PRESENT: Chair Karen Leakey, Vice-Chair Pam Freegard, Secretary and Archivist Kevin Leakey, Treasurer John Freegard, Vice-Treasurer Madge Sutton, Muhammad Chaudhry, Paul Izquierdo, Bob Walter
ALSO PRESENT: Town Centre NPT - Sergeant McLaughlin, Broad Street Area Beat Manager - PC Atkinson, Tim French, Kathryn Hawke
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: John Clark, Vi Clark, Kate Johnson, Alan Jones, Kay Malko, Cluniford Mason, Evelyn Mason, Rebecca McIntosh, William Murray, Ros Timlin, councillor J Wright
CONFIRMATION OF THE NOTES: 05 December 2012 drop in. The notes were confirmed as a true record.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE DECEMBER 2012 NOTES: None
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM REPORT: Sergeant McLaughlin, PC Atkinson,
New beat manager, PC Luke Atkinson was introduced to the meeting. He had spent his career in Central and wanted to work in the Broad Street Area and with help from PCSO’s Bird and Rogers, wanted to understand and improve the area.
Crime Statistics for December and comparisons to December 2011 were relayed to the meeting.
There had been 62 dedicated patrols in the area.
Sex workers (prostitutes) – 7 prostitutes had been given cautions. If they ignored the caution, the next step was to be arrested and sent to court for soliciting. 2 kerb crawlers had been arrested. 1 had been taken to court and 1 given a caution.
The Chair asked if the current financial cuts might jeopardise the Vice-Officer role? – The Police did not think this position would be lost.
Other issues raised by residents
A gang of young men had been hanging around the County Ground after football matches, they did not attend matches, but there were concerns that they were looking for trouble with away fans, and it might impact on the Broadgreen area. – The Police had dedicated Officers that very pro-actively dealt with this sort of issue, they were aware of this problem and were monitoring the group.
In the 80’s and 90’s there was a person living in the area that was notoriously connected with drugs and prostitution, he had not been seen for many years but had recently been spotted again. – The Police believed they knew this person, but were unaware that he might be back and requested that any sighting were reported.
Parking in Manchester Road was causing many problems, particularly at the bus stops. – This was a priority for the area and regular patrols were undertaken, but they could only enforce parking on zigzag lines and obstructions, however if they were unable to do anything they had warning leaflets to put on cars. Parking on double yellow lines was now a council enforcement issue, but they did not know how many patrols SBC officers carried out. In recent months there had been 2 reports from bus drivers about obstructions in Manchester Road.
Concern that recently a Police vehicle was parked in a supermarket disabled bay. – The instructions to Police Officers were that unless it was an emergency they had to park in normal parking bays like everyone else.
COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: Councillor Julie Wright
Although unable to attend the meeting, Cllr. Wright forwarded the following notes -
Street trading – had met with SBC Officers and requested a review. 2 applications recently put in for street trading in Broadgreen – objected to them.
Met with SBC Officers about Landlords and Shelter Report – concerns raised about condition of properties, overcrowding and associated rubbish and fly tipping.
Car Club spaces – concerns that the proposed bay in Wellington Street might cause residents further problems on top of the current ones caused by taxis.
Attended a Diwali event.
Casework – housing, fly tipping, rat runs and parking
Dangerous pavement outside Cockram Court – a slurry finish across the pavement and adjustments to the ironwork would be undertaken from the Locality Budget.
Enforcement had spoken to Vegland and Rendezvous in Corporation Street concerning signage. To be monitored.
Cooker at Broadgreen had been replaced.
Council workers had complained about the parking obstructions in the road leading to the County Ground bowls club, mainly caused by people parking there for free while at work. As a result a gate would be erected to prevent this happening. BSACC note – this had been reported to SBC many times in the past.
Parking problems in roads adjacent to Manchester Road, caused by customers visiting shops and the garage in Station Road, selling and repairing cars on the pavements. A meeting had been arranged with Parking Services to resolve these problems and request restrictions to prevent parking at anytime.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
PLANNING
S/12/1741 - 13 Lagos Street SN1 2BU - Erection of a single storey rear extension - Application pending consideration - Case Officer - Mr Edward Snook
S/12/1509 - 14 Volta Road SN1 2BS - Erection of a single storey rear extension and detached garage rear - Permission granted - Case Officer - Miss Helen Cooper
S/12/1520 - Land Behind 1-8 Manchester Road SN1 2AB - Change of use of part of car park to site for hot food vending van - Application Refused - Case Officer - Mr Rob O’Carroll
TREASURERS REPORT - to 02 January 2013: John Freegard
Proposed by Muhammad Chaudhry and Seconded by Pam Freegard
CHAIR REPORT: Karen Leakey –
The February drop-in would only be for one hour - 6.30 to 7.30pm but would be followed by a meeting to discuss the future direction of the Community Council.
HISTORY REPORT: Kevin Leakey
On the 18th December Kevin attended a pre-Christmas get together with various historical groups etc, organised by the SBC Heritage Board. The invitation described it as -
A chance for all of us who care passionately about heritage in Swindon to get to know each other better, share some views and discuss the emerging priorities for our heritage strategy.
Quite a few people were there, but we all knew each other!
At the end of January a new Swindon history magazine would be launched. It was the Idea of Mark Sutton and Frances Bevan – 2 local historians. It would be a high quality, full colour quarterly magazine, offering a really good platform for local history groups and historians to promote their work. In the first issue a 2-page feature written by Kevin from research found in old Advers, on the history of the Aylesbury Dairy, would feature. There would also be website which will have extra content for subscribers to the magazine. The initial advertising had sold well and there was currently enough funding to run the magazine for 4 issues, or 1 year.
It was planned that sometime later this year, we would put on an exhibition of old photos from around this area.
It was asked if there were any photos of the North Star area in the 1970’s, because for 3 or 4 years the area was constantly doused with water to stop the thousands of tons of ash from the GWR works, being removed to build the College and Oasis, from burning.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
It appeared that ‘Vegas’ in Manchester Road `was still being used for purposes other than those planning permission was given.
SBC had been checking the gulley drain covers.
Rubbish had been moved from back of a house in Ponting Street, into the alley.
BOND were holding an event at Broadgreen on 26th January – all welcome.
Meeting closed at 8.10pm.
