Monday, 27 July 2009
Illegal Parking
A resident of St Gabriels Avenue sent us this photograph of a car blocking a drive thereby preventing him from getting his car out. He was forced to get a lift to work. The police were called and hopefully ticketed the offending vehicle.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Next Meeting - Change of Venue
The next BPMRA meeting will be on Tuesday 28th July, at St Mary Magdelene's Church Hall at 7.00pm.
The Council Cabinet meet the following day to discuss the plans for the parking management scheme. There are plans for several members of the residents association to attend the meeting. We understand that none of the original seven options presented to residents will be used (including the option of doing nothing) but we have yet to find out what type of scheme will be implemented. At the last public meeting, Cllr Paul Watson said that they had been talking to a Civil Servant from the Department for Transport to see if they could introduce a scheme without having to use parking bays and yellow lines. Hopefully therefore, the total number of on street parking spaces will not be reduced.
Come along on the 28th to find out more.
Minutes of Meeting held in St Josephs Parish Centre
Tuesday 30th June at 7.0pm
Present: Malcolm Vickers, Ian Heptinstall, Keith Watson, Moyra Watson, Ken Wilkinson, G Percival, Alan Donkin, Beryl Smith, Robert Tones, Joy Hickman, Muriel Carr, Kate Wilson, Elizabeth Lardner, Maureen Stanger, Amanda Robinson, Maureen
Langley, Ina Murton, Linda Ranton, Susan Adamson, Paul Dixon.
Apologies: Ann Tumman, Marcel Lundy.
Public Meeting 2nd June, St Mary Magdelene Church HallAmanda (Chair) opened the meeting by asking peoples comments on the recent public meeting. It was noted that Carol Harries (Hospital Trust) spoke of the hospitals ongoing determination to find a solution but was not directly challenged. I Murton pointed out that all challenges were directed at the councillors. She agreed to contact Carol Harries to ask if any further progress had been made towards a solution to the car parking problem.
Planning Meeting 16th June, Civic CentreThose residents who attended the planning meeting agreed it had been handled very badly and was totally one-sided in favour of the hospital trust. The councillors voted by party with labour being the majority. The Chairperson cast her vote when she should have only done so when the votes were tied. We felt badly let down by Councillor O’Connor who represents the people of Millfield yet voted with his party in favour of the planning application. K Wilkinson pointed out that Kate’s arguments and quoted statistics and facts were totally ignored. Keith Lowes was arrogant and even chewed gum throughout the whole proceedings. Cllr Forbes stressed that the meeting should not have gone ahead without the assurances of the hospital trust that matters of concern including adequate parking arrangements had been met. She and Councillor Morrissey were highly praised by the residents for their arguments against the planning application. Councillor Miller showed no manners and appeared to in breach of codes of conduct by his behaviour towards opposition councillors. Councillor Watson (Leader of the Council) who at the public meeting promised to do all he could to find a solution was noticeable by his absence from the meeting. The meeting agreed letters be sent to Cllr Watson and Cllr O’Connor expressing our disgust at their behaviour and letters to Cllr Morrissey and Cllr Forbes expressing our appreciation of their efforts on our behalf.
Constitution
Amanda explained that the draft constitution had been accepted and now only needed the signatures of those present to formalise the document. If any members of the association thought changes could be made for the better, then these should be put in writing and would be discussed and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting which would probably be in May next year. The document was thus signed.
Fr Skelton had been very pleased with the donations amounting to £27.00 received at the public meeting in his church hall.
Blog Update
Kate stated that the blog was still doing very well and agreed to put minutes and notes from the recent meetings on the site. The meeting requested that it would be a good idea for her to present a blog update in printed form for the benefit of those members who did not have internet access. Linda Ranton also offered to print off copies of the blog site for the next meeting.
Any Other Business
The meeting was informed that a council meeting on proposed parking schemes was to go ahead on 29th July. P. Dixon would let us know the precise details. Public can attend but would not be allowed to speak. Any proposals cannot go before cabinet until after consultation with John Munns (Dept of Transport).
L Ranton proposed writing to local MP’s Bill Etherington and Chris Mullen to ask for their assistance.
Following discussion the meeting agreed that it would be unfair to patients and visitors to protest outside of the hospital. They did agree to protest outside of the next council cabinet meeting at the end of July. The Echo and television to be informed. Also advertise our meetings in the Echo – Down Your Way and News in Brief.
M Vickers suggested we write to Mr Munns (Dept of Transport) stressing our situation and the urgency and importance of finding a solution.
