MOVING ON...........

Who ever said that Council meetings were boring has obviously never been to a Boldon Cleadon and Whitburn Community Area Forum. Last night’s meeting at Boldon Community Centre was interesting to say the least. Most visitors to this site will know the problems faced by the community of East Boldon, that of the issue of parking congestion. Residents considered the get together last night as the last chance to persuade the Council to create control measures before the years end. So what was achieved? Despite another massive public turn out (80+) nothing was really done. The Council once again fell back on its plans to place a pedestrian refuge in the vicinity of the shops to enable safe crossing of the road. Whilst this is not unwelcome, it is in the wrong place (people will have to cross other roads to get to it) and it will remove three parking bays in an area blighted by the lack of parking spaces. There will be no yellow lines on the approach to the crossing until at least the middle of next year, if at all. Residents parking schemes will take a similar amount of time to research, and then we will be placed in a “melting pot” with another hundred such hopefuls (a rise of 52 from March’s meeting).

So after three years of hard work and coherent arguments, the Council still refuses to address the concerns of residents in this area. I only hope that between now and next year nobody is killed in this area as a result of parking congestion. If they are, residents will be very clear as who is to blame.

As to the actual meeting, what a raucous event. The issue of Metro congestion was strictly not on the agenda, and despite being aware of the depth of feeling, local councillors had not ensured that it was not included. An item covering parking enforcement statistics for the area was included however, and this was the way in to tackle the overall problem. One after another, worried parents and angry residents vented their concerns on councillors. Despite attempts to curtail the debate, the Forum hierarchy was swamped with outcries and mayhem ensued. With full time officials ridiculed for their attempts to explain why safety measures could not be introduced due to red tape procedures that would take us into next year, it was left to Councillor David Potts to really raise the temperature. Launching into a venomous and personal attack against me, he called into question the whole idea of parking congestion and tried to portray me as incompetent. His claims that businesses were not suffering were ridiculed when one after another businessmen and women at the meeting attacked his claims and embarrassed him. The public were equally shocked to hear their own councillor attack both the area and myself. Mr Potts no longer represents the people of East Boldon and his actions have gone along way to seeing him loose his seat at the next election. I didn’t dignify him with a reply; he had already done enough damage to his own credibility.

So where do we go from here? I had intended to take a somewhat less involved role after last nights meeting, but the Council’s intransigence has ruined all plans for a quieter life. We also have a legal source involved now who is prepared to do some free work on our behalf. After a quick get together last night with active residents the following approach was adopted;

1. The establishment of a residents action group

EAST BOLDON RESIDENTS METRO ACTION GROUP

2. A legal claim against South Tyneside Council on disability access grounds/legislation. This is based on the fact that wheel chair and electric mobility scooter users cannot use pavements due to cars parked half on/half off pavements.
3. A referral to the Local Government Ombudsman on the Council’s failure re duty of care.
4. If the issue has not been resolved by May 2008, then an independent candidate will stand for regional election.

Long shots? Possibly, but surely this is the whole point of legal community protest; when faced with an intransigent body every possible means to achieve success must be used.

And that’s exactly what we will do………………

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Regrettably (though some will think otherwise) you wont see to much posting on this site due to tonight’s Community Area Forum meeting (I have to press my “Gladiator” outfit). This will be the last chance this year for residents in East Boldon to try and achieve a solution to traffic congestion. It will also be my last involvement at the head of the campaign, as I will be unfortunately moving out of the area. Whatever happens tonight, I have made some good friends by being involved with this issue. I also feel that not only has this fight been resident driven, it has also been dignified and honest.

I shall post a brief summary on what happened some time tomorrow, but don’t expect it to soon as I shall be calling at a local hostelry for a pre arranged celebration/ drowning of sorrows* (delete as appropriate) and I intend to have a couple of brandy and babyshams!

DEJA VOUS

On 07.06.07 and 14.06.07 I posted about a DVD which had been filmed by a local resident showing parking congestion within the radius of the East Boldon Metro Station. They footage also caught a child nearly being knocked over by a car as he walked out from between parked cars and a van. The DVD was subsequently shown by Tyne Tees Television evening news.

With regards to resident’s claims for yellow lines to stop this type of thing happening, the council said

“At the present time there are no proposals to introduce waiting restrictions on Station Road until the issue with the car park has been resolved”.

TAKEN DIRECT FROM THEIR PRESS RELEASE

Everybody who reads “Rise Like Lions” and it’s related site “Reclaiming Our Streets”, knows there will be no car park this decade, so for the next two years at least we hold our breaths hoping there will not be a fatality.

It would seem however, that East Boldon is not the only area to suffer such dangers. A two-inch column on page 3 of today’s Gazette is headed “Parking A Problem” and goes on to state;

“Transport issues have been highlighted by town Councillors.

Concerns have been raised about the number of vehicles being parked in Station Road Bridge (Hebburn) in the town centre.

