Talking about the Parking Problem!
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
The University of Cumbria is finally talking about the parking problem. At a special JoG ward PACT meeting in early April, Mike Baker of the University of Cumbria was invited to talk to the local community about the traffic and parking problems blighting the surrounding area. Over 75 local people turned out to listen to what the University had to say, to offer their own suggestions and to make sure the University understands how serious this problem is for those of us living in close proximity to the Lancaster campus.
John O’Gaunt Ward Cllr Jude Towers Said after the meeting “I’ll be keeping an eye on the situation, starting by contacting the University to find out the outcome of the first parking group meeting. Lets hope this is a turning point. ”
Developers Centros have been back in town showing the latest version of their plans for the controversial redevelopment of the Canal Corridor area of town to local councillors and interested parties. Planning applications for this version of the scheme are due to be submitted in the 2nd week of June.
Work is now underway to improve the play ground at Cranwell Avenue park, with fencing already up and work in progress installing the new play equipment.In addition, the City Council has agreed to seek funding to replace the bridge across the stream at the Canterbury Avenue entrance. Cllr Jude Towers said “ The work to the bridge will include a non-slip surface, which should help make entrance to the park less ‘adventurous’, particularly in wet weather!”
Residents in the Newlands and Farmdale Roads area have been experiencing problems with litter recently. Despite community efforts to keep the area clean, litter continues to be dumped, blighting the area. To help residents keep this lovely area spick and span Cllr Jude Towers has arranged for one of the Council street cleaning services to extend its range to cover it and the area will now get a weekly clean.
The traffic calming measures in Dale Street, Lancaster, are in a disgraceful state of repair. The humps across the road are collapsing inward making them extremely difficult to negotiate. This has once again been reported to the County Council, who are responsible for highway maintenance. We await action!
John O’Gaunt Green Party councillor Jude Towers is trying to re-roof a Bus shelter on Bowerham Road. The issue was highlighted by residents of Bowerham Road to Cllr Towers who said ‘Those of us regularly using public transport are very familiar with Lancaster’s pretty unique weather, so roofless bus shelters are a real problem. The bus shelter, maintained by the County Council, has been roofless for several weeks, but is now on the County’s list of repair jobs.’
Following concerns raised by a number of local residents about how dark the alley is between Adelphi Street and Havelock Street, at the bottom end, leading up from Bowerham Road, Green Councillor Jude Towers made an application to the Community Safety Partnership for the installation of an additional street light.
The new play area in Greaves Park has been so popular that the paths to and through it became very muddy over the winter. The City Council has now installed some properly-surfaced paths to address this problem.
An enterprising junior member of the Friends of Scotch Quarry group organised a table top sale and with the proceeds bought a number of bird and bat boxes for the woodland area at the bottom of the quarry. On a very windy Saturday in January, the group were delighted to welcome Gail Armstrong from the