Next Open Meeting for all Residents
Wednesday, July 8th at 7 pm
The Vale Community Centre, Hadlow Close
You are all very welcome to join us for the next open meeting of the Association.
We will be able to give you updates on all recent matters of interest, and there will be plenty of time for you to raise any other matters which concern you and other residents of this area.
We hope to be joined by some of our local councillors and council officers so that as many questions as possible can be answered at the meeting. We expect to end around 8:15 pm or shortly afterwards.
Friday 26 June 2009
Argus Community Correspondent
The Argus Community Correspondent is calling for stories about the area. See the link
http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/hanoverandqueenspark/
http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/hanoverandqueenspark/
Wednesday 17 June 2009
June 10th 2009, 7.00 pm committee meeting
Notes of Committee Meeting
June 10th 2009, 7.00 pm at The Vale Community Centre, 17a Hadlow Close
Present: Committee: Grant Scott (Chairman), Alan Cooke (Secretary), Nick Wood (Centre Manager), Keith Drysdale, Bill Duff, Irene Fender; Others: Sue Hes (TDC - Trust for Developing Communities), Joyce Ross (resident)
1. Apologies: Sarah Johnson, Carol Byard
2. Minutes of meeting April 8th 2009. These were agreed unanimously.
3. Matters Arising. None.
4. Updates:
a) Gardening group –Trees
Bill and Joyce were unhappy with the way the garden adjoining 2-12 Queensway had been treated – forsythia had been cut to almost ground level, a rosemary had been removed, and a compost bin had been put close to the storeroom, allowing access to the roof. For the gardening team, Grant said that the bin had now been relocated to the centre of the estate, and that they would seek to place suitable plants in the barren areas. Irene suggested that the bin be lined with cardboard, painted green, and possibly padlocked.
Grant would follow up offers of free trees for the estate – possibly to replace the failed apricot tree, for the mosaic at the top of Queensway, and for the newly barren area adjacent to 101 Queensway. The area behind 65-99 Queensway had now been reseeded and was growing well.
b) Estate Development Budget Awards
Grants are to be given to improve lighting at four points on the estate, to replace a bench at the corner of Craven Road and Queensway, and to convert the ‘bin’ area by the side of the Community Centre into a fenced-in ‘safe’ area, with decorative slabs and planters. It was suggested that a rubberised surface would be more useful than decorative slabs. Alan is to write to Trevor asking how to proceed with the bin area improvements.
Alan will also seek from Housing a definitive map of land ownership in Parham Close; and reply to Gordon Stanford re the failed application for a ramp at Tilgate Place.
c) Big Tidy Up July 18th - Woodlands
A team is preparing for this event for 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday July 18th. Paul Gorringe (Park Ranger) is to ensure that insurance and health and safety items are covered. Sue Leggett is trying to involve CityClean. Councillors and PCSOs will be helping, and the youth workers are being approached. Next meeting of organising group June 30th at 3 pm.
Paul is also leading the team to improve the woodlands, and will be contacting the Payback team to help reconstruct Jacob’s Ladder.
d) Highways – Car Parking
Cllr Mitchell had raised our concerns with the Highways department, and various options are being examined. Extra paving may be placed next to the communal bins.
The whole area is now being studied as a potential car parking control area. An initial meeting is being arranged to meet the project manager on July 8th for reporting back to the Association later that day. There has been no progress as yet on adding an extra car parking space for the Centre in Hadlow Close.
e) General Repairs
Bill is in touch with the Council regarding rampant woodworm in the joists of a newly re-roofed block. More generally, it is suggested that residents should make complaints via the Home Office website www.fixmystreet.com, and advise of results.
Sue has been in touch with SameSky concerning the repair of the various mosaics. Alan will try and fix up a meeting with Bec Britain. Grants may be available from the Hedgecock Foundation.
f) The Vale Community Centre
Sue Hes will follow up correspondence from Varndean about the possibility of a new computer basics group. The youth drop-in on Fridays is expected to cease soon. Alan to ask Les Barnes what news there is of cleaners taking over part of the Little Shed.
