June 2009

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)

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 June 2009

Click here for CFYA Bin and Recycle Collection Days

30.06.2009 Fordy Grove

First block paving sets arrived today, should complete within 2 weeks

30.06.2009 Village Park

VPRA rep met up with John Walker from SBC Highways technical dept while he was in looking at the damaged tarmac caused by the jet washer.

29.06.2009 Loud Music

Complaints from residents around the area today about people playing their music loud while out in the gardens enjoying the sun. It is actually an offence under Anti social behaviour Noise Pollution

29.06.2009 Village Park

early morning litter all cleared away and park spic and span. Youth Offenders version of Comunity Payback are on Thorntree Road painting the fence black. Slow, long job but well done to them especially the young lady in charge.

29.06.2009 River Sewage

Message received at 10 am from British Waterways to say that Tees Barrage office will be sending someone out today to look at the area reported.

29.06.2009 Park Litter Bin

Request to CFYA at 9 am this morning to move the new litter bin to the spot by the new small roundabout on the play trail to try and combat the amount of sweet and crisp papers being spread abut this spot. By 10 am SBC had arranged for this to happen. Thanks Debbie and Barry.

29.06.2009 Victoria Bridge

VPRA sent in request to SBC for information about work being carried out on Victoria Bridge. New temporary lighting has been erected while the old plinths and bases are repaired.

This is in response to postings on another local website which indicated that the people of Thornaby were asking how much and why. Details of the reply from SBC will be posted on here as soon as they are received.

28.06.2009 River Problems

VPRA reps noticed sewage pouring from an old drain down by Sun Gardens straight into the river. Reported to SBC Environmental Health, NWA and British Waterways for urgent investigation. ,

27.06.2009 Village Park

Dave Snowden from CFYA out at the park today picking up the remains of Friday night. Not a lot of rubbish for a change.

Cricket square re cut by CFYA ready for Sundays match.

27.06.2009 Plant Thefts

Residents around Green Lane area are reporting thefts of bedding plants from their gardens this week. One elderly gentleman was distraught earlier in the week to find an entire bed had been stolen during the night. A number of hanging baskets are also reported to have been stolen in other parts of the Village.

26.06.2009 In Bloom Planting

It was noticed this morning that the rabbits have been back to the Jolly Farmers Flower bed and eaten a lot of the African Marigolds and Larkspur plants. Re planting will done with strong smelling French marigolds this weekend when rain is forecast. We plan for this sort of problem so there is plenty of plants held back in preparation along with more newly sown seeds which have only taken two days to germinate in this weeks heat.

26.06.2009 Impromptu Community Involvement Day

Today saw a number of residents around the Redcar Road and Fordy Grove areas helping out their elderly neighbours. A number of fences and gates were painted around Redcar road with paint supplied by a local resident and hedges were tidied in Fordy Grove by another of our active members.

Information was also given to residents on Fordy Grove that back onto the Blackpath on how to protect their gardens and rears of their houses. Home made Anti Vandal Paint using black paint and grease spread along the tops of fences deters entry especially if backed up with carpet gripper rods placed at the top but inside the fence. If intruders do attempt to get over they normally grip the top and will catch their fingers on the sharp gripper spikes and pull away quickly, thus cutting themselves and also leaving skin and DNA traces on the spikes. It is advisable to put up a warning sign about the paint but not the gripper rods.

25.06.2009 Park Path Update

After the problems with the paint on the play trail earlier in the week SBC arranged for the power washer to try and remove the thickest of the paint. This they did this morning but unfortunately some of the top surface has peeled away as well. SBC are to investigate this and other path problems around the main gates.

24.06.2009 Stockton Renaissance

VPRA have reps attending various committee’s attached to Stockton Renaissance, Area Partnerships and Thematic Partnerships .Newsletter now available for download here, have a look at what is happening behind the scenes in the borough.

24.06.2009 Halcyon Centre

Details of Halcyon Centre Open Day now available to download here. Halcyon

23.06.2009 Old Peoples Welfare Hall

VPRA reps attended today monthly meeting of the Hall Management Committee and the installation of new members to the committee.