A council report states “It appeared that this was caused by people parking to collect passengers leaving the Metro and was a particular problem at peak travelling times”.

OK, so what, another area with a bit of a parking problem. The article directly next to this piece, however, totally changes the perspective.

“Boy Hit By Bus Lucky To Be Alive”

“An 11 year old boy had a lucky escape after he was hit by a bus…the incident happened .. along STATION ROAD, HEBBURN,…The boy had run out between parked cars into the path of the bus…A police spokesman said the boy is very lucky to be alive”

Need I list the similarities; Metro/banked up cars/child/nearly killed… for God’s sake the road name is actually the same, Station Road. (I must buy whoever type set these articles a pint, they couldn’t have been positioned any better!)

The Council’s response to this issue is not outlined, but as a report has already been compiled on the problems, perhaps they will get their yellow lines. After all, Labour does a lot of work in Hebburn. In East Boldon, for some reason we don’t even get a report. Why risk a fatality when the solution is so simple. This council spends thousands of pounds on preventative risk assessment, but clearly it doesn’t cover the well being of children.

This morning I got up at 6 a.m. to deliver leaflets to encourage residents to attend the CAF meeting this Thursday, as it is probably their last chance to fight for something to be done this year due to the summer recess and budget allocations. After another session tonight and one early again tomorrow, I will have delivered 700 self-financed leaflets to 700 residential East Boldon addresses. So when people post insulting comments on the site about “tatty shops”, don’t waste your time, I have skin thicker than a rhino when it comes to name calling.

The best thing though, is that I KNOW I am right in fighting for change!

BUSINESS AS USUAL

It would appear by the reactions so far today that last night’s Tyne Tees coverage of the safety side of the Metro congestion problem was seen by a lot of people. Hopefully some of these people, especially those with young children, will pursue the matter at Council level.

On a lighter note, yesterday was hectic, people in and out of the house all day, the TV crew being here for about two hours and the press calling for quotes and details etc. But why did we need to Hoover behind the furniture “just in case someone came in?”

The next and to be honest final step for me as I wont be here much longer, is the CAF meeting next Thursday. I will be leafleting all weekend to try and encourage a good turn out, and together with the publicity generated by the TV coverage, we should be able to top the 80+ residents who came to the March meeting. With a break in the CAF programme to cater for the summer holiday period, this is the last chance to achieve any changes before the end of the year. It is essential that we get as many people to attend as we can.

Now, it’s back to work, back to the papers and back to keeping an eye on the government. Where the hell is Gordon Brown these days?

AN UPDATE ON THE UPDATE UPDATE

Unless they find life on Mars or Roy Keane signs David Beckham, Tyne Tees will lead with the Metro DVD. South Tyneside Council have issued a press statement that would not endorse the placing of yellow lines in the school buses area, despite a child nearly being killed. Obviously, they are waiting for a fatality before they act.

GAZETTE ADDS TO COVERAGE

An update on the update (this cant go on!) the Shields Gazette is also going to run with stills from the footage, so the pressure on the Council is mounting. Surely they will protect children and give us the yellow lines we have been calling for.

METRO UPDATE: DVD SHOWN ON TV

Tyne Tees news have been running the Metro DVD on their news bulletins, and are coming to east Boldon today to film more footage and do an interview with myself and residents. The DVD and extra footage will be shown tonight on the 6.00 p.m. programme.

COPY OF PRESS RELEASE

EAST BOLDON RESIDENTS METRO ACTION GROUP

9 STATION TERRACE ~ EAST BOLDON ~ TYNE AND WEAR ~ NE360LJ

CONTACT POINT ~ PETER ************

DVD PRESS RELEASE

“HOW TO CREATE A BLACK SPOT”

For three years residents in East Boldon have been campaigning for solutions to Metro parking congestion in the village. Since the establishment of a new Metro transport link at East Boldon Station, congestion on the side streets and commercial areas within a ¼ mile radius of the Station has reached unacceptable levels. Not only does the congestion affect those who reside in the village, but it also has a negative affect on the commercial viability of the business within the village as nobody can access their local amenities due to abandoned cars. There is also a health and safety element where by due to the build up of parked cars on side streets and main roads, it is no longer safe to cross roads.

The cause of the congestion is due to the fact that Nexus have failed to provide enough car parks spaces for commuters, and due to a land purchase issue with a local business, have been unable to build an additional car park. South Tyneside Council have been equally woeful in their attempts to help local residents and businesses. They refuse to introduce any congestion control measures until Nexus build their car park. This is a classic “Catch 22” situation.

As both Nexus and South Tyneside Council have been knowingly negligent in their duty of care, a resident’s action and pressure group has been formed to coordinate measures to force through control measures ahead of any car park extension. Abandoned and ignored by Nexus and South Tyneside Council, the fight to return the village’s streets to those who live here has taken a new direction.

