Welcome to the Village Park Residents Association. Thornaby on Tees

Your residents group for the Village Area.

Membership is free to every household in the Village Area.

If you see any Anti Social Behaviour no matter how small call Neighbourhood policing on 302930

The VPRA News Blog (click here for past months)

Your VPRA at work reports for August 2010

 Click here for CFYA Bin and Recycle Collection Days

29/08/2010 Rat Race

Today was the turn of Stockton to host an unusual running and swimming event called the Rat Race Run. Based mainly around Teesdale ,Stockton Riverside and Barrage areas the event had over 700 competitors from a wide variety of age groups.A very entertaining diverse event and well supported.

28/08/2010 Neighbourhood Awards

We had our judging visit for the 2010 awards today.The judge was Eileen Burn, Chair of Northumbria in Bloom.We also had help from our good friend from CFYA, Barry Hunter who drove the judge around the area. After meeting opposite the Jolly Farmers we went around the Village Green up to St Peters Church and then on to a residents garden on the upper green.

From there we called at the Airman Statue Rose Beds and on to the Spitfire before heading to the Village Park. Between showers we had a quick tour of the park and looked at the new play areas along with discussing plans for the new wildlife area. From the park we then went on to a residents garden in The Crescent.

After a lengthy stop it was back to the Jolly Farmers to allow Eileen to travel back up to her North Northumberland home.

28/08/2010 Wall Damage

Following on from damage to walls at the Chinese Takeaway on Thorntree Road there has been another wall damaged. Residents around Thorntree and Fordy Grove have asked for help getting the debris tidied away both the tidy the area and take away the risk of youths and children throwing bricks about and causing damage. We will be talking with the owner and possibly Comunity Payback during the coming week to see what can be done. 

27/08/2010 Neighbourhood Awards

Phone call from the Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Judge to ask to visit on Saturday 28th August. A bit short notice but all arranged. We will be taking Judge on a tour around the Village Green, Airman, Spitfire and the Village Park. Our good friends in the Village Bowls Club will also be on hand to meet the judge as part of the Neighbourhood Entry. From there we will take the judge to visit a couple of gardens around the area if time permits. Keep your eyes open for the car taking the party around the area, come over and say hello if you see us in the park.

26/08/2010 Thornaby Show 2010

Another reminder about Thornaby Show on Seoptember 5th. Clases are shown below, click here.

22/08/2010  Loitering Problems

Residents in Richardson Road/Shepherds Close area report youths loitering into the early hours of this morning. One resident reports youths entering her garden and loitering. Whilst this may seem harmless it has caused some degree of distress.

21/08/2010 Poisoned Meat

Warnings today about poisoned meat being left out around the allotments by chicken owners. Someone is illegaly putting poison down to kill foxes around the green and allotment areas. It is a dangerous act and has already resulted in two dogs being poisoned by meat that has been dropped near Black Bobbies.

20/08/2010 Thornaby Town Centre

Tonights Gazette is confirming the sale of Thornaby Town Centre following the collapse of Thornfield the developers who built it.

Gazette online story.

20/08/2010 Mary Street

Allthough not in VPRA area our photographer made a quick short notice dash along there today to get some pictures of the official opening of the new play area as a favour to the assistant Town Clerk Tina Mansell .

Thornaby Town Council and Cllr Tina Large in particular have worked with SBC officers and outside bodies to put a great little play area in for the local children situated on what was the waste land next to St.Lukes Church. A bid was put in to win funding for deprevation areas within wards and all cllrs put in for this Tina had asked around the area and because most of the houses were terraced this was an excellent scheme to put forward, this had to be match funded and Glen Eastick who works at Provident was approached and pledged other funding. It was opened by Thornaby Mayor Ian Dalgarno and attended by most of the Town Councillors and the facility was soon in use by local children eager for some excercise.

20/08/2010 Greenstat Survey

VPRA have contacted SBC officers regarding the publication of the recent 2009 Greenstat Survey and Parks and Greenspaces Report. It does not show Thornaby up in a good light regarding our parks and we were a little concerned that some people had commented that the Village Park was not well maintained and covered in litter. Obviously not regular park users as its litter picked every day.

