Sure Start

I am very late in catching up with the 'Blog'. This picture was taken weeks ago. Matt and I presented a cheque, for £500 out of ward funds, to Sure Start for their booklets aimed at encouraging new mums to breast feed. Also there was money to help towards some high chairs. We also presented cheques to Kingfisher School for improvement to the school library.(£736) There was also yet another for £500 towards the school allotments. I had enough sense not to have any more photos taken. One with me in is enough. All these projects are so worth while as they help children from o-11. It is so important to give children the best start in life. That is both in health and education. posted by Pat

Path Resurfacing

We have been very lucky in Princes Park to have many of our roads resurfaced. But we must not forget those who use our paths. Some of them were getting in a bad way. We had calls from both young mums who had problems pushing buggies to people on mobility scooters.

Medway Council have not managed to solve all our problems yet but it is coming. The people who live in the areas already done are very, very pleased. I think the users of Princes Ave will be as well once the work there is finished. I am particularly pleased with that as a few mobility scooter users said that, that section of Princes Ave made it very difficult to get down to the village.

I do realise that there has been some disruptions with the roads. I am sure everyone appreciates it will be worth it. I would like to thank all the road users for their co-operation during this time.

posted by Pat

Council Budget

At Full Council last Thursday myself and Pat Gulvin voted with our colleagues for the budget for the next financial year.

Due to a multi-million pound reduction in the Medway Council budget the books were balanced (due to re-structuring with minimal job losses & a better for less campaign) and some fantastic schemes will be introduced which will help the residents of Princes Park and Medway.

Free swimming will be introduced for the under 11s and over 60s.

£250,000 for pot hole repairs

£500,000 for highway repairs

£75,000 for adult play schemes

£50,000 for alloment improvements

Sure Start has been declared safe including the one at Kingfisher School

£92,000 for extra library books

£100,000 for apprenticeship schemes

£250,000 allocated for the introduction of a freedom pass

Ridgemeadow site re-instated for use by Bradfields School and a special autism unit

Front Line services are protected

Parking charges frozen

.

And of course...not to forget this is all being done with the Council Tax being frozen for another year!

With other Councils cutting Front Line services this budget should be a positve one for everyone in Princes Park.

posted by matt bright

The Motorbike Fight Continues

These may look like boring barriers to some people but for the residents of Ryde Close & Solent Gardens it will enable them to use their gardens safely with their children being able to play on the grass opposite.

These barriers came at the request of residents who we met whilst on one of our 'Meet & Greet' sessions with local people from Princes Park.

Residents expressed a concern on the footpath being used by mini-motorbikes (our big enemy - check older posts) so we felt something had to be done.

Due to our hard-line stance on any anti-social behavour in the area we managed to secure the funding through our ward funds and they were installed last week.

Hopefully this will make it safer from everyone.

Do you live in Princes Park and know of a problem area for mini-motorbikes? If so please contact us.

posted by matt bright.

Sure Start

I have had a few queries from residents about SureStarts future, so I thought I best put my reply in writing on the Blog.

I think SureStart is a fantastic thing. It is there for the Community in the Community . I have seen first hand some of the inspiration and enthusiasm of those who work there. The real value to the children may not be seen for a while, but as the children grow up the good ground work that was done will pay off.

I believe many parents have also had their lives altered by SureStart. They can see they are not alone, there are people who are always willing to help.

As you can see I am a real advocate of SureStart as is Matt. So I pleased that at the last Council meeting it was agreed the funding will continue for the forth coming year. This was stated in the press but some people must have missed it.

I hope this puts people in Princes Park minds at rest.

SURESTART is safe .

posted by Pat

Ball Park

These two happy chaps helped to make the opening of the Ball Park so successful. They are David Hughes and Brian Mooney of the Safety Community Team. They worked tirelessly to clean up the mud that the foul weather had dumped on the pathways.
Brian had spent hours the day before cleaning up the litter that had been dumped.
Also Pauline Harman came along with her hose to help clean up as much as she could.
I want to publicly say a big big thank you to them for the work they did yesterday.Also for all the work they have done behind the scenes to improve the quality of life for the residents of Princes park.
posted by Pat

Ball Park in Princes Park

Today we celebrated the long awaited opening of the ball park. It has been a long time coming. Matt and I were beginning to think it would never happen.

The Mayor Cllr David Brake came along and did the honours for us, we also had along our local MP Tracey Crouch.

The most important guests were the children from Kingfisher School. As you can see from the pictures they were really happy to be there. It was really cold but it did not stop them asking if they could have a game of football.

I hope they will have many happy days playing safely there. Much better than playing in the streets and getting moaned at all the time for damaging peoples cars.

posted by Pat

Benefit from some good advice

A campaign to ensure that residents in Medway receive the financial support they are entitled to starts in January.

The campaign will run from 17 January until 11 February with advice desks at various places throughout Medway, including the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham, where staff from Medway Revenues and Benefits Service and The Welfare Benefits Unit assisted by the Pension Service, The Kent Benefits Partnership and Voluntary Organisations will be able to tell people whether they qualify for housing, council tax, work, pension or care benefits.

Earlier this year, a similar campaign helped people collect more than £261,000 in unclaimed benefits.

Take advantage of the help and advice available to ensure that you are not missing out on money.

If you've never claimed benefits or have been turned down in the past, or maybe you are thinking of returning to work but are wondering if you will cope- this message is that you have nothing to lose but potentially money to gain.



