Update - 2nd November 2009 - The Community Pay Back Team have started work in Park Farm. They'll be on site every Monday until the work is completed so please take the opportunity to go over and meet them.

After several weeks of discussion and an on-site meeting today with the Probation Service it was agreed that those serving community orders will take on the task of grass cutting and hedge trimming in the areas now overgrown due to Cofton's demise while we await a permanent solution. Letters of notification will be delivered by the Neighbourhood Team to nearby houses before the work takes place and afterwards for comments. The work will take several days.

Peterborough is one of the areas selected to trial the new Community Payback Scheme. As Respect Award winners PFNHW were invited to attend seminars in Manchester and London where we worked alongside other winners and community leaders with the Home Office to decide on how best to ensure the punishment fitted the crime and justice would be seen to be done.

You may recall that we've used the services of those serving community orders in the past to paint out graffiti under the Horsey Toll Bridge on two occasions.

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James has moved to a different position within PCC and Roy Clark has been appointed our new Neighbourhood Environment Officer.

Roy has already been active in the area helping out with a repair issue in the park. You can contact him via email roy.clark@peterborough.gov.uk

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The argument as to who owns the lands and therefore who is responsible for the pruning of the thorn bushes overhanging the footpath just seemed to be dragging on and on despite the best efforts of the council to get someone to take responsibility.

There was a considerable risk of injury to a pedestrian or cyclist if nothing was done so Park Farm NHW volunteers have done the business and cut them back today. Yes, we could have just sat back and pointed fingers and blamed others but it has always been PFNHW policy to help maintain areas covered by our scheme and the time for waiting was over.

Many thanks to the volunteers and EDF for lending us the equipment to do the job and the environmental officer for collecting and disposing of the cuttings.

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Cofton have agreed to attend to the areas of land they are responsible for after our meeting last week (see below) and are due to commence work on the 10th October. Initially they will attend to the overgrown shrubbery on the link footpath into Framlingham Road and in the Childrens Play Park.

To see what has been reported and attended to please go to the top of the page.

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I had a meeting this morning and a walk around the estate with the Environmental Officer and a representative from Cofton Developers regarding the ownership of certain land throughout the area and responsibility for maintenance.

There appears as we had thought, many areas where ownership is questioned from all sides and legal searches are resulting in the delays in urgent maintenance such as footpath repair and hedge trimming. Cofton have agreed to negotiate with the council to get these areas resolved asap and to attend to those areas judged a hazard within the next couple of weeks (they did want a month but this was unacceptable). PCC have agreed to do the same.

Several small plots of common land will need to have searches carried out to find the legal owners and therefore person/s responsible for its maintenance. It was suggested that some borders could even be the responsibility of home owners and they don't realise it so it may be worth checking your deeds if you have an area near your property.

I'm hopeful this will move the initiative on a bit. Its frustrating I know when an initiative kicks in only for it to meet such obstacles but at least its brought the problem to light and those responsible once disclosed, can be directly pushed to deliver on their planning/ownership obligations. We are having some successes as you can see above so please keep sending any problems in we haven't spotted so as they can be reported and tracked.

Chris

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We've linked up with the City Council to support their latest initiative for 'Street Leaders' here in Park Farm.

The initiative complements our own initiatives extremely well as it also concerns local environment issues such as Littering, Fly Tipping, Fly Posting, Graffiti, Dog Fouling, Defective Street Lighting and Abandoned Vehicles. Other areas we will target with the City Council are Street Furniture such as Signs and Bollards, Overgrown Vegetation and Footpath Hazards.

Ideally the aim is to have at least one Street Leader in each street so if you're interested in finding out more and doing your bit for your street please get in touch with Peterborough City Council.

If you spot something which needs attention please check if we've already had it reported above and if not let us know on 07939 664788 or email by clicking here.

If you're not a Park Farm NHW member and want to know if our scheme covers your road please click on this link

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