Since my last Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick ECHO, here are some of the local issues I have progressed, in some cases with the valued help and support of the relevant Parish Council.

Parish Issues.

Elstow.

Travellers on Abbey Fields – Another illegal encampment was set up on Saturday 14th September, off the Abbey Fields road near its junction with West End. On seeing posts regarding it on Facebook the same day, Tim immediately reported it on 101 to the police and e-mailed Borough officers. Due to the illegal encampment’s proximity to the village green and it being on a popular leisure site for families and dog walkers, Tim asked the police to use their Section 61 powers to immediately remove the travellers. The police chose not to. On Tuesday 17th September, Tim escalated the lack of action by the police to senior Borough Officers, and they issued a Section 77 Notice, which was then approved by the Court and served on the travellers on Wednesday 18th September for eviction by Thursday 19th September. The travellers chose to leave that day. Also, Tim has asked for several posts to be put up to stop any more illegal encampments on this site.

Travellers on field by the BP garage on the A6 – An illegal encampment was set up on Wednesday 18th September on a field by the BP garage on the A6. On seeing posts regarding it on Facebook the same day, Tim immediately texted the excellent local bailiff and e-mailed Borough officers. As it was on private land, the excellent local bailiff, contacted FCC Environment the landowner to offer his services to evict the travellers. FCC Environment advised the bailiff that they would be making their own arrangements.

Bunyans Mead Fly Tipping – A local resident has reported to Tim that a Pilgrims Way resident has cut some branches off a tree in his garden and put them under a tree on the Bunyans Mead green area. Tim has reported the incident to the Borough’s Community Regulation Team asking them to prosecute. The Team has successfully done so.

Drain cover on West End at rear of St Helenas Garden – Residents have complained to Tim that a drain cover on West End is making a loud noise when vehicles drive over it. Tim has asked Borough Highways to investigate and if necessary, repair or replace the drain cover.

Lighting on all the time on West End at rear of St Helenas Garden – Residents have complained to Tim that the streetlights on West End, since they’ve been changed, are very bright and are on all the time. Tim has asked Borough Highways to investigate and if necessary, adjust the settings on the streetlights.

Average Speed Cameras in Wilstead Road – Tim hosted a site meeting on the morning of 10 Oct 19 with the Elstow Parish Chair and a Borough Highways Officer in Wilstead Road, Elstow. The meeting was arranged by Tim to agree the final proposals for the Average Speed Cameras in Wilstead Road. The proposals are to place a camera on the large grass verge by the Moss Lane junction and another one on the green area north of Elstow Lodge. Both will face into the village and both cameras are bi-directional i.e. They pick up the speed of the traffic going both ways. Tim was pleased to learn that it is planned to install the cameras in early 2020.

Illegal Parking in High Street – Residents raised their concerns with Tim on the parking on double yellow lines in the High Street near Thomas James Close by drivers mostly from outside the area. Tim has advised the residents on how to report illegal parking to the Borough Council on: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/parking/nuisance-vehicles/

Litter Bin overflowing in High Street – Residents raised their concerns with Tim on the overflowing bin in the High Street near Thomas James Close. Tim immediately sent an email to the relevant officer and the bin was emptied the next working day.

Elstow Village Gate Unveiling – Tim was pleased to have been at the official unveiling by Mayor Dave Hodgson on 5 Oct 19 of the first Elstow Village Gate. This first of the several Village Gates to be installed features Elstow’s own John Bunyan. Great work by Elstow Parish Council, which Tim was pleased to help with a contribution from his Ward Fund.

Stewartby.

Early morning working on Hansons Reach – Tim has received several recent complaints again about the noise from early morning working on Phase 3 of the Hansons Reach development. Tim has asked officers at Borough Hall to act against the contractors to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Extensive weeds in Rousbury Road verge on north side – Tim has reported to Borough Hall these overgrowing weeds in between Montgomery Close and Magpie Avenue. He has asked for the weeds to be sprayed and/or removed.

Local Speedwatch Team logging speeding on Broadmead Road – The local Speedwatch volunteers did two sessions in August 2019, one in the early morning and one after work. A total of 40 vehicles were logged as breaking the speed limit, including 11 caught going at more than 40mph, including a bus!!! All the 40 offenders will be logged by the police, with repeat offending anywhere in the country leading to licence points and a fine.

