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Cllr Woodhead My News |
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Care For Your Area Awards
This year the Care For Your Area Awards will be held at the Swallow Hotel on Friday 5th December 2008. This is a break from the normal traditional summer event. This will give the judges the whole of the summer when gardnes are at their best to make a decision and the event will be linked into the Christmas celebrations. More details of the event will be forthcoming nearer the time. However if you know of a school group, an individual or a business who deserves recognition for their efforts in caring for their area please let me know. Lets have some entries from our ward this year. Last year was the first time that we had no one from the Fairfield Ward entering the competition.
Community Skip
Monday 12th January 2009 at Maria Drive (grassed area) There will no longer be a skip at Glenfield Road after the misuse of it last time. Residents of the area had rubbish dumped outside of their homes once the skip became full.
These skips are for residents and not for tradespeople to use. If you see a tradesman using the skip please take the registration number of the vehicle or the trade name and let me know as soon as possible.
Go Warm
Go Warm is a government funded project to look into fuel poverty in the area. They are liaising with Stockton Council and provide cavity wall, loft insulation and draught proofing. People over 70 or those on benefits qualify for the work free of charge. You can find out more information by phoning 528215.
Recycling
A pilot scheme has been completed for cardboard and plastic recycling. A wider environment review has also now been completed and is currently working it's way through Cabinet and Council. I will keep you informed of developments.
Fire Safety Checks
You can still get a free fire safety check and alarm by ringing 01429 874063.
Dental Surgery
Still no news regarding the provision of an NHS Dental Surgery at the Fairfield Health Clinic. I will keep pressing the issue and will keep you informed of any developments.
Surbiton Road speeding
Working together with other councillors and council staff we have developed a proposal to address the speeding problems in Surbiton Road. This proposal has been out for consultation and is in the process of revision before being presented for approval. Hopefully this scheme, with residents approval, will go some way to tackling those few in the community who continue to put lives at risk. In the meantime this area will be the subject of periodic speed camera checks.
Pavements
There are a number of pavements in my ward that are in need of maintenance. They have been categorised by priority and necessary work will be completed once the funding becomes available.
Flower Beds
Some flower beds have recently been installed in Maria Drive/Tyrone Road and unfortunately there have been reports that children were running through the beds soon after planting took place. Please can I remind parents to remind children that the flower beds are not play areas.
Small Environmental Improvements
There is a small budget of £14,000 to be spent in the ward during the coming year on SMALL improvement schemes. If you have any suggestions for schemes that you think may qualify please get in touch with either myself or Cllr Maurice Perry. My contact details are to the top right of this page.
Dog Fouling
This is still a problem in the ward. Please can we ask you to either bag it and take it home or dispose of it in the many dog bins in the area. Please don't throw the bags in the hedge back. It is an offence not to clear up after your dog, with a fixed penalty fine of £50 rising up to £1000 if it goes to court. You can also report irresponsible owners on a confidential hot line. Tel no 526575.
Trees and Hedges
Autumn is the best time of year to cut back hedges and trees that border footpaths. For safety reasons please keep them trimmed. A little thought will be much appreciated by disabled, elderly, people with visual handicaps and by mums with prams and buggies.
Homelessness Prevention
Stockton Council is committed to preventing homelessness and providing alternative housing options wherever possible to avoid the need for people to make a homeless application. If you apply to the Council as homeless or think you are about to become homeless they will always do their best to prevent you from becoming homeless. As soon as you think this is something that you need help with, you should contact the housing options team on 01642 528389 or by emailing housing.options@stockton.gov.uk The team is based at 16 Church Road next to Splash.
Police Contacts
Our local police officers are P.C. McGarry and P.C.S.O Dargue. They can be contacted by ringing 01642 306604. There is also a dedicated neighbourhood number for Stockton on 01642 302930. Messages can be left on this number if he P.C. is not available or you can contact them by dropping a note through the letterbox at Medina House on Elm Tree Estate. The central number for Cleveland Police is (01642) 326326 and in an emergency call 999.
