What's On Your Mind?

Sunday morning at church usually brings at least one comment or question on council matters as most people know I’m a councillor, though not for the ward in which I go to church.  This morning brought a bumper crop and served as a reminder of what ordinary people are thinking about.

First up was a question on a planning application – not one in Eaglescliffe ward, but in a neighbouring patch.  While not against new housing the resident was very concerned about the lack of infrastructure planning associated with the application.  Not being familiar with the detail of the application I couldn’t answer specific questions but did point him in the direction of Planning Aid and will send him links to Stockton’s planning policies.

Next was a very interesting conversation with a young person, perhaps still at primary school, who wanted to know why the Fairtrade stall had so much Traidcraft stuff on it.  I was able to explain that Traidcraft is a company which works with producers to get them ready to trade as Fairtrade producers and then supports them to grow and diversify when they’re ready.  As a result their produce is sometimes a bit more expensive than supermarket own brand Fairtrade goods but it’s for a very good reason and worth supporting.

Follow that by questions about where Stockton Council is with regard to Yarm Parking, to which I could only reply that the Labour/IBIS cabinet take the political decisions and council officers are instructed to carry them out.  They don’t consult me nor tell me every step they’re taking, so I know no more than the Town Council does about what’s happening at Stockton Council and no more than I read in the papers about what’s happening at Yarm Town Council.  I assume that Stockton Council is preparing the consultation with residents of the High St over how best to accommodate their vehicles but I don’t know.

Finally, a discussion with an employee of Cleveland Police about the forthcoming elections of Police Commissioners.  It seems that many rank and file officers think as the Lib Dems do – electing a Police Commissioner will do nothing to improve the force and might make matters worse but electing a Police Authority/Panel/Watch committee (call it what you will) to challenge the Police and ensure that resources are properly used would be a good move.  Meanwhile, accepting that elected commissioners are going to be a reality in November he felt that politicians should not be standing.  It’s surprising how many ordinary people I meet think that this system is going to be a mistake.

More good news

Another stage in the improvements to Eaglescliffe Station was completed today - the ticket office was officially launched.  Unfortunately it's not fully operational yet because the ticket machine hasn't been delivered despite being expected over a week ago.

The Shutter rolls up on the Ticket Office

Stockton Council invested in the refurbishment of the building in partnership with Chester-le-Track who will operate it.  Grand Central Trains have supported and encouraged, because their service is very popular from Eaglescliffe and they see this station as the hub for the Teesside area.  Very unusually for a train operating company they are investing real money in the improvements, specifically to the car park, and we hope to see them taking shape later in the year.
These improvments are the culmination of years of campaigning by Lib Dem councillors for the area - first as the wards of Egglescliffe and Preston, then as the combined ward of Eaglescliffe.  Jeremy Atkinson, Mike Cherrett, John Fletcher all played their parts.  In recent years the dawning realisation that oil won't last for ever and the atmosphere can't absorb unlimited amounts of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides has combined with that campaign to produce a willingness on the parts of politicians, business leaders and council officers to work on solutions.  We now look forward to the better waiting facilities and car parking that are planned, along with the campaign to get the pedestrian bridge reinstated to allow residents on the other side of the line more choice of trains than they can possibly get at Allen's West, including the option of a direct train to London.

Welcome Nifco

One of the country's top plastic moulding companies moved house officially today, though in practice like many house moves it's going to take a bit of time to complete.  Nifco's new factory in Eaglescliffe was officially opened by HRH the Duke of York who spoke warmly about the company's past record in winning work and training staff and about their future prospects.  With Cllr Alan Lewis I enjoyed meeting young men (yes, all men - come on girls!!) serving their apprenticeships with the company, an undergraduate trainee, Japanese trainees over here for a year, as well as long-established staff.  Having spent time with the MD last month we knew that he was proud of the training offered to staff and the loyalty of the staff.  Today we heard at first hand that the staff agree with him, talking of being offered other jobs but wanting to stay with Nifco because it's such a good company.

