Longlevens News - March 2006

Paygrove Lane

There has been a lot of scaremongering, particularly by local Liberal Democrats, about plans for the two fields in Paygrove Lane. The facts are:

The County Council has promised to consult residents before coming forward with any plans.

Their submission to the City Council said that the field next to the school could become a neighbourhood park and both the school and nursery could still use it.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour, when running the County Council, put the land on their asset disposal list and put in an application to build houses on the western site in 1998, which was withdrawn in the face of local opposition.

Paul and Kathy have been at the forefront of campaigning to save our green spaces in Longlevens. Kathy organised a 600-name petition calling on the County Council to bring the Leven Close site back into use.

We will continue to fight to maintain our green spaces and to gain a long-term solution to the Paygrove Lane issue, after consulting with residents.

Cheltenham Road/Oxstalls Lane

The Cheltenham Road/Oxstalls Lane junction is going to be reviewed as part of the assessment of the University’s planning application for a new building. Highways Officers have suggested adjusting the junction to allow vehicles to turn left and right from Oxstalls Lane at the same time. Paul said, “I’m pleased that this is being looked at, but whether it will be enough to deal with traffic queuing at rush hour remains to be seen. Many people have told me that they would like to see traffic lights here.”

Church Road

Kathy has arranged for a new fence to be installed at the rear of the junior school, following security concerns from people living in Coniston Road.

Coniston Road

Thank you to everyone who responded to the article in our last newsletter regarding the green area in the cul-de-sac. Council officers will be drawing up some proposals on how to deal with the issues in the road, on which all residents will be consulted.

Longlevens Library

The excellent new library in Church Road is now open. £90,000 has been spent on new books and the library also has computers with internet access and a meeting room. The police will have an information point within the library and your local councillors hope to hold joint surgeries with them.

City News

Work has now started on the Oxebode repaving works. Once this is complete, work will start on levelling Kings Square. The Conservative budget on the City Council was passed, with a tax rise of 3% - in line with our manifesto commitment. The City Council’s £10 million debt has been cleared in less than two years since the Conservatives took control.

Old Cheltenham Road

We have been in touch with the head office of Tesco to try to find a solution to the problem of heavy delivery lorries travelling along Windermere and Wellsprings Road. We will report back as soon as Tesco have come up with proposals.

Little Normans

We have arranged for a rail to be installed at the Simon Road entrance to the Longlevens Recreation Ground. Local people had complained to us that it was dangerous in icy weather.

Longford Lane

Consultation on improvements to the recreation ground should take place in April. The exact amount of money to be spent will depend on the cost of works taking place to create new public open space on land off Brionne Way. The work is being financed by money given by Westbury Homes as part of the planning agreement for their Brionne Way development.

Safer City

The Liberal Democrats claimed that the consultation on traffic calming in Longlevens was a waste of money. We disagree. We think it is arrogant to claim that councillors know exactly what people are thinking without asking them! The Lib-Dem councillor for Longlevens said at a recent council meeting that “people aren’t interested in consultation”. The results of the consultation are being analysed and we will come forward with proposals to amend some aspects, based on what you have told us.



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