For some time residents have been concerned about the dangers of two school buses collecting and dropping children off in the vicinity of the Station approach. Due to cars banked up on pavements and general congestion, the buses often have to disembark and collect from the middle of the road, hardly a safe practise but in some ways not the fault of bus drivers. On the 20^th April 2007 a letter was sent to the Education Department at South Tyneside Council outlining concerns and asking that they look at the safety issues concerning this area. They did not reply. On 22^nd May 2007 a second letter was sent reiterating concerns but also informing the authority that DVD footage showed a child nearly being hit by a car on the station approach. To date no reply has been received.

WHAT IS THE COUNCIL WAITING FOR? DO THEY WANT A CHILD TO DIE BEFORE THEY ACT? THEY ARE PREPARED TO IGNORE THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS, BUT SURELY THEY SHOULD HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TOWARDS CHILDREN?

A copy of the DVD is included in this release for your paper to watch. Should it not play, please contact the Mr Taylor and he will help you play it or send you another copy. Copies of letters to the education authority are also attached. You also have a contact number at the top of this release to obtain any background information for what is a protracted but ongoing and active matter.

CERTIFICATE 18

A couple of weeks ago a colleague of mine asked me if I wanted a DVD filmed of the Metro parking congestion as it built up through out the day around the village of East Boldon. Secretly thinking it was hardly the stuff of a Tom Cruise film, I said OK. However, the results were marvellous. Filmed over a few hours and speeded up, the footage shows a quite village slowly transformed into a commuter cark park. There was however, a disturbing element half way through the film. For some time residents have been concerned about the dangers of two school buses collecting and dropping children off in the vicinity of the Station approach. Due to cars banked up on pavements and general congestion, the buses often have to disembark and collect from the middle of the road, hardly a safe practise but in some ways not the fault of the drivers. The DVD shows such a scenario, with a child clearly shown nearly being knocked over by a passing car. The scene still brings a lump to my throat.

About eight weeks ago and before we had this footage, I wrote to the Education Department at South Tyneside Council outlining my concerns and asking that they look at the safety issues concerning this area. They did not reply. When the video came into my possession I again wrote to them, and gave them a choice;

1. Would they like to see the video?
2. Would they like to at least acknowledge our concerns?
3. Or would they like me to release the video to the press with information that they had completely ignored our concerns.

To date, I have received no reply to any of the correspondence. Copies of the footage are winging their way to all the regional papers (stills can be taken) and also to the regional news programmes. (The footage is also going to be placed on You Tube and I will post the link later).

The simple solution would be to place yellow lines on the approach to the crossing, stopping commuters abandoning their cars for whole days and freeing up the area for the movement of traffic. Requests to the Council by residents along these lines have been completely ignored, and now through the disgraceful attitude of the Education Department, they have shown they wont even protect the community’s children.

What type of council ignores the well being of its youngest and most vulnerable population? The answer, our Council.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

One of the big problems with newspaper articles where a dispute is concerned is that it’s normally the big company who has the final say and the little fellow who misses out on the right to reply. This is what has happened to me with regard to the articles that appeared in both the Sunderland Echo and Shields Gazette over the last 48 hours. The Echo’s article ended with a Nexus comment, and the Gazette again with Nexus and also South Tyneside Council. The problem however, is that both parties were economical with the truth and wide of the mark when it comes to full disclosure.

Lets take the Echo’s article first. Nexus are quoted as saying;

“Nexus has been trying for three years to purchase land needed to extend East Boldon station car park from 56 places to 170 but has been unable to get agreement from the current owner. We are as keen to sort this out as local residents, and to blame Nexus for the current situation shows a complete misunderstanding of the problem and the efforts we have made”

What Nexus has failed to point out is that the were told by residents during the public consultation process nearly 8 years ago that the car park was to small to accommodate the number of vehicles that were envisaged to use the Station at East Boldon. These concerns were completely ignored and Nexus pressed on. Admittedly Nexus have tried to buy additional land, but a few salient points have been omitted. The owner is the same person who they purchased land from to build the original car park, the same owner who has yet to be paid in full; after nearly six years Nexus have still to cough up for the land they have used! Why then, should the owner sell more land to a company that still owes him money from some time ago? Oh, and by the way, the amount that Nexus have offered for the new area is derisory, insulting and way below the lands full commercial value. Of course Nexus are to balme, the side streets in Boldon are packed with abandoned commuter cars during the working week. On weekends, when people are not at work in such large numbers, the streets are a lot quieter. When the Metro was shut down for repairs some months ago, there was no congestion! There is also the issue of planning permission. If Nexus were so committed to solving the problem, you would think they would have planning permission in hand and ready to go. Woops, wrong again. Nothing has been applied for, and until it has, no compulsory purchase of land can be applied for. So when it comes to efforts being made, the phrases “half hearted” and “PR exercise” come immediately to mind. As a result of their lack of commitment, there will be no cark park until at least 2010.