We look forward to working with them on whatever's needed to help their operation succeed.

A nice touch was the fact that the plaque unveiled was made by another successful local firm - Creative Glass.

Stockton and the Olympics

Councillors were treated to an upbeat and enthusiastic briefing this afternoon on the events in the borough associated with the olympics.  It was almost enough to inspire me to take up a new sport - almost but not quite!  Those who know me of old will know that sport and me don't mix.
Nevertheless I might well be inspired to go and watch other people taking part.  There are rowing and cycling events, events for school children and for grandparents, and celebrations like the torch being carried through the borough on a Sunday afternoon in June.  So there should be something for everyone, even if it's just a good excuse for a picnic in the park.  There'll even be a big screen in the town to watch the olympics on, while enjoying your picnic!

It was all very welcome after a couple of hours of wrestling with the question of the council budget for the coming year and the painful question of whether the council should accept the grant being offered by government to keep council tax to zero this year and then hope we can cover the gap next year, or to reject the grant and put up the council tax this year so that we know we have the money in the budget for the future.  This year there are two opposing views on the council, both wanting support from other groups for their proposal.  Suffice to say at the moment that we are looking at all the options and will decide how to vote when we've seen all the figures.  Neither view will stop SBC having to cut back further on services, and if the suggestion made by the chancellor that public sector spending will have to fall further after 2014 is carried through some of those cuts will be very visible and definitely not be popular.

Democracy in Action?

Democracy is supposed to be government by the people or by their directly elected representatives, elected in a free election.  In the English system of local government, or councils, such elections take place every 4 years so the question arises of how to keep those directly elected representatives in touch with their electorate between elections.  This is a question that exercises the minds of people who care about democracy working well, in all parties and none.  At present one aspect of it is the subject of debate within Stockton council.
Traditionally councillors have held ward surgeries - setting aside an hour or so in a specific place each week or month so that members of the public can bring along their concerns, complaints, compliments or whatever.  All Stockton Councillors hold such surgeries.  In Eaglescliffe we have two per month - one on the 3rd Tuesday at either Egglescliffe Parish Hall or Egglescliffe community centre and one on the first Friday at Trinity Methodist Church. None of them are well used, apart from occasionally when there's been a controversial issue such as a planning application which most people oppose.  Over an average 12 month period only a handful of people approach us in this way.
Over the same period

• we send emails to hundreds of people a month, giving information, encouraging participation in consultations or asking for views on things that are happening in the area.  
• We send out Focus leaflets to every home in the ward, thanks to the army of volunteer deliverers to whom we are indebted.
• we carry out resident surveys, knock on doors to consult on specific issues, walk and cycle round the streets chatting to those we meet
• we answer the phone to those who ring us with problems, concerns and even compliments either for council staff or us
• we use this blog, facebook, twitter and the Stockton Lib Dem website to keep in touch
• we use "street surgeries" in fine weather, dropping a note to let people know on what day and at what time we'll be in their street.

Add to them the informal contacts when at the school fair or the shops or the hairdresser or wherever it might be, and we do wonder whether asking the council to pay for the venue for a ward surgery and all the attendant costs of making the bookings, putting the times on the website etc are worth it.  Would our time be better spent in some other way?

Alan Lewis and I are happy to go on holding ward surgeries if Eaglescliffe residents want us to do so.  But if you genuinely think resources would be better spent in some other way we'd listen to you with interest.  So do let us know what you think.
A plea, though - if you comment on this posting please say where you're from.  If you'd rather email directly then please do.  Interesting though views from outside the ward might be, it's the people of Eaglescliffe who need to decide this one.

