The VPRA News Blog

Your VPRA at work reports for December 2008

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31.12.2008 Dog Bins

VPRA contacted by residents to have a dog bin put on the Black Path. CFYA contacted to see if it is feasible.

30.12.2008 Bin and Recycle Days

New link on SBC website, put your address in and your bin days are given.

SBC Recycle info.

30.12.2008 Broken Pavements

VPRA reps have once again asked SBC Highways to look at the broken pavements opposite the Jolly Farmers pub. We highlighted this on a number of occasions during the year and even supplied pictures of cars using it for parking when dropping off and picking up children from the Village School. A number of elderly residents have had trips due to the state of the pavements and we will back anyone who gets injured and puts in a compensation claim against SBC. Copies and dates of e mails during the year are available if needed.

29.12.2008 Salt Bins

VPRA reps chased up requests to SBC  for salt bins and supplies of salt/grit to be placed on Redcar Road ready for the extreme cold forecast for the next week or two. Unfortunately SBC did not think this an important request and has been turned down. We have appealed to higher office.

28.12.2008 Horses

Further problems reported about young horse riders racing about on Thornaby Green and other parts of the Green Belts. The Green is being churned up and damaged and action is to be taken to stop this act of vandalism.    

27.12.2008 Eltham Crescent

Official notification received today from SBC to say that the planning application for 4 houses has been turned down. Well done for all who objected and contacted SBC Planning. 

16.12.2008 Street Lights

CFYA have asked if residents notice street lights out especially this time of year to report them as soon as possible. Online Contact Form ,you need to quote the street and the number on the front of the lamp standard or Tel:  01642 526769

15.12.2008 Kube 2 Development.

VPRA learned today that the Kube 2 development that affects Millbank Lane has been granted by the Government Inspectors. A kick in the teeth for both residents and VPRA. After the decision was kicked out at local level the inspectorate from Bristol approved it.

12.12.2008 Eltham Crescent

VPRA reps contacted by residents in Stainsby Beck area in Stainsby Ward about the threat to the small football pitch on Eltham Crescent. Planning application 08/3173/OUT wants to build 4 semi detached houses on what is left of the land that was the boundary of the Blue Lion Pub. SBC confirm the application is in and if passed would mean the trees and shrubs surrounding the pitch would be ripped out .Objections were made by VPRA and representation made to all our SBC and Thornaby councillors.

11.12.2008 Street Lighting

VPRA reps reporting a number of street lights out in the area. Mainly in Fordy Grove, call from Chris James at CFYA to say they will be checked within 48 hours.

11.12.2008 Update Park Works.

Update from Tony Raine from SBC Parks Section to plans for work to begin on the park.

10.12.2008 VPRA reps joined Tristar customers from across the borough along with repsfromother groups to enjoy Christmas lunch in the Masonic Hall Stockton. An enjoyable meal was had by all, along with good conversation, a glass or two of wine and some games to round it all off.

VPRA contacted by Natasha Peebles of The Willows centre, asking to share her request for people to donate blood just with the national blood service at the Willows tommorrow (11th)between 2.30pm and 7pm Anyone who wants to give blood should ring her 01642613345 and she will give you more details

09.12.2008   3 minor accidents reported on the top of Richardson Road, as the road bends to head towards the Green. This is a notorious  site for such bumps due to short burst of sunlight on short winter's days causing water to form on the ice. VPRA reps did throw grit down but effect seems to have been minimal

08.12.2008  Residents from the Grenville Road area report that they met with Mr Steve Boyd, managing director of Tristar Homes on Monday 8th December to discuss the possible remedial work for the windows on the bungalows in that area. ROAP rep Garry Howden claimed that whilst they did not get what they wanted they did have a chance to tell the "top man" what they believed they were entitled to.
 

Thornaby Town Council Carol Concert.

Thornaby Town Council are holding a Christmas carol concert on the 10th December at 2pm at St. Pauls Church. Schools taking part are St Pats Primary and Secondary, Christ The King, Harewood and Village primary schools.