23.06.2009 VPRA contacted by Change For A Smile Charity as per email below,

Hi,Change For A Smile are organising a local 3 peaks, on Monday 31st August 2009

Starting at Eston Nab, then walking on to Roseberry Topping then Finishing off at Captain Cooks monument with a party at Kildale to celebrate the end of the challenge.

Participants will be required to collect sponsorship for the event.

More information to follow but sign up now to gaurantee a chance to participate!

All money raised from the event will go to Change For A Smile on behalf of The Parkinsons Disease Society, Ward 25 Neaurolgy James Cook University Hospital, STAMP Revisited & The Lily Heseltine Fund.

We would be honoured if you could participate and rally up some support and maybe publicise the event.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Many Thanks, Take Care & Keep Smiling
Kendra x

Web - www.changeforasmile.piczo.com

23.06.2009 Gazette on Park Paint Attack

Gazette story about the Village Park now on line on the Gazette site any information would be gratefully received contact the VPRA or the local police at the number up above. 302930

23.06.2009 In Bloom Planting

The area around the “Old Stone” on the Village Green was cleared ready for planting on Monday with initial planting done then completed this morning. Smaller areas around the signs will be planted later in the week.

22.06.2009 Park Paint Problems.

Urgent phone call this morning from Thornaby Town Council to say that they had reports of paint vandalism in the Village Park. Urgent e-mails sent off to CFYA and SBC officers resulted in the CFYA Rapid Response team being at the park within 15 minutes to appraise the situation. Thanks to Keith for his speedy work and Dominic for trying to remove the paint that was splattered about the paths at the top end of the new trail. Evening Gazette reporter and photographer turned up at lunchtime to take pictures and report on the problem.

After a visit to the park this afternoon it was evident that the paint had been spilled and some of the younger kids had walked through it but actually had nothing to do with the original mess. One question that needs to be answered is where did the paint come from. As some of the younger children were asking, who brings a tin of paint to a play park? The finger was pointed at houses surrounding the play trail for dumping the tins over their fence..

21.06.2009 Park Update

Litter picked up around busy play trail and play area. No flooding after the overnight rains.

20.06.2009 Litter

Normal Saturday morning collecting empty cans and bottles around the Airman’s Statue.

19.06.2009 Halcyon Centre

VPRA gardener down at the Halcyon Centre again this afternoon putting in more plants donated by VPRA In Bloom fund. As you can see from the first pictures below taken in August last year before the centre was opened there is a vast improvement after this weeks hard work by the chaps from HMP Kirklevington Grange and VPRA volunteers.

Pictures from today.

18.06.2008 Halcyon Centre

VPRA gardeners out at the Halcyon Centre this afternoon working alongside inmates from HMP Kirklevington Grange on the Halcyon Life Cycle Garden. Most of the work is now completed and the HMP lads will be working on the front garden beds on Friday while VPRA are helping with the raised beds allotment area.

17.06.2009 Robert Atkinson Centre

We have added a page to the navigation bar on the left for the Robert Atkinson Centre and will put their adverts and updates on it. VPRA hold their residents group meetings there every other month. next meeting is due for early July.

16.06.2009 Thornaby Show

VPRA rep attended today’s show steering group. Date for your diary, 6th September 10 till 4 at the Harold Wilson Centre. More details as soon as schedules are printed.

16.06.2009 ASB Black Bobbies

VPRA reps rang in complaints about youths lighting fires and drinking around the seating area on Black Bobbies field.

16.06.2009 Airman’s Statue Roses.

The large rose beds at the Airman are starting to come into full bloom. The bed of white Princess of Wales roses are particularly full of blooms this year.

16.06.2009 Car Parking Problems Village School.

For the second morning since Enforcement’s visit there appears to be no one parking across or on the pavements . Hope this continues.

16.06.2009 Dog Fouling

Following an increase of dog fouling around the Airman’s Statue area the VPRA contacted Robin at SBC Environmental Services yesterday. Robing was out this morning engaging with the dog walkers and owners and passing out poop bags.

16.06.2009 Web Site Servers

Apologies if you are getting adverts or annoying pop ups at the moment, our normal server 110mb.com is down at the moment for maintenance work.(Server is based in Norway) so we have switched to our back up server. orgfree.com who force adverts on sites. As soon as 110mb are back online we will switch back. In the meantime we are exploring another free server to see how their system works.

