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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.
(Supported by Stockton Residents & Community Groups Association)
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If you see any Anti Social Behaviour no matter how small call Neighbourhood policing on 302930
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The VPRA News Blog (click here for past months)
Your VPRA at work reports for July 2010
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Click here for CFYA Bin and Recycle Collection Days
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31/07/2010 Village Park
VPRA contacted by many people disgusted at the vandalism in Village Park. This vandalism was added to with the news on Friday night that The Thornaby Village Bowls Club was broken into.
The burglary took place between 5 and 6, involving the intruders cutting foot holes into the fencing to gain access.
VPRA reps met up with some of the bowls committee in the park this afternoon to check out the damage to the fence and find out what was stolen when one of the storage cabins was broken into.This was done in daylight and in view of the footpath between Thorntree Road and Lilac/Laurel exit.If anyone saw anything please come forward and talk to Thornaby Police.The bowls club is an integral part of our park community and do not have a pot of money to pay for any repairs and replacments.
While we were in the park we spotted some young lads setting up tents in the top corner and asked the Police to keep an eye on them and remove them if neccesary. The lads are young locals and use the park a lot. We were more concerned for their safety especially with a posible fire starter around.
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30/02/2010 Village Park Fire
Following on from reports about the fire in the park and numerous emails from local authorities and councillors we are totally committed to restoring the play trail to its original best. Whoever set the fire is only spiting the young children or their area.
A number of people have come forward and given information about the person/persons responsible and we have had support from Thornaby Town Council who have vowed to help replace the equipment.
If possible we would like to see the persons responsible prosecuted and thier identities mde public to the town.
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29/07/2010 Park Fire
On Wednesday night vandals (thats being polite) struck in our beloved Village Park and set fire to the small roundabout and the safety matting underneath.This was the second attack on the roundabout in as many weeks with the strong metal centre pole being cut off earlier.
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28/07/2010 Thornaby Wood
VPRA received confirmation today from DEFRA that Thornaby Wood is still shown as ancient woodland on the Ancient Woodland Inventory for England. and has been complemented by SBC`s planting of smaller new woodland(known as Thorntree Wood). This was asked as a written question in the House of Commons by MP James Wharton. Original Post
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28/07/2010 Entente Florale
The VPRA are honoured to be invited to meet the international judges from Entente Florale the European equivelant to Britain and Northumbria in Bloom. Stockton is representing Britain in this years City/Large Town competion . Judging is on Saturday 7th August.
Our invite is recognition for the part the group play in helping CFYA become the best.To date we have met the Northumbria in Bloom Judges 3 times,Britain in Bloom Judges twice and the World Judges once when judging the entry for Stockton Borough. CFYA and the Horticultural Section do a marvelous job and deserve the plaudits they get.
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27/07/2010 Mandale Road
As reported over the past 2 months the new Mandale Gyratory system in being created with new bus lanes and road closures around the Mandale Triangle. Please take care and be prpared eventually for buses to be running against the flow of cars on Mandale Road. Nw signage is now starting to appear.
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27/07/2010 Ants in the Home
VPRA contacted by residents pestered by ants. The problem seems to be making life uncomfortable for some residents across the patch. The numbers of reports has increased steadily over the years. Could this be global warming or more people looking?
Tips for controlling ants click here.
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26/07/2010 Tristar Homes
VPRA contacted by Tristar Homes Reaching Out Area Panel Rep for the Village area, who can now be contacted via email at "roapvillagearea@gmail.com", telephone 07771122239 or via St Peter's House in the Town centre. If you are a Tristar Resident and what help with a Tristar issue, you have an idea that will improve your area or just want to get more involved, contact the rep.
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26/07/2010 Quad Bikes
Residents on Green Lane report the use of a Quad bike on the Lower Green by group of youths, they were able to be identified and SBC Anti Social Behaviour unit were informed. The Green has previously been visited by such youths but residents are always keen to stamp it out.
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26/07/2010 Wild Berries and Fruit.
Residents are advised to tell their children the possible dangers of eating cherries and plums falling from trees in the Village Park. A number of young chlidren were stopped on Sunday and warned that allthough they may be edible they could cause stomach upsets.
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25/07/2010 Green Thumb Awards
VPRA cameraman will be out from this weekend till first weekend in August taking pictures of gardens entered in our 2010 competition.
Early entry below of one of this years gardens.
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24/07/2010 Cars on Village Green
VPRA contacted by residents complaining about the cars driving on and around the "lower" green. Some were present, supposedly for fishing on the Tees, but had been driving about. Some residents have contacted the enforcement team not content that this is safe, particularly with the summer holidays having begun and the number of children playing in the area having increased.
