Neighbourhoods & Housing Outer East Area Committee

Cross Gates Forum Minutes from the meeting of 1 March 2006 at Arndale House

Present: Cllr P. Grahame (Chair); Cllr P. Gruen; Cllr S. Armitage; Martin Hackett (East Area Management Team); Karl Curry (ELAM); James Nundy (ELAM, minutes); Mark Smith (LCC Youth Service); Laurie Burwell (Cross Gates Traders); Kirsti Cale (CGT); PC1159 Ian Phillips (West Police); Sheila Webb (Devonshire Neighbourhood Watch); Tracey Shields (DNW); Dave Coulthard (Cross Gates Shopping Centre); Betty Smithson (Leeds Hospitals, PPI Forum); Mike Cox (LCC Streetscene Services); Fred Duff (LCC Parks & Countryside); Jimmy Walker ( & Stanks Tenants & Residents Association); Andy Buchanan (Cross Gates Good Neighbours); PCSO Paul Calvert; PCSO David Foster; PC1462 Neil O’Toole; PC 1159 Ian Phillips; Stephen Seymour (Cross Gates Centre); I. Renton (Resident); Jean Barnbrook (1 st Manston Guides); Janet Newton (1 st Manston Guides); Janette Gibson (Dennil Tenants & Residents Association); Ian Jackson (DT&RA)

Apologies: Mary Hoult; Doreen Scahill; Rita Grainger; Eamon Judge; Marylin Steele; Susan McCathry; Jean Thacker; Tony Pickles.

1.0 Welcome, introductions & apologies Action

1.1 Cllr Grahame welcomed everyone to the meeting and everybody introduced themselves. The above apologies were noted.

2.0 Minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 December 2005

2.1 (5.6) There have been no issues regarding anti-social behaviour in the Devonshire Estate. The youths the police were reported to be having problems with were in Colton.

3.0 Matters arising from those minutes

3.1 Apologies were not recorded for Sheila Webb for previous meeting.

Page 1 of 5 4.0 10 minute open floor

4.1 None received

5.0 Community Safety

5.1 PCs Shelly Buxton and Anne Collinson are responsible for the JN majority of the Cross Gates ward. They are to be formally invited to this forum.

5.2 Crime statistics for Cross Gates (including Swarcliffe and Stanks) were tabled and discussed. The report used police abbreviations, which were explained to the forum.

5.3 No crime has been reported in the Devonshire Estate in the last reporting period.

5.4 Historically, January and February see a general increase in crime levels.

5.5 The problem with the ‘Drink Stop’ off-licence on Station Road selling alcohol to underage people is now in hand and the situation is much better than it was.

6.0 District Centre Regeneration

6.1 Landmark Roundabout Exhibition  Comments were relayed to the forum from the exhibition earlier today.  20-30 people attended.  Only one person didn’t like the plans, but wouldn’t leave their details.  No mention of ‘Welcome to Cross Gates’ stones on the roundabout.  The roundabout is just one part of the regeneration package.

6.2 Martin Hackett tabled a handout detailing the next steps for the district centre regeneration:  Handout includes suggestions only – comments are welcomed! All suggestions will be looked into.  Library – improvements to frontage; floor level lighting; tidy the brick work; improve the shutters etc.  Methodist Church, Rd – to be discussed with the church, but could include floor level lighting.  Other improvements could include tree planters on the corner,

Page 2 of 5 improved signage, new canapé for the shopping centre along with bright lighting.

6.3 All comments on the plans should be emailed to Martin Hackett at [email protected] so he can feed them back to the architects.

6.4 Discussion followed including: Bus stop placement and the Austhorpe Rd pedestrian crossing should become a pelican crossing.

6.5 The plans are open to the public for comment – a press release could be prepared.

6.6 Cross Gates Shopping Centre  Stephen Seymour gave an update on plans and actions.  Plans for the Shopping Centre are to be brought to next meeting. SS

6.7 Neighbourhood Watch update  No information available.  Provisional date for Cross Gates residents meeting is 15 March 2006.

7.0 Parks Renaissance Proposals

7.01 Manston Park Lighting [Fred Duff] LCC Parks & Countryside come from a safety perspective in connection with not lighting parks. Parks are full of trees and shrubs – lighting masks the dangers of secluded areas, giving a false sense of security. There are also issues with maintenance of the lighting columns as they are often subjected to vandalism.

7.02 The current playground was commended by the forum, but it was stated there is nothing for younger children to play on. The gardens were complimented too.

7.03 Playground improvements The playground is not big enough. LCC Parks & Countryside had the money to improve the current facilities, but not extend. The original facilities were removed and new equipment installed. Additional money is required if extra items such as more swings and equipment for younger children is required.

7.04 The Parks Renaissance fund for Manston is a £163k.

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A Multiple Use Games Area (MUGA) handout was tabled. MUGAs include basketball nets, cricket wickets etc. The proposals had been given to 200 local households as part of a consultation process.

7.05 A teen shelter (Similar to the one installed at ) is coming to the park soon – it will give the older youths somewhere to congregate.

7.06 The Forum agreed on the need to consult with the police about the proposals

7.07 LCC Youth Service are currently working with kids in the park. Mark FD Smith offered help in reaching the target audience for the consultation.

7.08 Questions and points raised:  It’s not the whole park that requires lighting – just the path to the bowling green and tennis courts MS  Could the parks be fenced, so essentially closed at night?  Graffiti is appearing in the park  Are any crime statistics available showing how crime levels have changed following installation of lighting in other parks?

8.0 Any Other Business

8.1 Laurie Burwell was thanked for providing the catering for this evenings forum.

8.2 Youth Services John Smeaton newsletter was tabled by Mark Smith.

8.3 Streetscene [Mike Cox] Leeds needs to deal with its waste better. Handouts were tabled about recycling, changes to the bulky item collection service and feedback form.  Kirsti Cale enquired about green waste from traders – her previous requests have received no responses.

8.4 Betty Smithson will prepare a hospital report for Cllr Grahame. BS

8.5 1st Manston Guides requested an update on their small grant application.

8.6 Longs of Leeds have many lorries through Cross Gates every day.

Page 4 of 5 They have a limit on the number of lories they can run per day, but the levels should drop when the link road is opened in 2009.

8.7 Request for Cross Gates Bus Stop to be discussed at next meeting. 9.0 Date of next meeting

9.1 To be confirmed.

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