Ward surgeries
My ward surgery details can be viewed by clicking on the Fairfield link in the related content section to the left of this text. Surgeries are now usually on Mondays at Fairfield Infants School. The Police also attend the surgeries.
Unite Community Mediation Service
Are you in dispute with a neighbour? Unite can help, mediators can can help you and your neighbours to work out an agreement that you are all happy with.
Green Waste
We now have the Green Waste Collection Service in all of our ward. Please only place out the clear plastic sacks containing green waste on the day of collection. No other type of sack will be emptied. If it isn't collected for any reason please take it back into your property and place it back out on the next appropriate day.
Surbiton Road Bus Shelter
On regular tours around the ward I have noticed that someone is using the shrubbery near the bus shelter in Surbiton Road to discard their waste including bread. This practise can attract rats so could I please ask them to stop before it gets out of hand.
Fairfield Library
The library have recently introduced a very interesting newsletter which details current bestsellers, book of the month and a housebound library service which is free of charge. To make use of this service please contact the library and ask for the Housebound Readers Service Officer to visit you.
Waste Dumping
There have been a number of instances of waste being dumped needlessly recently in the Fairfield ward. Bags of empty beer cans behind the Rimswell Shops and even a half sawn off tree along Bishopton Road West. They have now been collected. We have a good waste collection service in Stockton so please use it by calling 391959.
Zebra Crossings
After a lot of work by a number of people we now have the much needed Zebra crossing between Shannon Crescent and Brookfield Road. I do hope that the residents now feel much safer when crossing the raod at this location. The Zebra crossing on Darlington Back Lane between Rimswell Road and Felton Lane is also now in place. This crossing was made possible with the help of two other wards and a financial contribution from each of the wards minor improvements budget.
Dog Barking
If a dog is persistently barking in your area please ring the council's dog warden service on 526552, who will attend to the problem and have a quiet word with the owners.
Stockton Welfare Rights Unit
The welfare rights unit is there to help people. They offer free, confidential advice and information. They are committed to ensuring that all of the residents of the borough have equal access to the benefir system. They have an advice line service which operates from 2pm to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 2pm to 4:30pm on Friday. You can contact them on 01642 526141.
Shannon Crescent One-Way System
There have been a number of complaints recently about people ignoring the One-Way system at Shannon Crescent. The police and the council enforcement team will be monitoring the situation.
Protected Trees
I have copies of a very useful booklet called 'Protected Trees' which is a guide to tree preservation procedures. If you would find a copy useful please get in touch. My contact details are at the top right of this page.
Street Name Plates
Stockton Borough Council are now having street name plates manufactured from recycled plastic which is said to be more durable than the old type. We certainly hope this is the case too.
Shopmobility
3-5 Bridge Road, Stockton, (phone 605676) is a registered charity proving a wide range of services for people with disabilities. Electric scooters, wheelchairs and walking aids are available for hire and with a trained escort if required. They also have a good selection of items for purchase as well as providing leaflets with helpful information on welfare benefits, social care and consumer issues.
Fire Safety
Did You Know that Cleveland Fire Brigade can visit your home for free and supply you with
FREE smoke alarms/detectors
FREE replacement 5 year batteries for your existing alarms/detectors
FREE trained staff who will work with you to identify and reduce the risk of fire in your home.
Telephone 01429 874063 - Fire Headquarters
For more details of the scheme follow the link to the Cleveland Fire Authority web site in the External Links section of this page.
Cold Callers
There have been a number of instances recently in the ward of people being pestered by cold callers asking for money for a variety of obscure reasons. Please be vigilant.
Please keep your door chain on when answering the door. Stockton's crime prevention team have informed me that cold callers have been attempting to gain access to peoples property in various guises recently. If in doubt keep them out!
The Golden Guide for Older People
A booklet has been published for older people in Stockton-on-Tees that is full of information on a range of local topics including money, health, care, your home and leisure activities. It is called The Golden Guide for Older People and it is FREE. You can pick up a copy in local libraries.
CAB Help Line
Anyone over 60 years of age can contact the CAB 60 plus telephone Help Line, on 01642 606005, Monday to Friday between 9-30 till 12-30 for advice.
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