Damaged Stewartby Way Street Name Plate – Tim has reported to Borough Highways the damaged street name plate on Stewartby Way. This is between the railway bridge and the Parish sign.

Dangerous parking outside Oxford Blue Way flats on roundabout – Hansons Reach residents have raised their concerns with Tim about a minority of drivers who park dangerously, right on the roundabout, outside the main pedestrian entrance to the Oxford Blue Way flats. To Tim’s knowledge, the highways on the estate are yet to be “adopted” by the Borough Council, so it may not have the power to do anything just yet, but Tim will raise this issue with Borough Highways for advanced consideration. As there is plenty of parking provision behind the flats, a possible action may be to install double yellow lines on the verge outside the main entrance.

Clay Avenue junction safety – Hansons Reach residents have raised their concerns with Tim about a minority of drivers who don’t use the Clay Avenue/Kiln Drive junction safely. Again, to Tim’s knowledge, the highways on the estate are yet to be “adopted” by the Borough Council, so it may not have the power to do anything just yet, but Tim will raise this issue with Borough Highways for advanced consideration. Tim will be looking at the possibility of some junction white lining.

Oxford Blue Way speeding – Hansons Reach residents have raised their concerns with Tim about a minority of drivers who speed along Oxford Blue Way. Yet again, to Tim’s knowledge, the highways on the estate are yet to be “adopted” by the Borough Council, so it may not have the power to do anything just yet, but I will raise this issue with Borough Highways for advanced consideration. It is not a trunk road or a through road, so there is no power to put speed cameras in. However, Tim will be looking at the possibility of some junction white lining which will help.

Quest Pit rubbish – Although it is private land, Quest Pit is currently well used by walkers and dog-walkers due to its lovely scenery. Some of them have raised their concerns with Tim about some of the old and decaying industrial rubbish on the site. Tim has asked the landowners if a clear up of some of the more dangerous items could be done.

Vandalised street name plate in Churchill Close – Tim has reported to Borough Highways for repair, the vandalised street name plate at the junction of Churchill Close and Stewartby Way.

Marston Vale Middle Liaison – Every Term, Tim tries to have a “Liaison Meeting” with the Head and sometimes a Governor of each of the schools located within his Ward. Tim does this to raise issues of local concern with the school representatives. Tim has booked the next “Liaison Meeting” with Marston Vale Middle for 1 Nov 19.

Allotments in Stewartby – Tim has been contacted by several Stewartby residents asking what can be done to get some land turned over to allotments in Stewartby. The good news is that there are some allotments in Wootton that are available. If you would like to register your interest in one, please let the Stewartby Parish Clerk know.

Kempston Hardwick.

Travellers Site – Tim is continuing to work with Borough officers, police officers and the local Parish Councillor Lee Melville to address the criminal behaviour emanating from the Kempston Hardwick Travellers Site over the past few weeks. Tim is very pleased to advise that the Borough Council and the local police have carried out action at the Site today. Borough Council officers carried out inspections of all the properties and the Site and began a thorough clean-up. Police officers supported this work to ensure there was no breach of the peace. Further action is being taken, including applying for a court order to stop anyone going onto the site who is not a resident, alongside the appropriate security measures. Tim hopes this is the end of the criminal behaviour that the residents of Kempston Hardwick have recently suffered from.

Travellers on Manor Road – Another illegal encampment was set up on Thursday 12th September, this time on the second entrance in off the C94 junction. On seeing posts regarding it on Facebook the same day, Tim immediately reported it on 101 to the police, texted the excellent local bailiff and e-mailed Borough officers. As it was on private land, the excellent local bailiff, on Friday 13th September, served a notice on the travellers for eviction by Saturday 14th September. The travellers chose to leave that day. Also, Tim has successfully asked for several concrete blocks to be put up to stop any more illegal encampments on this site.

Security at Chimney Corner restaurant – The old Chimney Corner pub is in the process of being turned into an upmarket “destination location”. It is being transformed inside into a modern facility, whilst upgrading the outside. One of the major concerns on the viability of the new facility is the impact on it of the nearby travellers’ site. Tim has put the developer in touch with the travellers’ team at Borough Hall to see if there are measures that could be put in place that would enhance the security of both sites. Some of these measures could lead to the developer paying a fee to the Borough Council and reducing the current problems on the travellers’ site caused by a minority of its residents.

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