Barker and Stonehouse crossing

It is easy to become cynical.

There was a time when Persimmon Homes courted us as residents. They arranged a special information event at the Cricket Club to which we were invited. They explained their proposals for development of the old Feethams football field, promised us a river-side walkway and a pelican crossing.

Then the site was transferred to their subsidiary, Charles Church. Once planning requirements no longer required low-profit affordable housing, a new application quickly appeared. Once road building was underway, the riverside walk disappeared.

And now, the promise of a pelican crossing is to be reneged.

Planning application ref 15/00795/FUL is Persimmon's move to avoid funding a pelican crossing between Feethams South and Barker and Stonehouse.

Originally there was a controlled crossing at this point, but it was moved when the supermarket sought planning for its store. In its place was a centre carriageway refuge, access to which is fraught with danger. Vehicles leaving the roundabout hit speeds up to 40 mph by the time they reach Feethams South, resulting in pedestrians running for their lives.

Some would say that the presence of other crossings in Victoria Road would suffice. If that be true, why is it that on frequent occasions throughout the day and night, pedestrians collect like wildebeests waiting to cross a crocodile infested river?

The truth of the matter is that this is a significant crossing point for residents, visitors and passers-by. In 2006 this blogger wrote to John Ray, then Highways manager to report a near accident on Tuesday 12th September 2006 when a 30 year old male was nearly hit by a Vauxhall travelling west from the roundabout up Victoria Road. On 5 March 2009 I wrote of the demolition of railings at this location. In June 2011 I reported the fourth significant traffic event in just over 4 years.

1 October is given as the closing date for objections to the proposed amendment of planning consent.

It is important that we mobilise every resource available to us to prevent the loss of a proper crossing point.

In my next blog, I will suggest ways of evidencing the need. In the meantime, I urge readers to register their objections with Andrew Harker, either on line here or by phoning him on 01325 406488, quoting reference 15/00795/FUL.

Post 6 April: How did we do?

Previous postings show just how successful our South Terrace 'Big Spring Clean and Planting' on 6 April turned out. With sixteen adults and six children participating throughout the morning, it was a joy in both making our environment better for residents, and in adding a cohesive glue to our little South Terrace community.






Since then, our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Susan Jaleel, writing in the Northern Echo said,

 

"I wish to thank whoever is responsible for clearing the spare ground on Victoria Road between Feethams and Sainsbury's entrance. For a long time that area has been a dumping ground for all manner of detritus and an embarrassment at the main out-of-town ring road. Now transformed, even with the addition of a colourful patch of flowers, it has made a huge difference. Let's try and keep it that way". 




Mrs S Western of Hurworth was stirred to write back to 'Hear All Sides', 
"In reply to Susan Jaleel’s letter (HAS, Apr 18) regarding the very clean piece of road between Feethams and Sainsbury’s, in Darlington. A short time ago I saw a family cleaning it with two very small children who were having great fun trying to pick things up with rather large litter pickers. I hope they were proud of themselves. They should be".





Richard Reynolds, leader of 'guerrillagardening.org', and National Hero, commented about our efforts at South Terrace, 
"Tremendous. What a great transformation".

Today, in sunshine, our work looks great, as these shots show.

  

And here, the diversity of flora in the lane. 

South Terrace lead the way in the Big Spring Clean

Darlington Council delivered the litter-picking equipment on Friday 5 April, and overnight we prepared for the South Terrace 'Big Spring Clean'. By 0930 hours on Saturday we were ready to start- our pickers, sacks, sack-hoops and gloves to hand, and a trestle table with tea urn, juice, biscuits and home-made cakes prominent at the head of the lane. As St Cuthbert's Church struck 9.30, pickers and planters arrived - eventually numbering 15 adults and six children.

Our very first South Terrace Big Spring Clean will go down in the history of the terrace. Never before has the bank between the lane and Victoria Road been so tidy and organised. Our first hour was spent on litter-picking. Every accessible bottle, crisp packet, take-away box and tin can has been removed from both sides of the bank into eight sacks- and with them scrap metal, old timber and an eight foot pile of debris. Dave, who arrived from Darlington's Street Scene, looked amazed at the sheer volume as we helped load his truck.

Our second hour was spent in planting. Our initial flora count of the bank discovered a wide range of plantsalready in evidence - lesser celandine, daffodil, snowdrop, crocus, bluebell, ramsons (wild garlic), cowparsley, nettle, bramble, ivy, and fern - to which we have added a mass of daffodils, snowdrops, wild geranium, primrose, primula and forget-me-not.

We must give a huge 'thank you' to Ben (no 14) and his friends at Paddock Farm Nursery who provided the bulbs and an amazing array of annuals, which now line the entry to Feethams South.

Further thanks go to Phillippa Scrafton (Darlington Street Scene) for arranging the 'Litter Free Durham and Darlington' event, Councillor Paul Harman for his support and encouragement, Dot at no 24 for the Yorkshire tea and biscuits, Stephanie (no 8) for running the tea stall, Veronica (no 11) for organising the troops. But the biggest thanks go to everyone who attended to make the event a social, community and practical success.

The Big Spring Clean

Litter Facts

Since the 1960's the amount of litter dropped in the UK has risen by 500%.  Nearly 50% of the population admit to dropping litter, and 30% of drivers admit to throwing it while driving.

In 2004/5 English (not UK) local authorities spent a total of £574 million on cleaning roads and streets and by 2009/10 it had risen by 49% to £885 million.

We pay our council tax so that someone can come along and pick up litter. Right?

Well no, not exactly. Whilst litter picking is a part of the council's Street Scene remit, the responsibility cannot end there. In truth, the council does not have the resources for litter picking initiatives - the days of the road sweeper have gone - to be replaced by the occasional visit by Darlington's mechanical 'street sweepers'.

Just two weeks ago the council's Street Scene operators tackled some of the problems of litter in Victoria Road. Unfortunately, their efforts did not extend to the planted bank at the rear of nos 8 - 24 South Terrace.

Some residents of South Terrace will have seen me picking up the odd can or fast-food wrapper from Feethams South, to place it in one of the bins at the Victoria Road junction. I work on the assumption that, if the place looks a mess, it will get worse. The signal that comes from a clean street is that someone cares.

From 18 March to 12 May 2013 Darlington Council is planning to deliver the  Big Spring Clean.

Might we get involved? 
One very useful venture would be to tackle the Victoria Road bank. 

I would be prepared to coordinate a Saturday or Sunday 'Spring Clean' day, focussing on South Terrace, the back lanes and the Victoria Road bank. The council will provide 'litter pickers' and litter sacks. We will only need to provide our own gloves and refreshments.

With the 'Spring Clean', we could organise our own civic attack on the Victoria Road bank with a GuerrillaGardening style event - The 'Big South Terrace Plant'. 

This could include shade loving shrubs and spring bulbs to face the Victoria Road side of the bank, giving both the joy of colour, and that little extra privacy and security at the rear of South Terrace.   

Left, the dull corner of Victoria Road and Feethams South.

Right, looking west up Victoria Road towards Sainsburys.




Left, the fairly bare bank at the rear of Pease Cottages.

Those who are not in a position or do no wish to assist with the active work are invited to help Stephanie with the refreshments - a trestle table, seats, tea urn and cakes (if anyone is willing to bake) will be set up at the rear of no 8.


Who said we cannot make a difference if we wish to do do? Comments below.......