Erewash.org

Erewash Borough Council had committed to spend £18,000 on repairs to Victoria Park Bandstand in the current (2008/09) budget, however they are apparently doing no such thing; as at 30/06/08 only £225 had been spent with a further commitment of £2,770, so whats happened to the other £15,005? Will it just lie in the budget as an underspend, like the the £750,000 already from last year while the bandstand rots away, unused and unloved by this Tory council.

At a youth forum meeting held at Long Eaton Town Hall on the 21 May 2008, it was confirmed that £18,000 would be spent on the bandstand at Victoria Park, the following is an extract from the minutes of that meeting.

• Scrutiny - Both Councillors Bridget and Darren Adams-Shaw are members of the councils scrutiny committees (Darren - external and Bridget - internal). Following the photo project by the Youth Forum £18,000 was allocated to revamp the bandstand at Victoria Park….

At the last meeting of the shipley view residents association; local Councillor Darren Adams-Shaw attended, (his first visit to this meeting in over a year by the way), what was suprising was that he had no security guards present, despite being mere inches away from the general public, one wonders why his fellow conservative councilors, need such measures at council meetings, when the public are safely esconsed in a public gallery on a seperate floor level. Well done to Councillor Adams-Shaw for showing his fellow councillors that the public are not something to be afraid of.

I was in the town hall recently, and i noticed that the public gallery has been sealed off for ‘Health and Safety’ reasons, this is the same public gallery that has quite happily held members of the public for a number of years, is it a coincidance that the gallery is closed off as the council are now employing security guards which could be intimidating to members of the public, also for ‘Health and Safety’ reasons.

It is also worth noting that the security guards are employed on the say so of the ruling Tory group, no consultation or notification was done with the opposition parties, who are not in favour of the decision.

The ‘Health & Safety argument seems a bit specious to me, all because the Tories don’t like hearing the truth from the public.

Questions need to be asked.

• When was the public gallery declared unsafe?
• Who authorised the closure of the public gallery? (the same person who authorised the use of security guards perchance?)
• Where is the Health and Safety Report on the public Gallery?
• Where is the Risk Assement that would have been done on the public gallery
• How much did the Risk Assement and Heath & Safety reports cost (if indeed any were done)
• What is the projected time-scale that the public gallery will be closed? The notice says “until further notice” which is a bit vague to say the least.

Update - as at 14/08/2008 the public gallery is still closed, will it be open in time for the next council meeting on 25th September? Watch this space

Lesson 1

That is one of the options to be considered at a council executive on the 21st May 2008

The work was identified in a report in 2007, yet only now is money possibly going to be spent.

The bandstand is in Councillor David Stephensons ward and yet he has been silent while the bandstand has decayed to such a state that it has to be closed and fenced off.

If Councillor Stephenson has evidence that can be authenticated that he has been lobbying for the bandstand, I will gladly add it to this post.

Councillor David Stephensons contact details are here

The full report is here in pdf format.

21-05-2008-ce-item6victoriaparkbandstanddocaps

From the report:

4.3 Letting a significant heritage site fall into disrepair will create a poor image for
the Council. surely if its fenced off and unsafe then it has been allowed to to fall into disrepair!

This is yet another example of the councils lack of a properly structured maintenance programme. To let such an important piece of Ilkestons heritage decay to its current condition must surely border on the criminal.

Well, the conservatives have been in power for 7 years now, lets have a quick look at the estate.,..

Click on a thumbnail to view picture and text full size.

Anyway, Liz wondered what the council, in its wisdom, had decided to 'do' at the play park, as, some months ago, the whole area was fenced off, no-one could access it and we thought, 'fab.... we are going to see the tired pieces replaced with something new, befitting our toddlers........NO, How wrong we were!! See this excuse for a drain [don't have any idea why a drain was considered necessary here, as I have never known the flood waters to seep onto the park] However, a drain HAS been placed in the far corner of the park and after great inconvenience to parents and toddlers alike, the 'park' [and I use the term loosely!!] is 'open' for use again, with a badly fitted, unnecessary drain inside the play park boundary, with a hole in the 'drain' big enough for a little 'uns foot to trip up on?!?

