PETERBOROUGH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

WERRINGTON & GUNTHORPE RESIDENTS’ NEWSLETTER

Issue number 107

Your Lib Dem FOCUS Team – councillors Andrew Bond, Julia Davidson and Darren Fower

Keeping in touch – working all year round

GUNTHORPE RIDINGS ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN Your local Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team has started a campaign calling on the city council to take some action to improve safety along Gunthorpe Ridings.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower said: “Both Gunthorpe Road and Paston Ridings have road safety measures in place but Gunthorpe Ridings, despite being a well-used route, has nothing.”

Earlier this year there was a serious incident involving a young lad, which prompted a number of local residents to contact your FOCUS team councillors. The residents say that there have been many other incidents over the years, some of which are not reported to the police.

Darren submitted a motion calling for action at a meeting of the council a few months ago. Sadly, the Conservatives who control the council voted against it.

Left: Darren Fower collecting signatures on the Gunthorpe Ridings Road Safety Campaign petition. Right: This QR code will connect you to the petition online.

"Unlike the previous Conservative, UKIP and Labour councillors for this area, the Lib Dems have no intention of giving up and reducing the pressure on the council. In fact, we plan to increase it, that's why we need the help of local residents," commented Darren.

Your Lib Dem councillors have now handed in a petition to the city council demanding action on behalf of local residents

To add YOUR support to the Gunthorpe Road Safety Campaign, please visit www.bit.ly/GunthorpeRidingsRoadSafety, scan the QR code above or call one of your Liberal Democrat councillors (see phone numbers on back page).

Gunthorpe Ridings provides access to residential streets such as Squires Gate, Uldale Way, Mealsgate, Caldbeck Close, Bowness Way, Kendal Close, Wasdale Gardens, Penrith Grove and more.

Homeless at Christmas Local Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Bond writes …

Imagine having to sleep on the streets because you are homeless, jobless and feel there is no way out.

We are so lucky to have roofs over our heads, the ability to turn the heating on and the company of families or loved ones.

This isn’t the case for some people. There are people on the streets of Peterborough setting out their sleeping bags each night whilst we are eating our dinner in a comfortable home.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron MP says there is a lack of “political will to end this crisis and the government’s approach of reducing council homes .. is making it worse”.

Short of changing the government, what can you do to help this Christmas? Here are two ideas:

Some local residents will be handing out cakes to the homeless on Boxing Day. Could you help with this or provide some cakes?

The Light Project Peterborough is running a night shelter at Brookside Methodist Church in Gunthorpe Road on Saturday evenings and volunteers are needed.

If you could help with either of these then please contact me (see back page for details) for more information.

www.peterboroughlibdems.org.uk

Printed by AAC, 12 Stapledon Road, Peterborough, PE2 6TD. Published and promoted by C Wiggin on behalf of

A Bond, J Davidson and D Fower (Liberal Democrat Focus Team) at 24 Delves Way, Hampton Centre, Peterborough, PE7 8GJ.

CONTACT FOCUS By phone: Darren Fower – 07572 463 904 Julia Davidson – 07506 536 627 Andrew Bond – 07919 213958

By post: Darren Fower , Julia Davidson, Andrew Bond Town Hall, Bridge St, Peterborough PE1 1HG

By e-mail: werring-gun@peterboroughlibdems.org.uk

COME AND TALK TO US Visit one of our ‘ward surgeries'

9:00 to 10:00 am Third Saturday of every month

Brookside Church, Gunthorpe Road

6:00 to 7:00 pm First Friday of every month

Gunthorpe Community Centre, Hallfields Lane

Search for Darren

Fower, Julia Davidson

and Andrew Bond or ‘Peterborough Liberal

Democrats’

Printed on ‘green’ FSC certified paper

The nights might be drawing in – but the FOCUS Team is still out and about. Pictured above are local Liberal Democrat councillors Julia Davidson and Darren Fower delivering FOCUS at what appears to be midnight – but wasn’t actually quite that late!

Nature taking over Local Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Davidson has asked the council to take a hand where Mother Nature seems to be taking over.

There are many places in the area (such as Aubretia Avenue – see picture below) where street signs have become overgrown.

And in nearby Aster Drive one local resident has kindly attempted to repair a broken fence with the aid of a bit of rope – but Julia wants the council to make a proper job of replacing the fence.

RUBBISH AND GRAFFITI Local Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower has discovered that Peterborough City Council is paying around £35,000 each year to have graffiti removed from around the city.

Darren commented, "The question is, is this enough? If it is not, then why do we not have a way to get money from companies like BT who's green boxes often seem to be a target for such behaviour?"

Fly tipping

Sadly, there's been further fly-tipping in the Norwood Lane area in recent weeks. As we mentioned in our previous edition, a large fire was caused earlier in the year by such debris being left there.

Local Lib Dem councillor Darren Fower said: "It seems that despite thousands of pounds having already been spent by the council on trying to address the issue, its main hope is that once new housing is built at the location then the problem will cease. I think a more active approach is needed."

Meanwhile, fellow councillor Julia Davidson has been taking up with the council fly tipping in other parts of the area, such as alongside Fulbridge Road. She has asked the council to remove dumped rubbish.

Manor Drive speed check We have reported in a previous issue on the 30 mph speed limit signs that were installed on the Manor Drive estate after pressure from local residents and Lib Dem councillor Andrew Bond.

Andrew said: “Sadly, residents and I have not seen the signs making the positive impact that we had hoped. I have been contacted by many residents expressing their disappointment and frustration that drivers are not observing the speed limit!”

One local resident commented “The signs should be placed where you enter the housing estate…Bumps would have worked better”. Another resident said “I’ve seen more people speeding around the estate than down Manor Drive. People drive stupidly around the estate and I’ve also witnessed people wheel spinning leaving tyre marks on the road”.

Andrew concluded: “Sadly speed limit signs can only remind people of the law. As a community we need to implement them when driving so that our local area can be a safe place to live. “I have contacted the city council to arrange for officers to

monitor the speed and traffic to determine what we can do next to make these roads safe. “If you have any suggestions please contact me - but in the

meantime please check your speed!”