Our Airport, DTV or Teesside

After months of uncertainty over its viability and wondering whether we'd even have an airport in the Tees Valley in a few months' time, Friday's announcement of the sale of Shares to Peel Investments brings some relief.  Sadly, it doesn't bring the certainty we crave.  The airport is undoubtedly of great value to some people in the area.  We know for instance of businesses in the borough who find the ability to fly their staff anywhere in the world from an airport on their doorstep a huge advantage.  There are holidaymakers who enjoy the convenience of flying from a local airport, but there are far more who complain that they can't fly to where they want to go.
So what can we expect now?  I don't know, I'm not on the inside of Peel Investments and I have no way of knowing what their plans are.  I do know what I hope for.  I hope that they will work with KLM to promote the international possibilities for flights from Teesside; I hope they will look for other possibilities for commercial flights to broaden the opportunities for holiday travel at reasonable prices; I hope they'll work seriously with the local authorities to develop uses for the remainder of the site in order to supplement the income and increase the viability of the site as a whole; and I'd like them to stop calling it Durham Tees Valley - it has nothing to do with Durham and everything to do with Teesside.  Let's not put obstacles in the path of tourists finding us!
And at some point in the not too distant future I'd love all the necessary bodies to agree and act on putting a rail link nearer to the terminal building instead of so far away that it's a struggle to see the terminal from the platform and certainly too far to walk with luggage.

Station Rd Waiting Restrictions

As rail travel from Eaglescliffe station has grown in popularity the station car park has been increasingly filled by commuters' cars, with a reduction in the space available for people working in and visiting the businesses on Station Rd.  A proposal from Stockton council for a residents parking permit scheme was rejected by residents who did not believe that there was a significant problem yet.  Some businesses have expressed a desire to have some restrictions on long-stay parking so that their customers can come and go freely so Stockton council are again consulting, this time on whether to introduce such restrictions.  Some residents are concerned that this would mean they couldn't park near their homes during the day.  As ward councillors Alan Lewis and I are passing on all comments and suggestions to the officers conducting the consultation.  The plans are available on the Stockton Lib Dem website and comments need to be completed by Monday.

Meanwhile the new ticket office is progressing well and should soon be in operation.  The next phases of improvements will include the car park, providing more spaces with a better lay-out.

Northern Lights and other things

OK, I confess that I've had another holiday, this time to celebrate (albeit a little late) hubby's retirement.  We've just returned from a short break to Finnish Lapland in a little village near the Russian border.  In fact, the road sign at the only major junction in the area pointed towards Murmansk.
Like all good holidays, in my estimation at least, there was some relaxation, some effort and some learning.  Part of the learning was about relations between the neighbouring countries.  World Wars have a nasty habit of ending with as many problems as they started with, and relations between Russia and Finland seem to have been a casualty of the last one, at least so far as people in Lappi are concerned.  The loss of a part of their precious country still hurts and the change to the way of life of the native people of the area is irreparable.  The reindeer herders are now settled in houses, guiding the reindeer to the areas they can reach rather than following the reindeer through the wilderness.   Borders are more rigid than they were 100 years ago, and lifestyles have had to change to suit the lines drawn by politicians.
Interestingly, we were told that the people who have the most difficulty in obtaining visas to cross from Finland into Russia are the British!
More light-hearted learning came when we visited a reindeer herder and saw some of the animals at close quarters.  It turns out that Rudolph is female (or perhaps a castrated male) - Disney eat your heart out.  Those lovely antlers only remain on the females during winter!
Learning to work with a husky team wasn't as easy as it looks, though great fun.  Driving a snow-mobile is hard work and demands concentration and skill.  I know many a Guide leader who'd love to have a supply of bone-dry wood like we had for those few days.  Shave a few bits off, strike a match and behold the fire is blazing!

But the best bit was definitely seeing the Northern Lights, even if we did brave -41 degrees to do it.  Never again will I complain of cold weather here.  Photos don't capture the effect, but here's one anyway.  An almost full moon meant that the landscape showed up well on the photos too.

A magnificent sight, and well worth travelling that distance for.

Now, back to work!

