CLLR LINDA HAWTHORN WEBLOG |
UPMINSTER – YOUR TOWN
We are now about half way through this term of office, so it might be an idea to recap on what we have achieved. Our Library has been refurbished, and nearly all agree it is better, bigger and brighter than before. Upminster Park is also much improved and maintained the Green Flag award in 2008.
Funding is being applied for in respect of Clockhouse Gardens, which, if successful, will lead to great improvements.
Road improvements have included the new roundabout at the Corbets Tey Road junction with Gaynes Park Road. We have seen our town made safer with the introduction of CCTV cameras – for those who have not noticed them, they are the shorter and stubbier lamp posts which bled in very well with the recently installed Edwardian lamp-posts in the same dark green colour.
Several plans have been received, and I think we have been most successful in stopping developments in the green belt, at Sunnings Lane and the proposed showmen site in Park Farm Road. The flats which were proposed above Bell Corner, described by one councillor as a boat about to sink, has also been rejected – what is there is pretty awful, but lets wait until something worthwhile comes along to replace it.
As councillors, we always try to support what we feel that you, the residents, would like and not what we personally would like, so we are always grateful for your opinions. With this in mind I would invite you to contact us with your views, comments, opinions of what you would like to see in your town.
Cllr Linda Hawthorn
MEMORIAL SAFETY
I recently received a letter informing me that my father's memorial stone in Upminster cemetery had been inspected and found to be unsafe. I then went to visit the cemetery and was surprised to see so many people pushing memorial stones.
I have made a few enquiries and it appears that of the 10,561 stones examined 992 were found to be unsafe. The chief reason was that the foundations were inadequate to support the stone. Since 1999 a standard code of practice has been adopted for memorial stones, so stones erected after that time should be OK.
9.2.08
WINDMILL IN WINTER
I can recommend these excellent talks and music recitals to everyone, but have been asked about selling of the tickets as the take up in the libraries has been small. Tickets are available at Fairkytes in Hornchurch and can be bought over the phone (01708 456308) or call in person at the Billet Lane centre.
9.2.08
A POSITIVE MIND
I was privileged to attend this years AGM of the organisation MIND (a service that helps people with mental health problems) and listen to the brave speech made by one of their users regarding her own experiences.
A series of adverse events had left her with severe depression from which she was quite unable to pull herself out of. So she decided to call MIND to see if she could get any help. The initial greeting was surprising, a ready smile and a “come in, sit down and have a cup of tea”. I was being treated as a normal person, she said. Further chats on a ‘One to One' basis boosted her confidence and she was then able to adopt the approach ‘I can do it'.
All cases are treated on an individual basis based on those individual needs, most importantly they are never made to feel in any way guilty that they are ill, or it is their fault that they cannot get better – rather than they can be helped.
The organisation also arranges various groups with interests such as sport, art and gardening for like-minded people to share.
As the speaker said, if you do not try anything new, then it will always be the same. Despite the fact that one in four people will at sometime in their life suffer from mental illness. There always seems to be a stigma attached to this type of illness and I would like to this changed.
Cllr Linda Hawthorn
6.12.07
LIFT FOR UPMINSTER STATION
I am very pleased to report that after pushing for the lifts to be improved at Upminster Station, they are at long last to be made disabled friendly. The lifts are scheduled to be available from the beginning of December.
20.10.07
BEWARE CAR THIEVES
I recently received an e.mail from a resident who, one early evening, parked his car in St Mary's Lane. He turned his back for a few moments and the car was stolen. Please do not leave your keys in the ignition in these circumstances – always remove and lock your car.
20.10.07
CCTV COMES TO UPMINSTER
After much campaigning, Upminster is due to have CCTV cameras installed by the end of the year. The seven cameras, which can swivel, zoom and see in the dark, will be located at the following points:
1) Corner of Stewart Avenue/Corbets Tey Road
2) Corbets Tey Road, outside Boots the Chemist
3) Corbets Tey Road, outside St Laurence Parish Church Hall
4) Bell Corner, outside First Choice Travel
5) St Mary's Lane, outside Shell Garage
6) Corner of Station Road and St Lawrence Road
7) Corner of Station Road and Branfill Road
20.10.07
HELP - HISTORY OF GAYNES MANORI have received a note from an author who is researching Alice Perrers who lived at Gaynes Manor. If anyone can help, please contact her at deegordon@btinternet.com
21.10.07
HOME FOR CLOCKHOUSE GARDENS
This fascinating grade II listed building has quite a history with the Residents' Association. Our own Geoff Lewis played a major role in restoring the building to homes for the elderly, after it was used as a library. Among other things, my fellow councillors and I have dealt with numerous in the past and are happy to help where we can.
Cllr Pat Mylod was successful in getting CCTV camera located at the entrance and I was instrumental in getting the new gates erected.
Dampness has caused a problem in the past, fortunately our Heritage Officer has been on the case and noticed that the damp course was covered by a back bed. This led to the removal of the old rose beds and the lowering of the beds.