P Dixon stated Millfield police have been ticketing cars, he had been out on patrol with them. They had promised to patrol as often as they could. M Langley stated that no improvement had been noted. P Dixon stressed the need to keep logging calls with the police. He would supply contact details for each of the community police areas.
B Smith stated the council now had the power to issue obstructive parking tickets. P Dixon explained the Council could but had not yet taken up the option. They hadn’t yet issued any fines for littering.
The meeting closed at 7.55pm
The Council Cabinet meet the following day to discuss the plans for the parking management scheme. There are plans for several members of the residents association to attend the meeting. We understand that none of the original seven options presented to residents will be used (including the option of doing nothing) but we have yet to find out what type of scheme will be implemented. At the last public meeting, Cllr Paul Watson said that they had been talking to a Civil Servant from the Department for Transport to see if they could introduce a scheme without having to use parking bays and yellow lines. Hopefully therefore, the total number of on street parking spaces will not be reduced.
Come along on the 28th to find out more.
Minutes of Meeting held in St Josephs Parish Centre
Tuesday 30th June at 7.0pm
Present: Malcolm Vickers, Ian Heptinstall, Keith Watson, Moyra Watson, Ken Wilkinson, G Percival, Alan Donkin, Beryl Smith, Robert Tones, Joy Hickman, Muriel Carr, Kate Wilson, Elizabeth Lardner, Maureen Stanger, Amanda Robinson, Maureen
Langley, Ina Murton, Linda Ranton, Susan Adamson, Paul Dixon.
Apologies: Ann Tumman, Marcel Lundy.
Public Meeting 2nd June, St Mary Magdelene Church HallAmanda (Chair) opened the meeting by asking peoples comments on the recent public meeting. It was noted that Carol Harries (Hospital Trust) spoke of the hospitals ongoing determination to find a solution but was not directly challenged. I Murton pointed out that all challenges were directed at the councillors. She agreed to contact Carol Harries to ask if any further progress had been made towards a solution to the car parking problem.
Planning Meeting 16th June, Civic CentreThose residents who attended the planning meeting agreed it had been handled very badly and was totally one-sided in favour of the hospital trust. The councillors voted by party with labour being the majority. The Chairperson cast her vote when she should have only done so when the votes were tied. We felt badly let down by Councillor O’Connor who represents the people of Millfield yet voted with his party in favour of the planning application. K Wilkinson pointed out that Kate’s arguments and quoted statistics and facts were totally ignored. Keith Lowes was arrogant and even chewed gum throughout the whole proceedings. Cllr Forbes stressed that the meeting should not have gone ahead without the assurances of the hospital trust that matters of concern including adequate parking arrangements had been met. She and Councillor Morrissey were highly praised by the residents for their arguments against the planning application. Councillor Miller showed no manners and appeared to in breach of codes of conduct by his behaviour towards opposition councillors. Councillor Watson (Leader of the Council) who at the public meeting promised to do all he could to find a solution was noticeable by his absence from the meeting. The meeting agreed letters be sent to Cllr Watson and Cllr O’Connor expressing our disgust at their behaviour and letters to Cllr Morrissey and Cllr Forbes expressing our appreciation of their efforts on our behalf.
Constitution
Amanda explained that the draft constitution had been accepted and now only needed the signatures of those present to formalise the document. If any members of the association thought changes could be made for the better, then these should be put in writing and would be discussed and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting which would probably be in May next year. The document was thus signed.
Fr Skelton had been very pleased with the donations amounting to £27.00 received at the public meeting in his church hall.
Blog Update
Kate stated that the blog was still doing very well and agreed to put minutes and notes from the recent meetings on the site. The meeting requested that it would be a good idea for her to present a blog update in printed form for the benefit of those members who did not have internet access. Linda Ranton also offered to print off copies of the blog site for the next meeting.
Any Other Business
The meeting was informed that a council meeting on proposed parking schemes was to go ahead on 29th July. P. Dixon would let us know the precise details. Public can attend but would not be allowed to speak. Any proposals cannot go before cabinet until after consultation with John Munns (Dept of Transport).
L Ranton proposed writing to local MP’s Bill Etherington and Chris Mullen to ask for their assistance.
Following discussion the meeting agreed that it would be unfair to patients and visitors to protest outside of the hospital. They did agree to protest outside of the next council cabinet meeting at the end of July. The Echo and television to be informed. Also advertise our meetings in the Echo – Down Your Way and News in Brief.
