Current Issues

Jottings from the last Community Association Meeting

(Held Thursday 20th September 2007)

We welcomed a total of thirteen people to the meeting including Cllr. John Wright, Janice Parker from Credit Union and Gaynor Stubbs, Head Teacher of Wensley Fold school.

Credit Union

Janice Parker told us that the Credit Union provides an easy, local Community Savings and Loan service. It is a cooperative organisation owned by the people who save. Leaflets were made available.

Traffic

Funding for a road hump outside One Stop is no longer available. However, the petition that we submitted is helping both our Councillors to press the Council to complete the traffic calming measures in this financial year. Related updates include

Children's Centre	Traffic calming road humps have been completed around the new Children's Centre
Parking	A consultation process to find a way forward for parking problems outside the shops is ongoing - it has been agreed to make the bottom end of New Bank Road a one-way system. This should help to relieve the congestion at the intersection with Granville Road
Dukes Brow	It has been agreed by the Council that bollards will be placed on the pavement between Granville Road and Alexandra Road to prevent moving cars mounting the pavement
Gawthorpe	The path of the ginnel has now been fixed

Meeting with Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP at Sacred Heart School

Cllr. John Wright reported that this had been a really positive meeting - this was endorsed by others who had attended. There are some issues still to be addressed - many of these are related to planning. Graham Burgess suggested that he should meet with RCA to address local planning problems.

Questions to Cllr. John Wright

John was asked if something could be done about the Harcourt Road Garage site that is overgrown and attracting fly-tipping. Similar issues with the Brighton Terrace/Mile End Row garage site were raised. John agreed to work with Chris Waring to try to meet with the respective land owners.

Wensley Fold School

Gaynor Stubbs told us about the facilities,both at the Space Centre athe school and at the new Children's Centre. The Space Centre is for use both by the school and the community. The Children's Centre, at Caernarvon Road, is primarily for pre-school children but also offers a community cafe, a library, childcare, a Credit Union, a Returning to Work Advisor and health projects open to the whole community. Two RCA members responded to a request for help with creating an allotment in the school grounds.

Youth Report

The Young People's consultation is now complete and the report was circulated to members. There are funds to purchase a TV.

Policing

The police are now present at the Hub from 12-2 on Monday to Friday and are available to anyone who calls in.
There is a Borough initiative to address parking around schools and all are asked to report illegal parking on the zig-zags, or other dangerous parking.
The police team will be visiting Beardwood School to develop relationships with pupils and staff.
A Cycling Safety day has taken place at the Hub when bikes were checked and lights and reflectors were handed out
There had been a very successful Community Football day arranged by PC Paul Schofield
The DVLA will be targeting untaxed vehicles in the area

Football Frenzy

Football Frenzy and Crazy Cricket events took place from 22nd to 26th August, attracting nearly 30 children to the football and just over 20 to the cricket. We are grateful to the Blackburn with Darwen Community Network and Cash for Communities who provided funding for these events and to Sports Academy, Recreation and Play and willins volunteers who provided leadership and expertise

Feast Art Event

This art event in Corporation Park was a wonderful success. The Bee story and trail, the "hands-on" opportunities and exhibits from across the Borough were all brought together by the Action Factory. The Park was left free of litter thanks to the sheer hard work of the team.

Other Stuff

' Neighbourhood News' was made available to those who had not received one.
Chris Waring will be taking responsibility for the whole Borough rather than just the North West
Gaynor Stubbs accepted the offer of the picket fencing from the Feast Event for the the proposed allotment
We thanked Chris Walker and Chris Catherall for holding the 'Meet the Neighbours' event - this raised £55 for RCA. A follow-up event - a book sale- will be held at the Hub in November

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday 22nd November 2007at the Hub, 23c New Bank Road (next door but one to the Post Office).

Everyone is welcome - why not invite a neighbour?