responding to the concerns of local residents and traders.
Residents are entitled to a good quality of life and this robust response to a local problem shows that we will do all that we can to make sure that they can have exactly that.”
With enough of you complaining making police PSCO’s aware etc, this could happen here.
As you say though they would move onto somewhere else.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Teddybear, G Note
I am just trying to arrange to speak to people local to me over then next couple of days. If you want to join in for a group chat and are willing to give me your email address then I can copy you in.
My mail address is in one of the posts above.
Thanks
August 26th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I share the same sentiments as daisily, although not directly affected these people could move into other areas of the estate and cause grief to other people. We already get some pesky scooters passing through our road and people parking too close to the junctions with Woodvale.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Hi neighbours,
Teddybear said:
Honestly, I hate speed humps (my car has dropped suspension and speed humps can be very costly, and dangerous). However, what I like is immaterial to be honest! What I said before was:
Daisily said:
Now you’re taxing my memory
Which meeting (where was it) and can you remember what she looked like?
Shiela Golder (Equals Youth Centre) has several youth outreach workers visiting Kingsway every week and the Youth Pod is very close to being installed now.
In addition, I have spoken to PC Fraser Mackie about the lane running from Thatcham to Chivenor / Copelands, but I really wasn’t aware of the extent of the problems in Thatcham Avenue (as teddybear said, I don’t live that far down). Although I have noticed a lot of Police vehicles in the vicinity on recent weekends.
DJE: I’m happy to meet and discuss this and we could most likely get Fraser to join us given sufficient notice and a mutually convenient time (he – obviously – works shifts and doesn’t live locally).
August 26th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Clive,
I think the meeting would be a good idea sooner rather than later, particulary after reading Miss C’s experiences today. In addition, it appears that there are a lot more supporters/readers of this site than actively participate. I have had quite a few e-mails from people directly after reading the above and have suggested to them that if an RA review takes some time to arrange, I am sure a more informal meeting can be arranged at shorter notice.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Hi Everyone
Just to say thankyou for your replies and support to my grumbles on the blog.
teddybear.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Lol…. Not sure what she looked like but the meeting was I think in Quedgeley Community Centre? There was a guy who was going to speak as a guest speaker but he didnt turn up?
Do we have feedback on how this is going? Can we suggest areas that they target for their outreach?
Cheers
August 26th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I know who you mean Daisily, I will look it up in my book!
August 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Hi Neighbours,
DJE: I agree, a “non-formal meeting” would be much faster.
That’s for sure… In my post Happy Birthday Kingsway Villagers I said:
It’s a very common phenomenon for forums/blogs etc, there are always far more viewers than "contributors".
teddybear: You are most welcome; glad to hear you are getting some support
Daisily: Ahhhh… That meeting
I remember it too. I also remember the person concerned, ‘though I’m fairly certain she’s moved on and been replaced by Jenna Wood.
She was (I think) involved with the YCPT and you can contact them via their page on this site: Youth Crime Prevention Team.
Baz_k: Be happy if you’d check that… I’m not famous for the accuracy of my memory
August 29th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Hi guys and Clive,
I agree regarding the meetings:- my work email is shane.clark@gwas.nhs.uk feel free to email me.
Clive you have ALL my contact details and after reading this thread I am horrified as to the problems that appear to be ongoing. Can we press on with getting a new Residents Association formed and getting the relevant persons at this meeting as a matter of urgency?
Thoughts/comments?
August 31st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Hi Shane,
Re: Residents Association:
I’ve replied here.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Well it looks like things at Kingsway really are bad as even the biggest developer is now pulling out. Taylor Wimpey have informed me they have cancelled any future plans at Kingsway and the existing Bryant and George Wimpey developments will be the last.
September 12th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
As a potential buyer of one of the Bryant show homes I was concerned after reading this post and hearing about a bad reputation of Kingsway through friends, family and colleagues.
Therefore, my girlfriend and I visited the development over the past week on numerous occasions and found the area to be surprisingly quiet and having a community feel. Whilst discussing with local residents and speaking to Clive we were re-assured of the potential for the area and for it to be somewhere we would want to set up our family home.
On Friday evening (11th Sep) we parked up on the driveway of our potential house between 22.30 and 23.30. Whilst there were a number of people, cars, cyclists and mopeds traveling past the house, this was nothing more than to be expected.
