Welcome to my first Councillor Report, I plan to publish an online report every month so residents can be easily kept up to date with my work as one of your Councillor. If there is an issue in your area which you’d like me to take up then please do not hesitate to contact me on [email protected].
Surgeries
Along with my ward Colleagues, Alexa Michael and Andrew Lee, we will be publishing a list of dates for street surgeries to be held on the first Saturday each month on Station Approach in Hayes. Due to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this will be start in July.
In addition to this, I will also be holding drop-in surgeries during the day. I am still finalising the details of these and will be able to publish details shortly.
For anyone needing to raise anything confidential appointment-based surgeries will be arranged as required by emailing me.
Local Issues:
This month a number of issues have been raised with by residents which I give a brief summary of the issue and the action I have taken below.
Coney Hall Recreation Ground:
Some play equipment, football goals and basket balls nets were anomalously donated for use in one of the Tennis Courts on Coney Hall Recreation Ground. Notice was posted for the removal of these items. At my request the removal of these items, which have proven to be popular, was halted. I am not working with the Friends of the Recreation Ground and the relevant team and the Council for a long-term solution and to get some new equipment for the recreation ground.
Keston Village Post Office:
The Post Office are proposing to move their branch from 4 Heathfield Road to 19 Heathfield Road. As part of these proposals a new convenience store will be opened. The Post Office are currently consulting residents on these proposals – you can register your views at: https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/keston-br2-6bq-084012/.
I am supporting these proposals as believe the convenience store will benefit residents. In the consultation I have suggested that the opening hours of the post office should be similar to the convenience store.
SGN Club Gardens Closure:
I raised the closure with the traffic team who confirmed the closure was done in error and issued SGN an FPN. The road was set to be re-opened on the 25th May.
Hayes Farm Car Boot Sale:
Several residents contacted me regarding disruption from the car boot sale. I visited Hayes Lane during the boot fare on the 22nd May, being in the area between 7am and 8am. I observed the impact of the traffic and have raised with relevant officers at the Council. Since this observation I have written to the relevant Council Teams to strat looking for what can be done to improve the situation.
Station Approach:
The central reservation was damaged by a vehicle earlier this year. I have been working with the traffic team to get the lose bricks cleared up and a timeframe for the repairs so the flower bed can be reinstated. I will keep residents updated with progress this.
School Street at Hayes Primary School:
The school street scheme by Hayes Primary School on George Lane is four months into its six-month trail. Councillors were asked for their views on the scheme to be featured in a report to the Council’s Environment Policy & Development Committee. To give an informed opinion, I visited George Lane on Friday 20th May to observe the scheme in action. While I do have concerns about parking displacement and some dangerous parking in the area, overall, I think it is a good scheme which I am happy to support its continuation. I have asked the school street team to look at measures to address my concerns.
Anti-Social Behaviour at Husseywell Park:
I have received complaints about some anti-social behaviour at Husseywell Park, which includes a group of people throwing things at the ducks and becoming aggressive if challenged. I have contacted the Safer Neighbourhood Team for Hayes & Coney Hall about these and asked them to investigate. I will also be speaking to the parks team about any action the Council can take to address this.
Meetings:
Due to elections be held earlier in the month, this month has been light on meetings. I did attend the Council’s Annual General Meeting, where West Wickham Ward Councillor Hannah Gray was elected as the Mayor of the Borough for 2022-23. Kelsey & Eden Park Councillor Christine Harris was also appointed as Deputy Mayor. Both Hannah and Christine have a huge passion for our borough, and I wish them well over the coming year in their offices. They’ve already got off to a great start, including a visit to Coney Hall Bowls Club.
I am looking forward to attending as many of the jubilee celebrations as possible over the long weekend and thank organisers for inviting me.
That concludes my report for May 2022. As mentioned, I plan to publish these reports monthly online so that residents know what I am doing, if there is anything in your local area which I can assist with then please do hesitate to contact me on [email protected].
