Kingsway Villagers

Well… the year has flown, and it’s that time of year again when the lights go up all around the village - making it all that much more pleasant for us all to enjoy (spent the weekend putting ours on display around the garden).

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year ahead too!

Steve

Editors Note:
Steve also emailed me with information about the website for The Barn Owl at Kingsway and how - if you visit that website and sign up - Marston’s will send you a voucher for a FREE DRINK; which he asked me to pass on… (Cheers Steve)!

Whilst I’m here, I would also like to take this opportunity to say:

MERRY CHRISTMAS NEIGHBOURS…
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2012

From Angelina, Clive and all the family.

We took our dogs for a walk within the large land section behind Goose Bay Drive - which is beginning to look very pleasant indeed (or was until the weekend). The pathways and ponds amongst the far reaching space are very appealing and QUVL needs to pat themselves on the back for such an area.

Sadly over the weekend, we viewed local boys (approximately 8 - 12yrs of age) in a small group, dragging and using the large white rectangular safety pillows - used by the developers when workers are high-up within partly built properties, and floating them on the ponds whilst sitting on them (one boy wearing a black gas mask thinking it would provide him with the ability to go under the water)! The pillows remain dumped in the main pond by these children.

We equally noted them destroying two orange flotation devices placed either end of the main pond. The floats were thrown some distance from their stored positions, and the white ropes used for pulling-in anyone who maybe at risk within the ponds were damaged too, and all such new equipment has been made worthless.

We attempted to explain why their actions were not acceptable, but were met with abuse as they simply continued!

The three boys have been viewed previously in our own street as friends of a certain family who have equally been of repeated concern.

QUVL are showing positivity in communal areas for the community - yet whatever is being provided is simply being destroyed within a very short period of time!
 

I know this has been commented on before recently but this is increasingly becoming more of an issue lately. We have noticed more and more Charity Bags appearing through our letterbox each week - sometimes three a week! The person who delivers these bags is usually the same man, and regardless of the number he continues to deliver - whichever one’s are used (understanding they all can’t be from the amount we keep getting each week) they never appear to collect them!

I accept, and completely understand the difficulties charities are facing right now - just as the rest of us are thanks to the massive conservative/liberal cutbacks. The amount is overwhelming, and the disregard for their collection thereafter simply frustrates those who pick one of the many constantly pushed through our letterboxes. I telephoned the council, and yes you guessed it… nothing to do with us so not our problem! I telephoned “Children our Future” via their representatives UNICARE as those who have their bags delivered more often than most (01132 493008) and asked for this constant bombardment too be addressed. We received one of their bags on Monday, only to receive another bag this morning from the same person who delivered the previous one - and between these are all the others who equally have theirs delivered too!

I wish to provide clarity with regard to my recent resignation from the Kingsway Residents Association Committee, after I joined with the clear intensions of finding collective ways forward in stamping-out Anti Social Behaviour in our community - as those who have, and continued to endure serious Anti Social Behaviour…

I have waited until now as I have made every effort to persuade those responsible to investigate the circumstances which resulted in my resignation in protest toward the manner in-which Emily Jones was allowed to make socially dividing & discriminative comments during the last Residents Meeting in Nov’ 2010; comments which were supported by Barry Kirby (Chair) Kingsway Residents Association, and went unchallenged by Cllr: Wood (who was equally present at the meeting). Emily Jones considered residents used “snobbery” when reporting Anti Social Behaviour, and have no idea about the place - nor the Citizen Newspaper!

I registered a complaint with Emily Jones’ Senior Officers within Gloucester City Homes, and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team who are responsible for Project Solace (including Gloucester Police Chief Constable, Mr Tony Melville). Emily Jones was interviewed, and firmly denied ever making the comments. Evidence was later provided - and confirmed by others who recall such comments being made at the meeting (other committee members). Regardless, and thereafter acknowledging such comment was made, Emily Jones (who made the comments in public) refused to apologise in public, or stand down from her highly responsible position of trust in the community after denying she made the comments, and only acknowledged them after considerable effort was made to confirm the comments were fact!

Victoria King-Low (Senior Officer) made no further decision beyond her original interview of Emily Jones. Barry Kirby (Chair) Kingsway Residents Association, acknowledged himself that Emily Jones made the comment - and supported her words. However, he accepted that her comments be removed from the formal minutes of the meeting and rearranged via “discrete wording” in order to prevent them from being seen by the wider community. I made clear my own view of concerns which might be caused if read by the wider community. Mr Kirby stated: "However, I think the point about not necessarily including it in the minutes is fair, in terms of repeating it verbatim, but I think this can be easily achieved by some discrete wording. Her words, whilst right for the context of the meeting, would not come across the same when read cold"!

I was alarmed and totally disgusted by the alteration of the formal minutes of the Kingsway Residents Association, just to protect someone making such disgraceful socially dividing discrimination towards those in the community who suffer, and report Anti-Social Behaviour. I made clear that I wanted no part as a committee member in being involved in this improper behaviour when we are expected to be in place as representatives for - and as part of - this community. I resigned for these reasons, and currently await confirmation from those responsible in providing their final statements, in order for my request for the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate the actions of those who should act responsibly, and not make public statements of this kind or be protected when making such disgraceful statements by their senior officers.

I hope others in this community will consider my actions understandable when having factual awareness of such matters, and equally know that they were receiving selective alteration by others within the committee in order to protect individuals making such comments, instead of protecting those who suffer or need to report suffering Anti Social Behaviour with those who make remarks of this kind and are equally provided a platform by the Kingsway Residents Association, in order to voice them!

Hoping everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.

We noted that the Refuse/Recycling Collection of last week was very limited - this was due to the extremely difficult conditions of the roads. The council had to call-off collections beyond those roads which were gritted on the development for Health & Safety reasons.

I have been assured by Mr Martin Shield’s (Director of Environmental Services) that there will be a full collection this Friday with regard to: Black Bin Refuse & Green Bin Recycling Collections. Residents are being asked, if your recycling bin’s are full - then simply use bags with items kept separated, and these will be collected too.

I would just like to remark on the hard work which Clive has undertaken in providing such an extremely helpful website.

I have found the Kingsway Blog a positive way of having access to, and with the community, and discovering what is happening within the development (good, bad or indifferent).

I would take my hat off to him for all the hard work he has, and continues putting into everything that he has provided the wider community to use and contribute toward… The only problem is I don’t wear a hat!

Seriously though, you have clearly worked very hard, and for that you should be applauded. No I haven’t taken any gifts or promise of a drink (when the new pub’ arrives) from Clive in passing these comments, but I hope others will join in and equally add their thanks too.