The PACT meeting for September was held earlier this week in the Parish Offices (formerly the Resource Centre) on Middle Street in Blackhall Colliery.
As usual the PACT (Police & Communities Together) was preceded by a meeting of the parish council’s monthly environment committee where I’m invited to come along and update on any local issues I’m dealing with that coincide with the work of the parish council. As you would expect some of the issues raised at the environment committee meeting are also covered at the PACT meeting. Consequently there’s likely to be some overlap between the issues covered in this report.
Despite the damp and dreary weather conditions there was another strong and positive turnout from residents who came along to talk about their local concerns, get updates on issues raised at previous PACT meetings and those who came along for the craic or to just to see what was going on.
Issues raised by residents on Wednesday evening ranged from reports of abandoned vehicles and parking concerns to highways defects and an update on the bollards at Park Avenue that were removed on a temporary basis a few weeks ago.
Problem parking issues: I gave an update on plans to install bollards outside the shops along Middle Street to prevent vehicles from driving along the public footpath. This follows several reports from pedestrians of 'near-misses' as drivers pull onto the pavement to park.
The plans were finalised earlier this year and we had already made sure the funding was in place to enable the scheme to go ahead. I reported that a works order had now been raised with the county council last week, meaning that the bollards should be installed soon. There have been quite a few unavoidable delays with this scheme and background details can be found in my monthly issues and casework update for July: Local Issues & Casework Update for July 2024
When several residents got in touch to tell me of their concerns about parking issues at Airlie House and on the Hesleden Road junction with Middle Street I was asked if the council could install double yellow lines at both locations to divert drivers to park safely elsewhere and also avoid congestion and visibility issues. I raised residents’ concerns with the highways department and works have been included in the current works programme. However I've been advised that there's currently a significant backlog of works of this nature. I'll continue to press the highways department to get this work completed as soon as possible.
Mobile CCTV: At a previous PACT meeting the police reported on a scheme to provide bespoke mobile CCTV cameras in the Blackhall and Hesleden area. I offered to assist with funding to help move the project on, so an officer from the PCC's office who was at the PACT meeting on Wednesday night has agreed to get an update on progress.
Untaxed or abandoned vehicles: There were reports from residents of a number of abandoned and potentially untaxed/tested vehicles in both Blackhall Colliery and Blackhall Rocks. The neighbourhood wardens are liaising with the police to investigate further.
Private housing issues and fly-tipping reports: The neighbourhood warden in attendance at the PACT meeting gave an update on a number of housing-related issues, particularly in the rows of former colliery houses in Blackhall Colliery.
I've been encouraging residents to contact me with any reports of fly-tipping in the back lanes recently, and also send me any reports of rubbish dumped in the back yard of empty and unsecured back yards. This has led to an uplift in reports over the past few months, but on the positive side it's leading to more accumulations of rubbish being either cleared away or investigated by the neighbourhood wardens. The selective licensing scheme has also become involved where issues relating to private-sector properties are reported.
The Crescent: Following repeated calls for the highways department to carry out much needed repair works to the cracked and damaged road surface at The Crescent I have received the following response this week confirming that repairs have now been added to the works programme as part of the micro-asphalt resurfacing scheme:
This request has been reviewed and identified that further action is required. Your report has been added to the ongoing work programme and will be processed in line with the repairs policy
Although I have yet to receive a timescale for the works I'll maintain contact with the highways team until the road is resurfaced.
Park Avenue: It had been reported that rumours were going around the village lately that the bollards at Park Avenue had been removed and wouldn’t be reinstalled. This would explain the contact I’ve had recently from several residents concerned that the public footpath along Park Avenue would once again be left open to vehicles, putting pedestrians and residents at risk of an accident or injury.
I assured residents that these rumours are false. The bollards were removed on compassionate grounds, and on a temporary basis only. Given this is a sensitive issue I declined to go into any further detail.
Following suggestions from residents I’ve submitted a request that ‘no parking’ lines to restrict parking at the bottom and top of the public footpath be considered by the highways section. It would seem reasonable that if access is ever needed after the bollards are reinstated both access points should remain clear of parked vehicles.
Bridle Gates at Crimdon: I gave a brief update on plans to install bridle gates at the eastern and western access points to Crimdon Dene. These will replace the gates already in place which were put there to prevent off-road bikes and quads trespassing but have had the unintended consequence of restricting access for horse riders, pushchairs and mobility scooter users.
Following enquiries I made again with the clean and green team last week I've been told that the design works are completed, the paperwork is well underway and the scheme will now be costed. I don't expect any unnecessary delays once this latest phase is completed, so hopefully the gates will be installed soon. Background details can be found in this link: Addressing access issues at Crimdon Dene
