Kingsway Villagers

14 Responses to “Kingsway Community Walkabout”

1. becky1978 Says:
   July 27th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   This sounds like a great idea to get everybody working together.

   I think perhaps the underpass could use a little attention. Maybe a good clean with a street cleaner as it’s starting to look a bit grubby under there! It does get used such a lot so it’s bound to happen. Also, i don’t know if you could suggest the idea of more litter bins, particulary by Domino’s (although I think that should be an issue for Domino’s rather than Kingsway folk!)

2. Baz_k Says:
   July 27th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

   The bins sound like a parish council issue!

   I believe some of our councillors actually live on Kingsway, but you wouldn’t think so!

   I will ring the parish office tomorrow to see what can be done.

   My issue with the walkabout is that it is on a friday through the day, when a lot of residents are at work and therefore can’t get a say, which is a pity.

3. MissC Says:
   July 27th, 2009 at 11:13 pm

   In a way I would like to do this community walk if it would be on Kingsway alone, as far as I know I am free at present? What time, as this hasn’t been stated?

   Can a leaflet be popped throught residents doors with this website and stating the ‘walkabout’ and if they can contribute to this website or by other means then I think there would be a lot more said. If there is not enough time to do this, in future things need to either be organised earlier so this can happen! Then there can be no blame for a poor turnout or low response.

   My main concerns on Kingsway are the graffitti on the lamp posts, and under the bridge.
   Some of the paths are uneven and drains exposed which could cause an accident with a disabled person, child, adult etc. There is a lane near the bridge that needs the rubbish clearing from that seems to gather empty cans, cigarette butts, food cartons. I know where we used to live twice a year there was a community clear-up whereby residents volunteered to do a clear up of the area.

4. Clive Says:
   July 28th, 2009 at 3:25 am

   Hi Folks,
   Thanks for the responses

   Becky,
   I’ll certainly mention the underpass (following other recent meetings I’ve been to I fully expect to be discussing it), and I’ll also mention the litter around Dominoes (although hopefully this will have been brought up during the Quedgeley walkabout).

   Baz_k,
   You can ring the Council of course. I’ll also mention it to their representative on Friday.
   If you have any issues post them here (that was the primary reason for my post)

   MissC,
   I’m waiting to hear about the time. I’m not organising this, I’ve just been asked to join in. I have no idea whether it’s intended to be open to “all comers”, but I’ll no doubt speak to PC Mackie before Friday, and I will find out and post here.

   Whatever happens I’ll be sure to bring up the points mentioned by everybody.

5. mtk Says:
   July 28th, 2009 at 10:02 am

   Hi All

   A few points to note in the walk-about.
   1. Missing Chivenor Way road sign at the Kinloss Drive end.
   2. Mini roundabout thing in the block paved area at Kinloss drive which is becoming a dangerous hole.
   3. Blue Spray paint on the black railings by the roundabout at the top of Thatcham Ave.
   4. Demolished wall on Woodvale & bent railings at the traffic lights (but I guess these are private issues which seem to be taking an age to sort).

6. G Note Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am

   Just a thought; as we all jointly own the majority of our areas, maybe we could contribute a fee to the Residents Association to help get some of these things sorted? Just a suggestion. I know that some homes on Coopers Edge have to pay a ground rent for these things. It’s only a suggestion as some probably wouldn’t want to pay any more than they all ready do to the Council. We would also have an issue trying to get some of the landlords to contribute too.

7. MissC Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

   G Note. I own my own ‘area’, however I would not be prepared to pay extra to a Residents Association. For one it is a very small association due to peoples commitments and not enough other people willing to join. However the main reason is because, how do you pay for something that others are not paying for?
   Where estates (ie: flats) have a ground rent fee this is made by monthly payment and if they default, action can be taken. Imagine if only half of them paid and the rest didn’t. For one, it would be fair.
   The same rules apply to Council Tax. If one person pays and has their bins collected and another one doesn’t and still has their bins collected, would you still carry on paying?
   What needs to happen is the troublemakers need to come and do community service around this area, that is giving something back and costs us nothing.

8. Clive Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

   Hi mtk,

   I will add your points to my list.

   Hi G Note,
   I believe many Kingsway Residents are also paying ground maintenance fees (we are).