Recently, the building suffered from a leaking roof and one of the residents had her bedroom flooded. I got in touch with Homes in Havering and was able to purchase a new bed and carpet of her choice as well as getting the ceiling repaired.
I do not doubt that further issues will arise, but it's great to see the old building serving a very worthy purpose.
21.10.07
TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS
I am pleased to say that the committee which looked into the transport situation in Havering has now finalised its recommendations to the Cabinet. These include looking into a direct bus route from Cranham, through Upminster to the Queens Hospital. This was by far the highest concern on your list followed by the 370 bus route, which has been dubbed the least reliable in London and is much needed for visitors to the Corbets Tey crematorium.
Other recommendations included the use of Oyster cards from Romford Station and to ask Adshel to consider plastic sheeting on bus shelters instead of all too easily broken glass. I would like to convey my thanks to all those who wrote to me about this topic, there are a number of smaller matters which are outstanding which I am currently looking into.
10.9.07
LIBRARY CHARGES
There is much to celebrate in the new library charges; most welcome is the removal of the £30 exhibition fee for our artists. With Hornchurch now having a suitable space for exhibitions and Romford being on the top floor (but no lift), it leaves only Upminster to cater for this use.
The charge for using a computer from the second hour has also been removed but a charge will be made for spoken word items (registered blind and children will be exempt).
What I consider to be totally wrong is the increase in room hire from £30 to £65 per hour – plus a £25 lock up fee if the meeting runs past 8pm. This vast increase will surely drive several clubs into cheaper church halls and schools.
9.9.07
CLOCKHOUSE GARDENS
I am pleased to say that the house has now been restored with new windows and much needed repairs to the roof complete. This has taken time, as a grade II listed building English Heritage must be involved all the way through. Now that the scaffold is down, repairs to the paths and fencing over the gardens can go ahead, along with other schemes which I and the friends of Clockhouse Gardens have in mind. I will keep readers updated.
8.9.07
KEEPING OUR FRUIT TREES
Although improvements have been made to the tree system, as residents must now write to the council to request that a fruit tree be removed outside their property and not just chopped down without consultation, I still do not consider this perfect. After all, fruit fall only occurs for a short period in the year and the tree can give pleasure the whole year round.
As a resident I was very pleased to receive a letter from the council on the subject, they had just received a request to fell a tree and asked for neighbours comments. Residents were not unsympathetic but adopted a positive approach – with one offering practical assistance by sweeping the pavement outside the property during the two weeks of fruit fall. The Council too are doing their bit by pruning the tree and reducing the crown.
Isn’t this much better than seeing healthy trees felled just because of two weeks inconvenience out of 52 weeks in a year?
2.8.07
LONDON LOOP
If you enjoy walking then you might be interested in a new walk called ‘The London Loop’. The loop is split into 24 sections, so you can do as many or as few sections at a time as it suits you. Most of the paths are designed for easy walking including routes through country areas. Local routes take you through Harold Wood, down Hall Lane to River Drive onto Upminster Bridge using the River Ingrebourne path and then onto Rainham via Bridge Avenue.
10.7.07
FOOTPATHS
I am somewhat aghast by the allocation of money for footway renewals this year. The focus seems to be on flag-stones (or good old-fashioned paving stones) whilst all asphalt roads appear to be ignored.
Upminster will see only half a road repaired this year, which is the eastern half of Winchester Avenue. I will be pushing for more funding to carry out renewals or repairs as I can think of many roads in need of attention.
10.7.07
ANCIENT TREES
The Woodland Trust are at present mapping out our ancient trees and wish to know of any “fat and gnarled trees” whose girth is such that three people can stand around it and can only touch with their fingertips. If you know of any, please give me a call on 01708 225451and I will pass on the information.
8.7.07
SUNKEN TRENCH
Thanks to all those who advised of the trench that is gradually sinking in Ockendon Road near Sunnings Lane, I have asked that this be looked at.
7.7.07
ALDI’S
Well, Aldi’s did not get off too a very auspicious start when they covered the surrounding area with fly posting (which the Council removed) and erected a board outside the car park saying it was for Aldi customers only (it is a public car park which is free for 2 hrs – many thanks to Cllr Linda Van Den Hende for sorting this out). Hopefully things have now been put right and we can enjoy the range of options that the store can bring to the area. With Marks & Spencer scheduled to open in about nine months, shoppers will be spoilt for choice!
5.7.07
BOB SHARP
Many of you will know Bob (or Mr Windmill as he has become known) and wish him all the very best as he moves to Lymington to be nearer his family. It was standing room only on June 29th when a large crowd gathered at the mill to give Bob and his wife Sheila a really good send off. A plaque has been fitted inside the mill, cleverly covered over until the presentation was made, and Bob was presented with an especially engraved crystal vase. Food and drink flowed and everyone had a good time.
Many in Upminster owe Bob a huge debt of gratitude, as it was his efforts that put the windmill on the map as a local landmark. Bob has achieved a great deal and we can only hope to emulate his success. Bob has promised to keep in touch and to visit often – we shall hold him to his word.
5.7.07