MILNROW AND NEWHEY AREA FORUM Thursday, 20 June 2013 Milnrow Cricket Club, Harbour Lane, Milnrow OL16 4HF MINUTES Present: S. Lowe (Chair), A. Mansoor, C.Baron, M. Hopkinson, A.Turner, J.Sampson, D. Cranny, Z. Cranny, S.Knight, P.Caldecott, Mr & Mrs Tweedale, I. Rigby, J. Chapman Councillors & MP: Councillor M. Rodger, Councillor A. Brett, Councillor A. Kelly Officers & Press: Katie Moore (Township Management), PC Robert Booth and PCSO Catherine White (GMP), Stephen Pyke (Environmental Management), Karen Tyner and Madassar Mahmood (Youth Service) Apologies: S. Leach, K. Swift, I. Davidson 1. INTRODUCTIONS AND CODE OF CONDUCT The Chair introduced himself to the forum and thanked everyone for attending. Attention was drawn to the code of conduct. All attendees were asked to abide by the code for the duration of the meeting. 2. GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE The Chair welcomed and introduced GMP officers to the forum. Update on current resources PC Booth informed residents that the level of resources is the same; they have gained one new member. There is one dedicated officer for Milnrow and Newhey and residents need to be assured that there will be a police presence at all times. Although their base is at the Rochdale Station they travel into the ward and they feel that they are better positioned there for travelling. The officers work on a four shift system. a) Priorities from PACT meetings Officer’s priorities are to drive down ASB. It is thought that there is likely to be an increase during the school holiday period. GMP are working closely with RMBC’s Youth Service and will target the hot spot areas. Residents are encouraged to report incidents of ASB as this helps identify the problem areas/culprits. b) Community Speed Watch - Update Following the last community speedwatch on Wildhouse Lane, PC Booth reported that there were no reports of speeding. Residents were still concerned that cars are speeding on Wildhouse Lane/Kiln Lane. The problem times seem to be between 8.35am-8.45am. PC Booth agreed to look into the feasibility of a short operation using ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition). Residents are encouraged to report bad driving, however, this will require the witness to disclose the number plate of the driver. Action: PC Booth to look into short term operation using ANPR on Wildhouse Lane/Kiln Lane. 3. PENNINES TOWNSHIP BUSINESS AND TOURISM FORUM (PHILIP BERRIE) Philip Berrie gave a short presentation on the functions and purpose of the Pennines Township Business and Tourism Forum. The group are seeking input from local businesses with the aim to promote tourism in the township. The group are currently mapping out events across the township and identifying bed and breakfast accommodation to build a tourism package. The group are also in discussions about events for next year’s Tour De France competition. Anyone wanting to contact or make recommendations to the group please contact Philip or information can be passed via the Pennines Township Team. 4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING PCSO Angela Smith to address residents’ concerns at the next forum re: Rochdale Police Station and shift patterns. Please see GMP update. Katie to invite representative from RBH to attend the next forum . The resident who raised this item was visited by RBH in May and was shown the final standards responsive workloads for the caretakers. It was agreed that attendance of RBH was no longer needed because the issues had been addressed outside of the meeting. Fly tipping at old substation (Railway Street, Newhey) The Enforcement Team visited and cleared the site on 2nd May 2013. Pictures were provided at the meeting. Planting at Newhey Metro Station Councillor Brett confirmed that Metro have completed and handed over to the maintenance contractors. Concerns were raised about the growing weeds and some of the vegetation that has died at Newhey Station. Action: Katie to contact Metro about removing weeds and general tidy up of landscaping. Residents highlighted an increase of youths hanging around Newhey Metro Station. It was reported that large groups are coming from Royton. Katie suggested that the Youth Service could do some detached work in the area. It has been witnessed that some of the young people are getting on the trams and not buying tickets. This should be raised directly with Metro. In addition, if residents witness any ASB this should be reported to the police. Action: Karen to organise youth engagement work at Newhey Metro Station. Fly Tipping at Kiln Lane The Enforcement Team are aware of the situation and currently taking action. Guidance from Environmental Management regarding emptying of bins over the Christmas period and to pass the concerns raised to Environmental Management. The 2013 Christmas collection schedule