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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 September 2009
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Click here for CFYA Bin and Recycle Collection Days
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26.09.2009 Pavement Parking
Once again the problem has arisen on Thornaby Road. Parents parking cars on the path opposite the Jolly Farmers while dropping off and collecting kids from the Village school.
It was also happening today for parents to take children to football practice in the school. we would like to point out that if enforcement pass and see the cars there will more than likely be an on the spot fine. It is illegal to block a public footpath with a motor vehicle and there has to be at least a gap of 900 mm to allow pedestrians and wheelchairs through.
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26.09.2009 Village Park
After months of chasing up new benches for the park they were finally installed yesterday and uninstalled last night. All 3 benches were stood end up during the night as though they were ready to be taken away. All the nuts that were holding them down had gone. Luckily a VPRA rep was in the park at first light to get some pictures of the new benches and spotted the problem. A quick call to SBC Enforcement and acton was in place to remove them to a safe place until CFYA can collect them and instal them more securely
In a separate incident a tin of paint had been poured over the multi swing around the play trail and two fires have been lit near the roundabout.
If anyone knows anything about the two incidents please contact either the VPRA or Thornaby Police.
It is your park and in the end it will be the general public who suffer because of mindless acts by a few
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25.09.2009 Fordy Grove
Also on last nights agenda was a review of the new block paving in place on Fordy Grove. It is noticeable that there is less parking on the block paving compared to that on the grass. it has also tidied up the grove and probably increased the chances of house sellers along it. This was funded by EAHS and Ward Councillors budgets at the request of the VPRA in 2007.
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25.09.2009 Trenchard Avenue
VPRA supported plans for a Puffin Crossing at the Spitfire Pub at last nights EAHS meeting. Originally put forward by Holmes and Middlefield RA at the May meeting and backed by VPRA and Thornaby and Ingleby councillors ,the review of traffic flows has now been completed and warrants a crossing. Funding is no needed for this to happen and the balance of this years EAHS money will go towards a match funding bid for it. It will probably not happen until mid 2010 but at least there is something positive happening.
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24.09.2009 Thorntree Road
It was announced at tonight’s Eastern Area Highways Strategy meeting that the long awaited safety railings outside of the park gates will be installed within the next week by SBC direct services. After recent meetings with VPRA and SBC following on from our request in May the revised locations have been agreed and will be carried out very soon at a reduced cost of £600 instead of the original £2000 estimate.
This is in line with plans for the main gateway area on Thornaby Road which once funding is in place will be redesigned and replaced .
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22.09.2009 Park Benches
Good news from CFYA today, the bases are now in for the 3 new benches and the benches are promised for this week. A bit of a nudge yesterday to the people at the top seems to have worked.
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21.09.2009 Problems around the area.
VPRA reported a couple of problems around the area early this morning, one was a broken grid cover outside the Golden Eagle and the other was bags of rubbish thrown into the road up by Bader school, traffic hitting the bags and scattering everywhere. CFYA find and Fix team attended to the grid and road sweeper sent up to Thornaby Road. Excellent response times again from all concerned.
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20.09.209 Village Park
Glorious afternoon in the park, plenty of people around the play trail, play area and Muga. people having picnics over by the 5 a side pitch. Quite a lot of litter, mostly plastic drinks bottles and cans left near the popular roundabout on the play trail, two carrier bags full collected and disposed of.
Only downside was elderly people still have nowhere to sit as the long awaited seats have not been put in yet.
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20.09.2009 Shopping Trolleys (again)
VPRA rep went into Asda this morning to ask if trolleys could be collected , 5 in the Village Park and 4 behind Christ the King church. The problem is getting out of hand at the moment. Much better when they charged for use of the trolley.
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19.09.2009 Green Thumbs 2009
Full results due in on Sunday for this years awards, quite a close thing by all accounts in some of the sections.
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18.09.2009 Northumbria in Bloom 2009
Thornaby won a silver gilt award at this years NIB awards this week. VPRA reps met with the judges earlier in July as part of our commitment to the SBC entry. Because of a mix up with entries we did not enter in this years Neighbourhood awards but will be back in 2010 when Stockton BC are due to host the events.
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18.09.2009 Breast Cancer Awareness
From our good friend Tracy at SRCGA
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and this year they are looking at activities running on each of the Friday’s throughout October.
So I would like to invite you along to ‘Pink Friday Cake and Cuppa*’ on Friday 2nd October (same day as me birthday – so you wouldn’t want to let me down on my birthday now) in our office on 27 Yarm Road, drop in anytime from 10:30 till 3:30.
* A fee of £1 will be charged for a cuppa and cake – all donations will go towards Breast Cancer Care & Awareness.
Everyone has to wear pink – either head to toe or just a touch of – but there must be pink on you or a penalty charge of a £1 will have to be paid!! Anyone who would like to donate any cakes or other pink themed food to bring to the event may do so – just give me a bit of notice so I know who is bringing what please.
I will also be holding a tombola and selling pink ribbon pin badges.
Please come along and support this cause – and please pass on to your colleagues, friends and family.
And if you like to party – I will be hosting an ‘In The Pink Friday’ on Friday 23rd October in the Dolphin pub – with various fun and games for people to join in with and give generously. More info on that to follow.Any donations – items for raffle, food for the Pink Friday or cash are greatly appreciated – nothing is too small or boring to be used. If you have items I will happily come to you to collect if you’re able to come along to either of the events.