Moving to the Shields Gazette coverage, where the Nexus quote is reprinted in full. This time though, the Council have added their ten penneth, probably prompted by the Nexus claim that “Parking control on public highways is a matter for South Tyneside Council”. Their response is as follows;

“At the present time there are no proposals to introduce waiting restrictions on Station Road until the issue with the car park has been resolved. However, to improve the crossing facilities on Station Road, it is proposed to install a pedestrian crossing and associated road markings, subject to approval by the council’s cabinet this financial year”

Here we go again! The car parking issue will not be resolved this decade. The owner won’t sell, it’s green belt land and the only way to acquire it is through compulsory purchase. When asked at the March CAF meeting how long this would take, a full time council official admitted she didn’t have a clue because she had never done one before and hadn’t even looked at the in’s and out’s of the process. Well here’s your answer from a meagre shop owner; with objections at every stage, compulsory purchase can take up to 5 years. So five years down the line the Council will look at other measures to alleviate congestion. As to the pedestrian crossing, the council did have plans to put a refuge bay in the middle of the road. What they have failed to mention is that to do so they intended to take away three parking bays outside the shops to accommodate this. That’s three parking bays in an area blighted by the lack of parking spaces, three parking bays at a block of shops slowly being commercially strangled due to a lack of parking spaces! Words defy me as to the stupidity of the idea!

With letters being sent to the council from residents and public meetings being packed out with disgruntled home owners unable to park outside their own homes or use their local shops, why is the Council ignoring it’s duty of care to the people of East Boldon? Why is it allowing businesses to suffer and why is it allowing road safety to be compromised?

I have stated publicly at meetings, been quoted in the press and now I will reiterate it here; the problems of Metro parking congestion in East Boldon are as a direct result of the failure of Nexus and South Tyneside to acknowledge their social responsibilities to this community and no amount of denial or misleading statements can detract from this. If either of these bodies thinks I’m wrong, sue me, it will be a pleasure to go to court with all the trappings of media coverage and defend my case!

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES (IF ONLY IT WOULD!)

Yesterdays Sunderland Echo and today’s Shields Gazette highlighted the closure of my shop. The arguments have been well rehearsed, but I think I will have to reiterate them due to the very misleading comments attributed to South Tyneside Council and particularly Nexus. On a more personal note, what ever happened to air brushing out people’s double chins? Is it any surprise to people that the diet and fitness regime started as soon as the Gazette arrived?

SHOP SHUT

When I first started this blog the intention was to highlight the problems of Metro parking congestion in East Boldon, something that was affecting both commerce and the aesthetics of the village; we were rapidly becoming a commuter car park. Over a three year period residents and business owners have asked politely, begged, demanded and finally pleaded for the council and its councillors to put controls in place which would free the village from the grip of abandoned cars. To date not one single measure has been put in place.

Three years ago I employed 7 members of staff, nearly all on a full time basis. Now I am the sole employee. Business income has halved over the last two years, and I have finally taken the decision to close the shop in September and move the business to another area, regrettably not in this borough. There has been a Longstaffs’s (the shop name) on this block for nearly 73 years, the nature of the business remaining virtually unchanged through out this period. Whilst managing to see off Adolf Hitler, it has taken the incompetence of Nexus and an abject failure of the Council in its duty of care, to finally close the shop down. Whilst the new tenants cannot be named yet for business reasons, put it this way they wont be selling anything the public in this community will be able to buy.

On a personal note, I have lived and worked on the shop promenade for 17 years, and have lived in the village for 41 years. Whilst my employment prospects are OK, I have been forced to move as well which causes me great anger; I have lived within a stones throwing distance of my mother and father, bother, mother and father in law, three sister in laws and two nephews/nieces and have found that close family presence sustaining and rewarding. It also leaves me with concerns for what is left behind; when I shut my doors another two shops will follow within 8 months as our trades are intrinsically linked. Boldon already has three estate agents, it doesn’t need another three! The residents and business owners have one final chance to try and change things at June’s CAF meeting, and we will be pushing for a considerable public presence. Posts will be placed here and on the sister site northernuproar.blogspot.com. For me it will be to late, as the uncertainty is to strong.

There are certain councillors from both main political parties who should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have failed to cater for people. Sadly, they don’t feel shame however, as they have never quite understood one of the main moral obligations of being elected by voters: representation. I remain convinced that their tenures as councillors are over, and the next elections will bring sweeping changes to certain wards and parties.

ONE MORE TIME

A SOLUTION TO METRO PARKING CONGESTION IN EAST BOLDON

Your presence is required ONE MORE TIME at the

BOLDON CLEADON AND WHITBURN COMMUNITY AREA FORUM

21^ST JUNE 2007

5 P.M. BOLDON COMMUNITY CENTRE

Despite a massive public turn out at the March CAF meeting, the people of East Boldon have been ignored by the Council in their request for help in alleviating Metro parking congestion on our side streets, outside our homes and shops, and on our pavements.