Orchard Estate Traffic Calming proposals

A few years ago complaints about speeding and terrible parking near Junction Farm School led Egglescliffe Parish Council to ask for action from Stockton Borough Council.  The Community Engineer drew up plans for traffic calming along Butterfield Drive and for parking restrictions near the school.  During the consultation people from the Birchfield Drive area pointed out that "rat-runners" would simply use their road as the cut through so a wider scheme was drawn up and consulted on.  Broad agreement was found, but no money for implementation.
Fast forward to September 2011.  The Western Area Transport Strategy group meets to finalise the spending of its budget.  Thanks to underspends on some things agreed earlier in the summer there's a bit of the budget left.  The group agrees to fund the provision of a staggered barrier on one of the approaches to Allen's West level crossing to minimise the risk to children approaching it.  Still a few hundred remain - not enough for any of the schemes which had been put forward unsuccessfully.  Eventually it was agreed to spend that money on the necessary statutory consultation on traffic calming on Orchard Estate, so that if the funding becomes available next financial year the scheme could go ahead quickly.
Last week the consultation notices went up on lamp posts.  Immediately the questions have started to arrive on the phone and by email.  Alan and I will try to get round and answer as many as possible this week, and hope that those who want to comment do write in to the address given (Mr D E Bond, Stockton Borough Council) and make their views known.  There's a balance to strike between the safety of the children at the school and the comfort of car users moving round the estate.  Let's hope residents help us to get it right.

Yarm Parking Problems

Last night brought the end of this particular phase in the long-running saga of efforts to find a solution to the twin problems of having enough parking spaces in the centre of Yarm for the right lengths of time for all the people who would like to park there.  For at least the 30 years that I have been involved in local politics,  this has been an issue.  This isn't the place to give a full history but maybe one day some of us will collaborate on writing a book, who knows?
The most recent efforts started to take shape in 2008/9 with a serious attempt to find somewhere for long stay parking in order to free some  more short stay places on the High St.  They foundered because the land being suggested was not acceptable to the majority of residents.  But the outcry did serve as a spur to find some suitable land.  Couple that with changes in industrial practice in the country which mean that lumps of coal no longer fall off rail wagons crossing the viaduct above the town, add in one or two land owners who have begun to show an interest in leasing or selling plots and possibilities begin to emerge.
I had the privilege of chairing the Environment Committee of Stockton Council for a number of years prior to the 2011 election and as part of that task undertook a review which included a brief overview of parking in the borough.  We drew a number of conclusions which included the principle that parking should be paid for in all the areas for which the borough council is responsible in order to provide funds for maintenance, security, lighting and so on.  Specifically, in Yarm, we concluded that a pay and display system on the High St could fund a long stay facility off the High St.  We agreed with council officers and the then cabinet member responsible that this could provide a solution to the problem, and that reconfiguration of the spaces might also be possible to improve traffic flow.
Unfortunately, we could not predict in 2010 the change of political leadership in the council which took place in May 2011, nor the fact that the person who was then the vice-chair of the committee and party to all the discussions would then become the cabinet member responsible and try to rush through the Pay and Display element without any assurance that it would be used to fund the long stay parking, nor even that such a facility would be provided.  Recent months have not been helped by a somewhat confrontational approach on the part of some individuals, nor by the emphasis on some aspects of proposals and ignoring others in publicity.   The result of all these changes was a decision by SBC cabinet which was then called in for scrutiny by 6 councillors.  Last night the Executive Scrutiny committee of SBC met to consider evidence and after more than 3 hours of receiving evidence, questioning and debating the chair of the committee and former Leader of the Council proposed a pause for consultation with High St residents and negotiation on land availability.  This perfectly reasonable compromise was rejected out of hand by the Labour members of the committee, supported by the leader of the Ingleby Barwick Independents.  The other IBIS member of the committee agreed with the proposal, as did the remaining members of the committee but thanks to the leader of IBIS there was a majority against the pause.
The next stage will be for the council to consult with residents of the High St in order to ascertain their needs for Resident Permits, and then a process of statutory consultation which allows everyone another "bite at the cherry".  Sadly, compromise and common sense seem to be in short supply on this one and it will cause yet more upset before it's over.

