__________________________________________________________________________________ Swinton's Open Space Community Association Newsletter- February. ======================================================================= Gateway opens to the future Swinton Park Following the request of the community committee I have made enquiries with Environmental Services regarding the replacement of the barrier at Campbell Rd. Whilst it is not always possible to maintain all barriers within the constraints of the budget they have agreed under the circumstances to replace this barrier. The work has been built into the maintenance programme and they will supply me with a timescale once a blacksmith has looked at the site. (This email was received from our Neighbourhood Manager just before Christmas last year) SOSCA considers this a major success; we have argued for and solicited Swinton Community Committee for a grant to replace this barrier since March last year. This will be our entrance to the park. It is the start we have been working for. With luck, potential funders for our vision of the park as a whole will be able to see that the council and residents are working together for something that will benefit the local community and the city as a whole. This wonderful, unexpected result, at no cost to ourselves, is just what we wanted as a Christmas present. Since SOSCA's public meeting, when we displayed our vision for the area, we have gained the support of many councillors. The Community Committee has offered to set up a 'steering committee' to bring about our vision and they have also offered £1000 towards it. This steering committee will consist of environmental planners, councillors, the Neighbourhood Manager and of course our good selves. Potential Funders will hopefully be identified, perhaps the big lottery and grant applications submitted. We estimate that upwards of £50,000 plus to deliver all aspects of our vision. The Black Harry area was awarded a somewhat smaller grant last year by going through a similar process. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can achieve something at least similar for ourselves in the not too distant future. Park Rangers - What do you think ? Salford is to put its Greenspace strategy forward this month for public consultation for a period of six weeks, with an expectation adoption date of August 2006. It will be available in libraries and on the internet at www.salford.gov.uk/greenspace . The wider greenspace consultation survey has revealed that over 50% of those questioned did not visit informal / natural greenspace because of vandalism and fear of crime / antisocial behaviour. This scary fact needs addressing as two thirds of the people questioned in the survey were under 11 years old. This means half our children are frightened to go to an informal greenspace. If we needed a reason for Park Rangers this surely is it. Tombola prizes Thinking ahead to a hopefully warm sunny summer, we have already started planning our annual Family Fun Day in July. The tombola stall is always popular and we could use any UNWANTED CHRISTMAS PRESENTS for prizes. Please contact the secretary, Liz on 727 8951 or your Road Rep. Crime reports in our area - going up? Residents are getting frustrated, at the drop off in police presence and an increase in local crime. W.M.D. in our area means 'Wing Mirror Destroyer'. This gentleman had a little outing in December last year; he was seen with a metal bar smashing car wing mirrors as he passed by. This 'criminal damage' must stop. One resident claimed the cost of a wing mirror to be about £100 and six cars were damaged. This of course says nothing of the trouble of taking it to a garage and having to wait for it to be repaired. If anyone can identify this young fellow please tell the police. It is essential for everyone to report crime so that the police have a realistic figure for crime in this area. If you also let SOSCA know, we can press for better police coverage of our streets? Police response times One resident in Thorn Road reported to the police that his house had been burgled and all his Christmas presents stolen. They gave him a crime number and said "we will call round". Seven hours later when it was dark they called at the house. Our resident asked if they were going to take fingerprints and was informed that it was too late for that as he had taken the precaution of having the entry point boarded up ! We recognise the police have limited resources and this was not an emergency but would urge them to try and get there quicker. More than one crime! The police have been trying to calm the residents in Bradford Road by telling residents 'your crime is a single incident', which leads you to believe it's the only one. This is not the case. We hear that there are many in the area and it is no longer acceptable to hear about 'single' incidents. We want our local 'bobby' on our streets every day. Lost - One local bobby who answers to the name of Gary ! He was last seen wearing a police uniform in the area south of the East Lancashire Road. Some months ago he was with four Community Support Officers who are also missing. Gary has been a great support to us, he even stayed all day at our Fun Day. If he has been sent elsewhere WE WANT HIM BACK! SOSCA has written to our M.P. Hazel Blears about the funding of police. Crime in Salford is monitored by the police through reported crime and as the criminal element move about the police move to the highest demand area. Obviously this method of policing has come about through insufficient funding. If the correct level of funding was available this approach to policing would not have to be used and we would all sleep peacefully in our beds. We will publish the response from her on this matter in our April issue of SOSCA News. Whilst SOSCA hopes the police will take note of our concerns, we as residents must play our part too. If you see crime going on or there is danger to life or property telephone the police on 999. To report a non emergency matters call 872 5050 or crime stoppers on 0800 555 111. Don't forget: Report crime and get a crime number! Come on lads play the game ! by Robert Balham As you all know, from previous newsletters, the residents of Swinton and SOSCA have won their fight to keep the fields 'green' but the fight to legally use the old sewage works goes on. It is important now that the fields are used as much as possible by all the residents including children who can play and participate in all types of activities. For instance, there are some boys who play cricket in Chiltern Drive and it is wonderful to see they take an interest in sport. Unfortunately it is not very safe because of traffic (to say nothing of people's windows). I feel it would be better and safer if sports were played safely on the fields. It would also help SOSCA's aim to use the fields. I hope very much that in the future as many people as possible use the fields and even more when we win the fight to include the old sewage