We have had conversations during  the day with Parks and Countryside officers and we have been invited to view the full findings and the details they have. We will be doing this in the near future, our aim is to have a good clean and well used park and there are plans we are working on to add improvements.

Views are wanted by residents about a Wildlife Area in the park next to the old Parkview Home and we hope to do some bulb planting there in the coming weeks.

A little negativity from someone has given both VPRA and SBC officers the spur to move the park to the next level.

19/08/2010 Black Bobbies Field

Youths spotted trying to burn down trees on Black Bobbies field. Unfortunately (For them) these youths were well known to locals and names etc were forwarded to the police and Tristar Homes. It is worth noting that Tristar customers can find their tenancy put at risk for such anti social behaviour regardless of the location. Tristar take the destruction of the community and our area very seriously.

18/08/2010 Step Back In Time

This Sunday SBC are holding a Medieval event “Step Back in Time” around St Peters Church. Details on Stockton Councils Website click here.

17/08/2010 Ants

VPRA contacted tonight about the worrying numbers of ants and flying ants around the Village and Mandale Victoria areas of Thornaby Road. We witnessed thousands of flying ants emerging from nests and many thousands of small crawling ants on pavements. Easiest way to protect your homes in to put down the white ant powder around the outside of your houses as a barrier.Available in Asda and Wilkinsons or Home Bargains in the centre.  Also available are many types of sprays and aerosols for any that get into your homes. Block off any cracks or crevices in low brickwork and cement around your house to stop ants getting in. Just puff the white powder around or into cracks and it should help do the trick.

15/08/2010 Green Thumbs

VPRA camera man was out and about today taking pictures of gardens around the area.All properties entered in this years competition have now been visited and photographed ready for judging. If you have a garden worthy of entering this years competition then please email Green Thumbs.   Entries taken upto 30th August.

This years Green Thumbs categories are as follows.

Best Large Front Garden ,Best Small Front Garden, Best Pensioners Garden
Best Colorfull Garden,Best Modern Garden,Best Innovative Use  of Garden Space
Best Hanging Basket,Best Hedge,Overall Best Garden

15/08/2010 Spitfire Crossing

Work is now underway on the new crossing at the Spitfire Pub. This has come about by joint efforts from Holmes and Middlefield RA,VPRA,Thornaby and Ingeby Barwick Councillors lobbying SBC officers at the Eastern Area Highways Strategy meetings last year.

14/08/2010 RIP Ally

Sad news today that Councillor Allison Trainer has passed away after a long battle with cancer. All through her illness Allison has still worked hard for the people of Thornaby. She has also been at the heart of a massive charity fund raising scheme. At this very sad time, our thoughts and prayers are with Allison's family and friends. RIP Ally and thanks for everything you have done for Thornaby.  

Allison pictured on the left with fellow Ward Councillors Steve Walmsley and Tina Large.

14/08/2010 New Play Equipment

Following the problems with the roundabout in the park recently we have had meetings with SBC officers and can now confirm a new style roundabout will be going into the park later this year. It will be in a new spot in view of CCTV and it will be a different style. We will also be getting additional CCTV thanks to help from ou Thornaby Councillors.

Suitable for the most demanding locations as well as natural play spaces, this new dish roundabout is tough and fun.

14/08/2010 Thornaby Show

Dont forget this years Thornaby Show is on 5th September at Harold Wilson as usual.

If you exhibit or are one of those people who think they could do better than exhibitors then the classes are attached below. Have a look, plan now and have a go.

13/08/2010 Parking

VPRA were contacted overnight about a lage camper van parked up outside houses on Richardson Road. Apparently parked by 2 Irish ladies while they attended a party at the other end of Richardson Road. Police and Enforcement informed and are monitorong the situation.

12/08/2010 Lanehouse Road Accident

Police are seeking witnesses for an accident on lanehouse Road on Wednesday afternoon. A young lad was knocked over by a black car. Gazette Report.