06.12.2008 Guerilla Gardener.

The VPRA Guerilla Gardener was out again this morning digging over and weeding the large flower bed opposite the Jolly Farmers. A total of 27 seedling Primula plants were picked out and potted up into a greenhouse to over winter. They along with a large quantity of Hollyhock seedlings will be over wintered and placed in VPRA flower beds in the spring.  

05.12.2008 CFYA Awards

VPRA reps and members attended today’s Care For Your Area 2008 Awards day. Held this year in the Swallow Hotel in Stockton, we think it is the best venue and organised event we have attended over the past 3 years. Well done to CFYA and especially Sherree Daniels, Christine James and Debbie Mcgough for all of your hard work.   

The awards are a reward for the members of the public, schools and voluntary groups for all of the hard work put in by the them in the Borough of Stockton.

Thornaby once again did very well with School Painting Awards going to St.Patrick’s Primary and Mandale Mill.

Community Group Highly Commended Awards went to St Cuthberts Court and Stainsby Wood Residents  with the overall winner going to the Village Park Residents Association. Thanks to all our residents for helping win this award, it belongs to our community.

Best School Project went to Christ the King and Best Business Highly Commended went to Durham University in Teesdale Thornaby.

Best Garden Awards went to Mr. Shields of Richardson Road and runner up to Mr Challenger of The Crescent. Mr Challenger below was the overall VPRA Green Thumbs winner for 2007 and 2008

02.12.2008 Thornaby Bus Users Forum.

VPRA reps attended the Thornaby Bus Users forum held in the the South Thornaby Community Centre.

VPRA have lobbied for this meeting since the May Eastern Area Highways meeting. Because of their dogged persistence Stockton Renaissance and 5 Lamps along with the EAPB finally granted our request. The meeting was chaired by Graham Oram from EAPB and was attended by Martin Shire from Arriva with Bill Trewick and John Kavanagh from Stockton Council.

The meeting was an open questions and answers session with the main topics being the lack of buses on Thornaby road, Lanehouse Road, Teesdale, Teesside Park and Ingleby Barwick. a number of Thornaby Town Councillors were there along with two Borough Councillors and two Ingleby Barwick councillors.

The main benefit for Thornaby was confirmation of the 507 daytime bus and the report that TTC have pledged a 5 figure sum towards a service on Thornaby road. Cllr. Sylvia Walmsley gave  a brief report about TTC and Borough councillors talks with Stockton Council which will hopefully soon come to fruition and provide some sort of community bus service to replace the areas not served. Well done all at Thornaby Town Council.

Thanks from the VPRA to Nicola Hall for organising the meeting and Angie Clift from the  Lamps for the excellent buffet. Thanks also to everyone else who attended and had their say, at least you gave the powers that be something to think about when the next range of contracts come up in April 2009.

The planned every 2 hour route for the 507 is as follows,

Yarm Town Hall, Kirklevington The Green, HMP Kirklevington Grange, The Falcon Hilton, Maltby, Thornaby Road, Millbank Lane, Mitchell avenue,loop round Bracknell road, Acklam road, Lanehouse road,Thornaby road to Stockton and the reverse back to Yarm from Stockton.                                                  First Bus from Stockton is 07-20am then 9-01 every 2 hours till last bus at 17-10. First bus from Yarm is 08-06am then 09-53 and every 2 hours until last bus of 18-02pm.  

01.12.2008 VPRA Xmas Lights Competition.

VPRA today launched their Annual Decorated Christmas House Competition.

VPRA committee members will be touring the area in the run up to Christmas looking for best decorated houses. They will be photographed and judged by an independent judge. The overall winner will receive a small trophy and framed winners certificate. Runners up will receive certificates of merit.All pictures will be shown online and a link will appear on this site for them.    

ST OCKTON COMMUNITY MESSAGING New links to Neighbourhood watch. Click on Logo

The map below is an approximate area generally covered by the VPRA although we will try and help anyone whether inside or outside our boundaries.

Neighbourhood Police

Phone 302930