Latest news with #localcouncillors
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Well done to you all in the Safeguard Force'
THE Safeguard Force organised by residents is a marvellous idea and good direct action by local people fed up with aggression, violence and murder in our local community. Well done to those residents. If I could find a contact number I would sign up. Local councillors speaking against this don't appear to be supporting or attempting to keep residents safe. By law we all can make a citizens arrest. This is not what the group aim to do. They want to show a presence. There are not enough police to do this. Well done to you all in the Safeguard Force. Lucy Lyons
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents' concern over housing development plans
Residents have raised concerns over plans to build 418 homes on land north of Sutton-on-Hull. Beal Homes submitted plans to Hull City Council to build a mix of housing including starter homes, on a plot west of East Carr Road. The East Carr Residents Association has issued thousands of leaflets to local people detailing concerns about traffic, pressure on amenities, and loss of open space and wildlife. Beal Homes said it was contributing to the council's required quota of new houses, and the starter homes would allow younger people to get onto the housing ladder. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the development would be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as 41 affordable homes. The plans show there would be two access points to the new development, one from East Carr Road itself and another from Danby Close. The residents association said the plans would lead to an increase in traffic pollution and put a strain on the area's "already overstretched" amenities such as schools and GPs. The group also said the site was home to extensive wildlife and the fields were a popular spot for dog walkers. Residents are also concerned that the proposed houses could increase the chances of their properties being flooded. Part of the application site is on a flood plain, but the plans do not propose to build houses on that section. Three local ward councillors have also launched a petition against the development. Beal Homes said they would work closely with planning officers and all consultees to address any issues through the planning process. The company said existing hedgerows and trees would be retained, and addition trees would be planted to "deliver a net gain in biodiversity of at least 10 per cent." A spokesperson for Beal Homes said: "The application includes features such an attenuation pond, to provide a practical drainage function as well as an attractive natural focal point. "It includes areas of public open space, including the creation of a green corridor along the southern boundary, acting as a natural buffer between the development and adjacent housing," they added. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Plans for more than 400 homes submitted Hull City Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
CBC
30-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Crooked intersection remains 'dangerous,' despite safety upgrades
Social Sharing An intersection in a rural area near Stittsville remains a problematic spot for collisions and near-misses, despite the installation of extra safety measures last year. The City of Ottawa added speed boards, flashing lights, and repainted road lines on Flewellyn and Shea roads as measures to improve safety at the skewed intersection. For years, drivers and local councillors have called for significant upgrades to the intersection, especially as suburban housing development sprawls closer to the rural agricultural area. "It's a dangerous intersection," said Brian Beattie, a retired bus operator who drives through it multiple times a week to volunteer at his church on Flewellyn Road. "We really need to get that intersection fixed sooner than later." Eight collisions in 2024 The area where the two main roads meet is offset and often causes confusion for drivers. Both roads have 80 km/h speed limits and only Shea Road has stop signs. According to the city, there were 16 collisions in 2022, no data available for 2023, and eight collisions in 2024. Beattie said he has experienced and witnessed many near-misses and even stepped in to help at the scene of a collision there last summer. "I saw this truck sideways, a big delivery truck, and he was stationary. And the other car was up into the shoulder, very, very smashed up." Beattie said he often sees drivers at Shea Road pull out beyond the stop signs at the intersection and prematurely turn because they can't judge the speed of the cars going down Flewellyn Road. He has brought his concerns to local city councillors, including flagging how trees and shrubs at the intersection create a sightline barrier. Local councillor aware of problems Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown said his office has received complaints about the intersection since he took office in 2022. "We've always known that we need to upgrade the intersection. It's getting the funding quick enough to do it," he said. It's not uncommon for rural areas to have skewed intersections, Brown said. "As those larger suburban areas continue to encroach on what is traditionally rural infrastructure, we're starting to see that imbalance of heavy traffic volume with relatively light infrastructure that exists in the area." Brown said he has received fewer calls about the intersection since the improved safety measures were added. He has also requested the clearing of the nearby trees, but says he knows a permanent solution is still required. "We need to make sure that we actually build [on] the intersection. We need to accommodate the growth of Stittsville." Functional design study underway Brown and Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower were successful in getting council to fund a functional design study on the intersection this year. "We're looking at what type of intersection modification would be required, whether that's a signalized intersection or a roundabout," he said. "Based on that design, the city will have to determine how much additional land that we're going to need. So we might need to purchase some of the the corners of that existing intersection." Brown says a four-way stop doesn't meet the provincial requirements because the offsets are so large. He thinks a roundabout is the best option for the section that sees a lot of drivers moving from Richmond, Stittsville and Kanata. A roundabout could adequately deal with the intersection's offset, he said. "It keeps traffic moving, whereas lights stop traffic," he said. "It sounds a little funny, but roundabouts don't need to be perfectly circular. You can have ones that are a little straighter, more like rectangles." WATCH | Safety concerns at an Ottawa intersection: Crooked intersection near Stittsville remains problematic for drivers 4 minutes ago Duration 4:19 CBC's Sannah Choi rode along with a driver who goes through the Shea and Flewellyn roads intersection multiple times a week. He says the intersection is 'dangerous,' despite new safety measures installed last year. The city is aiming to start construction in 2028, according to Elizabeth Murphy from the city's transportation engineering services. Brown said the construction of the intersection will be mostly funded through development charges paid by new homeowners in the area. According to Brown, the northwest corner of the intersection is slated for future housing development. "We know growth is coming," he said. "We just want to make sure that we build the infrastructure in advance of those homes being completed. And that's the track we're on right now."
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK wins more council seats in Norfolk
Reform UK has doubled the number of local councillors it has on a Norfolk local authority after two Fry won the seat on the Fairstead ward at the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Austen Moore won the North Lynn seat, meaning the party now has four councillors in total on the local Conservative Party did not field candidates in either by-election after struggling to find people to stand. There were only 14 votes in it between Fry and the Liberal Democrat candidate Crystal Colwell. Turnout for the ward, which covers one of the most deprived estates in the Borough, was 17%. The result for Reform was more convincing in North Lynn, with Moore winning by 125 votes. Although the turnout there was lower - at 13%.Moore, a businessman and life coach who lives in King's Lynn, joined Reform 12 months ago."I'm a realist. I want to help the people I'll represent and make a difference," he said."It's a mistake to go into a place and tell them this is what they need."Until I speak with members of the community I won't know what I'm going to focus on."The Tories denied that the party was on the retreat in west Norfolk, saying it just had not been possible to find candidates to has a total of 11 councillors across the various local authorities in Norfolk. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Drinking in Ottawa public parks could be allowed this summer
Social Sharing Ottawa parkgoers could soon enjoy alcohol in public parks, as a report from City of Ottawa staff is recommending consumption be allowed within certain parameters. In a report tabled for the city's Community Services Committee, staff included a proposed update to the parks and facilities bylaw. This proposed version would allow alcohol consumption in designated areas of parks and would establishe parameters for where it will continue to be prohibited. The current bylaw prohibits anyone from possessing alcoholic beverages in park spaces, except for at events with a proper permit. City staff outlined two options for councillors to consider. The first option would identify parks where personal consumption of alcohol is allowed. Councillors would then work with communities in their wards on designating parks or continuing prohibition. This option would establish parameters for limiting consumption of alcohol, such as before before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m. It would also forbid drinking within five metres of playgrounds, parking lots, beaches, and sports fields. The report said these restrictions are designed to prioritize the safety of children and park users and ensure that areas frequently used by them remain secure, while also maintaining public safety. The second option would test drinking in parks with a pilot that would run from July to October. The Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department would select up to one park per ward with the local councillor to authorize the consumption of alcohol. Afterwards there would be a post-pilot evaluation that would go to council for further direction. Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard introduced a motion last year to launch a pilot program, citing cities like Toronto that allow alcohol consumption in designated parks. Both Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Police Service voiced concern with the proposed bylaw. In a letter, Police Chief Eric Stubbs said, "permitting alcohol consumption in public parks presents risks that could compromise public safety and strain our resources." A letter from Ottawa Public Health raised concerns linking increased alcohol consumption to several types of cancer, as well as the risks of underage drinking. Councillors will discuss the report from city staff at a Community Services Committee meeting scheduled for May 27. If approved, the proposed bylaw would then go to city council.
