December Councillor Update
Thames Water Drain Adoption
With the flooding in July and the ongoing saga of Thames Water adopting the main drainage in Nythe, we have written to the Managing Director and await his response when we receive one we will publish the information.
Covingham Humps Update
Glenn had a meeting with the Highways team over the work programme for
removing the speed humps in Covingham. Following the meeting, Glenn came away with a project plan showing the final technical and process stages as well as the construction start date. Phil and I have been chasing the Director of Transport and Cabinet member for signoff of the budget, and it's looking good for construction to start mid March.
Before this happens, you might see some work starting , for example test digs are being conducted to locate the services (as they are not always where the maps say they are). The last thing we want to see is a burst water main!
Glenn has also been working with Covingham Primary School on a competition for the children to design some signs for the two gateways at either end of Kingfisher Drive. They will start on this in the New Year and we hope that the Mayor will choose a winning design.
We think it is great that local children's designs to encourage drivers to drive safely in our neighbourhood will be made in to signs.
Environment Agency Meeting
As reported last month, the Environment Agency agreed to meet with local Councillors to discuss the issues. Glenn, Phil and myself met them and walked the banks of the River Cole and Dorcan Brook. We also went to see the EA site which takes water from the Dorcan Brook under the A419.
They are currently in the process of writing a report on what happened and provide recommendations for how things could be improved. This is due out in late January and will be publically available. We have asked for extra copies to put in the library and Nythe Community Centre.
We suspect that one of the recommendations is that the two road bridges over the River Cole should be widened to allow more flow. If this is the case, the cost of doing this will run to many hundreds of thousands of pounds. At this stage it is not clear who would pick up the cost of doing this work.
Website
Our website www.covinghamandnytheintouch.com includes a lot more activity about what the three of us are doing in the ward. There will also be an end of year review and a look ahead to what we might face in 2008.
Happy New Year!
As always we are writing this before Christmas knowing full well your turkey and crackers will already be a distant memory when you read this article. All three of us hope you had a wonderful time and that 2008 will bring you wonderful things.
Ward Surgery Future Dates
Our next meetings will be held at 9.30am to 11.30am at:
Jan 12 - St Pauls Church Covingham
Feb 9 - Coleview Community Centre
Mar 8 - Nythe Community Centre
Don't forget we can always contact us about local issues at any time.
Cllr Glenn Smith, glenn@CovinghamAndNytheInTouch.com, 725649
Cllr Dale Heenan, dale@CovinghamAndNytheInTouch.com, 705244
Cllr Phil Young, phil@CovinghamAndNytheInTouch.com, 729732