   As MissC says, the Residents Association is currently very under-manned (as of now I’m the only elected member still active - although Baz_k is obviously still very active on local issues and will hopefully find time to help get things moving again one day soon), and I’m trying to raise funds by donating a chunk of the revenue from this website to local projects and organisations). It’s also worth noting that several of the local housing associations regularly donate funds, manpower and facilities for local causes / issues.

   However I personally don’t think that these issues should be funded privately as they are mostly things that should be paid for by the Developers, the QUVL, local Government or - in the case of the broken fences etc - privately.

   MissC,
   Fairness isn’t the issue for me. There are always going to be folks who can afford it and folks who can’t and I wouldn’t refuse paying my share just because someone else isn’t able/willing… (and in the case of Council Tax, you have to pay whether your neighbour does or not). Having said that, as I mentioned above, the cost of these items is already the responsibilty of one or other of the organisations mentioned, so additional funding isn’t the issue… The idea of gathering all interested parties together is paramount to getting these things moving, because issues of responsibility can be immediately discussed and agreed (saves months of emails and ‘phone calls).

   My only concern now - after hearing the news that Andy Hunter is no longer with us - is whether the meeting will go ahead and any representative from the QUVL will be present. Without one the effectiveness will be drastically reduced, because they’re no doubt “responsible” for most of the things we’re likely to identify, as well as being best equipped to deal with most of them.

   I’ve dropped an email to Fraser to find out (also asked if it’s OK for other residents to join us) and I’ll let you all know ASAP.

9. Baz_k Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

   Was that a subtle hint Clive? :-0 lol

10. G Note Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    It was only a suggestion, I wasnt aware that ground rent was already being charged

    Let’s hope you are able to get something done. All of the things I’m concerned about have already been raised (which is good as I’m not he only one thinking it - lol)

    Do you think we will have a better relationship with the QUVL once things get rolling again? I do think the Residents Association is doing a good job. It’s better to have one that none at all. There is of course only so much you can do, as we aren’t the ones building or designing the village. One question: Is the wall along Woodvale private or public? As I remember not too long back there was a warrant (as such) for it on the Kingsway website.

11. Clive Says:
    July 31st, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Baz_k,

    Not so subtle, just the beginning of my “Chinese water torture” campaign

    G Note,

    Thanks for the vote of confidence
    Although the Residents Association wasn’t my idea in the first place, it was undoubtedly a good one as the Parish Council, QUVL and even BBC News and BBC Radio Gloucester were impressed enough to show an interest!
    To be fair to Andy Hunter (QUVL), he did take us seriously. In fact he volunteered to attend a Residents Association meeting to explain QUVL responsibilities and the QUVL/Developers relationship - now explained here - (sadly his timing was not good as his offer coincided with the moment when most of the RA "officials" resigned)
    Once development is underway again I’m sure that interest in the idea will be rekindled.

    Neighbours,
    I heard back from Fraser this morning. The walk is on but he has asked to keep the numbers to his original list (already 15)! He is more than happy to take on board any suggestions made through this website, so I’ll make a list of locations/issues raised here and take them with me… If anybody has anything to add you have about 3 hours

    MissC,
    You said “Some of the paths are uneven and drains exposed…”
    I’ll keep an eye out, but could give me locations (to ensure I don’t miss them)?

12. Baz_k Says:
    August 1st, 2009 at 9:48 am

    So, did anything useful come out of the walkabout? Or was it just an initiator?

13. Clive Says:
    August 1st, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Hi Baz,

    Initially, it was intended to identify issues and areas where improvements could be made and to seek agreement on responsibility, finance and ideas for plausible solutions.

    As such it was a shame that Alistair Jewel (QUVL) didn’t arrive. The other absentee was Paul Harrison of Gloucester Housing Association (although there were representatives from Guiness trust and Oxbode HA).

    90 Minutes was woefully inadequate (as we know from our leaflet-delivering exercises - lol) but we did identify and discuss a LOT of issues (including all of those detailed above).

    Fraser Mackie is collating all of the information and will circulate those details to all who attended and as soon as I receive his mail, I will publish it here

14. Clive Says:
    August 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Hi Neighbours,

    As promised, the results of the walkabout are here.

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