15.06.2009 In Bloom Planting

With the planned heavy rainfall it was decided to get ahead on some more of our planting areas. More planting was done to fill in the gaps at the Jollies Layby flower beds and then down to the Holmes Close Gateway Garden to do some weeding and planting of more county garden style plants. After that it Thornaby Road and under planting marigolds around the new saplings near the allotments.

15.06.2009 Monday Tidy Up.

While the planting was taking place another VPRA team were out picking up litter left on the Village Green and Black Bobbies after the warm weekend. Fishing season starts on the 16 th.. and it is hoped to engage with anglers to keep the river banks tidy.

14.06.2009 Litter

VPRA reps did the customary Sunday tidy up of the Airman’s Statue area, the usual bottles and cans along with crisp packets strewn around.

14.06.2009 Green Waste

VPRA have recently found that some roads have different collection weeks depending on which side of the road you live on. This has been brought to the attention of CFYA and they will check both sides of the side roads in future. In saying that there is no excuse for residents putting out a large pile of bags and trees on a Saturday afternoon if their collection day is a Wednesday. Apart from the fact they could be fined for littering it makes the area untidy. One resident from Windsor Oval will be getting a warning from CFYA about this next week.

13.06.2009 Asian Food Day

VPRA reps attended today’s Asian Food Sale in the Old Peoples Welfare Hall as support the hall and also the ladies who made it happen.

12.06.2009 Drink Watch

VPRA reps out walking around the area watching for under age drinkers spotted a number of young people come into the Village Park with full size bottles of Vodka and others with bags of beer bottles. PCSO`s were on hand to go over and talk to the youths and hopefully confiscate the drink.

12.06.2009 Halcyon Centre

VPRA rep visited the Halcyon Centre to help plan the themed garden ready for work to begin next week. Regular visits are planned to help get this project of the ground as a favour to Stockton Council .

12.06.2009 VPRA/Tristar Fun Day

At a meeting with Tristar this morning it was decided to put back the joint Funday until Thursday July 23rd. As last year it will be in the Village Park and will also be the day the Muga and Play Trail are officially opened and sees the end to the current expansion of play areas for this year.

11.06.2009 Taste of Asia

Dont forget Saturdays Asian Food day at the Old People`s Welfare on Peel Street

11.06.2009 Tristar Walkabout

VPRA rep attended Tristar Walkabout around Mandale estate and Northumberland Road and the Crescent this morning.

10.06.2009 Tristar Homes

VPRA contacted this week by Tristar residents around Northumberland Road and Crescent areas about promises made to visit by Tristar at last months VPRA meeting. This has been taken up with Tristar and visits will be made if they have not already been done. It appears that there is some confusion with residents between visits and repair appointments . Tristar Patch managers are also doing their walkabout in the area on Thursday to speak to residents about any problems they have. VPRA will have reps on this walkabout and will ensure that all complaints and problems are logged and will monitor Tristar response times.

09.06.2009 Intergenerational Project

VPRA rep met with Erica Thompson and Graham Oram of the 5 Lamps Organisation prior to a meeting with the potential film company. Ideas were put forward and a plan of action formulated to bring the project to an amicable conclusion. Subject to final agreements there will be a short film made using members of the public and some of the older youngsters from the Youthy to go along with the many pictures already taken for the project. Once completed the pictures will go on display in Thornaby Library and at the Shambles as part of Stockton Riverside Festival.

09.06.2009 Enforcement

The enforcement team will stay in place this week at the Village School to try and push home the message that parking is not allowed on the pavements or on the yellow line areas. In the first week two motorists were fined for this along with one other who was fined for litter dropping.

08.06.2009 CCTV Cameras.

VPRA reps attended a meeting with SBC officers this afternoon to get an understanding about the use of CCTV cameras installed on Thorntree Road corner and in the Black Path. Site visits are to be made to look at the options for getting both cameras back into main stream monitoring. Presently they are both working and recording an DVD`s but are only read if an incident is reported in the viewing area. If nothing is reported they are just stored.

08.06.2009 Village Park

CLS are finally in the park this afternoon to lay the paint markings down on the Muga. Hoefully weather permitting this will be completed tonight. They hav had to wait today until the tarmac dried off from last nights rains.

