Agenda item

6.1

Petitions

(a)

The Community Assembly received a petition submitted by Ernest Crookes, containing 61 signatures and requesting road safety measures at the junction of Welbeck Road and Fern Road.  Jean Gleadall, who spoke to the petition, stated that the problems were caused by a local resident parking his car on Fern Road, very close to the junction with Welbeck Road, making it very difficult and dangerous for drivers turning right from Welbeck Road onto Fern Road.  Despite a number of requests, and the fact that the local resident in question had off-street parking, he had refused to move his car off the road.

The Chair stated that although there was no funding left in the Assembly’s Highways Budget 2012/13, the Assembly would consider the request for road safety measures at this junction as part of any review of the Highways Budget 2013/14.  Inspector Darren Starkey stated that if the car in question was causing danger to other road users, the Police could take action, and that he would ensure one of this officers went to investigate the claims being made.

(b)

The Community Assembly received a petition submitted by Bernard Little, containing 40 signatures and requesting road safety measures at the junction of Upperthorpe/Springvale Road/Commonside.

The Community Assembly Manager stated that this request would be referred to the Head of Transport, Traffic and Parking Services for them to investigate.  She added that as the junction in questions was on the boundary of this and the South West Community Assembly, a copy of the petition would be referred to Tammy Barass, South West Community Assembly Manager.

6.2

Questions

6.2.1

Members of the public raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

(a)       Penny Ralph questioned what the Council was doing in terms of safeguarding important local buildings and the development of significant sites, as set out in the Central Community Assembly Plan 2011/12, referring specifically to the Crookes Valley Methodist Church and Vestry and the Crookesmoor Community Centre.

The Community Assembly Manager stated that both the Crookes Valley Methodist Church and Vestry Hall were privately owned, resulting in the Council having limited powers as to what action it could take. The Community Assembly could request that Conservation Officers contact the owners and request that further steps be taken to secure the buildings. She added that the Crookesmoor Community Centre was still owned by the Council, and officers were currently looking for an alternative use for the premises.  The Chair stated that Members would talk to Conservation Officers to discuss what work was required and report  back thereon to the next meeting of the Assembly.

(b)       Leni Oglesby questioned whether the Community Assembly could instigate proceedings against the owners of the former Hallam Towers Hotel to ensure that the site was cleared of rubbish and made secure.  She stated that the site had been badly vandalised and neglected and was aware that people were taking drugs and committing other acts of anti-social behaviour on the site.

The Chair stated that in the light of these, and other concerns raised by the previous questioner, the Community Assembly would discuss issues regarding sites and buildings within the Assembly area which appeared to have been neglected, at a future briefing meeting, to which Conservation Officers and any other relevant Council officers would be requested to attend.  Inspector Darren Starkey added that whilst he was not sure of the reasons why the Local Community Safety Officer was not able to enter the site, he believed that it could be due to health and safety reasons, and would discuss this with the Officer.

(c)        Alan Wellings questioned whether the Community Assembly held a list of listed buildings in its area, which had been neglected and fallen into disrepair.

The Community Assembly Manager stated that the Council had a list of all listed buildings in the City, but it did not indicate what condition they were in.

(d)       Jenny Carpenter raised a number of issues regarding traffic movements from the City Centre to Walkley routes at Commonside and questioned whether any road safety measures could be implemented to make it safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

The Community Assembly Manager stated that the request could be placed on the Assembly’s list of small highway schemes to be considered as part of the consideration of the Highways Budget 2013/14.

(e)       A member of the public stated that he was aware that there were Enforcement Officers in other local authority areas whose job it was to look at properties which had been left vacant, and fallen into disrepair and questioned why this could not happen in Sheffield.

The Chair stated that the Council had an Empty Property Team, but officers were limited in terms of their powers and resources.