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17.09.2009 Community Awards
VPRA notified that they had been nominated by a third party for the Queens Award for Voluntary Work, and that the nomination had been accepted. The final decision will be made in June next year. So watch this space The nomination was made in recognition of the group's work in the community and reflects the support we get from the whole community.
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15.09.2009 Village Park Gates and Fences
Over the past week, VPRA reps visited all 29 properties along Millbank Lane that back onto the Village Park from numbers 11a to 69 concerning the need for the Village Park fencing to be replaced. Whilst two houses are empty, we got a response from 16 of which 14 picked the Palisade fencing and 1 chose the Security Fencing 1 said no as he wanted to keep his hedge. Importantly, they all agreed to the park being locked on a night
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13.09.2009 Battle of Britain 2009
Todays Battle of Britain memorial celebrations were as usual well attended and well organised again by Thornaby Town Council. Full set of pictures are now online here
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11.09.2009 Battle of Britain
Thornaby `s Battle of Britain Celebrations are Sunday 13th 2009 at the Airman Statue, 12.30 pm.
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07.09.2009 Free Food
VPRA reps spent a while today distributing vegetables to some of our elderly residents. They were donated from exhibitors at yesterdays show. Bags of tomatoes, cucumbers , onions, leeks, parsnips, cabbage and potatoes along with a few marrow’s were given away.
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06.09.2009 Thornaby Show Report
We attended Thornaby show today en masse with our display being housed in the Horticultural and Homecrafts Marquee. As well as hosting our display about the VPRA and proposed gates and fences for the Village Park, the VPRA were involved with Jo our vice chair and her daughter Stacey actually organising the Horticultural Show and Stewart our chair stepping down from exhibiting to judge the flowers and veg.
There was a fairly good entry in most classes despite the the poor growing spell in the past month. One entry that took your eye was a vegetable model by two young children in the Under 12`s class. It featured our Town Mayor and Mayoress.
The picture below is Thornaby Town Mayor Geoff Green and Mayoress Celia Green fresh from tea tent duties with the two children who made the model.
Full set of pictures taken by VPRA today now online on Picasa
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05.09.2009 Thornaby Show
Last reminders for Thornaby Show, this Sunday 6th September. Harold Wilson Centre.
Classes for roses, dahlia, asters, gladioli, floral art, cakes, jams, paintings , cross stitch and lots more. See the posters about town for the full listing. Jo, our vice chair has been out for the past couple of weeks putting posters in shops, bus stops, allotment fences and further afield.
If you are one of those people who always says “ I could have done better “ then now is your chance to prove it.
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04.09.2009 Community Champions
VPRA contacted concerning the Community Champion awards, Stockton Borough Council is delighted to be sponsoring the Children and Young Peoples category, which recognises the achievements of individuals and groups who have made a positive difference to the lives of young people. We would like to recognise and reward the achievements of local people that have gone the extra mile to help young people overcome barriers and raise aspiration, but we need your help to identify them.
The criteria for the award category is; “An individual or group who has made a concerted effort to assist young people, either through setting up youth or after school clubs that encourage children to get involved in sports and other leisure activities that take them off the streets, or running programs that support young people into the world of education, training and employment.”
If you are aware of someone who deserves recognition and meets the above criteria please nominate them by completing an entry form. Details of the Awards and how to request an entry form are attached below. We also encourage you to distribute this information to any groups, organisations and general public for nominations. The closing date for nominations is Friday 25th September 2009. To nominate or for more details contact Rachel Cockeril on 527566 or email rachel.cockeril@stockton.gov.uk
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03.09.2009 Sea Cadets
The VPRA have had a request for help from the Stockton Sea Cadet group who are looking for some more volunteers to help them with their Sea Cadet sessions.
There are 2 meetings/sessions a week; Monday & Thursday both 6:30 till 9:30pm – any volunteers that want to help do not have to commit to both evenings – if you can do one that will be of a great benefit to the cadets.
All training, CRB checks and if you want to progress to a uniformed level will be provided free of charge, all they want from you is your time to support the young people attending.
Currently they are meeting in Thornaby, near the snooker hall and in the same building as the army cadets, though they are looking for a base closer to the water.
The volunteer must be aged 18 or over.
If you would like to find out more info, Mary Brain will welcome any phone calls on 07720416534
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02.09.2009 Village Park Gates
The plans for the new gates for the Village Park will be on show this Sunday at Thornaby Show along with plans for new fencing around the inside of the park. Call in the Horticultural Tent and have a look at the VPRA display boards and watch our laptop presentations.
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02.09.2009 Tristar Walkabouts
The estate walkabout for the Mandale and Redcar / Northumberland area has been moved from 10th September 09 to 23rd September 09. Meet 10am at old Redcar Road office.
If you are a Tristar resident in these areas and have a ny problems you want sorting out then watch out for Sue and the Tristar people walking around the estates and tell them.
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01/09/2009 Thornaby Show
Don’t forget to enter Thornaby Show this weekend if you have any flowers, veg, flower arrangements ,cakes, jams, cross stitch, photographs etc then bring them along and lets see how good you are. This Sunday 6th September ,staging between 8am and 10.30 am Harold Wilson Sports Field.
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