HOWEVER, at 23.25 we were devastated to witness a young boy (approx 15yrs old) wearing dark clothing and covering his face with a scarf/hood, walking from the area of the Persimmon show homes to across the road from the Bryant sales office. We noted how he was hiding from every passing car and whilst speaking on his mobile phone was saying “I’ll do it now.” He then proceeded to up-root a newly placed road sign from outside number 64 Thatcham Avenue, run round the corner, dump the sign and run off into the area behind the houses.
We are upset that we now realise our perfect house is in an area where people do not respect others property and therefore we have decided to withdraw our offer on the property and look to live elsewhere. We are reasonable people and while normal traffic noise is acceptable, vandalism is not.
If any residents need us to provide further information or descriptions to the incident please let us know.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
If you you don’t bolt it down at night it walks off or gets ripped up and stolen or verbally abused by drunken teens. My brother in law is a Police Sergeant and when he is on duty he’s here a lot.
There is potential here but its a very long way off but at least The Police are on the case; what would be good is if the QUVL put the night security back in place for a bit, I am sure it would settle.
I am on my second house here at Kingsway and was the first resident on phase one all those years ago so have seen the place grow.
On G’s note, if the builders are pulling out this means the sevices like the shops and Health Centre don’t have to be built, as we will not have the people numbers required in the planning.
Anyone know how we are going on this as if they don’t build we may all have a legal case against The Developers, as it is part of what they were offering?
When Wimpey head office ring me this week I will ask the question.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Superman – may I ask if your family and friends live in Kingsway, and if so where they have got this “bad reputation” from? As you suggest if you were to visit Kingsway – in general you will find it to be a quiet area. It is inevitable that there will be those within estates (all estates) who do not adhere to the law, however they can be found everywhere – and not specially all located within Kingsway Village.
I read with conern that you have withdrawn your offer on a house within the village due to the ‘vandalism’ that you witnessed. I agree fully with yourself that vandalism is not to be tolerated and that it could be a sign of further problems, however I would like to point out that there are issues in general with regards to this particular area of the street, and I have no doubt in my mind that this is specially isolated to the house in question as the occupants have extreme problems getting their vehicle on the front lawn with it there! Whilst some people do not respect others, I would suggest that the vast majority of people living here want it to be a pleasant place to live
I hope you reconsider your search within Kingsway
September 14th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
The shops etc will still be going ahead, they are being built by Persimmon anyway. Taylor Wimpey just aren’t going to proceed with any of the future development they had planned. All it means is they will sell off their land to other developers, (there will be no legal footing with Taylor Wimpey but there may be with the QUVL).
Then again what Developer in their right mind would build here?
The shops that are going to be built are an afterthought. The shops are inadequate for an estate this size, and to be honest will make little difference when they are built. It will just be another place for more anti-social behaviour. Anyone who’s been to Tesco Quedgeley lately will know exactly what I’m talking about.
Personally If I knew then what I know now I would have bought a house in Coney Hill and saved myself a lot of money. Kingsway is getting worse, a lot worse! People can say all they like about community spirit, I’ve tried and failed. The type of people causing the problems here just don’t care, nothing can be done about it, it’s only going to get worse!
September 14th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
1 Week on Kingsway:
Monday: Cleared the large ditch that connects the balancing ponds. Not too bad, just 1 bag of discarded coke cans empty food cartoons etc. Replaced the road bollard that is always being thrown into the ditch.
Tuesday: Had to call The Police. The large group of children that gather every night thought it would be great idea to light a fire, they then broke into where they are building the houses and brought pallets / large planks and numerous bricks (about 40 in total).
Wednesday: (Morning) cleared the mess up again, returned everything back into the compound. Reported it to Perssimon sales office.
Had the Police back down at night, same thing happening again. By the time they got here they had gone.
Thursday: Quiet day ’til the afternoon after school, a group of about 8 children aged 7 to about 10 thought it would be great to climb to the top of the signs that advertise the different builders on site and then throw stones at it just for good measure.
Oh and not to forget our old friend the bollards; both back in the ditch again. One simple question: Why don’t they fix them permanently? Easy, problem solved!
Friday: A good day went to see some friends left early and back late. Peace and quiet. What bliss!
Saturday: Coming back down Thatcham, my right of way, the other driver – oblivious to the road signs – we met bumper to bumper. When I tried to explain what the large white arrow meant every other word was obscene!
Just for good measure had to type some important documents in the afternoon when I actually saw about six young hooligans cycle past our front and throw apples at our windows and doors and laugh about it!