Due to the adverse effect on trade with people being unable to access local shops, my business will close and relocate to a different area. There has been a “Longstaffs” on this block since 1934. Despite surviving for 73 years, it has taken the negligence of Nexus and the Council’s inactivity to close the business.

Junes CAF meeting will be the last chance for you as members of this community to force and demand a solution to this problem before the end of the year. If congestion issues are not solved by then, East Boldon will be faced with vastly reduced amenities, with trade and shops driven away by abandoned cars.

WE NEED YOU AT THIS MEETING

WE NEED YOU TO TURN UP AND DEMAND SOLUTIONS

THE POSITION COULD NOT BE MORE SIMPLE

IT IS ONLY THROUGH SHEER VOLUME OF NUMBERS THAT WILL ENABLE SOLUTIONS TO CONGESTION BEING ESTABLISHED THIS YEAR

RECLAIM YOUR STREETS

STOP YOUR VILLAGE BECOMING A COMMUTER TOWN

RETURN EAST BOLDON TO THE COMMUNITY

CONTACT PETER AT LONGSTAFFS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

THE THREE WISE MONKEYS

THE THREE WISE CONSERVATIVES: SEE NO EVIL, CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO STAY AWAKE. CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO TURN UP!

It is no wonder that many people view local councillors with disdain, as the events at the Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn CAF meeting on Thursday (17.04.07) would have had even the eternal optimist reaching for the sick bag. For myself and other residents of East Boldon the meeting was an opportunity to see what developments had emerged to ease Metro parking congestion in the area. You can imagine our disgust to find that the item wasn’t even on the Agenda as a matter for discussion. Despite the fact that we packed out the last CAF meeting with the largest turnout of public members ever experienced by these Wards, the councillors did not have the decency to give it any committee time. Surely then, our own three ward councillors would fight for us to have the matter tabled so that at least a discussion could be entered into. Wrong! Despite being warned before hand that we had been ignored, only one of them bothered to turn up. Donald Wood (Con), Cameron bless his soul, is always present and correct, but put it this way, if there was ever going to be a fight, Donald would be better employed holding the coats! David Potts (Con), a man more elusive than the Scarlet Pimpernel, could not be bothered to grace us with his presence. Without the press or a large audience to fetter his ego, Mr Potts would rather spend his time on other things (or indeed in other countries) instead of representing his own constituents. With only three appearances in the last 18 months, David could solve his problems and identity issues by sending a friend or a “look alike” because to be honest, nobody really knows what he looks like anyway. The issues of “numbers” was slightly eased when Jeff Milburn (Con) arrived, albeit 1 ½ hours to late. However, Jeff must have had a very busy day (like us all who are self employed or in full time employment) because he promptly fell asleep (that reminds me, I must have that camera phone picture transferred to PC for the local press. I can see the headline now; “Rip Van Milburn!”). So there you have it, the Ward was outnumbered by six Labour councillors to one Conservative, and as a result we were swept to one side. Life is difficult enough when you’re so heavily outnumbered but when one of your councillors can’t even be bothered to stay awake and the other makes fewer public appearances than Bin Laden, the odds for success are pretty poor!

As an effective opposition in this ward the Conservatives are a disgrace; how they got re elected is beyond reason! They never question anything, they let matters go through on the “nod” and not once have they defended or spoke up for their ward. So far, £9000 has been transferred to “good causes” in the CAF area but not a penny to their Ward! Why? Because these Councillors cannot be bothered to take to the streets and find a worthy cause! The only form of opposition in this Ward is coming from the public who have finally realized that they must stand up and speak for themselves. Regretfully, the three wise monkeys who cover this area are going to have to be sidelined when it comes to achieving improvements for this community. If anybody fancies a good night out in June, check the Council’s web site for the next CAF meeting date. With residents already drafting local newsletters and flyers, the turn out for this meeting should make for prime time entertainment! And do you know what, they dont need any help from their Councillors!

AS CLEAR AS MUD

Earlier in this blog I outlined how I had sent to letters under the Freedom of Information Act (6^th April 2007; “A Man Called H”). I have now received replies and I want you to pay close attention and concentrate;

“I sent two letters under the Freedom of Information Act concerning compulsory purchase of land and outstanding monies, one to Nexus and one to Sunderland City Council. I received reply from the Council saying that all the information was held by Nexus. I therefore wrote to Nexus asking them for the information. Their Head of Legal Services replied saying that it was not their problem, and I should contact the Council for the information, and if I wanted any more information I should send him £450 for the privilege. I then received another letter from said Head of Legal Services telling me the same thing again but with fewer words, and that he did not think any compulsory purchases had been made. And if I wanted to know about any outstanding monies he still wanted his £450. Oh by the way, in between all this I was given site of a letter to a Councillor in Sunderland from the Director of Rail and Infrastructure saying that land had been compulsory purchased, and that money was still owed. No mention of the $450 though.”