Sue suggested that business cards are drawn up with details of CVCA on one side and The Vale Community Centre on the other. Alan would draw up a first draft.
g) Playgrounds – Playbus
There was no government money available this year to re-develop the small playground at the rear of Parham Place, but Cllr Mitchell will try to keep us on the list if further funds are made available. We could also examine the concept of a ‘natural’ play area in the woodlands, as at Peacehaven.
Sue had failed to get the Council playbus to visit the estate for yet another year – Cllr Turton is to follow up.
5. Correspondence
a) QPCV Forum minutes May 20th. CVCA could bid for part of the £3,500 grant from the Scarman Trust to QPCV for ‘community health projects’ – some had already been allocated to an arts group for sessions at the VCC. ((Amendment: The £3500 referred to under 5a, is held by QPCV Community Forum, (it is administered by Scarman but comes from the Primary Care Trust) The next meeting of the QPCV Community Forum is Wednesday July 15th and a proposal could be presented to the meeting or at the following one in September.))
A Health Bus would soon be visiting Craven Vale regularly. Mark Burgess has been appointed as a full-time Active for Life worker covering Queens Park, Craven Vale and the Bristol Estate.
b) Sarah Johnson is asking for people to accompany her on Estate inspections. Alan and Keith will meet at 143 Queensway on June 25th (2pm); and Nick will join Sarah at 152 Craven Road at 2pm on July 2nd.
6. Finance
The audited accounts had now been received from the Resource Centre with no changes from the draft accounts passed at the AGM: Grant signed the audited accounts.
A grant of £300 had been received from St George’s Church in Kemp Town to pay for materials to reconstruct Jacob’s Ladder.
Because of an overspend on the payback gardening project earlier in the year (due to the excessive expense of skip hire), the CVCA accounts were now very low, although the VCC account for the Centre was extremely healthy. It was agreed that the VCC make a grant of £1,000 to the CVCA account, predominantly to work with SameSky on the mosaic project.
7. Any Other Business
Sue Hes announced that she had been successful in applying for a new post in Peacehaven, and would regretfully be leaving at the end of July. On behalf of the Committee and all the residents, Alan and Grant thanked Sue for all the excellent work she has put in over the past three years – she will be a very hard act to follow!
8. Dates of Next Meetings
a) General Meeting, 7 pm July 8th (no set agenda)
b) Committee Meeting, 7 pm September 9th
The meeting closed at 9:15 pm.
June 10th 2009, 7.00 pm at The Vale Community Centre, 17a Hadlow Close
Present: Committee: Grant Scott (Chairman), Alan Cooke (Secretary), Nick Wood (Centre Manager), Keith Drysdale, Bill Duff, Irene Fender; Others: Sue Hes (TDC - Trust for Developing Communities), Joyce Ross (resident)
1. Apologies: Sarah Johnson, Carol Byard
2. Minutes of meeting April 8th 2009. These were agreed unanimously.
3. Matters Arising. None.
4. Updates:
a) Gardening group –Trees
Bill and Joyce were unhappy with the way the garden adjoining 2-12 Queensway had been treated – forsythia had been cut to almost ground level, a rosemary had been removed, and a compost bin had been put close to the storeroom, allowing access to the roof. For the gardening team, Grant said that the bin had now been relocated to the centre of the estate, and that they would seek to place suitable plants in the barren areas. Irene suggested that the bin be lined with cardboard, painted green, and possibly padlocked.
Grant would follow up offers of free trees for the estate – possibly to replace the failed apricot tree, for the mosaic at the top of Queensway, and for the newly barren area adjacent to 101 Queensway. The area behind 65-99 Queensway had now been reseeded and was growing well.
b) Estate Development Budget Awards
Grants are to be given to improve lighting at four points on the estate, to replace a bench at the corner of Craven Road and Queensway, and to convert the ‘bin’ area by the side of the Community Centre into a fenced-in ‘safe’ area, with decorative slabs and planters. It was suggested that a rubberised surface would be more useful than decorative slabs. Alan is to write to Trevor asking how to proceed with the bin area improvements.