M Vickers suggested we write to Mr Munns (Dept of Transport) stressing our situation and the urgency and importance of finding a solution.
P Dixon stated Millfield police have been ticketing cars, he had been out on patrol with them. They had promised to patrol as often as they could. M Langley stated that no improvement had been noted. P Dixon stressed the need to keep logging calls with the police. He would supply contact details for each of the community police areas.
B Smith stated the council now had the power to issue obstructive parking tickets. P Dixon explained the Council could but had not yet taken up the option. They hadn’t yet issued any fines for littering.
The meeting closed at 7.55pm
Saturday, 18 July 2009
NO RIGHT TURN
Where are the routes of yesteryear?
It really makes my stomach churn.
I need to go to Ryhope, but
they`ve gone and blocked off that right turn!
We`re stranded on a `desert isle`.
From St Gab`s Ave, there`s no way south.
It seems that our alternatives
are A19 ->or <- Wearmouth.
We`ve risked our necks on Ewesley Road
(A carpark zone with one track street).
We`ve tacked around on speed-bump roads.
Found cul-de-sacs. Admit defeat!
What lunatics did they employ,
who so disrupt our traffic flow?
Why, folk who don`t live here, of course -
so we should tell them where to go.
Maria Makepeace
It really makes my stomach churn.
I need to go to Ryhope, but
they`ve gone and blocked off that right turn!
We`re stranded on a `desert isle`.
From St Gab`s Ave, there`s no way south.
It seems that our alternatives
are A19 ->or <- Wearmouth.
We`ve risked our necks on Ewesley Road
(A carpark zone with one track street).
We`ve tacked around on speed-bump roads.
Found cul-de-sacs. Admit defeat!
What lunatics did they employ,
who so disrupt our traffic flow?
Why, folk who don`t live here, of course -
so we should tell them where to go.
Maria Makepeace
Sunday, 12 July 2009
More Illegal Parking
The parking problem isn't just one of cars parked at our front doors all day, cars are also parked in such a way that they cause an obstruction. A task force made up of Councillors recently produced a report on the parking situation both in our area. (Many of the points raised in the report were also put forward in our argument against the hospitals planning application. Interestingly, the Chair of the planning committee is one of the three authors of this report, but she still voted to grant planning permission).
One of the points raised was that the vast majority of personal injury incidents in the area "could be attributed to restricted visibility as a result of high levels of on street parking." (If you wish to read the report you can find it by clicking here.) Many residents experience near misses on a regular basis.
Here we have just a few examples of the type of dangerous parking that residents cope with daily.
Probably the closest this 4x4 ever comes to off road but not only is it making life difficult for pedestrians, it also obstructs the view of drivers at the junction.
Parked or abandoned? Parking several feet away from the double yellow lines does not mean that you are parked legally! Note the bins are out - it would have been interesting to see how the refuse collection vehicle got round that corner.
Not only was this car parked on yellow lines, it was also parked on the pavement making it difficult for pedestrians to pass, especially anyone with a pushchair or wheelchair.
Yellow lines are used where parking would be dangerous, as here at the junction of Henderson Road with Kayll Road. The driver of this car appeared to be a member of staff at the hospital. Two sign posts clearly state no parking Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm yet this photograph was taken at about 11.30am on a Tuesday.
This car, again belonging to a hospital staff member, was ticketed by a traffic warden shortly after this photo was taken.
At the last residents association meeting, Cllr Paul Dixon reported that the police have been patrolling in the Millfield area and have been ticketing vehicles parked dangerously or causing an obstruction. If you see a car parking illegally, dangerously or so as to cause an obstruction you can report it by phoning the local police on 03456 043 043.
One of the points raised was that the vast majority of personal injury incidents in the area "could be attributed to restricted visibility as a result of high levels of on street parking." (If you wish to read the report you can find it by clicking here.) Many residents experience near misses on a regular basis.
Here we have just a few examples of the type of dangerous parking that residents cope with daily.
Probably the closest this 4x4 ever comes to off road but not only is it making life difficult for pedestrians, it also obstructs the view of drivers at the junction.
Parked or abandoned? Parking several feet away from the double yellow lines does not mean that you are parked legally! Note the bins are out - it would have been interesting to see how the refuse collection vehicle got round that corner.
Not only was this car parked on yellow lines, it was also parked on the pavement making it difficult for pedestrians to pass, especially anyone with a pushchair or wheelchair.