2011 draws to a close

It's that time of year when I reflect on the last 12 months and wonder about the next 12.  As I get older reflection seems to emphasise just how quickly the years pass.
This year has of course had its ups and downs.  Seeing the council seat which John Fletcher held for so many years slip away to another party was definitely a down.  And there have been others as the dire financial situation in the country has taken jobs from so many and hope from others. 
But there have been some good moments too - becoming a great-aunt 3 times in the same month as we celebrated 40 years of marriage was wonderful.  Holidaying with family and meeting up with cousins I'd not seen for almost 60 years was another high spot.  And there are many more happy family memories from 2011 to treasure.
Being able to witness our good friends Suzanne and John Fletcher having their long service to the borough recognised by being made Honorary Aldermen was the most enjoyable bit of the full council meetings this year, I'm sure, though of course not the most important.  That honour falls to those meetings where the council's budget and forward plans are set.
And what of 2012?  With luck there will be more joy with family and friends.  There will be much work around the ward dealing with the issues residents bring up.  There will be next year's budget setting process, and a need to look very carefully at all the implications of the council tax grant being offered.  There'll be the Olympic Torch relay and Fairtrade Fortnight and the 25th Stockton International Riverside Festival and no doubt much more.  So 2012 promises to be at least as busy as 2011. 
Best wishes to all of you for 2012.  In the words of the old toast: Health, Wealth and Happiness, and the greatest of these is happiness!

The season of Peace and Goodwill

As the December edition of Eaglescliffe's Focus leaflet hit the doormats around the ward I started to receive phone calls from people offering coats for the Donate a Coat appeal.  For those readers who don't live in the ward or don't read Focus, this is an appeal which the Salvation Army is making this year with Daybreak TV for warm winter coats to give to the homeless and otherwise vulnerable people who turn to them for help. Alan, Lesley and I decided that this year we were going to publicise the appeal and offer to collect them if people couldn't deliver themselves.  The results have been humbling - we have several bags of coats to take in to Stockton tomorrow thanks to the generous people of Eaglescliffe.
The news headlines this morning were dominated by the last US troops leaving Iraq, but by lunchtime that had been ousted by the death of Vaclav Havel, perhaps the best known citizen of the Czech republic.  A man who led his country to embrace democracy, look beyond its borders and become a fully functioning part of Europe - not a bad record for anyone!
Sadly, the news from further afield has not been so positive - still problems in Egypt as some people feel the military leadership is obstructing the passage to democracy with others thinking it's a benign influence bringing stability; even bigger problems in the Congo where people who have been returned by our government which claims that it's safe to return are being arrested and in some cases tortured.  Let's hope that having a first hand witness report on the situation encourages the government to realise that the country isn't yet safe to return refugees to.
So at a time when we celebrate the birth of a child who became a refugee with his parents the world presents a mixed picture.  Would that the generosity shown in the Donate a Coat appeal were shown right across the country and the world. 

Are We Nearly There Yet?

This was the title of Durham Lane Primary's Christmas production.  Unashamedly celebrating the Christian festival, it also allowed children from 5 to 11 to show off their musical talents, their confidence in front of an audience, and their self discipline.  I don't know which child the man near me was waving to so energetically but well done to the child for not being distracted.
The story of the journey to Bethlehem was told in words and music with great enthusiasm but also with skill.
The Oakwood Centre again provided a super venue - the big screens and the video cameras enabled every child to have their moment of stardom, the seats are adult sized and comfortable, and the acoustics mean that children don't have to shout.  Plenty of car parking is the icing on the cake!
As always, Durham Lane school took the opportunity to raise some funds for Daisy Chain, a local charity which helps families cope with Autism and has special links with the school.  They showed a very moving video of two mums talking about the difference Daisy Chain made to their families.  I hope the collection at the end was generous.