Sorry state of the toddlers swings, rust and flaking paint, does the council not know what the word 'maintenance' means?

Liz Stevenson and Michelle Booth, both local residents of Shipley View, have heard all the excuses why the Erewash Tories are not spending our money, but, come on guys, this play area is in a ward represented by two of your newest members? Do they think this is acceptable for a toddlers play park ? Do they think it compares well to the West Hallam provision, or the Sandiacre, Breaston or Little Eaton provision, for that matter? WE don't think it does!! Enough is enough!! Shipley View houses the highest number of young people per head in the whole of the Borough , let alone in Derbyshire, and this is the equipment our illustrious council offer to its youngest residents!! Peeling paint and crumbling/flaking wood, splinters ahoy!! This is one piece of decking I would keep my godson away from, says Michelle What an eyesore, comments Liz.

When the skateparc was first introduced at the site of the manners football fields at Shipley View, Groundworks and Erewash Borough Council thought it was a good idea to plant saplings , so that, in time, a natural, noise barrier would be created with the growth of the trees. I was the Ward councillor at the time and I had lobbied the council on behalf of residents who had been concerned about the skate[parc going on the field Not many of the trees which were planted proved very healthy and several reports were made to the council and its staff about the sorry state of the progress of the trees growth. As you can see from the demonstration in this photo, local residents Liz Stevenson and Michelle Booth stand in the 'line' where the trees were originally intended to stand, to prevent the noise from the skateparc from impeding with onlooking residential dwellers enjoyment of their back gardens. Michelle Booth said that ''Erewash Borough Council takes for granted the income made from the tax-payers of this estate and it is high time we were given back some of the revenue collected here!!'' Liz said'' We remain optimistic that the Council will realize that Shipley View needs some attention afforded it very soon.''

Since taking the Lead Responsibility for Leisure Facilities at Erewash Borough Council, Cllr Mike Wallis reported to full council [some months ago] that there would NOT be enough money for the young people of Erewash to have new goal posts erected, they would, he advised, have to make do with pullovers or coats to use as goals. Now, I know that Cllr Wallis is of the age to remember the make do and mend days of yesteryear, but, todays youth can hardly remember the film 'Bend it Like Beckham', doe'snt this Tory Council remember being youngsters? You know, those carefree days of long hot summers when the days give out before your energy does!?! Seriously though, Shipley View estate is looking a bit the worse for wear, there are a few goal posts left at the field where the pitches are hired out at the weekend, but, the state of the field and goal areas are in great need of some attention, it's a wonder no-one has sprained their ankle in the great crater of mud! Local residents Liz Stevenson and Michelle Booth think these football posts more resemble the set from the 1960's film Kes, rather than anything offered to teenagers of the 21st Century!

Since taking the Lead Responsibility for Leisure Facilities at Erewash Borough Council, Cllr Mike Wallis reported to full council [some months ago] that there would NOT be enough money for the young people of Erewash to have new goal posts erected, they would, he advised, have to make do with pullovers or coats to use as goals. Now, I know that Cllr Wallis is of the age to remember the make do and mend days of yesteryear, but, todays youth can hardly remember the film 'Bend it Like Beckham', doe'snt this Tory Council remember being youngsters? You know, those carefree days of long hot summers when the days give out before your energy does!?! Seriously though, Shipley View estate is looking a bit the worse for wear, there are a few goal posts left at the field where the pitches are hired out at the weekend, but, the state of the field and goal areas are in great need of some attention, it's a wonder no-one has sprained their ankle in the great crater of mud! Local residents Liz Stevenson and Michelle Booth think these football posts more resemble the set from the 1960's film Kes, rather than anything offered to teenagers of the 21st Century!