Sunday: Went out all day house-hunting.
We were sold the dream of “Urban Village Life”. What a lie that was!
We have been let down by the Developers, QUVL, Gloucester City Council, you can take your pick they are all as bad as each other!
September 14th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
G funny you should say about Coney Hill, nearly purchased a house there a couple of years ago, wish we did now. To make it worse we have bought two on here since waiting for that urban village dream. We did live on an urban village by Fareham called Whiteley, it has a very nice shopping centre, a Tesco, wine bar, hotel, nice park with running track, complete paths, nice landscaping. We jumped at the chance to move here thinking it would be the same!
As the nights draw in and it gets colder, perhaps they will go home.
My understanding is the bollards are not finished hence have not been fixed in place. They should light up – but yes it’s another unfinished thing.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Superman, thanks you for your kind offer to help apportion responsibility to the sign uprooting. I saw other ‘things’ a couple of hours later that I reported to the Police and Wimpey. Funny how the sign is now back in situ although not anchored.
I am sorry you have decided not to live in Kingsway.
Clive, Baz, just a quick question if I may? The POD, what exactly is this? I assume it to be a physical structure where the youth can congregate. To do what exactly? And have I read correctly that there will be hours where access is granted unsupervised, (IE: at night)? This concerns me greatly. I also am concerned that numerous reports of antisocial behaviour on this blog relate to young people who do not live on Kingsway. If this is the case, then why are we trying so hard to site a facility in our village that will only serve to incentivise further visiting? I’m sorry but I can hear the Liberals screaming that it’s not fair on the young who do live here and do so law abidingly. Until there are cast iron guarentees that this facility will be rigourosly policed at all hours then I am dead against it and will oppose it’s placement here in writing and at any residents gathering. If liberal values cannot control the trouble makers, then I’m sorry but a conservative approach should be adopted until proven otherwise. Apologies to the law abiding youth who are caught up in this, but I (and many other adults) are the ones who paid hundreds of thousands of pounds for our houses, and we have a financial and moral responsibility to protect our environment and our assets.
September 15th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
DJE – Physically, the POD is essentially a Portacabin which is decked out for youth use. You can see it as it currently resides in the Parish Community Centre Car Park. I think Clive is in a better position to answer about the T’s&C’s.
While I understand the logic of what your saying in terms of not providing “attractions”, I also think that if The Youth have nothing provided for them to make use of, what do we expect for them to do? Just taking the issue of Kingsway Resident’s Youths, if there is nothing on here for them to do, then they will provide their own “entertainment”. It doesn’t take much imagination to realise what that will entail, especially as we live on a building site, just read the blog posts on here and I’m sure if we all think back to our youth then we will remember what we did!
Personally I think we need to engage and empower The Youth, not just turn our back on them and take the “not in my back yard” approach, which is what I hope The POD will be a catalyst for.
September 15th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
The comment by G Note “The type of people causing the problems here just don’t care” is IMHO very true. And they are also not on here or engaging in the community elsewhere (in a positive way).
However, it seems to me that there are a lot of passionate people who (despite what they say) do care a lot about what happens here albeit for varying motivations. If only we could yoke that passion as a positive force in the village, rather than arguing amongst ourselves. At the end of the day, we all want to live in a nice Village (and I want my Allotment and a tennis court to play on)
September 15th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Hi Superman,
Sorry to hear about your incident, I can understand why it might put you off.
Hi Neighbours,
A couple of points:
1. The Youth Pod is a temporary measure designed to offer something for local youths until the (permanent) local youth centre is built. As such there is no need for further planning permission (this was originally granted for The Pod to be sited on The School premises anyway).
So far as I know, the pod will be “manned” (supervised) at all times. I’m not sure that the staff won’t include younger people… but we can hardly set an age limit on what we deem suitable!
Re: Baz-k’s final paragraph (on this subject)… I agree 100%
2. Antisocial Behaviour… I don’t want to “belittle” our problems, I do know that there are some serious issues that need to be addressed, but I do have to say that there is an awful lot of absolute tosh being spouted about how bad Kingsway really is!
Before you compare it with other areas, check those areas out first; it may help you to get things into perspective!
(You should pop over to Coney Hill one Saturday night between 11pm and 2am, take a walk ’round and soak up the atmosphere)!