Now that should settle matters once and for all, but regretfully I can’t see through mud, and this whole exchange of letters is about as clear as mud! However, I do know when I am being treat like a mushroom and fed you know what! The whole scenario reminds me of those “That’s Life” programmes with Esther Rantzen when they used to read out letters from irate customers!. So it’s back to the drawing board, but this time with a couple of contradictory letters to batter Nexus with.

MORE PEOPLE MORE CARS LESS SPACE

“Almost 38 Million journeys were made on the Tyne and Wear Metro system during the last year, the highest figure form 13 years. The figure represents a rise of 5.9% on the previous year, and means more than 130,000 people are using the Metro every weekday, and 170,000 at weekends.”

So said this weeks “Sunday Sun”. But what they forgot to mention was that they all parked their cars at East Boldon!

THIS MORNINGS POST

Two letters in the post this morning. One from Sunderland City Council passing the buck onto Nexus, and one from Nexus re my Freedom of Information request. Normally they reply straight away. This time they are going to take the full 21 days; I think their cage has been rattled and that we may be onto something.

BOLDON OF OLD

With the Metro line closed between Pelaw and South Hylton, the side streets and roads around East Boldon are particularly quite. If ever proof was needed as to the cause of congestion in this area, then we have it now!

A MAN CALLED H

Thursday proved to a very eventful day. I received a visit from a gentleman, who for legal reasons, shall have to remain nameless at this stage. I shall refer to him simply as “H”. H had a breakers yard which being situated next to a new Metro station was compulsory purchased by Nexus and a local authority. The thing is, nexus have still not paid him his money. Nor have they paid the business man next to him on the new line. Nor have they paid the business man next in line etc etc etc. Basically, Nexus took land and businesses from these people but have forgotten to pay them for the privilege. According to H, tribunals and inquiries are underway, with case actually lying on the Deputy Prime Ministers desk as we speak. I have sent off two Freedom of Information requests, one to nexus and one to a local authority concerning the circumstances surrounding this issue. I have a suspicion that nexus are not what they seem!

IF YOU FIND YOU HAVE EITHER AGREED WITH THE COMMENTS IN THIS BLOG OR FIND YOURSELF CONSUMED WITH RAGE, THEN PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS

THE USE OF THE LAW!

Whilst this week has been a time to lick our wounds (after all, Nexus have refused to do anything and the Council have abandoned us till at least next year) I have been as active as I can until we can formulate another campaign strategy.

Below is the text of a letter which I have sent to Inspector Peter Sutton of Northumbria Police. Inspector Sutton has always showed his commitment to this area and if he can help I am sure he will.

With regards to the future, watch this space, it should prove interesting!

Dear Inspector Sutton

EAST BOLDON METRO STATION/TRAFFIC CONGESTION

You will no doubt be aware from the last Boldon Cleadon and Whitburn CAF meeting that East Boldon has a serious problem with regards to traffic congestion as a result of what has become an extremely busy Metro Station. Whilst it is accepted that the excessive over spill parking on residential side streets is not a police issue as such, I believe that the build up of stationary traffic on the approach to the crossing both from the East Boldon and Cleadon side does fall within the Northumbria remit.

Internet access is a very powerful tool in obtaining information, but it does not immediately turn laymen into experts. However, I have managed to obtain the wording of the HIGHWAYS ACT 1835, and I believe that the cars parked in the direct vicinity of the crossing are actually breaking the law. The specific part of the legislation I am concerned with covers Section 72, in that those people who park with a part of their vehicle on the path have wilfully driven a motor vehicle on a footpath set aside for the use of foot passengers. I also have concerns that these actions may also contravene Section 34 of the ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1988, where the legislation has a similar approach.

My concerns centre also on the safety aspect of this congestion. Prams, buggies and wheel chair users are finding it very difficult at times to remain safely on the pavement due to cars parked in such a manor. There is also the aspect of traffic approaching from the Cleadon side having their way partly blocked by car congestion.

I am sure that you appreciate that my concerns on this issue are genuine, and that in the 15 year period I have been involved with this area of East Boldon I have always remained supportive of the police in the implementation of their duties. Whilst it is accepted that the area at present is not a “hot bed” of crime and as such the area is not a drain on police time, I would hope you would agree with the sentiment that when it does seek police assistance, it does so in the knowledge that the issue is a very real one. It is in with this sentiment that I would ask that you consider the legal argument which I have put before you, and should you concur, act accordingly.

Yours sincerely

Peter Shaw

Longstaffs Deli

HERE WE GO!