works site in our park. Houghton Lane Residents See Red (well magenta!) Salford council's Environmental services caused a disturbance on the streets in January by delivering more recycle waste bins (with the magenta lids) for garden waste than were required. Some don't want them because they don't have any green waste and virtually everyone hates them because of the lid colour. Why on earth did they not make bins with green lids for green waste! SOSCA is all in favour of recycling waste but asks why it can't be done in a nicer way; green bins for green garden waste would be a start especially if bins are to be kept at the front of a house. The man who dreamed up the colour, magenta for Salford's use has now left. He certainly 'united' the whole community of Salford and gave them a common grievance unfortunately it was the council! Just look what the cat dragged in! Just look what the cat brought in ! It was a bird. Not a sparrow, its usual catch. This bird had a carmine-red chest, a black cap going into grey upper wings with a white stripe before the black lower wing. This beautiful creature was a male Bullfinch something I have been trying to encourage for months with my wild bird feeder. They like seeds and my feeder was full of them. These small, tubby, almost neckless birds are not endangered and are common throughout Britain but the loss of such a beautiful creature must leave a hole in the world. The Bullfinches from Scandinavia actually migrate south and westward in the autumn reaching the eastern areas of Britain before flying back in the spring. In this country their favourite habitat include hedgerows, woodland fringe, orchards, plantations and in winter and spring, gardens. The female Bullfinch has similar markings as the male differing in that the breast is dark grey-brown as are the upper wings, the youngsters are like the females without the black cap. My murdering cat has just left a widow Bullfinch waiting for hubby to return. Now I have to have a stern finger wagging talk with my cat about his diet. Does anyone know if cats are colour blind ? Are you feeling the cold? Did you know that you could get a Hot House with council help? Grants are available to all owner-occupiers, irrespective of personal circumstances or house size, subject to a free, no obligation property survey to determine suitability. It is also possible for the over 60's to get an additional £50 grant from the council for top-up loft insulation, £250 discount off a central heating boiler so that you can stay warm and save money. Details are available from a 'freephone' telephone number 0800 027 4477.The example given on our information for a 2/3 bedroom semi, loft insulation for 0 to 250mm costing from £275, gas heated you would pay £99 (electric heated £50).Top-up insulation (200-250mm) you would pay £199 (gas heated), £150 (Electric heated).Grants for cavity wall insulation are available too. Has to be worth a call ! A Homewatch Area ! SOSCA is unaware of an active 'home watch' scheme in our area and there is obviously a need for one. These schemes have been proved as a method of reducing crime in an area and reducing insurance premiums. We are hoping to hold a home watch meeting in the near future and if the scheme is to be successful then a number of people from each street will be required to participate. There is no major time commitment on behalf of members. The coordinator may also attend SOSCA committee meetings (once a month) but will in the main be free to act individually. It needs to be said that, whereas no one is interested in nosey parkers, telling a neighbour you are going on holiday for two weeks and asking them to keep an eye on the house may pay dividends, especially if that neighbour has the telephone number of a friend or relative who would at least know how to turn the alarm off. If you think this to be a good idea please telephone our secretary, Liz on 727 8951 as soon as possible so that we can judge local interest. We really do want this to work so please do have a chat with your neighbours and get in touch with us. Windfall Income Over the last six months or so, it has dawned on the SOCA Committee that the council receive an income, not only from rent or community charges but from unexpected sources. SOSCA reported a mobile-phone communications mast sited at the entrance to Swinton Park from the East Lancashire Road and found out that this would generate an income to the council in the order of £000's. We have also had Granada T.V. filming 'Cracker' on Thorn Road and strongly suspect that the council would receive a payment for this. Our question is 'How much revenue drops into council coffers that is never highlighted and more importantly why is this money not used to resolve local problems ?'. Swinton Park needs a vast amount of money to realise SOSCA's vision and believe this windfall money should be used locally. Every one a winner ! The response to our request for comments on the vision for Swinton Park published in our last issue of SOSCA News was good. We would like to thank everyone. Every comment was supportive, informative and constructive. As for bad comments ?- not a one. Keep your comments coming in - the vision is still available from committee members. The Birds (or "why didn't Hitchcock have this problem"?) by Tish Wilkins So where am I going wrong? I think I've tried everything - wild birdseed, sunflower seeds, peanuts, fat balls. I've bought bird books and planted the right shrubs; it's quite obvious the birds haven't read the books! I bought a lovely (and expensive) squirrel proof bird feeder and I have seen one little brown bird visit it (it could have been a wren - I didn't have my glasses on) but why didn't it go and bring back all its family and friends? Perhaps it hasn't got any. Magpies - there are plenty of those visiting - one for sorrow, two for joy …eighteen for…?! The local herons are very familiar with my garden pond (I can't keep fish either) but where are all the tits, robins, finches etc etc that everyone else reports seeing in their gardens? Perhaps they've spotted my three and a half cats ( that's not half a cat but a cat who's a part time resident) and then there are all those cats who are just passing through - I'm good at cats! Perhaps they prefer that wonderful wide open spaces of the proposed Swinton Park. Whatever it is I don't think I'll bother to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend! I say, I say, I say………SOSCA News is our local news sheet why not have your say through us. You might want to air a burning issue or just get it get a niggle off your chest; we will print anything that is not libellous. What are your ideas for our community let us know and you will get full credit for it. Perhaps you have ideas to help raise money for the new park. Simply contact the secretary at the address below. Swinton's Open Space Community Association The Secretary, 68, Thorn Road, Swinton, City of Salford, M27 5QT: Tel: 727 8951, Email: Liz@em-james.fsnet.co.uk |