Allen's West and Preston Park

Two sites, two planning applications, worlds apart.  The Allen's West application is for a housing estate the size of a village - bigger in fact than Preston is, with perhaps its own shop and some allotments, maybe some unspecified community facilities and potentially bringing with it a mass of traffic problems.  Of course, the traffic problems could be reduced by careful road changes and designing in the ability to use public transport including committing substantial sums to increase the frequency of bus services, improving footways and cycleways and ensuring that pedestrian access to the railway station is improved.  Will it happen?  Who knows.  Meanwhile if you want to comment you have until next Tuesday to get your comments in.  Go to   http://www.developmentmanagement.stockton.gov.uk/online-applications/,  then clicking on SEARCH and putting in the application number, 11/2842.

The newest application for Preston Park on the other hand is for a sculpture set into the landscape which will act as a "gateway" feature for the Tees Heritage Park.  Children from Preston Primary school spent a lot of time with an artist looking at the park and the river and working on expressing their thoughts and their vision in models.  He took those thoughts and ideas as a springboard for a design to submit for approval.  The first attempt met with considerable public approval but some aspects of it were not considered suitable by the council officers charged with managing the park and museum.  Much discussion later a second  design has emerged and that design has now been submitted for planning approval.  It's described on the offical notification as:
Application 11/3088 REV.
 This scheme is part of the Tees Heritage Park Arts Project.  The works will consist of ridges of stone sculpted landform radiating out from a central interpretation panel in cast iron and behind this a curved stone bench recessed into the hillside.

The application can be viewed by going to  http://www.developmentmanagement.stockton.gov.uk/online-applications/,  then clicking on SEARCH and putting in the application number, 11/3088 REV.  Comments are needed by Dec 30th and should be sent to developmentservices@stockton.gov.uk , marked clearly with the application number for the attention of Mrs Fiona Bage.

There will be some issues around the maintenance of such a piece of sculpture in the landscape.  It's not something that's been done before in any of the Stockton Parks.  In my view it will be worth the effort.  It will add something to the park which we haven't had before and add to the unique qualities of Preston park in the North East.  But there's a lot of work to be done on it to get to that stage, and it'll be somewhat messy while it's being constructed.  Interesting times for the park.

Credit where credit's due

Politicians, like most people, enjoy being praised for doing things that people think are good things.  So getting a pothole filled when drivers have complained to us, sorting out a problem with drainage on a footpath, winning a fight in planning committee are all things we sometimes succeed in and enjoy being thanked - we're human after all.  Sometimes we don't succeed and then there's a feeling of despondency perhaps.  And sometimes a politician claims more credit than is really due, forgetting the efforts of the community towards the same end.
So it's timely,  as the subject is topical once more, to give great credit to Egglescliffe & Eaglescliffe council (formerly known as Egglescliffe Parish Council).  The council is currently working with a group of young people in an effort to provide a facility in the parish for wheeled sport - BMX, skateboards, micro-scooters and so on.  Young people who choose them as a way of taking enjoyable exercise and learning new skills are in trouble, understandably, for using the ramps and steps provided for pedestrians, wheelchair users etc outside Orchard Shops.  The ramps and steps provide the best facility they've got, but while using them they cause problems and danger to the people for whom they're designed. 
Various people have talked about the issue over the last 12 months, not always in public and certainly not always in writing.  At a meeting of the parish council's recreation committee yesterday morning we had reason to go back through minutes of the committee and its predecessor committees to look at decisions taken over land in the parish..  It was interesting to note that in minutes as far back as 1995 councillors were bemoaning the lack of facilities for skate boarding and the danger in which young people were putting themselves and others by doing it in inappropriate places.  Councillors were trying to work with ward councillors even then to get something done.  So all credit to the parish council for perseverance and for having the vision lacked by many at Stockton Council and a timely reminder to newly elected people that this isn't something new and solutions don't come about just because it's mentioned in a leaflet or a letter - it's a long hard road to success. 
It would be interesting to know whether any of those young people who were petitioning the parish council back then are around now, and indeed whether any of their children are involved in the current discussions.

