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 September 2010

 Click here for CFYA Bin and Recycle Collection Days

29.09.2010 Hawker Demon Propeller

The old propeller that was in the old Town Centre Library is now in its own place of honour in the new library. It is in pride of place just above the row of computers and surrounded by pictures and stories about the airfield. When the library was planned for refurbishment VPRA reps and Tristar workers  plus Cllr Geoff Green helped take it down and put into storage in Thornaby Town Hall.

Originally the propeller was thought to be from a Wapiti aircraft but thanks to local residents and Stockton Libraries it was found to be from a Hawker Demon from 608 Squadron which was based here at Thornaby. Click here for Gazette report .

28.09.2010 Village Park Bowls Club

Thieves or vandals struck at the bowls club in the park last night cutting 2 large wire panels out of the perimeter fencing. If you saw anything suspicious or know anything about the theft and damage please contact Thornaby police, Bowls Club or let the VPRA know and we will pass it on for you.

27.09.2010 Entente Florale

Great news today that Stockton has won Gold in this years top European Floral competition. Well done to all at SBC and CFYA along with the many volunteers and helpers who made this happen. VPRA were honoured to be involved during this years competition and the tour of Thornaby.

26/09/2010 Bulb Planting 2010

Advance notice for this years first bulb planting session. Sunday 3rd October in The Village Park.Meet 12 noon. We are planting Bluebells, Daffodils and Crocus around the plot of the new “Wildlife Area”. If you want to help just pop along. Only be there for an hour at most.

25/09/2010 Fly Tipping

Fly tipping hit another height this weekend. Someone has dumped a large amount of broken paving slabs and rubble along with general household rubbish outside houses just off Thorntree Road. It looks like someone had just tipped a wagon load out. CFYA are investigating and clearing the mess.

23/09/2010 Tax Scams

Warnings again today from HMRC and local press  about people being phoned and told to pay a figure of money now or pay a larger amount later as part of wrong tax being charged. This is a scam as all they are after is your bank details..HMRC will not ring people up and ask for your bank details. If you do get a call, dont tell them your NI number, always ask them security questions that only HMRC might know, such as tax code or employer. Leave them on hold as long as you can, its not your phone bill and never ring them back as you may find its a number abroad and you will incur massive phone bill which they get part of.

22/09/2010 SRCGA

Well done to SRCGA or scraggs as we know them for winning Stockton`s Catalyst Partnership Award and also the  winner of biggest health impact award is Stockton BME Network.

19/09/2010 Victoria Bridge.

Warning to motorists that Victoria Bridge is closed eastbound on Sunday to allow works on the new Mandale Gyratory System.

18/09/2010 Dumped Pups

RSPCA are looking for the person who dumped 2 very young pups in woodland off Thornaby Road. See the full story online at the Gazette.

18/09/2010 Thornaby Woods

Article in tonights paper about the question asked by James Wharton on our behalf about the woods.

Original report on here was 03/07/2010. Gazette story shows that Thornaby Labour Party instigated a petition after seeing MP James Wharton had asked the question in the House of Commons. If they had done checks on Thornaby History they would have known that the woods are Ancient Woodland and recent developments have been fought off by both VPRA and Thornaby Councillors. VPRA monitor SBC planning site daily in preparation for any new developments that may happen.

17/09/2010 Park Gates

Last night someone drove a stolen car into the park through the old gates on Thorntree Road. Then dumped the car after setting it on fire. Thanks to CFYA for clearing up the mess this morning. The old cast iron gates came off better than the car and only needed a new lock putting on.There was not much mess either where the car was on fire.

We have a long arranged meeting with Parks and Countryside department next week to discuss the options for new gates so this may move things along a bit. 

16/09/2010 Fly Tipping

VPRA are working with CFYA and Enforcement to try and catch the people responsible for dumping rubbish on the paths to Andrews Allotments. It may take a while but they will be caught.

15/09/2010 Thornaby Pride

VPRA invited to send in some articles for the next edition of Thornaby Pride.As we have done in the past when submitting items to the Pride we always post them here .

Blooming Neigbourhood Awards.

The Village Park Rresidents’ Association would like to thank everyone across the patch who gave amazing levels of support to our entry in the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” category of Northumbria in Bloom. The result has been an “Outstanding” award, at level 5, the highest category it is possible to begranted. But this is not for the volunteers and management committee. This award is for everyone who made their contribution. The residents such as Steve Challenger on the Cresent,  Phil Henry on Thornaby Road and Mrs Joins on Thornaby Green, who both presented fantastic floral displays in their own gardens but spread their work out into public land to “Flower Up” the area.  There is also a massive pat on the back to the children and young people who helped with the litter picks and the work in the Village Park and of course the officers of Stockton Borough Council especially Barry Hunter and Christine James who are always there to help when we need it.

The award is not just for the planting of flowers and the small garden projects across the patch but for the work uniting the community and drawing people together toward the common goal of making our area a better place. A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped, you are all award winners.

14/09/2010 Scam Alerts

Couple of warnings doing the rounds.

Firstly someone is ringing homes and saying they are from HMRC and you owe TAX money and need to make an immediate payment. NO THEY ARE NOT AND DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK DETAILS.

Secondly someone is ringing up and saying they are from BT and you owe money and need to pay up now or be cut off and then have to pay re connection charge.This is a SCAM, DO NOT GIVE YOUR DETAILS TO ANYONE OVER THE PHONE.