is not yet available. It usually comes out in December. The information is published in Rochdale Observer. Alternatively, this information can be sought from the Environmental Management contact centre at the beginning of December. (Environmental Management Helpline: 0845 226 1800 or email: [email protected]) The schedule will also be available on the RMBC website: http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/recycling_and_bins/when_are_my_bins_collected.aspx Food waste bins for Railway Street All residents on Railway Street should now have a food waste bin. If residents have not yet received a bin, please inform Katie Moore at the end of the forum with your name and address. Residents informed Katie that they had yet to receive food waste bins. Action: Katie to chase up food waste bins for Railway Street Cement Works- Enforcement Team The Enforcement Officer visited the site and found little evidence of a major issue of untidiness. Admittedly they were unable to visit one part of the site because of an access issue, but the area directly behind the gym seemed okay. The officer did speak to the owners about an overburdened skip on the site and they assured the officer that it was being moved that day. Katie presented pictures that had been taken of the area. Residents informed Katie that the problem area was the other side of the road from where the pictures had been taken. Councillor Brett agreed to check the area tomorrow. Action: Councillor Brett to carry out site visit. Bench and Waste Bin for Huddersfield Road/Railway Street Residents are still keen for a bench and bin to be reinstalled on Huddersfield Road/Railway Street. Councillors agreed to look into funding items. Action: Katie to follow up previous action of the reinstatement of a bench and bin on Huddersfield Road. 5. OPEN FORUM Following on from discussions around speeding vehicles around Wildhouse Lane/Kiln Lane, a member of Tunshill Golf Club agreed to make other members aware of the 20mph zone. Residents raised concerns about the condition of the road up to and on Tunshill Lane. Some repairs have been done, however, the condition is still bad. A resident raised this at the Pennines Township Committee and has had no response from Highways. Action: Katie to contact Highways re: repairs to road up to Tunshill Lane and to ask Highways to contact resident. Katie read out a question that had been sent prior to the meeting. The resident wanted to emphasise that the speeding traffic on Kiln Lane was still prevalent as was the on going use of Kiln Lane/Wildhouse Lane by HGV's. PC Booth addressed speeding traffic earlier in the meeting. In relation to HGVs, Katie stated at the last area forum, Highways have advised that to stop HGVs using this route a Traffic Regulation Order would be needed. This Order has to be supported by the police. The Council cannot stop drivers using Kiln Lane/Wildhouse Lane, they can only suggest that an alternative route is used. Residents requested the trees on Church Terrace be cut as they appear to be diseased. Residents were informed that if there is a tree preservation order they will not be able to be removed. Action: Councillor Brett to request trees to be cut. Councillor Brett advised residents that Councillor Robert Clegg had been given verbal permission to carry out repair work on the steps to the clock. Work on the clock can only commence once the access steps have been fixed as it is currently unsafe to do the necessary works. Katie advised that a written agreement is required in addition to a verbal response. Residents asked for the gullies on the corner of Huddersfield Road/Railway Street to be unblocked. Action: Katie to contact Highways about blocked gullies. Residents discussed an Observer article that had been published about the proposal of the partial signalisation of Elizabethan Way. Councillors informed the forum that this scheme would be presented to the next Pennines Township Committee on 9th July 2013. There was also a query relating to an update on the proposed skate park in Milnrow Park. Since the last meeting it has been confirmed that a contractor has been assigned and funding is in place. The Friends group are just awaiting a start date for the works to commence. A resident asked whether there are any plans to restock the River Beal following an accident involving a lorry blast which poisoned the waters killing hundreds of fish. Action: Katie to contact Environment Agency about River Beal. Residents asked why the path from Lower Lane to Rochdale Canal was still closed as they were under the impression that it should have been reopened in January. Action: Stephen Pyke to carry out site visit with the view to find out reasons for closure Resident discussed the dangers of turning right from Buckley Lane towards Newhey as the outside lane is blocked from view.