08.06.2009 Old Folks Welfare Hall

As part of the VPRA commitment to help with the Thornaby Old Peoples Welfare Hall a VPRA rep was on hand this morning to show visitors from the Thornaby Asian Ladies Prayer Group around the facilities prior to their Charity Food sale this coming Saturday. Gazette report

08.06.2009 SCEN Meeting

VPRA rep attended this mornings Stockton Community Empowerment Network. A lot of useful information disseminated from the meting and a report will be given at next weeks VPRA meeting.

One item that came up again was the company selling Doorsteper stickers door to door, as reported last week this company is a bogus company. The official signs are free from local Police, SBC abd Neighbourhood Watch. Another item from NW , print the picture and keep by your door.

08.06.2009 Laburnum Road

As mentioned at last months Eastern Area Traffic Strategy meeting, Laburnum road was being planed today ready for new tarmac surface later this week. Once this is down the extra traffic hump in the centre of Laburnum will be laid.

07.06.2009 VPRA Summer Walks.

Just a reminder for anyone who likes walking, the VPRA have two recognised walks around the area. One an easy half hour stroll along the Village Green and Black Bobbies Nature Reserve and the other a bit more challenging and about an hour long , from the Green through Horseshoe Bend, Basselton Woods, Thornaby Wood and back down Thornaby Road to the Green. Details are on the VPRA Area page or thornaby.org.uk.(This site has detailed pictures of what to see around the walks)

07.06.2009 Charity Fund Raiser

Councillor Allison Trainer is holding a charity night in the Jamal Building (M+M) on the Mandale Triangle on 17th July in aid of the Chemotherapy unit and the Breast Cancer Care unit at North Tees Hospital .Contact Councillor Tina Large for tickets. Details

07.06.2009 Greener Living Roadshow.

VPRA reps attended today’s event in Preston Park in support of our friends at CFYA. An enjoyable walk to Preston Park, from Thornaby Green through Basselton woods over the new Jubilee Bridge and on to the Teesdale Way through to Preston Park. Approx. 40 minutes each way.

06.06.2009 In Bloom

In Bloom planting in the rain today at the Jolly Farmers Flower Bed.

05.06.2009 Airman’s Statue

VPRA reps litter picked the Airman Statue this morning ready for anyone to lay wreaths as part of the 65th D. Day Remembrance weekend. Bottles ,cans and crisp packets collected and disposed off. The two rose beds tidied at the same time.

05.06.2009 Victoria Park Community Hall.

Thornaby Asian Ladies Prayer Group are holding a charity food sale in the Victoria Park Community Hall (formerly the Old People's Welfare Hall,) Peel Street, from 10am til 4pm, on Saturday 13th of June with the very finest of Asian cuisine available to everyone. This is an excellent opportunity to savour authentic Asian cooking freshly made with finest ingredients. This is not the stuff you buy off the shelf and micro wave. All monies raised will go to charity. Remember! if you go along you will be supporting both this worthy cause and the Victoria Park Community Hall. VPRA reps are involved with the management committee to try and secure the future for the hall.

04.06.2009 Greener Living Roadshow

Message from SBC. This Sunday 07/06/09 at Preston Park being held along with the Teescycle event. VPRA reps attended last years event and came away impressed and laden down with freebies for greener living. Why not walk there, over Surtees Bridge and up Yarm Road or through Bassy woods and over Jubilee Bridge. It is a free event by SBC.

04.06.2009 Healthy Living Family Festival

Message from SBC. This Saturday at Holy Trinity Church Site. Go along and learn about healthy living and eating. Another free event by SBC and the NHS.

04.06.2009 Twitter

You are now able to get news feeds from both the Evening Gazette and the Northern Echo on Twitter, you can also get weather from BBC North team. Check out the personalised report for the VPRA for the next couple of days.

04.06.2009 Harold Wilson Playing Fields

As many of you will know, the VPRA were part of a consortium of residents groups (Including Bader and Basselton Residents' Association and members of the Old Thornaby Residents' Association, Thornaby Town Council and Stockton Borough Council officers) which came together as the Harold Wilson Sports Centre Steering Group. It is now possible to confirm that the Football Foundation have now given their final agreement to support the application for changing room provision. This is excellent news and what we have all been waiting to hear. As a result, it will now be possible to move forward towards construction of new changing room facilities on the Harold Wilson Sports Field following approval by the steering group of the final plans. Remember where you heard it first and watch this space for more news about your area.