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23/07/2010 Police Helicopter
Police out in force in the Green area tonight (Friday) lots of officers and police helicopter making themselves very visible. Residents were concerned about the noise from the copter but blamed the people who make it being there necessary not the police.
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23/07/2010 Riverbank Litter
VPRA reps out on a small scale litter pic on Black Bobbies Field today in response to the piles of cans and filth left behind by anglers. This is a regular problem with anglers leaving open tins (sweetcorn) and a variety of half used fishing gear making it dangerous for people and animals in the area (both wild and domestic).
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23/07/2010 Town Centre Planters
Well done to Oliver the Town Centre manager getting new planters in place in the centre. Some are designed by e local schools. The extras in the planters are taken in by centre security at night and put out again next morning to combat any chance of vandalism. Excellent work by all.
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22/02/2010 Northumbria in Bloom
VPRA reps met up with the 3 lady judges for this years Northumbria in Bloom entry. They were touring the area judging Thornaby`s entry in the competition. They were accompanied by officers from CFYA. Debbie,Barry and Dave were giving them the grand tour of the towns horticultuaral delights.
Prior to judging we tidied the old Village Green stone and planted it up for the summer as we have done in previous years.
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22/07/2010 Extra Care For Your Area.
VPRA found out this morning that our resident road cleaner went the extra mile last week and helped a resident in her hour of need. Dean the CFYA operative was working Thornaby Road when Gail our “Lollipop Lady” at the Village school took ill at the roadside.He stepped in to help her and stayed with her until she was able to be helped into the school to recover. Well done from all at VPRA. CFYA have been informed of this and will be thanking him for his efforts.
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21/07/2010 Village Park Wildlife Area
VPRA are working with CFYA to include a wildlife area in the Village Park. It will be over in the corner near the Parkview fence. Over the next months the grass and weeds will be left to grow long and wild seeds will be sown. We also hope to organise a bird box event with the Countryside Wardens teaching children how to make them and install them in the trees. By this time next year we hope to have an established area with a footpath cut through it.
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19/07/2010 Village Muga
July 19th. VPRA send SBC a cheque for £55,000 granted to the group by impetus trust, for the installation of the MUGA in village park and provision of the equipment. This money was organised with kind help from Nikki Graves of Impetus Trust who went well out of her way to ensure that the group met all criteria.
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19/07/2010 Thornaby In Bloom
Thursday 22nd July sees the visit to Thornaby of the Northumbria in Bloom judges for this years event. VPRA reps have once again been invited to meet the judges on their travels around the area. We hope to add some extra colour to the Village Green area and plant some marigolds around the old stone as in other years.Plants are ready to put in and are already out in flower. Stockton Council are the hosts for this years presentation and are keen to show the whole of the Borough off to its full potential.
The VPRA also enter the event in its own right and expect our visit to happen in August.
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18/07/2010 Big Lunch
VPRA reps attended todays Big Lunch event at the Robert Atkinson Centre. The event was part of a nationwide annual Big Lunch
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16/07/2010 Bogus Callers
There have been three separate incidents in the last week of Tristar customers querying if they have sent out a gas engineer to them, the person turns up in a silver car has no uniform, no ID and a clipboard.
All of the customers have been elderly and Tristar have tried to establish if anyone in the company has arranged these visits and so far have drawn a blank.
Please advise residents particularly the vulnerable to check id before letting anyone into their homes and if they are suspicious in anyway that they do not let them in and phone the police. 01642 302930
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15/07/2010 Green Thumbs 2010
This years Green Thumbs categories are confirmed 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
Once again the format is for gardens within the current VPRA boundaries to be nominated by their owners ,friends, relatives or Tristar/SBC. Pictures of all nominated gardens will be taken in July and August(depending on how the summer season goes) then will be submitted to our online judging panel made up of gardeners around the world. All nominated gardens will get a Certificate of Merit, section winners will also receive a small trophy. The overall winner will also receive a trophy and a prize to be announced later. Presentations will be at our September or October meeting.
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14/07/2010 Top Council
Once again Stockton BC has been voted one of the top 6 councils in the UK Top Marks. Well done all.
The VPRA have a lot of dealings with various departments within SBC on behalf of residents in the area as well as reporting litter,potholes etc and we can honestly say that the officers we deal with are the best.We monitor and record all actions and replies to any complaints,and requests made to SBC and these are available to be seen at meetings on the lap top. In future we hope to have them live on the web so anyone can view from home.