Alan will also seek from Housing a definitive map of land ownership in Parham Close; and reply to Gordon Stanford re the failed application for a ramp at Tilgate Place.
c) Big Tidy Up July 18th - Woodlands
A team is preparing for this event for 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday July 18th. Paul Gorringe (Park Ranger) is to ensure that insurance and health and safety items are covered. Sue Leggett is trying to involve CityClean. Councillors and PCSOs will be helping, and the youth workers are being approached. Next meeting of organising group June 30th at 3 pm.
Paul is also leading the team to improve the woodlands, and will be contacting the Payback team to help reconstruct Jacob’s Ladder.
d) Highways – Car Parking
Cllr Mitchell had raised our concerns with the Highways department, and various options are being examined. Extra paving may be placed next to the communal bins.
The whole area is now being studied as a potential car parking control area. An initial meeting is being arranged to meet the project manager on July 8th for reporting back to the Association later that day. There has been no progress as yet on adding an extra car parking space for the Centre in Hadlow Close.
e) General Repairs
Bill is in touch with the Council regarding rampant woodworm in the joists of a newly re-roofed block. More generally, it is suggested that residents should make complaints via the Home Office website www.fixmystreet.com, and advise of results.
Sue has been in touch with SameSky concerning the repair of the various mosaics. Alan will try and fix up a meeting with Bec Britain. Grants may be available from the Hedgecock Foundation.
f) The Vale Community Centre
Sue Hes will follow up correspondence from Varndean about the possibility of a new computer basics group. The youth drop-in on Fridays is expected to cease soon. Alan to ask Les Barnes what news there is of cleaners taking over part of the Little Shed.
Sue suggested that business cards are drawn up with details of CVCA on one side and The Vale Community Centre on the other. Alan would draw up a first draft.
g) Playgrounds – Playbus
There was no government money available this year to re-develop the small playground at the rear of Parham Place, but Cllr Mitchell will try to keep us on the list if further funds are made available. We could also examine the concept of a ‘natural’ play area in the woodlands, as at Peacehaven.
Sue had failed to get the Council playbus to visit the estate for yet another year – Cllr Turton is to follow up.
5. Correspondence
a) QPCV Forum minutes May 20th. CVCA could bid for part of the £3,500 grant from the Scarman Trust to QPCV for ‘community health projects’ – some had already been allocated to an arts group for sessions at the VCC. ((Amendment: The £3500 referred to under 5a, is held by QPCV Community Forum, (it is administered by Scarman but comes from the Primary Care Trust) The next meeting of the QPCV Community Forum is Wednesday July 15th and a proposal could be presented to the meeting or at the following one in September.))
A Health Bus would soon be visiting Craven Vale regularly. Mark Burgess has been appointed as a full-time Active for Life worker covering Queens Park, Craven Vale and the Bristol Estate.
b) Sarah Johnson is asking for people to accompany her on Estate inspections. Alan and Keith will meet at 143 Queensway on June 25th (2pm); and Nick will join Sarah at 152 Craven Road at 2pm on July 2nd.
6. Finance
The audited accounts had now been received from the Resource Centre with no changes from the draft accounts passed at the AGM: Grant signed the audited accounts.
A grant of £300 had been received from St George’s Church in Kemp Town to pay for materials to reconstruct Jacob’s Ladder.
Because of an overspend on the payback gardening project earlier in the year (due to the excessive expense of skip hire), the CVCA accounts were now very low, although the VCC account for the Centre was extremely healthy. It was agreed that the VCC make a grant of £1,000 to the CVCA account, predominantly to work with SameSky on the mosaic project.
7. Any Other Business
Sue Hes announced that she had been successful in applying for a new post in Peacehaven, and would regretfully be leaving at the end of July. On behalf of the Committee and all the residents, Alan and Grant thanked Sue for all the excellent work she has put in over the past three years – she will be a very hard act to follow!