Thank you for visiting this blog. You have either arrived here via publicity notices, from our other site or “Googled” the word “mayhem” (why would you do that?). Either way, the posts directly before this piece have been reproduced from our other site;

www.northernuproar.blogspot.com

The decision to split the two was to allow adequate coverage of what are very important topics (see our individual profile descriptions).

Anything posted from today is up to date and “hot” of the press. Please feel free to post any comments and use the email address outlined above to contact me more directly.

THE BEFORE AND THE AFTER: THE AFTER

Thank you to all those who turned up at last nights CAF meeting at Boldon Community Centre. To see such numbers again was a clear message that the people of East Boldon will no longer tolerate their streets and businesses being blighted by Metro parking congestion. I have been attending CAF meetings for this area for two years now, and I have NEVER seen such a turnout. Not only did we pack the venue with standing room only, but residents, not used to public speaking and certainly not used to the workings of council committees, put their heads above the parapet had their say!

Two things emerged from the meeting:

1. That Nexus have no idea when they will be able to build a car park extension. They have made no progress in purchasing the land needed, and haven’t even finished paying for the land which they used for the current car park. THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSION THIS DECADE.

2. That the Council will not even look at the residents control plan which was placed before them UNTIL AT LEAST THE SUMMER OF 2007. Even then, this community will then have to go into “the pot” with about 48 other areas to see whether our case is worthy.

Clearly we have been abandoned: Nexus have misled this community for five years and the Council has neither the stomach nor the will to tackle the problem NOW.

However, if we give up then Nexus will return to their policy of doing nothing and the Council will adopt schemes for other residential areas. This community will then sink without trace. I shall therefore continue to fight for a solution to the problem of congestion in this area, and like Robin Hood, I will gather helpers as I go along my merry way. Should any one have new or novel ideas as to how we can continue the campaign outside of the normal restraints then please contact me via this blog or on the new email address below

ENDTHEMETROMAYHEM

@SHAW9452.FSNET.CO.UK

Should any council or nexus employees read this blog then this is for you:

We Won’t Give Up!

To any local residents or other interested parties this is you:

Write to your Councillors ~ Write to your MP

Write to the local papers ~ Write to the Council

LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT ANY LONGER TO RECLAIM OUR STREETS

On a brighter note, the council plans to turn Cleadon Village into a traffic roundabout were well and truly defeated. Cleadon residents, not known for their revolutionary fervour, turned up in numbers to oppose the plans. The deliberate manipulation of statistics by the council planners was never going to get passed this lot and the pen, pencil and protractor brigade were told to go away and inflict their white elephant schemes on somebody else. The look of abject horror on the faces of the planning hierarchy was a picture to be savoured. In one fell swoop residents had ruined budget plans and work schedules for possibly the next six months. There was an aura of disbelief that tax payers had had the nerve to challenge full time council officials with such ridiculous arguments concerning protecting the community, preserving a village’s aesthetics and that to often ignored concept, ensuring that money is spent correctly. This was a well earned victory for common sense and for public participation, but for the poor council planners, it’s back to the drawing board. Literally!

On a separate but equally important note, it was a pleasure to see the enigma that is Councillor David Potts (Conservative, Cleadon and East Boldon Ward). David is clearly a gifted and articulate speaker, his arguments are coherent and he sees the issues in a larger context. His main problem is that he forgets to turn up at meetings. This was only his second appearance at a CAF meeting since May 2006, which when you consider the serious problems faced by his constituents, this is unacceptable. With only three Conservative members in a Labour dominated Borough, we need an effective voice of opposition (I don’t include that bunch of champagne socialists who refer to themselves as “independents”). By choosing to attend meetings only when the press or a large part of the public are there is no way to provide this opposition. With one ward councillor already impaled on his own sword for not going to meetings, you would think that David would have learnt a lesson. Clearly not!

After what has been a tough week, the weekend looms. For me, the history books will be dusted down and scoured for examples of peaceful public resistance. You never know, the Gazette may soon have the front page heading “SHOP KEEPER CHAINS HIMSELF TO METRO CROSSING BARRIERS”.

THE BEFORE AND THE AFTER: THE BEFORE

Tomorrow is a very important day for our Metro Campaign, as we finally present our case to the Boldon Cleadon and Whitburn CAF. I have trudged the streets with flyers, done “x” amount of local press interviews and blogged my heart out! It is now up to the public to pick up the mantle and turn up at the meeting. If we have the same numbers as the public meeting last week, we are are in for one hell of a show! If not, well at least I tried!

PARKING ATTENDANTS: A RETRACTION

PARKING ATTENDANT UPDATE

“THE TRUTH”

South Tyneside Council have partnered with the private company APCOA to set up South Tyneside Parking Services to manage and enforce off street parking.

As a result of this, Traffic Wardens have been replaced by Parking Attendants.