Another step along the Fairtrade road

I was invited this afternoon to attend a meeting of the school council at Ingleby Mill Primary School.  Unfortunately I was held up and arrived a little late so I missed the presentation done by the Yr 6 councillors to the others.  Apparently I missed a treat, but I was in  time to witness the children completing the school audit - where they are along the road to becoming  a Fairtrade school.  It's wonderful when the children start to make links to other subjects and think of things which the staff have forgotten about.
The most exciting part of the meeting was the draft action plan.  An outline drawn up by a couple of teachers was soon being questioned and fleshed out by the children.  I've a feeling that I'm going to be taking part in a sponsored walk on leap year day!  The theme of the coming 12 months in the world of Fairtrade is going to be Steps - taking steps, big ones, small ones, leaps, jumps, any kind of step to increase awareness of Fairtrade and to spread the word.  There were some mental leaps going on this afternoon, from pancakes with Fairtrade chocolate to sponsored walks, to biking to school and having a Fairtrade breakfast on arrival. 
But first of all they have to attend a governors' meeting and explain to them why it's important to become a Fairtrade school.  If any pupils can do it they can, I'm sure.  They're even going to have a go at persuading the cook to use some Fairtrade goods in school meals and their uniform supplier to use some Fairtrade cotton in their uniform. 
It was inspiring, exciting and humbling - what wonderful children.

Farewell to The Grange

The Grange was a lovely old house, one of the oldest in Eaglescliffe, and was home to a family which really made the house into a family home.  When our children were growing up there were always children living at The Grange, and more children visiting them, always welcome, always safe and though maybe I'm looking back with rose tinted memories, but they always seemed happy.  The children grew up and moved to their own homes and eventually it was time for the family to relinquish the old house.  Everyone hoped that another family would come to live there and have as much joy in growing up there.  Alas, it was not to be.  The buyer turned out to be a developer who simply wanted to knock it down and build as much as he could sell on the site.  The first application was refused and refused again on appeal.  The next application was again refused but this time granted on appeal.  Still nothing happened - no-one lived there and no demolition either.  Tiles came off the roof, weeds grew up in the garden, the fence was breached numerous times.  The old house grew ever sadder and more derelict. 
Another planning application came in and eventually approval was given for a smaller development than before - houses instead of flats.  Still nothing happened.  Still young people broke in and used it as an adventure playground from time to time.
Last weekend my colleague Cllr Alan Lewis discovered that primary school children as young as 7 or 8 had been playing there, Stockton Council officers had been notified but nothing was done.  On Monday Alan took the matter up and by yesterday he had a commitment from the owners to proceed with the demolition.  The enforcement officers with whom he dealt acted swiftly and decisively and we're very grateful to them that this weekend there's proper fencing up and the building will go next week.
I'm sad to see  a once fine family home left to get into such a ruinous state - a family could have lived in it for the past few years while the planning permissions were sought and finance sorted out for the work.  Instead it turned into an eyesore so that eventually almost everyone wanted to see it gone.
So, farewell to the Grange.  I won't go and see it demolished - I'll remember it as it was when the children were growing up, and I'll still hear the echos of the laughter no matter what is built on the site in the future.

More cars, more pedestrians

Following yesterday's post I've been asked about the legal position on parking and also what is being done to help solve the problems.

