What happened at your Village Forum?
| Published: 25th June 2008 22:20 |
Given that the football was on there was a good turnout for this Village Forum and as ever there were some lively discussions.
Plastic Bag Free Chapel Allerton - a reality?
Alex Sobel who is organising the Plastic Bag Free Chapel Allerton campaign gave an update of what was happening with the campaign. He gave some horrifying facts about the effect that plastic bags have on marine life. For example 1 million seabirds choke on plastic every year.
He has had positive meetings about the campaign with the Green Footprints Group, Chapel Allerton Festival Group and Transition Towns ( a group who is trying to encourage less dependency on oil).
The campaign is trying to raise money so that every househould in Chapel Allerton will receive a free jute bag. There will be a competition for the local schoolchildren to get involved with the campaign of designing a logo/picture for the bag.
Five shops have signed up already. Currently trying to gain public support so that pressure can be put on the remaining shops to agree. Then hopefully from a set date Chapel Allerton will become Plastic Bag Free.
Chapel Allerton would be the first urban neighbourhood to become plastic bag free and would give great publicity for the area and raise awareness of other issues we want to resolve in Chapel Allerton.
For further details and to sign the petition click HERE
Police Update
Lorna and Paul updated the audience on policing in Chapel Allerton.
- Police Station now has extended opening hours from 8am - 10pm (instead of 6pm)
- Vehicle Crime remains a big issue - particularly on Ford Focuses - as thieves are after a particular chip that is behind the radio panel. Advised owners of Ford Focuses to contact their local Ford Dealer to see how they can secure the radio panel to stop the thieves.
- The police are currently running a project against graffiti in conjunction with Leeds City Council and it is proving very successful as they are catching people and fining them.
- Member of the audience raised the issue of seeing suspected drug dealers hanging around in Chapel Allerton. Police urged everyone to report everything suspicious they see as they can't do anything if they don't know about it.
- In May two teenagers were robbed and harmed in Chapel Allerton park. The criminals haven't yet been caught, but the police are making sure the park is policed at night to ensure that people feel safe.
- There have been two burglaries recently on Norfolk Place - opportunist as the window was open. Police urged people to ensure doors and windows were always locked.
- Advice was given to get locks for sheds and garages.
- Theft of lead remains a really big problem - the Church and School have both had lead stolen recently. It is not specific to Chapel Allerton, but a nationwide problem, as the value of scrap metal has gone up significantly recently.
Lighting
In Oct 2010 Chapel Allerton will be getting the new-style (taller with white lights) street lights. They will be fewer as they are more efficient. We need to start planning now for these as a budget is needed for certain things eg in the conservation area they can be painted black; ornamental ones for outside old and historic buildings; and they can have banner hangers or hanging basket hangers.
Leeds Lights were there to show what can be done with festive lighting. (Chapel Allerton will be able to have festive lights when we get the new style street lights). It is quite expensive and there was a discussion on how they could be funded. It was generally agreed that the businesses should sponsor the lights - as they too will benefit.
Maps were available for the audience to decide where they would like the new street lights to be.
Conservation Area
Naomi gave an update on the new Conservation area she is planning. After much consultation with local residents over the last few months a new area has been drawn up and will be presented mid August and will hopefully be in force by end of August.
This will mean that future development in the area will have to adhere to stricter guidelines (great news for the Yorkshire Bank site) and also that trees will be protected.
Comments are still welcomed by Naomi as she continues to put the final report together.
Her presentation was very positively received.
AOB
Brown Bins
The question of brown bins was raised - when are Chapel Allerton getting them? Councillor Dowson advised that these will be coming to all households in the coming months. If you don't want or need them you can ring and cancel them.
Chewing Gum
The problem of chewing gum was raised and litter in general
Next Meeting - date to be advised.
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