Local residents Michelle Booth and Liz Stevenson of Shipley View were busy at the weekend, picking up rubbish and broken glass from the playing fields adjacent to the Abbotsford Community Centre. The amounts of broken glass found in the very long grass was particularly worrying, as all items carefully retrieved had been quite well hidden due to the length of the grass and the site is right at the side of the gate leading into the kiddies soft play area, belonging to the Abbotsford Center. People living here are beginning to lose faith in the Pride that Erewash is always reminding us to heed, the estate is starting to look like Fort Neglect, as soon as you come on the estate, you are hit with the view of the uncut grass. Michelle Booth adds ''I imagine that, as soon as it rains, the grass cutters will be out in force, leaving us with the wet cuttings to contend with for weeks, traipsing it into our homes, as happened the last time the council cut the grass round here.

This is the same site where all the broken glass was found, good job there is no longer a kiddies play park here! Again, Liz and I examine the desolate area. Liz states that it is incredulous that the Council think it is evenly remotely acceptable to leave this site completely devoid of any play equipment. Another [shameful] example, she says, of urban deprivation at its very worst!! Until recently , there had been a set of swings, but, the main items from the park had been dismantled and taken away over a year ago!! The lack of play provision here impacts mostly on the children of Peveril Drive and Boweswell Rd, who have NO local amenities to call their own now that this play area is completely gone!!

The Chief Executive and Officers together with Tory councillors were formally invited to the public meeting at the Albion Leisure Centre on 14th March 2008. - In an email to Councillor Louis Booth from the Cheif Executive, THEY DECLINED.

Whilst the Chief Executive has the authority to forbid council officers from attending the meeting, (which he did) he has no powers to prevent councillors from attending, it is up to thier own individual conscience or in this case, lack of as they chose to hide behind the chief executive.

pictured are the lead member for Leisure. Councillor Mike Wallis. and the Lead member responsible for the markets, Councillor Donna Briggs, NONE OF WHICH LIVE IN ILKESTON!

 

who can be contacted at the following details. - Mike Wallis Donna Briggs (links open in new window)

click on the link below to read the newsletter. pdf format

draycott-rosespring-08.pdf

click on the link below to read the pdf (needs acrobat reader installed)

breaston-electric-rose-spring-2008.pdf

This is a direct copy from the EBC website.

click on image to view full size

 

enjoy!!!

Click on an image to view full size

Loius Booth up a tree!

same tree, different angle.

John Frudd, the ladder holder!

who is working and who is supervising! :)

Loius Booth up a tree!

This ones a bit tricky!

Almost there

Yep, thats got it!

Group shot

Group shot

you wouldn't catch me up there! Good Job Louis!

Lets hope the birds are happy with thier new homes. Maybe the tories will charge them council tax!!

There are a number of ways to do this.

1. Collect a Comments, Complaints form from the town hall reception at Ilkeston or Long Eaton, fill it in and post back to the council.
2. If you have Internet access then Click this Link (opens in new window) which will take you direct to an online version to the form.
3. You can also write to Government Office East Midlands as well as the council at the following address. 

• Government Office for the East Midlands
  The Belgrave Centre
  Stanley Place
  Talbot Street
  Nottingham
  NG1 5GG

There is a rumour going around that the tory led council are going to sell Wash Meadow (Johnnys) to Tesco for a petrol station.

There are a number of clues to this rumour…

Tesco have recently been advertising discounts on the purchase of petrol when you purchase a certain amount of groceries, why do that when they dont have the facility to sell you petrol?

The play park at Johnnys was denuded of its large items of play equipment, and the rest have been fenced off (see picture).

There are no plans to replace any play equipment at Johnnys, in fact new equipment was installed on another play area nearby despite objections from the local councillor Glennice Birkin.

Your guess is as good as ours!

Coun. Birkin at the fenced off area.

A public meeting is going to be held at the Albion Leisure centre on Friday 14th March between 5pm and 7pm to enable YOU to ask questions etc about the closure.

There will be complaints forms and petiitions and other information on how to complain.

The Chief Executive of the council and council officers have been invited along with a number of CONservative councillors.

We are currentlty still awaiting a reply on whether or not they will be attending.

Hoping you can attend. ‘The more the merrirer!’

