Arleston Environment Meeting - 23rd June 2021

On Wednesday 23rd June 2021, we met with Angela McClements who is our local councillor to raise environmental issues on behalf of our fellow neighbours.

Angela had invited us to attend the meeting as she has been fully aware that there are some serious concerns that have been worrying local residents for sometime.

Angela explained that due to the pandemic, that her regular surgery meetings at Arleston Community Centre, could not be held which has had a knock on effect on our community. Residents have not been able to attend and speak to Angela about any issues or concerns that they may have.

However, during the 1st lockdown last year, we launched our official Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. We had a meeting with our local police team and they strongly advised that we form a working relationship with Angela, as she was a fantastic point of contact to have especially with any environmental concerns.

So since September of last year, we have been receiving messages from our fellow neighbours about their concerns about our community. We have often liased with Angela and other third parties on issues that have been raised and we have done whatever we can to support our fellow neighbours during what was, a very unprecedented time.

As the government have recently lifted restrictions, this has enabled us to meet with Angela in person to raise concerns. At the meeting held on Wednesday 23rd June 2021, Angela advised that she is hoping that her first open surgery at our local community centre will be on Tuesday 6th July 2021 between 10:00am - 11:30am 

Angela is hoping to get back to her regular Tuesday morning surgeries and coffee morning. Angela wants to reassure residents that her weekly surgeries will be socially distanced.

In the event of Angela not being able to hold an open surgery due to other work commitments, cllr Joan Gorse will be at the community centre in the absence of Angela. So please feel free to pop along and meet our lovely councillors. They both look forward to meeting you! 

Also looking to make a return 

The Arleston residents meetings can start up again. These were always held on the 3rd Monday of every month, at 6pm before the pandemic. The September meeting will hopefully be held on Monday 20th September at 6pm.

The residents meetings in the past have enabled members of our community to come together to discuss issues that concern them. It also provides the opportunity for residents to get to know one another whilst enjoying a tea or coffee. So watch this space for more information about the return of regular residents meetings! 

Speeding 

As mentioned above, we have been receiving lots of messages from residents about environmental concerns that they have had during the past 10 months. 

One concern that is mentioned very regularly, is speeding vehicles along numerous roads in Arleston. We have raised your concerns with Angela and our local Police and third parties have been involved too. 

Speed indicator devices have been placed in several locations around Arleston, however when the results have been fed back from the council and the police, it would appear there isn't a problem with speeding traffic. 

As we are all aware, if drivers become aware of a speed indicator device, they tend to slow down. Unfortunately, this doesn't give a true reflection of what is really happening when the device is not in place. 

Community Speed Monitoring Team

We have suggested on numerous occasions, that we set up our own community speed monitoring team. We have been advised by West Mercia Police that we would need at least 6 volunteers to apply for a role before a team could be approved. Unfortunately, we have not had enough interest from volunteers to apply, which is really disappointing. 

We do understand that some residents may not want to become a volunteer because they are worried about receiving abuse from drivers who are driving through our community. However, if we want to reduce speeding on our local roads, we all need to come together to make that happen. 

We need residents to observe the speed limits and adhere to them. We would also encourage residents to seriously consider becoming a volunteer for a community speed monitoring team.

For more information about the community speed watch, please see the link below 

https://www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/community-speed-watch-empowering-our-communities/

If anyone would like to find out more, Angela is more than happy to arrange a meeting with the Highways Traffic and Road Safety Engineer who would be able to provide more information on how the team would work and answer any questions that you may have. Alternatively, please look at the information in the screenshots below 

Highways Meeting

Angela will be attending a meeting to discuss Highways issues next week. Issues that will be discussed are:

Speeding concerns 

Traffic lights at The Cock Hotel

Double yellow lines 

In respect of concerns about speeding along Churchill Road and other surrounding roads, traffic calming measures are being considered. One option may be to reduce the current speed limit, which we hope that most drivers would adhere to. 

We must stress that any traffic calming measure that is considered and then agreed by our local council, will not happen overnight. We would all like improvements to be made at a click of a finger but processes have to be followed and completed before work can take place. In the meantime, we would ask residents who do drive to ensure they drive within the speed limit on our local roads.

We really do not want an accident to happen before a calming measure is introduced. We can all do our bit to ensure our roads remain safe.

Arleston Lane

One particular road that is a hot spot for speeding, is Arleston Lane. A speed indicator device has been installed on the road to indicate what speed someone is driving at. However, in recent weeks, it has stopped functioning. This has been reported to our local council.

Residents who live on Arleston Lane or neighbouring roads have raised their concerns about the amount of vehicles that do speed in this area. One resident very kindly took the time to explain their concerns and we did forward them on to the Highways Team. If you travel along Arleston Lane, please drive with the speed limit. 

We would like to hear from any residents who live along Arleston Lane or in the neighbouring roads. You may be able to help provide some important information that may be useful in addressing the issues of speeding along this road. If you would like to find out how you can help, please send us a message via our Facebook page or send us an email to arlestonneighbourhoodwatch@gmail.com 

We look forward to hearing from you!

John Broad Avenue

We have been made aware on numerous occasions about parking issues along John Broad Avenue. 

Concerns have been raised with our local police, our local councillor and the council on a regular basis. 

The reason why parking is such an issue is that most houses do not have off street parking. Therefore, residents park their cars along the road. These houses were built many years ago and there wasn't so much traffic on the roads then as there is now. Some households may have more than one vehicle too which also adds to the problem. Not forgetting the fact that the road is often used by parents who may park on this road to drop their kids to school or collect them.