12/08/2010 Stockton Transport

VPRA Contacted by SBC to be told that the Autumn meeting of Stockton's Public Transport Forum will be at 10.00am on Saturday 11 September 2010 at the Arc Centre.
 

11/08/2010 Mandale Triangle Update

Take care coming  over Victoria Bridge to Thornaby, traffic lanes have changed again with one lane either way running next to each other.

The crossing at Thornaby Road,Mandale Road is being re modelled ready to suit the new bus lanes and is potentially dangerous for pedestrian at the moment.Follow the route through the barriers and do not take short cuts.

The section from the Bon Lea to 5 Lamps roundabout is open as normal again with the new bus lane in place.Darlington Street is closed for both pedestrians and traffic at the moment but will re open soon for pedestrains. 

09/08/2010 Green Thumbs.

Over half of the nominated gardens have now been photographed with the rest being done this week and weekend. We are still open for late entries if you know anyone who may have a good garden in our area.

07/08/2010 Entente Florale

VPRA reps attended this mornings meet and greet for the European Judges at the Durham University buildings on Teesdale. Invited residents groups and local scouts were on hand to meet the judges on thier arrival before they were given a presentation By SBC officers and then the tour of the borough during the day. Thornaby attractions were Thornaby Cemetery,the new 5 Lamps placement and then the Spitfire roundabout along with a quick look at the town centre and Thornaby Green..

06/08/2010 Yorkshire Day

Reminder for Thornaby Town Councils Yorkshire Day event this Saturday 7th August. 12 noon in Thornaby Town Centre.

Due to prior engagements the VPRA reps will not be able to put on our display this year. With so many events on this Saturday we had already accepted invitations from Hartlepool for the Tall Ships event and from Stockton Council for the Entente Florale judging day before Thornaby TC set the date for this years Yorkshire event.Hopefully we will be able to get along for some pictures..

05/08/2010  Park Problems

Following on from the problems in the park over the past week the Evening Gazette sent a reporter and camera man out to see first hand the damage caused.

Full Gazette story Local News - Thornaby's Village Park trashed five times -  http://ow.ly/2lzDx

04/08/2010 Firestarters Again

News last night and this morning that our firestarter has been at it again in the park. A residents wheelie bin was taken from a nearby house and set on fire in the park. Apart from the mess and inconvenience to the resident and park users it is dangerous. Setting fire to a bin gives off toxic smoke and no one knows whats in the bin. If there are aerosol cans inside it could go off like a bomb.

Somebody must have information about these recent events, we have had names given and passed them on but surely parents must smell the fire and fumes on their youths clothes.

The resident has already had a new wheelie bin arranged courtesy of CFYA and VPRA.

03/08/2010 Thorntree Road Traffic Calming.

VPRA were asked by a resident today if we had heard anything about “yellow lines” being put along Thorntree Road. After contacting SBC Highways we got a reply that there are to be lines and waiting linits  either side of the speed humps along the park and also into the entrance of Studley Road .

03/08/2010 Benefits Help

Confused about how to claim or what? then check out the easy to follow tips on our Benefits Help page. .Designed to help claimants put in a claim with the minimum of fuss and upset.

02/08/2010 Park Vandalism

Following last weeks fire residents are passing on info about the culprits. We were  told over the weekend of two youths seen in the park at the time of the fire and skulking in the bushes watching the Fire Brigade at work. Also reports of two youths(same ones) smelling of barbecue lighter fluid.Details will be passed on to Police.

Meantime the burn out roundabout has been removed completely and the area grassed over.

01/08/2010 Green Thumbs

VPRA Green Thumbs photographer is out and about in the next three days getting some pictures of the nominated gardens.This will continue over the next two weeks and pictures will be posted on here and our In Bloom site..

01/08/2010 Yorkshire Day

1st August sees the celebrations across the county for Yorkshire day with lots going on.Thornaby will be celebrating Yorkshire Day on 7th August with stalls and events in the Town Centre  Details on the Town Council website 

Neighbourhood Police

Phone 302930