Yellow lines are used where parking would be dangerous, as here at the junction of Henderson Road with Kayll Road. The driver of this car appeared to be a member of staff at the hospital. Two sign posts clearly state no parking Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm yet this photograph was taken at about 11.30am on a Tuesday. 
This car, again belonging to a hospital staff member, was ticketed by a traffic warden shortly after this photo was taken. At the last residents association meeting, Cllr Paul Dixon reported that the police have been patrolling in the Millfield area and have been ticketing vehicles parked dangerously or causing an obstruction. If you see a car parking illegally, dangerously or so as to cause an obstruction you can report it by phoning the local police on 03456 043 043.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Fiction or Reality?
I don`t know if the council THINK a few years ahead. Meanwhile in the USA they have experts dealing with declining cities.
Have the council considered the long-term effects of turning our area into
an extended hospital car-park?
This is a science fiction view of what could happen:
Sunderland is already suffering effects of the recession. Jobs decline.
Population moves out for work or becomes unemployed. Houses are put on the
market as a result.
Those residents who are left realise the difficulties as parking problems
become worse and the re-routing of traffic causes extra problems and adds to
commuting time. They also attempt to sell up and get out to more accessible
and less congested areas.
Cost of property declines.
Empty properties in the area increase. Some homes become boarded up and a
haven for vandals and homeless people.
People begin to fear leaving their cars in the area around the hospital. The
self-centred hospital employees have caused their own problems. Students
begin to fear studying in such a place. Emergency ambulances are attacked en
route to the hospital by marauding gangs of hoodies. Hoodies regularly
attempt to raid hospital pharmacy for drugs. Hospital has to recruit large
army of security guards.
Inner city decline continues in this part of Sunderland.Council has to
consider the possible costs of regeneration. Where can they ask funding. The
government is up to its neck in debt and because Britain by this time has
removed itself from Europe, no funding is available from there.
Sunderland becomes a very bad slum.
An alternative view:
The hospital employees are positively encouraged to car-share and are
offered FREE park and ride facilities - with services running at times to
suit hospital shifts.
Parking is extended at Pallion and Millfield Metro stations with frequent
mini-bus service by the likes of Scarlet Band (Who provide both the East
Durham Hospital Transport scheme and Durham City Park and Ride.
Free taxi service is altered from Sainsbury`s (where it duplicates the
existing bus-service) to more logical places, where it doesn`t.
Council explores possibility of Euro-funding for an underground carpark at
the hospital OR an underground hospital metro station, or underground
conveyor-belt from Millfield metro station.
Less carbon monoxide in the immediate area of the hospital improves health
and healing.
Thanks to Maria Makepeace for this thought provoking piece
Have the council considered the long-term effects of turning our area into
an extended hospital car-park?
This is a science fiction view of what could happen:
Sunderland is already suffering effects of the recession. Jobs decline.
Population moves out for work or becomes unemployed. Houses are put on the
market as a result.
Those residents who are left realise the difficulties as parking problems
become worse and the re-routing of traffic causes extra problems and adds to
commuting time. They also attempt to sell up and get out to more accessible
and less congested areas.
Cost of property declines.
Empty properties in the area increase. Some homes become boarded up and a
haven for vandals and homeless people.
People begin to fear leaving their cars in the area around the hospital. The
self-centred hospital employees have caused their own problems. Students
begin to fear studying in such a place. Emergency ambulances are attacked en
route to the hospital by marauding gangs of hoodies. Hoodies regularly
attempt to raid hospital pharmacy for drugs. Hospital has to recruit large
army of security guards.
Inner city decline continues in this part of Sunderland.Council has to
consider the possible costs of regeneration. Where can they ask funding. The
government is up to its neck in debt and because Britain by this time has
removed itself from Europe, no funding is available from there.
Sunderland becomes a very bad slum.
An alternative view:
The hospital employees are positively encouraged to car-share and are
offered FREE park and ride facilities - with services running at times to
suit hospital shifts.
Parking is extended at Pallion and Millfield Metro stations with frequent
mini-bus service by the likes of Scarlet Band (Who provide both the East
Durham Hospital Transport scheme and Durham City Park and Ride.
Free taxi service is altered from Sainsbury`s (where it duplicates the
existing bus-service) to more logical places, where it doesn`t.
Council explores possibility of Euro-funding for an underground carpark at
the hospital OR an underground hospital metro station, or underground
conveyor-belt from Millfield metro station.
Less carbon monoxide in the immediate area of the hospital improves health
and healing.
Thanks to Maria Makepeace for this thought provoking piece
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