Under rule 243 of the Highway Code, it states "do not stop or park" 

• Anywhere you could prevent access for emergency vehicles 
• Opposite or within 10 metres (32ft) of a junction except in an authorised parking space

We know that a lot of drivers do not adhere to the above rules. Cars are often parked on John Broad Avenue opposite the junction of Churchill Road. We would encourage residents and visitors to avoid parking opposite the junction of Churchill Road in the future. The Police and council are fully aware that this rule is not adhered to by most drivers. Therefore, we would like to make you aware that enforcement can take place against anyone who doesn't adhere to the highway code. 

Telford & Wrekin Council have introduced community action teams to work within a number of areas in Telford to carry out acts of enforcement. 

For more information on the highway code, please visit the link below 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

For more information on local community action teams, please visit the link below 

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20793/community_action_team

Also in respect of John Broad Avenue, there is a green area that could be used to create parking spaces. This may also help to reduce the number of parked cars on the main road especially at peak times. 

Improvements to our local parks 

Several residents have said that they would like to see facilities at local parks to be improved. 

A section 106 is a legal agreement between an applicant seeking planning permission and the local authority, which is used to mitigate the impact of a new housing development on the local community and infrastructure.

The new housing development on Dawley Road by Countryside Homes will provide an amount of funds that will be split between the three communal parks located in Arleston. It is hoped that funds will be available during the next financial year when most of the site has been developed. 

In the meantime, local residents are encouraged to use the existing facilities that Arleston has to offer. There is the park on Churchill Road, one located at the back of the community centre. Also another park is located opposite 27 Windsor Road where there is a play area, a ball Court, a shelter and a linked BMX track! Check location 

Also, if you were not aware, there is a field at the back of Festival Gardens which is very rarely used. It is an ideal spot for children to play football as it has two goal posts!

Litter 

Another bug bear of many residents is the amount of litter on our streets.

Recently, we advertised our very first community litter pick in conjunction with "Neighbourhood Watch Week".

We were pleased that quite a few residents took part and have since decided to become street champions! We have set up a group chat for street champions to get to know one another and share information about a recent pick that they have completed. 

There are a number of items that we keep finding within our roads on a regular basis. Cans, plastic bottles, crisp packets, sweet wrappers, face masks and take away cartons, are all items that we find regularly on our streets. 

We need the community to help us by disposing of your rubbish correctly. Also, if you have children who walk to school or college, please remind them to dispose of their rubbish correctly or take it home with them. It is really important that we get the message out there to residents of all ages that littering is not o.k.

Our local schools and college have all been involved in spreading the message for us, which has been much appreciated. Shortwood School & Telford College have even organised their own litter pick to pick items up off our streets.

Our local councillors are involved too, which is fantastic. Our councillors ensure that litter is picked on a regular basis from the local parks in Arleston. 

It doesn't stop there, although we have been able to recruit new street champions and we have help from our local councillors, we need more help to try to make our streets a "litter free zone".

If you want go give something back to our community and you enjoy walking, then litter picking may be just for you! It can also improve your mental health as it's good to get out in the big outdoors and you often meet people along the way too! 

If you are interested in becoming a Street Champion, we would recommend that you have a look at the link below for more information about the voluntary role

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20474/streets_and_roads/383/street_champions

If anyone does apply and becomes a volunteer in the near future, please send us a message via our Facebook page and we will invite you to join our group chat! Another way in which you can get to know your fellow neighbours! 

Did you know? 

Did you know that you can take your used face masks to a collection bin at Morrisons in Lawley? 

Rather than disposing of them within our local community, please take your used masks to this collection bin or dispose of them in your household waste.

Thank you 

Flytipping 

Flytipping is another problem within our community. Several areas have become hotshots for people dumping their unwanted household waste illegally.

We need our communities help to report flytipping as soon as they become aware of it. You can report an instance of flytipping using the "Everyday Telford" app or via the website via the link below 

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20482/street_care_and_cleaning/212/fly-tipping_dumped_rubbish/2

Fly tipping is a serious offence and if you get caught, you will be fined. 

To avoid this, please take your unwanted household items to the recycling centre in Hortonwood. The centre is open 7 days a week, so there really isn't any excuse not to make the short journey to dispose of your rubbish correctly.

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20380/household_recycling_centres_hrcs_and_e-permits/4004/hrcs_site_rules_and_guidance

Recently, we have been made aware of several residents who live in and around Arleston, dumping their household waste in or at the side of a waste bin. This is not acceptable and can be reported as an act of flytipping. Please ensure that you dispose of all unwanted items correctly.

If you do see anyone dumping items in a place where they shouldn't be doing it, please note as much information as you can  about those involved. Once you have gathered some evidence, ie time, date, who was involved, what was dumped etc, please report it via the website listed above or report it via the app. Those responsible will be issued a fine of which they will need to pay.

Littering from cars or other motor vehicles

We are also aware that littering from vehicles is also a problem. Quite regularly, we will see someone throw a bottle, can or wrapper from a car window.  

Did you know that you can receive a fine for throwing litter from a vehicle? 

If you do see anyone doing so, please make a note of the vehicle registration, make and model.  Even a partial registration will help the council establish who the registered keeper is. Also please record the date and time of when the incident took place.  The report will be dealt with accordingly by our local council. Anyone who is seen to throw litter from a vehicle, will receive a fine in the post. 

Help our environment

We are aware that some parents will drive a very short distance from their home to drop their child/children off at school or college. 

Not only does this cause a problem with more traffic being on our roads, it also adds to the fact that our roads are not safe when they could be. Therefore, Arleston Neighbourhood Watch, our local councillor and the council will be promoting a "walk to school/college" campaign in the near future.

We want to help promote healthy living and the benefits from it. So please consider walking your child to school. Please help us to make our roads within our community, a safer place to be for all. 

Watch this space for more information coming soon!