The way I see it, we are currently in a(n extended) state of limbo… The community is half-built, facilities aren’t yet in place, there are many “quiet spots” which make ideal playgrounds for kids and we offer “easy access” from Tuffley, Podsmead, Hempstead and Quedgeley, giving youths an easy way to get away from their local area to a place where they can cause trouble and get out easily and quickly etc! I’m sure that – once the development is finished, the problems (per head of local population) will be cut drastically (although they are below average compared to surrounding areas)!
It’s a fact of life that – allowing people to publicly (and anonymously) contribute to a site like this will always attract much more negative attention than positive, and we all know that there are many positive factors that go (largely) unmentioned (or don’t attract any comments), but the level of difference between the good and the bad contributions saddens and suprises me… for obvious reasons!
Edit: I cross-posted with Baz (took me a long time to get this finished because I’m still “at work” really) but it seems we are largely of one mind (again)!
September 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Hello Baz,
As ever you make a persuasive case and one that I do appreciate and under normal conditions subscribe to. However, as things stand today I am dead against installing anything that attracts bad eggs to our community until the estate is no longer a building site and the novelty of trashing Kingsway has worn off. I was brought up on a building site (one of the very first residents on a new estate) and do remember the things we got up to. However, again it did not involve vandalism, swearing at my older and betters, tearing up trees, stealing, illegal riding of vehicles… need I go on?
The POD is a reward to the youth and a gift from the community to recognise their social inclusion. I have seen nothing that deserves any reward to date. Rewards were rare for me and my friends with clips around the ear far more common, so I am not claiming to be a saint. When the youth have demonstrated discipline, social and moral responsibility then I will be the first to sponser their cause.
Just a note though if I am a minority on this issue, if the POD is just for Kingsway, then ‘sell’ every house with kids a fob for a nominal fee (a 5′er) that permits access to the POD. Coupled with security cameras as a minimum.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Hi DJE,
You are (obviously) frustrated by your recent experiences, but I find the fact that you assume that all kids are the same to be very sad (and I do hope it’s not reflected in the way you treat them)!
Calling the pod a reward or a gift is stretching things a little, as is the comment about “recognising their social inclusion”. As a general rule, I find that if you treat kids like people, they will respond in kind… If you treat them like children – or criminals – you’re asking for trouble. When you talk about troublemakers, you have my sympathy – and my full support; when you talk about “the youth” try to remember you are also talking about (our) children!
There are many well-behaved, polite kids who don’t get the publicity of their irresponsible and antisocial peers and they will all be rolling their eyes and mumbling about being tarred with the same brush and punished for things they haven’t done.
My sons – and many of their friends – are all well-behaved and very polite. They don’t need any reward, except to be treated as they deserve, and they deserve somewhere local to “hang out” when the bad weather comes and they want to get out of the house. They too don’t like the miscreants and anti-social behaviour of others, because they suffer for it… and that’s just plain wrong.
The youth service in Quedgeley is run by Sheila Golder. Sheila is a remarkably capable woman and has done much to help reduce the instances of youth crime and anti-social behaviour in Quedgeley. She will – ultimately – be responsible for staffing – and running – “The Pod” and I strongly doubt she will allow kids from other areas to use it as a vehicle for more trouble.
I have asked Sheila for an update on the situation and will let you know when I hear back from her… I will also ask her to clarify her intentions with regards to who will have access, how they will have it and how they will be supervised… and will let you know the answer(s).
Meanwhile, please try to bear in mind that the troublemakers who are plaguing you are the problem – and the exception – not the rule
September 16th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Clive,
Your patronising comments are insulting in the extreme to myself and everyone else who is publishing their experiences on this site.
I have a child and let me assure you, although he is still young he is treated with respect, love and tolerance but also discipline when it is required. I am proud of the way my son behaves and I take total exception to your insinuation otherwise. And before you prattle on with your “see how it feels to be tarred…”social, liberalist response, don’t bother.
I have respect for any child and young adults who are respectful to others and admire their, and their parents, skills. However, I believe that children are just that. They are not young adults, they are children until their contribution to society is more deposit than their withdrawals. The world, both local, national and international is full of evidence where misguided adults have insisted on treating children as adults with disastrous consequences just as there are many positive.
I think we should agree to disagree on this subject and move on. And just for the record, very few of my issues with Kingsway are directed towards the youngsters who live here.
It is the adults who are behaving without respect, but unfortunately children mimic their elders when there are poor role models around.
And congratulations on your self appraisingly good exemplary parenting skills.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
DJE,
If you choose to see my remarks as patronising that’s your perogative; when I offered my sympathy I was being quite genuine.