The council’s own literature describes the situation as such:

“WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Local enforcement will keep South Tyneside moving, reduce dangerous and inconvenient parking, support local businesses, support town centre needs, assist loading and unloading, improve conditions in resident parking areas, improve safety outside schools and assist blue badge holders.”

There are only 12 Parking Attendants to cover South Tyneside borough as a whole. Not only do they have to enforce traffic laws but the council wants them to act as their eyes and ears and report any fly tipping and street lights that are not working. To make matters worse, police involvement in monitoring of parking on yellow lines etc, has been taken out of their control.

I therefore believe that the literature should have described the situation more accurately as:

“WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? – NONE!

Local enforcement does not keep South Tyneside moving, increases dangerous and inconvenient parking, offers no support to local businesses, offers no support to town centre needs, does not assist loading and unloading, neglects residential areas, ignores safety outside schools and offers no assistance to blue badge holders.

· When was the last time you saw a parking attendant outside East Boldon schools?

· When was the last time you saw a parking attendant enforcing yellow line restrictions at East Boldon shops?

· When was the last time you saw a parking attendant improving conditions in resident’s parking areas on the side streets of East Boldon?

I apologise for any misunderstanding that the council’s version may have caused and hope that my interpretation has made matters clearer.

END THE METRO MAYHEM

The decision to write this blog has it’s origins in a campaign I am currently waging against Nexus and South Tyneside Council. Since the establishment of a Metro station at East Boldon, the area within a ¼ mile radius has become a “park and ride” region for commuters. The current car park provided by Nexus cannot cope, resulting in residential side streets being strewn with abandoned cars and safety issues coming to the fore in that people can no longer cross the roads safely due to cars parked on pavements etc. On a retail level, this congestion has seriously curtailed commercial trade; if people cannot park to access their local shops they will spend their money elsewhere. My own shop, Longstaffs Deli, is located about three hundred yards from the Station, and has seen its turn over halved in the last three years.

Despite promises from Nexus, no car park extension has materialised, and despite obvious congestion problems, no help has been received from South Tyneside Council. Clearly, the time has arrived for residents to take matters into their own hands and reclaim their streets. Two months ago I devised a strategy that if implemented, I felt would alleviate the problems faced by East Boldon.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS

The introduction of residential parking schemes in those streets directly surrounding the Metro station would relieve the congestion pressure faced by local residents.

INCREASED USE OF DOUBLE YELLOW LINES

By using double yellow lines on both sides of the roads adjacent to the crossing, the safety issues of banked up traffic and safely crossing the road would be alleviated.

LIMITED PARKING TIMES IN AREAS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO SHOPS

By restricting waiting times to i.e. 2 hours in these areas, parking spaces will be made available to those who wish to use local shops, businesses and amenities. This will ensure the viability of local commerce and protect employment and council revenue.

METRO STATION CAR PARK EXTENSION

The degree of the current parking area provided by Nexus must be extended to incorporate both current and projected commuter use.

However, this final element has drawbacks

¨ Land must be purchased/acquired to accommodate extension

¨ People must be forced to use it

¨ The correct number of new spaces must be provided

However, what is clear is that the problems being experienced by East Boldon are not unique. A trawl of the internet and local press archives reveals that the councils through out the region are being forced to confront Metro induced traffic congestion in residential areas. This highlights two very important and pertinent issues. Firstly, that Nexus has failed over the last ten years to acknowledge its social responsibilities to the areas where it builds its stations. It is in effect operating a policy of “build and abandon”. Secondly, councils and local authorities are using tax payer’s money to clean the mess up.

I believe that a regional debate on the effects of Metro expansion is long overdue. Its current network now covers Newcastle Airport to the City of Sunderland, with further expansion planned. That equates to a lot of communities whose nature, individuality and character will be irreversibly altered. It also means that a lot of money will have to be spent to cater for Nexus lack of community responsibility.

The local regional press have given this issue a lot of coverage, and the matter has been placed before the Community area Forum for Boldon Cleadon and Whitburn for debate at its meeting on 29^th March, when a Nexus planning official will be present. This should be a very entertaining night as Nexus have been very “economical” with the truth. They have submitted no planning application for the extension, they have problems purchasing the land (and have no powers to compulsory purchase) and have neither the political of financial will to see the matter through. THERE WILL BE NO CAR PARK THIS DECADE.

This just about brings this introduction to an end. However, becoming involved in such an issue does lead to a degree of political “awakening”. My involvement with local councillors on the Metro issue has revealed a very simple fact; some councillors are very committed, whilst others basically have no intention or personal obligation to discharge their duties in a way that the public expects. This council is also a closed shop of Labour cohorts and has no effective voice of opposition. Northern Uproar will fill this gap. I won’t slander and I won’t lie; I will tell the truth and probably be damned for it. But as Alexander Jablokov said “The road to truth is long, and lined the entire way with annoying bastards.” So post your comments and have your say, but be opened minded enough to take on board what is said.