Brownfield site indeed - Lower Way fills with sewage!

With a multi million pound sewage plant doing its bit the other side of the fence, the last thing you would expect is for the stuff to bubble up into the road but the heavy rain must have overwhelmed the system. So Cllr Jeff Brooks and I went to investigate with bated breath! Lower Way was closed for a time whilst the source of the problem was tracked down.

Cllr Jeff Brooks stopping traffic entering the substance in the distance.

Oh dear!

       

Cllr Jeff Brooks describes the scene as the cavalry arrive!

Think I will stay upwind and keep this post company!

Pedestrians expected to walk on water year after year!

We can expect some flooding on our roads after a very heavy downpour but when flooding takes place in the same location year after year, it's time to start asking questions. Either there is no drainage and it needs to be installed or the drainage is blocked and needs to be unblocked. Pedestrians using crossing points, underpasses or simply walking along a pavement can be badly affected.

Pedestrian crossing point in Newbury town centre.

One of the underpasses flooded in Newbury town centre.

Regular flooding in London Road.

Slow down you're going too fast!

East of the entrance to Thames Road

'Slow down you're going too fast' may have been a good title for a song in the 1960's but it certainly applies to Bowling Green Road today!  The highways department at West Berkshire Council responded to my request for temporary Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) that flash up '30 SLOW DOWN' when vehicles exceed the 30 mph speed limit. The VAS signs were erected in different locations along Bowling Green Road following continued concerns from local residents about the speed of traffic in the area. I hope the signs will remind drivers to slow down and keep to the 30 mph speed limit.

This sign was placed just west of the entrance to Mersey Way.

East of Ashmore Green entrance.

Celebrating 35 years as local councillor in West Berkshire!

And I really mean celebrating!  It has been an absolute pleasure representing the residents of Thatcham West over the last 35 years. The role of a councillor is certainly a challenging one but the role is quite simple, listen and respond to the best of your ability.

I have driven past the Houses of Parliament on many occasions and I could not think of a better way to celebrate than to pop down to 'head office' to see what they were up to! Through our local MP I got a ticket to observe Prime Minister's Questions or PMQ's from the public gallery.  

Michael Meacher Labour MP for Oldham West & Royton was first up and asked the Prime Minister.......

"Is the Prime Minister aware that according to the Economist, Britain is now 159th lowest in the world, in terms of business investment, just behind Mali, Paraguay and Guatemala, can he therefore please tell the house when, under his esteem leadership and that of the chancellor, Britain can now expect to catch up with Mali?"

The response from the Prime Minister was less than complimentary. Through the Speaker, Mr Meacher won a point of order and gained an apology from Mr Cameron saying that he apologised for any offence that he may have caused!

I met Mr Meacher in the cafe later and complimented him on gaining an apology from the Prime Minister! Mr Meacher declined to have a selfy photo with me for this blog, as I was from another political party and he was concerned about where the photo could end up.

Party politics aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the time observing PMQ's at the House of Commons. There were over 100 members of the public looking down on the chamber through a glass security panel following the attempt to shower Tony Blair with pink powder. The wit and humour in the chamber was outstanding and the audience was laughing to the point of bursting. The important point though was that the message in each question was very clear if the answer was less palatable!

  

Crashes on 'northern distributor road' continue - Unacceptable!

Yet another vehicle loses control, demolishing a road sign and hitting a brick wall belonging to a resident in Bowling Green Road.

Fortunately the wall did not fall down causing further damage to the residents property, but two large cracks have appeared in the wall and this means that it will have to be replaced at considerable expense.

Another crash in  Bowling Green Road.

Garden Centre Roundabout.

   

Tull Way.

A car mounted the grass and headed for the lamp-post in BGR!

Tull Way.

So it had to be replaced!

Ford Ka collided with pedestrian refuge and rolled over in BGR.

Just when you think you have seen it all, a resident will tell you about another crash that has taken place!

How fast is traffic moving in Bowling Green Road?

Tuesday morning 15 October between 10am -12am, I met up with Cllr Brian Barnes and Cllr Phoenix Dewdney from Thatcham Town Council, to record vehicle speeds in Bowling Green Road. Brian & Phoenix are qualified to operate the Speed Indicator Device (SID).

I was particularly surprised at the speed of some lorries and delivery vans, some were hitting 36 mph! The highest speed for vehicles eastbound was 45 mph and for westbound it was 40 mph!

Many drivers slowed down when they saw the Speed Indicator Device flash up their speed and hopefully the next time they come through Bowling Green Road, they will remember to keep to the 30 mph speed limit.

Local residents continue to express their fears about the speed of vehicles and the number of crashes taking place in the area. These speeds are far too high for the safety of other road users, pedestrians and children, especially when parents are walking their children to school along narrow pavements.

I have repeatedly asked WBC to install 24 hr speed enforcement cameras on Bowling Green Road and requested the attendance of the council funded Road Safety Constable, to use a laser gun to catch speeding motorists but all this has fallen on deaf ears.

A brief look at my Ward work and Shadow Executive Member for Highways & Transport work.

Letter sent to parents asking them not to park on residents garage forecourt when taking their children to Whitelands Park Primary School.  

From time to time, I take a look around the ward of Thatcham West, to see what has been done and what needs my attention! Taking photos is a handy reminder and when I get back to the office I can simply download the photographs from my mobile and email them to the relevant department for the appropriate action to be taken. Here is a selection of photographs showing what local residents have asked me to do for them.

Drains cleaned in Bowling Green Road.

Replaced old road name plates with modern ones.

I arranged for this new lamppost to be moved to the left because the resident couldn't get her car into the drive very easily, and neither could I.

The wires are showing, so the pole needs replacing.

                 

Just checking on the condition of the footpath network near Humber Close. The footpath was converted from a dirt track to tarmac to make it safer and cleaner for pedestrians to use.

               

Filled hole left by contractors with soil and grass seed for elderly resident.

Cutting back branches overhanging a house.

Planteda tree in Elmhurst Road.

A staggered junction sign that is actually staggered in BGR!

Cleared branches to get some light in.

Cut back the hedge along Bowling Green Road pavement..

Installed new concrete corners to stop vehicles damaging the grass.