I made no insinuations about the way your son behaves, nor the way you feel about it or him! Nor did I say anything about treating children as adults, I said treat them like people
I do agree that the most of the problems stem from the parents of the troubled children (‘though that’s not always the case).
And finally, I didn’t claim any credit for the fact that my sons are well behaved and well adjusted, I just used them as an example to demonstrate that not all “youths” should be tarred with the same brush.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Clive, I have reflected on my previos posting and in hindsight, I should have just let it go. It is not seemly or appropriate to have this level of debate about fundemental priciples in an open forum and so, in order to stop this going any further, I retract my previous post so we can hopefully move on.
I will say, if I may, that I do not judge all children harshly and have never to date called the police or dealt with any young person without respect directly on this estate or anywhere else.
My response earlier was fired by your your attack upon my own social and parenting skills which I still take personally.
It is my experience that when a ‘good cause’ is championed and is questioned as to its worth, then the first line of assault by the champion is one of righteous indignation and the perceived right to call the questioner a ‘bigot, racist, facist, socially out of touch etc’. I am none of those things. I am a law abiding family man who just wants a respectful, happy and peaceful community of old and young alike where my family are happy.
Where exactly is your exception to this?
And as for my postings, this is my last. I see no improvements leading from airing our grievances publically and doing so hurts the estate’s social perception.
I will read on occassionally as I do intend to attend the RA meeting when it is finally called.
Apologies again for my role in this debacle.
DJE
September 16th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
DJE,
I certainly didn’t intend to “attack” your parenting skills… (I didn’t know you were a parent) and I can’t honestly see where I did. I guess I must have said something which could be mis-interpreted… perhaps my comment “I do hope it’s not reflected in the way you treat them” (“them” being “the general youth”).
Anyhow… I am (genuinely) sorry if you felt that anything I said was patronising, I didn’t intend it to be.
As for “championing a cause” I may have been slightly more involved with the Youth Pod than some, but – compared to many – I’ve really played a very small role in it. My main involvement is a direct result of my Police Neighbourhood Panel activities (it has been discussed at those meetings for more than a year) and I was also lucky enough to be given the opportunity to entice one of the local Housing Associations to get involved (which may have resulted in some badly needed financial support). I take no credit whatsoever for the recent progress on the issue, I’ve been nothing more than an interested observer and – perhaps – instrumental in bringing more publicity to the cause.
I too am a “law abiding family man who just wants a respectful, happy and peaceful community of old and young alike where my family are happy” (so I have no exception to that at all).
No apologies are needed. As I said before, I do have (genuine) sympathy with your situation.
I’m more than pleased to hear that you intend to get involved with the Residents Association and look forward to meeting you soon
September 16th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
DJE said “And as for my postings, this is my last. I see no improvements leading from airing our grievances publically and doing so hurts the estate’s social perception.”
Whilst in one respect it is true, if you stop posting to what is the only community forum, then where does that leave everything?
In my mind, this debate is valuable as it provides a catalyst for moving things on and airing issues. Whilst in an ideal world, it would be full of praise about No. 24′s flowers etc, realistically we still live on a building site and need to ensure we can live comfortably until it is finished. A forum like this may not be the ideal venue for persuasive argument, but it is the only venue we have where we get so much involvement.
I was naiive when setting up the Association in thinking we could focus on the social and community and let QUVL sort out the practical, but we took it on. If it all starts up again, then it needs to ensure it has clear focus and direction.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
As far as “patronising” goes, it’s the 2nd time I’ve been accused of it on here, so I guess there must be some truth in it (although it may just be my age)
I would also ask you to please bear in mind that – whilst I may run the website (thus sometimes my “agenda” may differ slightly from yours), I am also a local resident and so entitled to my own opinion.
I try not to be seen to “patronise” but I guess my “position” with regards to this site may make some assume I’m being bossy… whereas in fact I am just giving my opinion!
September 17th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
So I take it nothing came from the meeting with the QUVL on sorting this place out!
At least the grass has been cut in the park, shame they only did half a job again and did not clear the cuttings!
September 18th, 2009 at 6:53 am
If your talking about my “meeting” there was no meeting set up, I was emailing a list of issues to them. Until they get their local guy in place, there is little point.
I’m pleased they took action after I last spoke to them but I agree about the cuttings though, I will put it on the list with them.
