Campaigns and Surveys
Campaigns Index:
Traffic Survey at Winwick Park
Padgate Policing
Veteran's Badges
Fireworks
Safer, Cleaner Streets
Bruche Police Training Centre
Traffic Survey at Winwick Park
As promised Helen Jones secured a meeting between herself, the borough council, the police and residents of Winwick Park to discuss concerns about the traffic management at the roundabout on the A49 and at the entrance to the estate. It was agreed that:
• the police will actively monitor the site and crack down on speeding and on motorists who jump the lights;
• and the borough council will conduct a thorough safety audit.
Helen will be pursuing with the council the possibility of securing more safety barriers on the route to Winwick Primary School. Money for this should be available from the government’s safe routes to school initiative.
A large number of survey forms were returned and all the comments made have been passed on to the police and the council. The main concerns expressed were:
• vehicles shooting the lights;
• the close proximity of the pelican crossing to the traffic control lights;
• the fact that the lights are often out of sync;
• difficulties in seeing the lights because of the sun shining directly into them;
• the lack of safety barriers at the road side on what is a school route.
Suggestions included:
• installing traffic cameras;
• installing more barrier protection at the roadside;
• employing a lollipop person;
• moving the pelican crossing closer to the Swan Public House;
• adjusting the timing on the lights to ease traffic flow;
• improving the sequencing of the lights;
• installing traffic humps to slow the traffic down.
These issues were discussed at the site meeting and a number of actions were agreed.
The Police will actively monitor the area and have promised to crack down on speeding traffic and on those who jump the lights.
The Borough Council representative agreed to instigate a thorough safety audit. This will take a couple of months to complete but should provide all the data needed to identify where the problems are and what can be done to rectify them.
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Padgate Policing
In response to the anti-social behaviour questionnaire which I distributed earlier this year, local residents in Padgate raised a number of concerns. I received a large number of responses and the comments residents made have been passed on to Warrington Police. I am informed that:
• the Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) is patrolling the ‘hotspots’ within the Padgate area on a regular basis.
• in recent weeks the NPU has targeted specific areas in an effort to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour incidents;
• work is ongoing with the public houses and off-licences in the area to prevent the consumption of alcohol by the under aged which often fuels the anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. One initiative involves the introduction of Perspex crates at an off-licence which has suffered thefts of lager by young people. Since January the store has seen an 80% reduction in thefts compared to the same period last year;
• the NPU has a 3-stage letters to parents scheme for those under 18 who are stopped in respect of anti-social behaviour. This is proving to be successful involving, as it does, other agencies. A number of parents have contacted the NPU to express their thanks for the positive stance being taken.
• Inspector Precious is aware of the issues and continues to work with other agencies to use the additional funding he has to improve the policing in the area.
There is clearly much more to be done but the neighbourhood policing strategy has had a positive effect. I have asked to be kept informed on progress and will receive quarterly updates on the situation from the police. The police are taking into account the concerns and views of local residents and will take on board your specific comments.
I would encourage people to attend the Police Community Action Meetings so that they can put their concerns directly to the police and discuss the problems they are experiencing in more detail, as well as being able to ask questions about overall police strategy for the area.
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Veteran's Badges
Helen was delighted to present the new Veterans’ Badge to many ex-servicemen around town. Anyone who served in the Armed Forces up until 1954 can qualify. Please contact Helen’s office for further details.
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It's time to end firework misery
Every year, I get many letters from people whose lives are blighted by fireworks. Some people are even afraid to leave their homes because of the fear that they will be injured. Others are distressed because of the trauma that their pets suffer when fireworks are let off near to their homes.
Fireworks are an important part of many of our celebrations but I believe that tougher measures are needed to improve firework safety. They are not always used with the caution and consideration for others that they should be. The blight of fireworks is no longer confined to a couple of weeks in November – it now goes on throughout the year.
Latest figures show a big increase in injuries in 2002 from the previous year.
I support the new Government measures, which include:
- proposed new regulations banning “Air Bombs”
- a crackdown on illegal markets
- a new drive to encourage councils to use their powers to curb noise and nuisance caused by fireworks
- pilot schemes of £40 fixed penalty notices for letting off fireworks in the street.
I think these measures are a start but don’t go far enough.
I have had many letters from people for whom fireworks cause terrible problems and I have campaigned to have the retail sale of fireworks stopped.
This would not affect properly organised displays, which I think are an important part of our heritage.
Incidents involving fireworks are usually only recorded if there has been an accident or injury. I’d like to know how many other incidents occur, particularly incidents of anti-social behaviour in the use of fireworks, & incidents that cause fear and anxiety for individuals or their pets.
I would like to hear your views on this issue. Please complete the questionnaire that can be downloaded here and return it to my constituency office. You can either print the form and send it to my constituency office, or email your responses to it to me. The details of my constituency office address and email are on the Contacts page.
Download the Fireworks Survey
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I would also be interested to hear of any “hotspots” across the constituency where litter, graffiti or abandoned cars are a problem. If you know of any areas like this near to you, please get in touch with me and let me know.
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Someone has started a mischievous rumour that Bruche Police Training Centre will be turned into an asylum centre. This is a deliberate attempt to worry residents and IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE.
1. The Government is not planning ANY new Asylum Centres.
- none are needed because the number of people claiming asylum in Britain has halved.
2. NO decisions have been made on the future of Bruche Training Centre.
- HELEN JONES MP has asked Parliamentary Questions about this and assurances are on record in parliament.
3. Any change of use would require planning permission from the local authority.
- HELEN JONES MP and your local councillors are committed to full consultation with local residents on any proposals which may be put forward.
Four minutes after Parliament rose for the Summer recess Centrex announced the closure of Bruche Police Training Centre. Helen Jones secured a debate on the issue describing the actions of Centrex and the Home Office as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘treating my constituents with a fair amount of contempt.’
Helen secured an apology from Home Office Minister Paul Goggins for the way the matter had been handled as well as a promise that no stone would remain unturned in helping those losing their jobs secure alternative employment. Mr Goggins also praised the local councillors and Helen for their commitment to full consultation with the community on the future of the site.
The site closes in May this year and Helen continues to press for real consultation and for any profit made by Centrex from the sale of the site to be, at least in part, used to benefit the whole community.
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