PRESENT: Vice-Chair Pam Freegard, Secretary and Archivist Kevin Leakey, Treasurer John Freegard, Vice-Treasurer Madge Sutton, John Clark, Vi Clark, Kate Johnson, Rebecca McIntosh, Cluniford Mason, Ros Timlin, Bob Walter
ALSO PRESENT: NPT Sergeant Read, PCSO Rogers – Broad Street Area Police Team, councillor J Wright, councillor B Wright, Tim French
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Chair Karen Leakey, Muhammad Chaudhry, Paul Izquierdo, Kay Malko, Evelyn Mason, Mark Walker - SBC, Frances Barrone – SBC, PC Atkinson - Broad Street Area Beat Manager, PCSO Bird – Broad Street Area Police Team
CONFIRMATION OF THE NOTES: 06 February 2013 drop in. The notes were confirmed as a true record.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE FEBRUARY 2013 NOTES: None
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM REPORT: Sergeant Read, PCSO Rogers
PCSO Rogers reported on the following Broadgreen crime statistics between 01 and 28 February 2013. (2012 statistics in brackets)
Patrols – 124 separate parking related patrols – in addition to routine patrols.
Criminal damage - 4. (2012 – 03)
Violence – 4 - made up of domestic incidents and a road rage assault. (2012 –12)
Theft – 13 - 7 from Tesco. (2012 – 31)
Drugs – 1 male arrested for dealing Class A drugs. (2012 – 01)
Burglary – 3. (2012 – 07)
Robbery – 2. (2012 – 01)
Intelligence reports – 124. (2012 – 154)
Crime is generally down in the Broadgreen Area.
Prostitution – Numerous sex workers (prostitutes) are still on cautions and being actively targeted. 2 additional prostitutes have been placed on cautions during February and kerb crawlers are being targeted to cut the demand.
Parking – Numerous warning messages and enforcement tickets have been placed on vehicles. Drivers have been actively requested to move their vehicles from areas where they are causing obstructions..
Discussions would be taking place between SBC, and PCC Angus McPherson regarding Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras in Swindon, specifically in Broadgreen.
Discussions are ongoing with SBC regarding possible future road changes on Manchester Road to assist with council enforcement.
Swindon response and road policing units have been actively encouraged to target the area for illegal parking and obstructions.
In conjunction with SBC and the Police, STFC is reviewing match day parking.
Other issues raised by residents
Parking in alleyways and on double yellow lines particularly on Friday afternoons is on the increase again. – The Police will talk to the Mosque Elders and Cllr. Ali about this. With regards to the general problems with parking on d/y lines, on the 13,14 and 15th of March the Police will be undertaking zero tolerance operations and issuing £30 tickets to persons misusing the d/y lines.
Street drinkers in the area. – Following the recent death of a street drinker, there has been an increase in drinkers in the town centre, due to mourning his death. The Police have shown a certain amount of toleration but now his funeral has taken place zero tolerance would now return.
COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: Councillor Julie Wright
Meeting held with Highways, Parking Services, Police and Locality Lead to discuss the problems with parking on Manchester Road and junctions leading off. Councillors requested that no parking at any time be implemented on Manchester Road and at the junctions. Councillors will try to arrange a meeting with the businesses on Manchester Road to discuss parking bays or business parking. Highways unsure how quickly these changes could be implemented – a meeting with the Lead Member would be arranged.
Met with STFC to discuss match day parking. Continuing to look at ways to tackle the problems that residents are experiencing and whether match day parking restrictions could be applied to Shrivenham Road.
The sign displayed by Vegland in Corporation Street directing customers to park in Armstrong Street - unfortunately as there is a 1-hour parking bay in Armstrong Street the shop owner is doing nothing wrong and no enforcement can take place. This will be pursued with the residents parking advisory group.
