Keeping up Appearances
Hi,
I know there has been some debate on here about trolleys, things left at the park etc…
This is our Community, we live here and it’s up to to keep it the way we like it.
The other day I noticed next to our house that someone had left a smashed bottle there. I said to my other half that we should clean it up. Why? Because our children play out there, it is next to our house and one which is currently empty, and I care about how my area looks.
If we all walk outside our house and possibly notice a little bit of rubbish - pick it up; it will make Kingsway look clean and tidy and yes - maybe it may happen again - but at least there won’t be a mound of it.
I was walking down a side road last week and I noticed cardboard, bottles, writing on lampposts, writing on road signs etc… If the people who lived there washed it off - may take oh, 5 minutes but it will make the area look much less run down which is what it looks like down that side alley at the moment!
I do like living here, mainly as I live in a quiet part, however it is worrying how many trolleys, rubbish etc we do see…
We all need to take note and care for our Community.
This post was submitted by MissC.
October 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Hi MissC,
Yep - I agree… I am always picking up cans, boxes, bottles and branches.
This week - on the way to School with my daughter - I noticed some cardboard packaging which had been laying on the pavement in Valley Gardens for several days… When Friday came the bins were out (right next to it) but nobody had picked it up! So I scooped it up and dropped it in the nearest bin…
It shocks me that people care so little about litter
October 27th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I don’t think it’s so much that people care so little about litter, but more about people expecting it all to be done for them.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I agree to a point with what has been said about taking a general pride in the area, but frankly the amount of crap that gets dumped around here is simply too much. I would have to take a day off each week just to wheel trolleys to Tesco’s.
And I’m afraid where I am I know exactly where it comes from as I have seen certain residents dumping stuff.
Like the scummy idiots who were wheeling a Tesco trolley down Thatcham a few months ago half full of booze and the other half full of drunk scummy idiots… Nice view on a Saturday afternoon!
Or the four children I saw dragging a massive TV box up Thatcham last week, which they were barely able to move. They tried dumping it up by the Bryant Site Office only to be moved on by another resident… I don’t know what sort of parents would send their spawn off to dump rubbish but I can imagine many of us couild take a wild stab.
So in reality, I agree that we should take pride in the area, but fighting to push water uphill is never going to be easy and certain parts of the Community/Estate need taking to task on this issue.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:56 am
PS: Apologies for the poor spelling.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Don’t apologise; you’re only expressing what the rest of us and potential buyers are feeling!
I can only say I AGREE WITH YOU! Just wait for the responses though from certain parts of the Village… Should be entertaining! :o)
October 29th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Hi Guys,
Don’t worry about spelling errors, that’s what I’m here for
If you see instances of fly-tipping (children or adults) you can do something about it!
Dave Said "I don’t know what sort of parents would send their spawn off to dump rubbish but I can imagine many of us could take a wild stab." and "certain parts of the Community/Estate need taking to task on this issue"
G Note Said: "Just wait for the responses though from certain parts of the Village"
If you are inferring that the issues are particular to specific groups (for instance Social Housing Residents) please be aware that private rented tenants and buyers are just as irresponsible at times!
If you’re sure that Social Housing tenants are involved, why not contact the relevant Housing Association and complain?
I can tell you for a fact that the various Housing Associations involved with Kingsway take a very active stance on these sorts of issues. They all have a vested interest in making sure that their tenants behave responsibly and will do what is necessary to enforce the rules (way more cooperation than you will get from most private landlords and private buyers are even harder to deal with - lol).
Oxbode Housing Association
(Responsible for Marham Drive and other parts) is currently involved in trying to get the "Youth Pod" installed (basically a mobile youth club) and are considering donating money towards a "Kids Christmas Party" currently planned by the RA.
Their telephone number is 01452 505359
Gloucester Housing Association
(Responsible for the area between Thatcham Avenue and Kinloss opposite the Oak Tree) are very active when it comes to Resident problems.
Their telephone number is 01452 529255
At the moment there are other social housing areas both in place and planned and I’m not fully aware of all of them but I will - eventually - get a list of them, and of the various organisations involved and publish it here.
Finally - Fly Tipping is illegal and anti-social, as is playing in - and dumping - shopping trolleys… If you want something done about the problem please fill in a (confidential) Community Police Report so I can try to get something done about it
October 29th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Clive i was infering nothing of the sort, simply that their are people on this site that need taking to task..And these people form part of the community.. But not an unexpected post considering similar other responses.
And you are right i could contact the HA’s based on what i have seen. But then what happens if me & my family get targeted by the individuals involved? I dont want to put my family in any form of danger, not matter how big/small/wide ( cough) i am i am not around all the time… After all i do have to go to work…
Once again though if there is any hint or suggestion that the site has issues then the usual comment comes back.
Once again.. I am refering to individuals that i have seen not social groups.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hi Bd,
I think a complaint to a HA would be treated confidentially, but I can understand why you might be concerned.
If - as you say - there are people in this community who need taking to task, then somehow we need to do something about it. Informing the Police is one option and the Community Police Report is another way to handle it… those reports are strictly confidential and a number of residents reporting the same people/groups of people would result in direct Police action.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Hi Clive,
Another HA on the estate is Guinness housing.
Also, I can see why you thought Big Dave and G would be referring to a “certain” housing group.
Dave Said “I don’t know what sort of parents would send their spawn off to dump rubbish but I can imagine many of us could take a wild stab.” and “certain parts of the Community/Estate need taking to task on this issue”
G Note Said: “Just wait for the responses though from certain parts of the Village”
I wonder why all these problems on the estate always come back to the same old blame game? I like everyone on here get annoyed with dumped trolleys and rubbish being scattered, however when I see something I don’t like, I do something about it.
How about we try a bit of community spirit and work as one to try and keep this area nice instead of trying to divide the community into their separate social groups?
October 31st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I completely agree, there should be more of a community spirit. I apologise for my comment, but I do have my reasons for it (although I’m not going to go in to it now). And Clive yes you are right the HA’s are doing a good job and will put a stop to any problems provided people report them. Don’t be afraid of reporting issues, as you can do so anonymously. You can also express this to the officer you report the problems to. To be fair it does look like most of the problems are not from the HA tenants but from people outside the development. (I’m referring to some of the problems with the children at the parks).
I think when the development is complete a lot of the problems will disappear. It’s not easy when the development is a bit of a mess. A lot of the damage is from the builders themselves. (not intentional mind you)!
Sorry to correct you (as I may myself be wrong), but the Social Housing in Marham Drive is managed by Gloucestershire Housing Association; they do a fantastic job and are one of the more proactive HA’s at Kingsway Village!
October 31st, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hi lis,
Thanks for that information
I’m awaiting calls from some of the Community Housing Coordinators so that I can compile the full list (although I’m in no rush as it changes weekly, so I may as well wait until plans have moved forward somewhat)!
Hi G Note,
No need to apologise; I was the one who misunderstood.
I agree it is vital that people do report issues to the relevant Housing Authorities, the QUVL (directly, or through the RA) and to the Police (directly or via the Community Police Report facility), otherwise these things will fester and (usually) grow worse.
Im sure you’re right about the "park problems", I am also of the opinion that most of the problems are being caused by youths from outside of Kingsway and will report this at the next "South Gloucestershire Safer Police Team" meeting.
Lastly - you are quite right - Marham Drive is Glos HA - don’t know what I was thinking the other day
but thanks for correcting me… It won’t be my last mistake this week/month/year 