In Stockton the council is responsible for enforcing parking restrictions in most cases. The main issues we have in our estate roads are parking partly on the pavement and parking on bends or junctions or across someone's drive.
Drivers often park with 2 wheels on the pavement because they think that it gives more space on the road for other motorists to pass and therefore is safer or better.  However, there are 2 problems with that approach.  First, the surface of pavements is not reinforced for the weight of the vehicle so damage is caused.  The damage isn't visible immediately but builds up over many months.  Repair costs money which is paid by all tax payers, not just the motorists concerned.
Second, a pavement is designed to be wide enough for someone in a wheelchair or someone pushing a pram to go along comfortably.  If a car is parked partly on the pavement the access for those pedestrians is obstructed.
The council's enforcement officers will take action if someone is parked causing an obstruction such as leaving too narrow a gap on the pavement thereby forcing wheelchair users or people pushing prams to leave the footway and walk on the road.
Although the Highway Code says that motorists should not park on bends or in such a way as to obstruct the use of a dropped kerb or the driveway of a house, we all know that if 50 cars are collecting children from a primary school on a modern housing estate they will end up doing all of those things.  Most residents accept a bit of give and take in these situations but sometimes some drivers can be so thoughtless in their parking that people get really angry. 
Tomorrow Alan Lewis and I have a meeting scheduled with a council enforcement officer to discuss the situation we saw yesterday and see if we can come up with an action plan to improve the situation.  That will give us a better idea of what might be possible outside the other schools in the ward where similar problems are experienced.

That doesn't resolve the issues around youngsters being out on roads on their scooters and skateboards while drivers don't expect them to be in the road. We are trying to find a way of funding some provision for them to enjoy those wheeled activities safely and getting them off the roads and off the front of the shops, but that's going to take a bit of time.
It also doesn't resolve the issue of people who drive at legal but inappropriate speeds on estate roads - 30mph might be legal but it doesn't mean it's sensible.  Unfortunately we can't get the speed limit reduced without lots of speed bumps or build outs or other physical means of slowing down the vehicles - expensive beyond reach even if everyone agreed it was a good thing on all of our longer roads.

So I'm not offering platitudes, nor easy answers.  It is difficult but Alan Lewis and I are doing what we can.  If anyone has any helpful suggestions that we haven't yet tried please do get in touch - we'll see if they can be tried.

Cars, schools and pedestrians

Sometimes I wonder if primary schools have built-in magnets which attract cars to park as near as possible before the school opens in the morning and closes at night.  The idea of parking an extra 100m away and walking a little seems to be alien to so many parents these days that it's causing real problems.  It's not new this year but it also isn't any better.
Just over a week ago Carnoustie Drive had 3 speed humps and some school time waiting restrictions put in.  Today parents who do walk to school almost erupted at Alan and me as we walked down the road at 3.15, looking at the pavements half covered by cars parked with two wheels on them, cars parked on corners so that seeing round them was difficult for other drivers, even one car parked with a child asleep in the baby seat and parent nowhere to be seen, presumably on the other side of the road waiting for another child to come out of school. Whatever happened to the Highway code, to common sense and to good manners?  We'lldo what we can of course but it's going to take a rethink on the part of some parents before the issues are resolved.  Meanwhile people have to walk on the road if they're pushing a pram or a wheelchair, children take their lives in their hands crossing between parked cars, and several people are describing it as an accident waiting to happen.  No-one we spoke to seemed to think the school zone was an improvement at schooltime though the slowing down of cars during the remainder of the day was much appreciated.
Only time will tell whether efforts to reform people's parking habits will be successful.

Preston Park

Yesterday and today I've been involved in a series of meetings about the Park and the Hall, the developments going on right now and the vision for the future.  They've been in turn confidential, robust, comforting and exciting.  The way in which the story of the Hall and Park will be told in the museum when it reopens, the ideas for celebrating harvest in the kitchen garden, the new settings and opportunities for weddings in the Hall, emerging plans for celebrating 200 years of the railway in Eaglescliffe, the gateway to Tees Heritage Park - all have been part of the discussions but there's been much more too. 
Years ago when I was first elected the relationship of ward councillors to council officers over the park seemed to be almost constant conflict.  It's taken hard work on both sides to reach the point we're at now, but it's been well worth the effort, and now we have a more or less shared vision which is developing in exciting ways - new ideas for events and for activities in the heart of our community.
Preston Hall & Park is the jewell in the crown of the borough, and long may it remain so.