13/09/2010 Northumbria in Bloom

Today was the awards ceremony for Northumbria in Bloom held at the Oakwood Centre in Eaglescliffe. It was Stockton`s turn to host the event this year.

VPRA reps were invited to attend and were gratefull recipients of an Oustanding Entry Level 5 Award in the Royal Horticultural Society Its Your Neighbourhood Awards section.(Highest award in the category) Thanks to everyone in the village area who has helped over the year with keeping the area tidy,taking part in events and helping flower up our area. Thanks also to the folk at SBC CFYA for your support.

Other Local awards this year were:-

Thornaby won Silver in the Small City award beaten by Darlington again.(Small city is based on number of residents and includes Ingleby Barwick)

Stockton won Gold and best City award again for 7^th time and Ropner Park won Gold and Best Park Award..

St Cuthbert’s Court(Mandale/Victoria) won Gold in Residents in a clearly defined community.

Kirkdale House (Teesdale)won silver in best kept grounds in a care /residential home.

St Francis of Assisi (Ingleby  but classed as Thornaby in NIB) won Gold in best grounds in a religious establishment.

Next year Thornaby needs to enter  Best Station, Town Centre Shopping Area and the new schools Growing Together awards. Sure we can do something with the station once the new bridge is in place.

12/09/2010 Battle of Britain

A bigger than normal turnout was in attendance at todays Battle of Britain Remembrance at the Airmans Statue. There were a good number of service veterans along with councillors and members of the public .

The service was read by Father Harry from St.Lukes and wreaths were laid by Thornaby Mayor Ian Dalgarno and Stockton South MP James Wharton along with Councillor Sylvia Walmsley and service personnel.

Full VPRA picture archive from today click here.

11/09/2010 Northumbria in Bloom 2010

This years presentations are on Monday 13th September.This year is Stockton`s turn to host the event and will be at the Oakwood Centre in Eaglescliffe.

The VPRA have been invited to attend in the Neighbourhood Awards category in our own right along with being part of Stockton Councils entries for both Thornaby and Stockton. Fingers crossed for some good results.

11/09/2010 2010 Green Thumbs.

Final judging will be this weekend for this years competition. Full list of nominated houses is now online Click here to see if you have been nominated. Green Thumbs.

10.09.2010 Eid Mubarak

“Eid Mubarak.” to all the VPRA residents who follow Islam.It is a time for celebration but also of prayer and contemplation, The VPRA join in thoughts of the floods in Pakistan and the needs of the people there.

Remember, residents are able to donate towards the flood relief at a very local level via the Village Green store on the corner opposite the Odd fellows Pub. Kaz will be keen to explain how the money will be sent direct to Pakistan. Please everyone support this most important charity. If we all only donate the change from buying papers or anything else this could make amassive difference.

Pakistan Flood Relief
 

10/09/2010 5 Lamps.

VPRA reps invited to the official unveiling of the new five lamps monument. The event took place as promised, running smoothly thanks to the excellent work of Tina Mansell and the volunteers from the council.The local Salvation Army played throughout the ceremony lending a veryemotional sense to the whole event. Residents were there from across the town with a number of ex-pats from all over the Teesside area
turning up.
 

10/09/2010 Battle of Britain

Dont forget this Sundays Battle of Britain Service. Starts at 12.30 pm at the Airmans Statue on Thornaby Road then wreath laying at Thornaby Cemetery afterwards. See Thornaby Town Council site for details..

10/09/2010 Transport Users Forum

Stockton Bus Users Forum is this Saturday 11/09/2010 at the Arc Centre in Stockton. 10am till Noon.

Find out about planned public transport improvements for the coming year.Have your say.

09/09/2010  5 Lamps

Friday is the official unvieling of the newly situated 5 Lamps near to Thornaby Cemetery. Ceremony is 12 noon on 10/09/2010. Film report to appear here over the weekend.

See also Stockton Council site for more information and details.

07/09/2010 Twitter

Do you use Twitter? if you do then follow VPRA and others from Thornaby by using the hashtag #Thornaby in your posts.

VPRA link Twitter

05/09/2010 Thornaby Show

The VPRA attended todays Thornaby Show with  a number of members entering and winning classes in the Horticultural and Handicrafts tent. The show was once again well attended with the 5 marquee`s all full and busy. We had our display tent out with information about the Village Park, ASB,and a variety of lealets and freebies given to us by CFYA.

Well done to Jo and Stacey for organising the Horticultural tent. numbers were up in most classes despite the weather over the growing season.

Roll on next year, if you enjoyed this years show then plan for next year and show us what you can do.

Link for more pictures Click here.

04/09/2010  5 Lamps

The newly situated 5 Lamps now have seating and a plaque in the shape of a book with the Lamps history on it. The official unveiling is on Friday 10th September at 12 pm. All welcome.

Well done to Thornaby Town Council and Stockton Council officers for getting such a prestige monument restored and in place at the gateway to Linear Park.

01/09/2010 Cyber Bullying

Before your children head off back to school take a few minutes to consider if they have been bullied at school either verbally or online. Check our Cyber Bully page for some tips to help.

01/09/2010 Thornaby Show Reminder

Come and have a go at showing, flowers, veg.floral art, cakes, knitting, photography and more.

This coming Sunday 5th September Click here for full schedule.

Come along and say hello to VPRA at our tent, leaflets and information packs to give away.

Neighbourhood Police

Phone 302930