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Blackthorns Community Association
News Items- 2009
News Items for 2009 (to date)
Since the December 2008 newsletter, the following has happened, which will be of interest to residents :
• The Environment Agency has carried out a closed circuit television(CCTV) survey of Blackthorns stream overflow culvert in January 2009 to assess its structural condition; and to identify any silt deposits and/or other debris or obstructions preventing the free flow of storm-water. EA advised BCA on 23/01/09 that the CCTV survey ‘..will identify problems should there be any..'. BCA committee members have observed silt removal by service contractor ‘365 Environmental Services' by suction pump into road tankers, from the upstream end of the culvert. Also, EA advise (ref. Item 4,12/08 newsletter) '.. Regarding the river level sensors, this programme is still ongoing and as yet no timescales have been set...' .
• BCA have requested that MSDC's landfill, recycling and green waste collection services contractor ‘Serco' take greater care to avoid damaging roadside verges, of which photographic evidence was provided to the Council. Also, for Serco to try and avoid collection of bins when children are being dropped –off and collected during school-term, as this overlap of activities exacerbates the traffic congestion & access problems.MSDC‘s Cleansing Services, Business Unit Leader - Shaun Morley, in an E-mail dated 19/01/09 has undertaken ‘.. to get the matter resolved with Serco..'
• No further communication has been received from Ashton Health Group(AHG) regarding development of the Blackthorns Care Home.Residents may recall from the last news letter, that AHG promised to let BCA know of the start date of the project.
• BCA contacted Atkins, Southern Waters'(SW) contractor on 12/01/09, to discuss drainage issues, particularly concerning increased foul water flows from the proposed re-developed Care Home, in light of past sewer surcharging and overflow. Atkins advised that they were not earlier requested by MSDC/SW to advise on this issue prior to Planning Consent (PC); and after PC was approved by MSDC, the Care Home has an automatic right to connect to the foul sewer. Improved hydraulic capacity should be required in the sewer before the Care Home is connected, to prevent a worsening of the surcharge problem. Atkins advised that there was a consent condition to satisfactorily resolve surface water discharge from the site and details have yet to be finalised. BCA will continue to monitor developments concerning drainage issues with Atkins & SW
• The BCA website is now available at www.blackthornscommunityassoc.co.uk for residents' on-line information concerning past and current issues.N.B.This last item, is an advisory for residents receiving hard copies of this newsletter, when it is printed.
RWL10/02/08