03.06.2009 Green Issues

VPRA volunteers met up with a member of the Parks and Countryside team today entirely by accident, when he was encountered in Black Bobbies Field. This was part of Stockton Borough Council's consultation exercise into the future of the green spaces across the borough. The council wants your views about how you want to see things happen in the green areas we all love, and approaching people out on the footpaths and woods is about the most head on way you can do it.

Fill yours in online SBC Link

03.06.2009 Basselton Woods

VPRA contacted by residents concerning cruel traps set up along footpaths in Basselton Woods. These crude devices consist of fishing line loosely tied across footpaths so that anyone walking along is caught by a fishing hook. One dog was severely injured late in May, when it's front leg was torn open, from shoulder to shin, causing great pain and distress, and an expensive visit to the vet. Three other traps like this have been found. As one lady resident put it. "It was terrible that a dog got hurt but a think what this could have done to a small child!"

03.06.2009 Community Payback

Community Payback were back on site at the Holmes Gateway Garden this morning. Weeds strimmed and then rotovated over. As soon as we get a wet spell the VPRA gardener will be out planting with Sunflowers and Nasturtiums to give some colour for the local residents. Many Thanks Gordon and your Payback team.

02.06.2009 Car Parking

Enforcement and Highways officers were out around the Village School this morning and again at teatime. The main purpose is to deter people from parking on the pavements initially with a warning and fines for persistent offenders. We will monitor the situation on days they are not there.

02.06.2009 Park Update

Care For Your Area were back in the park today, one team repairing the worn areas on the main football pitch and another doing some infilling on the grass mats under the play equipment on the play trail.

01.06.2009 Doorsteppers

Message form Ron Baker at Stockton Police Neighbourhood Watch. Link on right hand nav bar.

We have been contacted by Neighbourhood Watch members about a company called Door Watch Dog that are working in our District they are selling door stickers for £2 stating no cold callers allowed.

The company are making claims that they will stop any unsolicited callers to your door.
Please be aware this company will have just cold called on you themselves.

They are also making claims that they are Trading Standards Approved and that Cleveland Police Support them and also Neighbourhood Watch have cleared them to work in the District all these claims are totally untrue.

Another claim they are making is that they will stop any unsolicited calls to your home phone and if you do receive any calls for you to text Door Watch Dog to let them know, this text message will cost you £5.

They also have a web site www.doorwatchdog.co.uk this company cannot do anything to stop others calling you on your phone or calling to your door.

Trading Standards and I have spoken to the Managing Director of this company and my advice to you and your members is not to deal with this company at all.

In the last 5 weeks they have sold 8,000 window stickers making a total of £16,000. this is just within our District, if you have any concerns with this company please inform the police and Trading Standards.

If you would like a door sticker to help stop no cold calling please contact me and I will give you a sticker for free.

01.06.2009 Fordy Grove

Police reporting there are continuing problems at the top of Fordy Grove near to Sainsbury`s Shop with youngsters climbing on the shops flat rear roof and also making bike ramps and placing them in the Grove. These are not fastened down and could be dangerous as well as causing a nuisance to residents. If you se anyone messing about around that area then please call Neighbourhood Policing on 302930. Help the Police to Help You.

01.06.2009 Broken Glass

For the third morning in a row VPRA reps had to remove a large amount of broken bottles from the new play trail and the surrounding grass area. Once again it appears that glass has been deliberately laid in the grass to injure dogs or children.There was a better class of drinker in the park last night with labels from Echo Falls, WKD, Grolsch and Vodka bottles picked up. CFYA attended and swept up the smaller particles. Thanks Dominic for the support.

01.06.2009 Village School Parking

Once again the new school term brings with it the unauthorised parking on the pavements opposite the Jolly Farmers. VPRA contacted SBC and Enforcement to ask for a solution before someone is injured or even killed thanks to inconsiderate drivers.

01.06.2009 Green Flag

VPRA rep invited to attend today’s judging for Thornaby Cemetery in the Green Flag competition. Barry Hunter from Parks and Countryside with the judges and other SBC officers.