8. Dates of Next Meetings
a) General Meeting, 7 pm July 8th (no set agenda)
b) Committee Meeting, 7 pm September 9th
The meeting closed at 9:15 pm.
Friday 12 June 2009
RE: H1N1 INFLUENZA - SWINE FLU
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that we are now in Pandemic
Phase 6 -- UK we have outbreaks which are neither widespread nor
sustained in the general population.
As I write, 79 people in the South East region have been confirmed as having
swine flu (H1N1v). They have experienced mild symptoms and made a rapid and
full recovery. The spread has been limited. Only a small minority of cases
have been more severe.
Unless you have flu-like symptoms and/or are being tested for swine flu,
there is no need to stop your normal everyday activities, such as going to
work or school.
The single most effective action the public can take to protect themselves
and others from infection is correct respiratory and hand hygiene practice.
These simple steps will have a major role to play in slowing the spread of
any strain of influenza. Children should be encouraged to follow this
advice.
Reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu:
" CATCH IT - Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or
sneeze. Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
" BIN IT - Germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of your
tissue as soon as possible.
" KILL IT - Hands transfer germs to everything you touch. Dispose of dirty
tissues promptly and carefully. Wash you hands frequently with soap and
water to reduce the spread of germs. Clean hard surfaces (e.g. door
handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
For individuals who have flu-like symptoms and have recently returned from
swine-flu affected countries, or have been in contact with someone who has,
the advice remains exactly the same - stay at home to limit contact with
others and contact your GP by phone, or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Please do not go into your GP surgery, or to a hospital, as you may spread
germs to others.
To read the latest official advice and find out about the simple steps you
can take to help protect yourself and others visit www.nhs.uk or call the
Swine Flu information Line on 08001513513.
Further information about swine flu can also be found on the HPA website
www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu
Yours sincerely,
Darren Grayson,
Chief Executive
NHS Brighton and Hove
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that we are now in Pandemic
Phase 6 -- UK we have outbreaks which are neither widespread nor
sustained in the general population.
As I write, 79 people in the South East region have been confirmed as having
swine flu (H1N1v). They have experienced mild symptoms and made a rapid and
full recovery. The spread has been limited. Only a small minority of cases
have been more severe.
Unless you have flu-like symptoms and/or are being tested for swine flu,
there is no need to stop your normal everyday activities, such as going to
work or school.
The single most effective action the public can take to protect themselves
and others from infection is correct respiratory and hand hygiene practice.
These simple steps will have a major role to play in slowing the spread of
any strain of influenza. Children should be encouraged to follow this
advice.
Reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu:
" CATCH IT - Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or
sneeze. Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
" BIN IT - Germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of your
tissue as soon as possible.
" KILL IT - Hands transfer germs to everything you touch. Dispose of dirty
tissues promptly and carefully. Wash you hands frequently with soap and
water to reduce the spread of germs. Clean hard surfaces (e.g. door
handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
For individuals who have flu-like symptoms and have recently returned from
swine-flu affected countries, or have been in contact with someone who has,
the advice remains exactly the same - stay at home to limit contact with
others and contact your GP by phone, or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Please do not go into your GP surgery, or to a hospital, as you may spread
germs to others.
To read the latest official advice and find out about the simple steps you
can take to help protect yourself and others visit www.nhs.uk or call the
Swine Flu information Line on 08001513513.
Further information about swine flu can also be found on the HPA website
www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu
Yours sincerely,
Darren Grayson,
Chief Executive
NHS Brighton and Hove
Thursday 4 June 2009
Big Tidy Up Saturday 18th July
We are planning a Big Tidy Up in Craven Vale and the nearby woodland on Saturday 18th July between 10.00am and 2.00pm.
We hope you will be able to support this event and encourage residents to come along and help. Everyone is welcome and we will be offering free refreshments, together with badges, stickers and certificates for children.
(insert some pic soon)
We hope you will be able to support this event and encourage residents to come along and help. Everyone is welcome and we will be offering free refreshments, together with badges, stickers and certificates for children.
(insert some pic soon)
Tuesday 2 June 2009
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