For more details:

Come and talk to us at one of the events listed below or find out more at www.medway.gov.uk/benefits

OR

email: welfare.benefits@medway.gov.uk

OR

phone: 332222



Don't delay - Benefit from some good advice!



posted by Pat

Ballpark Update

As you can see the park is almost ready. We were told that it could be ready by the beginning of December. To think how bad the weather has been I think they have done well to get this far.

If you remember they had nothing but rain when they were trying to dig out the bank, then the SNOW.

So we will soon be seeing the young people of Princes Park enjoying it.

Posted by Pat

Chidren In Need

I was luck enough to go along to Christ Church,Luton on Friday morning. Home Start were running a fund raising for Children in Need.

Home Start have been very lucky to have funding from Children in Need. This fun morning was there way of raising money to help payback the generosity of all the people who have given to Children in Need. As you can see as well as mums and children they were joined by many interesting people, including the Gillingham mascot who really joined in the fun. The children absolutely loved him.

Posted by Pat

Come on Gillingham

Well done Gillingham. Now you have broken your duck start believing in yourself. The whole of Medway will then be behind you.

posted by Pat

Remembrance Day

I was very proud to accompany Tracey to her official Remembrance Day Parade in Chatham.
We started at Victoria Gardens for the Parade, Service and Wreath laying. It was very moving. It was so lovely to see so many young people there. From five year old upwards. The fact they stood there in the wet was amazing. Talking to Officers from HMS Chatham, afterwards, they were really impressed. They said they have never seen such a large turn out of youngsters. They must of made their parents and their organisation really proud.
From Victoria Gardens we walked down to Chatham High Street for the Salute.
I think it was one of ,if not the proudest moment of Tracey's time since she became Chathams MP. It was worth getting wet.
I hope the children, young people got as much out of the day as we did. The crowd at the Gardens is thought to be between 700 and 1,000. A wonderful turn out for a wet day.
posted by Pat

Wounded for Princes Park

I think there is a conspiracy in Princes Park at the moment. Last week out delivering leaflets I had my spatula taken by a dog. This time the bolt on a gate tried to remove half my finger. When I became a Councillor no one warned me that I would need protection.

Sorry to disappoint the Labour Group I have been told its not fatal and I will live to fight the next election.

posted by Pat

Missing Spatula

Missing one spatula

If you live in Wiltshire Close and you have found a spatula on your door mat never fear. You have not been invaded by phantom spatula deliveries. What happened I was delivering leaflets using a spatula to push them through the letter box, this saves my fingers being attacked by evil letterboxes. When a big dog, well it looked big to me, took the leaflet and my spatula out of my hand. The last I saw was the dog guarding the spatula which it had dropped on the door mat. Oh well look on the bright side it could have been my hand.

posted by Pat

Chaham football

Tracey and I had a lovely Saturday,last week, watching Chatham playing at home. I think Tracey bought them a bit of luck as the match was a draw. This after all was against the league leaders.

But seriously they could have so easily have won. Just don't give away a penalty.

I would like to thank everyone for making us so welcome. Hope we can get along a support them again soon.

posted by Pat

Ball Park Update

I might look a bit windblown, but it was lovely to go up on the bank to see the progress with the ballpark. For so long Matt and I thought it was just a dream that we could possible get a ballpark for Princes Park. The proof is now there.

While we were up there we meet two nice young boys. They really could not wait for it to be finished. As they said to us if they play ball in the street, the only flat area to play, they get told off.

Everyone complains that children are getting fat. I know that is not very PC, but facts are facts, that is what people mean. It can only be expected if they are shut indoors all day as there is no where safe to play.

I am old enough to remember playing in the street because there were very few cars. Now its not possible. We used to play rounders and football against the dads. I hope when the ball park is finished we see a few dads up there challenging the kids.

posted by Pat

Age Concern

The new Hopewell Centre for Age Concern has now been officially open by the Mayor of Medway, Cllr David Brake. We are very lucky to have this facility on our doorsteps, in Hopewell Drive.

So if you get the chance go along and see it for yourself do pop in. They will be happy to see you.

Posted by Pat

SSAFA Big Brew UP

The SSAFA Big Brew up has come round again. The year since the last one seems to have flown by.

The Big Brew up is at the Church of Christ the King ( next to Morrisons). It is being held on the 16th October from 10am to noon.
So come along and help the Armed Forces Charity. They are celebrating their 125 birthday so there really is something to celebrate.
posted by Pat

Yet Another Litter Bin

I know it does look boring, but this is another step towards a cleaner Princes Park. This is just one of the two litter bins that have been put at the top of Wren Way. It has become a bit of a black spot for litter. Matt has been chasing up the street cleaning team to do there more often. But at the end of the day it is the people who drop the litter who are the problem. Now there are two bins they have no excuse.

Litter is unsightly and costs us all money to have it cleared up. I know I have been harping on about this for years, but Princes Park is a nice place to live and there are really nice people living here. It is spoilt by just a few very selfish people.

Years ago Princes Park had a bad reputation but the residents have turned it around. Not the Council, Police or any other organisation just the residents. They wanted to live in a nice area and they have made it so. All we need to do now is stop, just the few, who ruin it for the rest of us.
Posted by ranting Pat of Princes Park

Monday 27th September

If you have not already met up with Matt and Sue come and meet them on the 27th September. They will be hovering with me outside Morrisons.
We have been out there a few times, since they became our neighbourhood police team,. These have always been very successful. We will be there at 10-11:30 subject to any emergency they could be called away on.
posted by Pat