A new path has been placed at the site of the Skateparc on Shipley View estate, known as the Abbotsford ward

The funding for this was put in the 2002-03 budget by Labour when they were the Majority Party at Erewash Borough Council, because when the young people were consulted with by the Labour Administration over the design of the skateparc some 8 years ago, they identified that the area was dark and to get lighting and lamps at the site, there needed to be a pathway on which to place the lamps

Resident Michelle Booth said’’ this was many years ago, in terms of young people, those who asked for it will probably be at work or college now. However, I am really pleased that the Conservatives have finally taken heed of the Labour Recommendations set all that time ago and realised that the path was the right step to take, if you pardon the pun. The wheels of Authority sure turn slowly!

County Councillor Brian Lucas says

‘’I am really glad for the young people too, they will now have easier access to the skateparc, instead of having to cross the pitch to get to the facility,’’

Click on an image to view full size

 

Local Labour councillors have been collecting signatures for a petition suporting the market traders, they were out on the 16th and 23rd of Feb and will be out again next Saturday (1st March), so please support our market traders and sign the petition!

Click on a image to view full size.

Picture 1 - Mr & Mrs Gray.

Picture 2 - supporters of our market.

Picture 3 - Councillor Frank Phillips collecting signatures for the petition.

Erewash Borough Council Press Release.

History Flowing Back into Ilkeston Thanks to Fountain Restoration

In the late nineteenth century, Ilkeston town centre was not the same place it is today…there were no lorries loading stock from the shops and mobility scooters helping people to the top of Bath Street; Horses and Carts were still a primary form of transport.

It was at this time in 1889, that a special fountain was built for the people of Ilkeston, not just as a decorative monument, but also as a functional horse trough for those animals pulling the carts through the town centre.

Now 119 years on, the fountain, which is classed as a grade II listed building, still stands, but it is in need of restoration to make it fully operational again and this will ensure that it is protected for future generations to enjoy. This week specialist contractors begin the process of bringing this fountain back to its former glory.

A sub group of the council’s Executive Committee met earlier this week and it was agreed that heritage funding will be allocated to the repair and restoration of the historic water fountain, which has stood dormant at the top of the market place for so long.

The fountain will be removed from the market place temporarily, while it is sympathetically repaired and restored to its original state. This will take place at a workshop which specialises in the repair and restoration of historic iron work and associated structures.

The company carrying out the work, Dorothea Resorations, are specialists in the repair and restoration of listed buildings, one of their most prided projects being that of the heritage gates at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Their workshops enable them to restore buildings and artefacts to their former glory using traditional skills and trades that date back hundreds of years.

Whilst the fountain is in the workshop, works to relay the currently failing foundations will be undertaken in the market place. On its return the fountain will be restored to full working order and will once again make a valuable contribution to the town’s historic public realm.

It is hoped work will be completed by early summer 2008. (though someone i spoke to at the town hall today said it would be back by the end of march.)

Click on image to view full size

Below is the site map of Heanor Road Allotments showing the location of the trees we would like to be saved from the bulldozer. The site map is quite a large file and may take a few minutes to download, especially if you are not on broadband.

click on an image to view full size

and the trees…

100 yr old Pear tree

Plum Tree

Lime Trees

Lime Trees

Lime Trees

Apple Tree

Elm Tree

Only Horse chestnut tree on site

Ancient Ash Tree

Ancient Ash Tree

Ancient Ash Tree

Ilkcam is currently running a poll on Ilkeston Market, why not pop along there and vote.

The site also has a jigsaw you can do.

Following the councillors letter in the ‘Ilkeston Advertiser’ I wonder when he last visited the park, apart from using the free car park that is! Does the councillor walk round with his eyes closed i wonder?

Here a few pictures i took today, as a daily user of the park i can attain to thier authenticity.

#1 - Broken glass at the entrance from Drommond Road; this is very hard to see in the photograph, but there is a large swathe of glass across the tarmac that has been there since the middle of January. click on the image to view full size.

#2 - A second pile of broken glass, this pile has been there almost 2 weeks now.

#3 - A drain that has been blocked since the summer…

All this is just as i wander thru the park.