I have not sent the list off yet, due to being very busy – and also not having much specific response – but it should go this weekend.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
What has happened to Kingsway? I live in Chivenor Way, and life is fairly quiet; nice friendly neighbours, peaceful nights, yet when reading this website it sounds like the estate from Hell! When people ask where I live I almost feel ashamed to say Kingsway, it does seem at times to look like Coney Hill estate, unloved with rubbish in the streets, unfinished roads, gardens left to overgrow with weeds, an apple and pear orchard that seems to have been left…
I don’t want to feel ashamed I want to feel proud.
So lets stop trashing this estate , look to the positives and take control over what is happening.
We moved from Abbeydale because of anti-social behaviour, gangs of teenagers, trees being uprooted, etc, etc.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Hi Gillian,
I completely agree with you. I too feel almost ashamed to say I live in Kingsway because I know what rumours have gone around. In fact I do really like living here, I’ve got a lovely house in Marham Drive which I am so pleased with, we have really nice neighbours that have become friends, and the area is very quiet. I often go walking around the whole of Kingsway and everybody seems very friendly when I say hello in passing. I know there are a lot of unfinished jobs here, but I have faith that all of these will be completed eventually. I would like to see more Kingsway Villagers who enjoy their areas to write about the positives on this site. There are potential buyers reading this site and at the moment I don’t think Kingsway is coming across fairly.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Thank goodness there are others who feel like me – I was starting to think I was living in a parallel universe
I have lived in Marham Drive for exactly a year now, and have only had positive experiences of living on Kingsway. We have a home we love and our neighbours are all lovely. I live in (what has so far been) a really quiet, friendly area and we are really happy here.
But I am aware of the reputation that Kingsway is developing and, at times, have also felt the need to defend our decision to move here. I know that the estate is a long way from being finished, and we have all been frustrated by the slow-down of building work (and therefore lack of facilities), but I think it has the potential to be a really great place to live.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hi Gillian and Miss Lane
Thanks very much for the positive posts. I too love living here (as do almost all of my neighbours) and am somewhat fed up (and suprised) by the level of negativity in posts made on here… Sadly – as I said earlier – it’s an all to common phenomenon in a forum where anonymity exists
Suprisingly, it seems that many people are taken in by unsubstantiated rumours (many of which were started by teenagers)
My guess is that those who talk about wishing they’d moved to Coney Hill are from outside of the area! To anybody who has lived locally for any length of time, the comparison is ridiculous.
Unfortunately, when I “stick up” for Kingsway it seems that – one way or another – it gets misconstrued, or my motives are questioned
Sure we have local issues, I don’t expect there’s a community in the country that doesn’t, but in my experience, there are many positive points (great scenery, friendly local folks, great school, etc etc) so it’s nice to see some opinions to balance things out a little
October 1st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Hi Rebecca
We cross-posted (or I’d have included you in my previous reply).
Good points about the building work / facilities, of course they are making a huge difference and I think perhaps people sometimes underestimate both the “attraction” that offers to youths from other areas, and the drastic lack of facilities for local youths.
I’m confident that – once local facilities are available – and (even more important) building work is completed and roads adopted by the Council – Kingsway will become a very pleasant and popular area.
Mclovin started a thread about The Positive Side (of living in Kingsway) a long time ago… Sadly it hasn’t attracted very many replies so far… It would be nice if it grew large enough to "compete" with some of the negative threads on here.
DJE – et al… I have NO objection to people posting about negative issues and problems, it would just be nice to encourage a "more balanced view" in keeping with the remarks I get when I talk to local residents, most of which are normally positive.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hi Gillian / Miss Lane,
I think it’s perhaps important to take into account the fact that a lot of people (myself included!) are very proud to live on Kingsway.
If negativity comes across, I’d suggest that at least some of it is directed at two groups of people:
– those in charge of maintenance and the like who don’t seem to pull their weight to keep the estate in tip-top condition, or in a condition those of us who enjoy living here are happy to see it in
– those who live on the estate who clearly aren’t proud of it – the egg-throwers, for example.
While there is quite a lot of complaining on the board, I think a lot of it is merely frustration – QUVL and the builder’s sales teams promised a lot and, as yet, a lot of it hasn’t been delivered, including the local facilities and so on. This is something that will take time to resolve, but I’m sure will be resolved over the coming months.
Kingsway’s making a great start, and from what I hear from colleagues has a mostly positive reputation compared to some parts of Gloucester. I think it has a bright future, and that it’ll continue to be a lovely place to live for a long time to come.