It was hoped that Richard Fisher from Streetsmart would be able to attend the meeting but he was currently off sick. It was hoped to discuss various issues raised at previous BSACC meetings, including rubbish and flytipping. Assurances were made by the Lead Member (Fionuola Foley) that the issues raised would be investigated by another officer (Phil Thomas) and appropriate action taken.
It was raised with the planning dept. whether planning restrictions could, in the future, be imposed on the Station Road garage site concerning parking and working on the road. Unfortunately the Council cannot retrospectively impose any planning controls over the use of the site, but if the business spilled beyond their ownership and onto the highway this should/could be controlled by police/highway enforcement measures. However if an application for a change of use should ever be put in, restriction could then be looked at.
Councillors attended the recent BOND event.
Councillors have been assured that the planning application at Aylesbury House is for rooms and not a bail hostel.
Haji’s garage – the parking of untaxed cars blocking alleyways. Matter raised with officers - this alleyway is classed as highway, however there are no parking restrictions, therefore there is no opportunity for the Civil Enforcement Officers to take action. The only real enforcement option is for the police to take action where the highway is obstructed. Untaxed vehicles are dealt with by the DVLA, and the Council will ensure that they are made aware of this and if any of the vehicles are abandoned then the Council will remove them, but they must be satisfied that the vehicles have been abandoned.
International Women’s Day event at Broadgreen Community Centre on 08 March 4.30pm to raise Ovarian Cancer awareness.
CORRESPONDENCE:
RECEIVED
Minutes of the November 2012 Community Planning Forum. Following the withdrawal of support from the Planning Department, the forum has been disbanded and residents/members encouraged to report planning issues at Locality meetings.
Invite St Joseph’s school plan presentation and consultation – 28 February
The draft Swindon Heritage Strategy consultation opened on Monday (25 February) and will run until Monday, 15 April. Details of the Draft Strategy, together with details on how to respond or give feedback is on council website. The survey is also available at The One Stop Shop, Swindon Libraries and Museums, or a copy can be posted on request.
PLANNING
S/13/0240 - 2 Aylesbury House Aylesbury Street SN1 1AE - Change of use of existing building from residential flats (C3) to 13 No. serviced rooms (Sui Generis) and Office, installation of PV solar panels on roof and canopy over main entrance. - Application pending consideration - Case Officer - Mr Rob O’Carroll
TREASURERS REPORT - to 06 March 2013: John Freegard
Proposed by John Clark and Seconded by Ros Timlin
HISTORY REPORT: Kevin Leakey
At the February drop-in there was a small display of images and history connected with the building recently burnt down in Lagos Street. It had opened as an aerated water factory by Niblett & Co in 1902 and taken over by J R Bown around 1912. The Bown’s name can still be seen on the end gable. It remained as Bown’s soft drink manufacturers until c1959 when it was used by Leese. Ing & Co, for the same purpose. From the 1980’s to around 2010 the building was used as a car spares shop and was being converted to a grocery shop when the fire happened. Not sure what the future holds for the building - houses possibly?
An image of Elm Villa, which was behind Wellington Street, was also displayed.
The draft Swindon Heritage Strategy consultation opened on 25 February and will run until Monday, 15 April. Details of the Draft Strategy, together with details on how to respond or give feedback is on the SBC website. The survey is also available at The One Stop Shop, Swindon Libraries and Museums. Assume can view the draft strategy as well.
We had an enquiry via website from a lady looking for information about Oriel and Cheltenham Streets and was able to pass on information about the location of homes that her family had lived in over 100 years ago.
Kevin is always happy to look up any historical info people might want to know and has access to the censuses 1841 to 1911 and a number of street directories.
SHRIVENHAM ROAD: bushes overgrowing into alleyway and rubbish being dumped there.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
The meeting concerning the BSACC future, due to take place on 07 March has been cancelled because of unforeseen circumstances.
Work being undertaken to convert the rear garage of 125 Manchester Road into a shop – does it have planning permission?
Reports that Medgbury alleyway being used as rat run by taxis.
Fly tipping still a big problem.
Meeting closed at 8.20pm.