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12/07/2010 Copper Thieves
Warning to plumbers and central heating fitters.Dont leave any copper, brass or stainles fittings in your vans overnight. Thieves are at work in the area.Plumber on Bader estate has been robbed twice recently.Second time parked in his drive with back of van against a wall. Any infor please tell Thornaby Police. 302930.
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10/07/2010 Southview Stores.
VPRA reps were invited to attend todays official opening of the newly completed Southview Stores on Laburnum Avenue. The old shop next door(formerly Lancakes) will now be converted back to a bungalow for the owners.
Before the official opening by Thornaby Mayor Cllr.Ian Dalgarno there was prayers held in the car parkand then the shop was opened to the public.The shop is the biggest private convenience store in Thornaby and shows commitment form the Singh family to our area. Once everything settles down the owners have given permission for VPRA to use one of their offices for surgeries and meetings.This will be used for Tristar and the Police surgeries. We are also going to put in a small leaflet rack with information for residents ranging from bust times to CFYA and Tristar info.
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10/07/2010 Vandalism
For the second time in a week a house in the Laburnum Avenue area has had its large living room fornt window smashed.First house was an elderly lady on Laburnum Avenue and the second was a family home in lilac avenue. On both occasions the residents were sat in the rooms attacked. If you have any information about either attack please contact the Police on 302930 or let the VPRA know and we will do it for you.
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09/07/2010 Thorntree Road,Fordy Grove.
It has been revealed thet the Chinese Takeaway on Thorntree Road has had its side wall pushed down on Wednesday 07/07/2010. It happened between 3 and 4.30 pm. If you have any information please contact the police who are investigating the incedent.Tel. 302930.
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08/07/2010 Southview Stores
The new Southview Stores opens Saturday 1pm. All welcome. Thornaby Mayor Ian Dalgarno is to open the shop.Once the shop is open the old shop(Lancakes) will eventually be turned back into living accomodation.
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07/07/2010 Parkview Home
A little confusion this morning on Radio Tees when they had a reporter expecting to meet Councillor Steve Nelson at The old Tristar Neashams site on the town centre..The reporter was reporting about the site but quoting figures related to Parkview Home. Steve Nelson was on the phone line to Tees and was asked questions about the centre but answered them as Parkview. It appears that negotiations to get the Tristar Neasham buildings flattened have stalled but all is not lost and hopefully some good news about it will be heard this month.
As for Parkview, the funding is under review and a decision should be known in the next couple of weeks.
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05/07/2010 Green Waste
Residents are reminded that it is illegal to leave green waste bags out before your collection date. There are several large piles of bags on Redcar Road and again up on Thornaby road which have been out for a week now.CFYA Enforcement officers will be visiting the area and residents could be fined for leaving waste out.
Check the link in the green box above to find out when your collection days are.
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04/07/2010 Greener Living
VPRA reps attended todays Greener Living and Cycling event in Ropner Park to support our good friends at CFYA.
Also there to take pictures of the planting commemorating the RAF to pass on to ex pat Thornaby Residents.
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04/07/2010 Laburnum Avenue
On Thursday 1st July a front room window was smashed at 64 Laburnum Avenue. If anyone saw this incident then please either contact VPRA or Thornaby Police. The lady who lives there is quite elderly and has been shaken up by it. Police and Tristar have started looking into it.
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04/07/2010 See,Report,Stop.
Following on from our meeting on Friday we have decided to make contact details readily available for Police,Enforcement and CFYA along with a diary sheet to note down what they see and when they have reported it. along with any action taken by the authorities. It is available to download in pdf format at the moment and we will also be getting a stock printed to give out to residents. Download PDF here. We will also be trying to put a downloadable word doc on the site so residents can keep a record on their pc and email back to VPRA if needed.Updated Word Doc.
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03/07/2010 Richardson Road
VPRA reps surveyed pavements again along Richardson Road and spoke with residents about trying to get them replaced or at least made safe.Picture below shows the depth of some of the uneven pavements.
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03/07/2010 Village School
VPRA reps attended todays Village School Summer Fete to show our support to residents and staff who organised the event. A lot of people were around,listening to the music,checking out the stalls and enjoying the sunnt day.
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03/07/2010 Thornaby Woods
VPRA received a request today from a local resident concerned with Thornaby Woods. After reading reports by a Thornaby Resident on Twitter recently about wanting footpaths between Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick and new footpaths and bridges in the woods the concerned lady contacted a VPRA rep to ask if the woodland is still classed as “Ancient Woodland”. Last time we had dealings with any plans for the wood area was 3 years ago when planning applications were objected to and it was stated that the woods were indeed on the list.The lady was also going to lobby James Wharton MP about it.
