Savills have now responded to a request for practical measures to deal with the noise and disturbances caused by young people gathering in this car park. New signs have been displayed which restrict the time cars can be parked after 8pm to 45 minutes. To enforce this they are using an automated number recognition camera to record times in and out of the car park by vehicles. If drivers exceed the 45 minutes allowed they will receive a fine and a penalty notice.

On the first evening the new restrictions were in place 60 young people who had gathered in the car park moved off before the time had elapsed. Margaret and Rob would like your feedback on whether residents experience an improvement in noise levels so that we can pass them onto Savills to ensure they keep this system in place. Please contact us using the details on the back of the newsletter.

Mr Bennett, a resident in Wellington Road, contacted Margaret to raise the issue of the disturbance caused by a minority of West Exe college students to residents in the bungalows occupied elderly and disabled tenants. A petition was taken round to surrounding streets and an additional issue of litter being dropped on pavements and gardens by pupils was also voiced by residents.

Margaret sent a letter with the petition to the College and a meeting was then arranged with Mrs Carah (Acting Head). Several actions were agreed by the College to combat these problems and an undertaking given by them to work with students and local residents to resolve the issues. A letter was delivered to all the surrounding streets outlining these actions.

Margaret has also followed up on the areas she agreed to undertake – involving the Education Recycling Team to engage with students to change the way they dispose of rubbish, gaining the co-operation of the manager of Sainsbury’s who has offered two large rubbish containers to be used by the school. Also ensuring the local PCSO’s continue their patrols of the area and challenge students who are smoking and causing annoyance and intimidation to residents.

Mr Bennett attended the student council meeting on 21^st June to discuss the subject of permits for students who leave the school at lunchtime and represent the views of local residents.

Margaret and Rob attended the opening, by Judy Spiers, of the newly refurbished extension to the Age UK centre on Cowick Street on the 6^th June. We are pleased that users of the Information and Advice Service will be able to see advisors within the same building now and the overcrowded office and resource space has been expanded into the new premises. We learnt more about the range and extent of the services offered to any resident over 50 in Exeter and continue to be very impressed with the whole range of services Age UK Exeter provides.

Please get in touch with Age UK Exeter on 01392 202092 if you have needs that Age UK might be able to help you with or know of anyone who would benefit from their services.

Ward grants are again available to local groups to support projects or activities for the benefit of the community. There is a limit of £300 for individual groups to apply for from a total of £2000 for each ward. Councillors will make joint decisions on these applications.

Any group wishing to apply should contact one of their local councillors to discuss their idea or project then contact the Civic Centre officer dealing with Grants on 01392 265891 or go to ww.exeter.gov.uk/communitygrants for an application form.

Margaret regularly attends the Chatterbox drop in café on Friday mornings at the Village Hall and is available to discuss any issues you wish to bring to her attention. She enjoyed the Jubilee morning which was well attended by local residents, as pictured outside with other regular attendees.

Any local resident is welcome to come along between 9am to 12 noon.

Margaret and Rob have campaigned on behalf of residents for resurfacing work to be done urgently as it is long overdue.

Devon County Council Highways Department have now confirmed that Cotfield Street is to be resurfaced and the cycle link from the towpath to Water Lane upgraded.

Residents in the Water Lane area will be pleased to know that the disused boat docked near River Meadows is now being dismantled and will shortly be taken away to be scrapped as a result of pressure being put on the owners to remove it.

Cllr Rob Crew said, “It’s great to see such an eyesore and potential health and safety risk being removed for the benefit of both local residents and visitors alike. We know the quayside can be a busy industrial area but it is vital that we maintain a decent environment for those who live there and use the canal.”

We have sent on all the emails and replies we received from residents about their views and experiences regarding the crossing by Blenheim

Road to the Neighbourhood Highway Engineer for Exeter at Devon County Council. A site meeting has taken place but the reply I have received from Devon County Council states “We have now looked at accident data which indicates that no injury collision of a nature that would support a formal controlled crossing have been recorded. The pedestrian crossing is probably in the safest location it could be for this end of Church Road being that it is afforded the best forward visibility. ”

We understand that this is not the experience of residents using this crossing and are frustrated that we have not been able to achieve the best outcome for residents – a pelican crossing. Ben Bradshaw also took up the issue and wrote to Devon County Council but has received the same response.

Devon County Council have, however, agreed to install a Vehicle Activated Sign flashing the 20mph speed limit as a practical measure to reduce the speed of vehicles approaching the crossing from the Sainsbury’s end of Church Road. They are also introducing a zonal scheme giving recommended HGV routes for different parts of the city. The Sainsbury’s link to Marsh Barton will be signed as a route to the industrial estate which will reduce heavy traffic away from Church Road.

We have also campaigned on reinstating the school crossing patrol at the Church Road crossing by the New Inn. Devon County Council have now identified that money is available to fund a lollipop person at the crossing. An article appeared in the Express & Echo on 15/6 asking for applicants, offering full training and pay. If any resident is willing to undertake this much needed job to benefit local school children and parents contact the county council’s School Crossing Patrol Service on 01392 382247.