Twice the price, half the service

These pictures were taken this morning and show the litter and uncollected household waste at the back of some of the new apartments in Kingham Close, Leasowe.  It seems the bins were supposed to be emptied on Thursday but nothing happened. Residents complained and were promised a visit on Friday.  Nothing happened.  In the meantime, the flies and smells are getting worse.

Biffa has the contract to empty these bins, which are the preferred choice of bins by the Council.  The Council also allows Biffa to charge residents for the emptying of these bins, even though all of us already pay for waste collection through Council Tax.  The residents are therefore paying twice and, in this case, receiving only half the service. 

The Council and Biffa are keen to impose these charges on residents of other apartments in Wirral who use the communal-style bins.  I bet they are.

In the meantime, I have emailed the Director of Technical Services, the Cabinet Member responsible for this service,  and the officer in charge of waste collection to see what can be done about the rubbish in Kingham Close.

Residents’ survey: tell us your views

Earlier this morning, before it was too hot, we were out in Leasowe, starting the delivery of the this year’s residents’ survey.  As well as asking for any local issues such as litter, graffiti or faulty street lights, Leah and I would also like to know your views on the Leasowe Recreation Centre; some of the expenses claims by our current MP and wider issues such as global warming and animal welfare.  If you get one through your door, please take part and send it back.  It’s a freepost address.

Castleway Primary Summer Fair

After the dog fouling campaign, Leah and I called into Castleway Primary for their summer fair.  As well as a few words with the headteacher, we grabbed our first ice cream of the day, and a cup of tea and a sit down.  As with the other fairs we have attended, it was well-supported by mums, dads and children and the weather was just about right – not too hot and a bit of a breeze.

Better schools at ANY price?

While the two men battling it out to become Prime Minister trade blows over cuts, real or imagined, it seems the political debate in Wirral has just become a whole lot more interesting. 

Too often, we are told, politicians don’t tackle the ‘issues’ or engage with voters about matters of concern.  Well, talk to any parent about their views and within minutes, little Wayne’s school will come up in conversation.  For around 65 years, the debate for 99.9% of children has centred around several factors (the staff, the building, the curriculum, the outcomes and, more recently, discipline).  What has NEVER until now been discussed is who pays for the education.

Well done Tony Blair.  His controversial academies programme has now come to Wirral.  Schools need cash.  The Government doesn’t have any.  So, let’s go to people that do.  In principle, it’s a good idea and one that is probably more associated with the Conservatives than a traditional socialist New Labour policy.  

So it’s with some interest that I read of this exchange yesterday.  Presumably the Spin Doctors around the Labour/Lib Dem leaders were expecting this and have a suitable response…

Dog mess: action at last

Earlier today, I attended the launch of the latest campaign against dog mess and the minority of owners who don’t clean up after their pets.  The launch, at Leasowe Common, was attended by several environmental health officers, the Chief Lifeguard, Rover (the Tranmere Rovers mascot) and my colleagues Leah Fraser and Chris Blakeley.

The new campaign will include use of the 1996 Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act.  This has been available to local authorities for 13 years and includes the opportunity to fine those owners responsible.  The Council has also stepped up patrols in ‘hot spots’, such as the embankment.  For more information on what the Council is doing, click here

Lenny Kravitz and Twitter

Earlier today, I collected my 200th follower on Twitter.  I also found Lenny Kravitz and started following him.  I started as a Twitter-sceptic but am now a convert, although I don’t Tweet as often as some local councillors (Blakeley, Taylor!).  Forget Facebook, if you want to keep up to date in a quick and dirty way, join Twitter.

Wallasey Amateur Boxing Club

After our door-to-door survey this evening, I called in to the boxing club on Twickenham Drive.  The Club is our ’social action’ project for the year; my colleague Leah Fraser has more on that here.

I will be calling in again tomorrow to help with bids for money to help the club renovate the building.  If you would like to get involved in any way – please let me know.  Email ianlewis@wirral.gov.uk

Reedlands: do you want the play area?

The results of my survey to residents in Aintree Close, Cheltenham Crescent, Dunstall Close, Goodwood Drive, Epsom Road and Newbury Way show that more than two thirds of the people who took part do NOT want the Council to provide play areas on the open spaces in the development.  28 people replied ‘No’ (68.2% of all responses); 10 people (24.3%) said ‘Yes’ while 3 people (7.3% were not sure).

In terms of ‘why’, people said:

• A play area will attract vandals (28 agreed)
• It will be a place for under age drinking (30 agreed)
• The play area is needed locally (9 agreed)
• The Council will not maintain it (24 agreed)
• After so many years, we are used to having it the way it is (28)
• I may agree to a play area if I knew more about the design (4)
• If the Council doesn’t provide one, it should improve others in Wirral (12 agreed)
• I would worry about very young children playing close to the road (13 agreed)

17 people also said they would like to join a residents group to look at the issue in more detail.  I will be contacting them over the next week.

Current alternatives, used by the residents, include:

• the beach
• Leasowe Common
• West Kirby
• Birkenhead Park
• Harrison Park
• Yew Tree
• Central Park, Wallasey
• Lingham Park

Thanks to everyone who took part; my apologies for not publishig these results on Friday (as planned) due to no other reason than the hot weather was too much of a pull…

Christchurch School summer fair

The sun wasn’t quite cracking the flags but the weather on Saturday was very good for a summer fair and the CSSA and volunteers had done a great job of organising the day. 

Insanity Beach, once again, gave their services to the school and I had chance to have a quick chat with Ian Cowell.  Let’s hope the fair raised a good profit for the school.  Thanks to Leah Fraser and Chris Blakeley for their help with the ice cream and hot dogs…

Reedlands survey: results tomorrow

Two further survey responses came in yesterday.  I’ll be going through the results this evening and will publish the results on here tomorrow, along with an email to everyone who took part.

YouTube if you want to…

Sandbrook Lane traffic speed

Leah Fraser and I have written to residents of Sandbrook Lane and some of the roads off, regarding the ongoing problem of traffic speed in the area.  One of the options available to us is a ‘vehicle activated sign’ on Sandbrook Lane that warns drivers when they are going too fast.  Similar signs have gone up, and are going up, on Leasowe Road and Upton Road.  If residents wish to add their backing for this, they need to email engage@wirral.gov.uk and ask for a You Decide form, fill it in and send it back.