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03/07/2010 VPRA Meeting Report
A very good turnout last night especially with a World Cup game on tv.
Fordy Grove:- Residents discussed the issues brought to the group over the past 6 months. Ron Baker from Cleveland Police NW team spoke to Fordy Grove residents and it was agreed to try and get a NW scheme started there. Various reports were mentioned about happenings around there but very few reported to the Police. Residents were told if no reports then Police cannot act. The meeting agreed to revisit the camera scenario in 6 months time to see if the NW gets going and has any effect.
Richardson Road :- Residents discussed the problems with the old very uneven pavements along the upperareas of Richardson Road. SBC have been contacted but no immediate action is expected.The meeting decided to pass this matter onto our new MP James Wharton to see if he can get anything done.
Thorntree Traffic Calming :- residents were told that since the last meeting SBC officers have arranged to visit houses along Thorntree that have been suffering from traffic vibration. Decided we monitor the situation with residents and bring back to next meeting for a report.
Fly Tipping :- residents were told about the spate of Fly Tipping in the park and around the area.The recent offenders have been caught and dealt with by Police. Residents asked to be vigilant and report anything they see.
Parkview Care Home :- Brief report given about the plans and what to do if individuals object. The meeting decided that VPRA would not object to the development providing we get assurances the development will not affect the Village Park and strict building start and finish times are adhered too. We also need to know baout traffic routes in and out of the developmet with most of the area being traffic calmed.
Any Other Business
Fire And Rescue gave a brief overview of their community involvement and what they cando to help in the area.
Beechwood and Chestnut Residents gave an overview of their recent activities and asked the group for help to get the football field at the Robert Atkinson opened up for children to use.We are to organise a meeting with SBC and Education to try and action this.
Cyber Bullying:- Residents were told about the recent meeting on Cyber Bullying at the Village School and told that information and help is available on our site.
VPRA are to take part in a pilot with the Village School and Junior NW in the new term in September.We will send reps along to talk to the children about the role the VPRA plays in the community.
Big Lunch ;- VPRA are to attend the event at the Robert Atkinson on 18th July. More details on here nearer the date.
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02/07/2010 VPRA ASB Online Survey
We had 7 replies to our survey about ASB in the area especially Fordy Grove and Thorntree Road Shops.
6 serious replies and 1 spoilt. Answers as follows.
Do you live in the Village Park Residents Association (VPRA)area ? 100%
What would you like to be done in your area to make your quality of life better?
(1).A reduction of Anti Social and Yob behaviour .(2).Traffic speed reduced (3).see dog users pick up every time,not just when someone is about.(4).more patrols around the park after dark as this is when most anti social behaviour is carried out in the park and surrounding streets.(5).bad neighbours stopped from dumping and dropping litter.(6).More litter bins and dog bins.(7).0.
Does your area suffer from Anti Social Behaviour? If so what is the main problem
(1)General Anti social behaviour which starts by the riverand sometimes extends to the housing.(2).Gangs of youths.(3).Bit of litter but nothing out of the ordinary.(4).gangs in the park late night drinking and noisy behaviour up to 2am on weekends when it is not raining.(5).Yes. petty vandalism and dumping on green belt (6).Littering in the park, village green and around Thorntree Rd. Shops (7)0
Would you like to see more Police action in your area?
Yes 85.7% No 0% Dont Know 14.3%
Do you think CCTV in the area is worth the investment compared to the results it achieves.
(1).Yes (2).Yes, (3).No, no one ever comes.(4).yes most of the time (5).Yes (6)Yes (7).0
Would you get involved with Neighbourhood Watch if one was set up in your area?
Yes 85.7% No 14.30%
The other questions answered contatin personal information about the participants and are not for publication.
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02/07/2010 New Shop Opening
Advance notice of the opening of the new Premier Convenience store on Laburnum Ave. Opens 1pm Saturday 10/07/2010. The old South View shop will be converted back into living accomodation once everything transfers to the new shop. The owners have put in parking bays plus disabled bay along with marked out pedestrian footway.
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01/07/2010 VPRA Meeting Reminder
Agenda Items for meeting on 2nd July
ASB in and around Fordy Grove. - Police and Neighbourhood Watch to answer questions.
Richardson Road pavements - CFYA to answer questions.
Thorntree Traffic Calming - Bill Trewick,SBCÂ Highways Dept. to answer questions.
Fly Tipping - CFYA and Enforcement
Parkview Care Home - General discussion about plans to build 3 storey home in place of the old one..
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